Outcast (The Blue Dragon's Geas) (12 page)

Many elders at the table seem to perk up at his answer, and he could hear them shifting as this statement drew their attention. He glanced up, but Velker was still staring at him with that piercing uncomfortable stare. “A-as one of mixed blood, I have often stood on the edges. P-people speak to me now. I feel an acceptance that is new and somewhat alarming. I am used to being unnoticed."
 Alador struggled to speak calmly though his heart was racing. “I find such attention overwhelming."  In an attempt to mask his fear, his speech was far more formal in tone and manner.

“I assure you, that after Maredeth’s report from last night, no woman will look at you as unwanted any time in the near future."
 Jespian fired out, he was an elder with a sharp mind and slightly sharper sense of humor.  He winked with a wicked grin at Alador.

Alador turned a deep red as laughter went around the table. The females of the room grinned at him
 While he was grateful for the focus to be taken off his potential use of magic, having his ritual put on the table was not much better. Even his brother chuckled at that, and no one seemed upset or alarmed by his somewhat feral behavior the night before. The only one not laughing was Meradeth who had turned as red as Alador. He met her gaze and finally grinned, and she did as well.

“He does take after me in some respects."
 Dorien retorted, and the laughter went round again. Dorien slapped Alador on the back in admiration. Dorien’s booming voice took the focus off Alador for the moment.

Alador, though embarrassed, was relieved that the tension had eased at the table. He knew that he was on dangerous ground if his father’s powers had manifested. He knew now why magic was so hated amongst the Daezun. While those of mixed blood were included on the edges of the Daezun society, they were not truly welcome and often remained without a housemate. He could not imagine a life so lonely, the only companionship given by the ill and injured. He had Gregor and Mesiande growing up as well as his family so while still slightly on the edges of the social status, he had not felt totally alienated. Even with these small blessings, he knew he had not fit in. If he had magic, where did he fit in?
 His musings were interrupted as Elder Velkar began to speak again.

“Until we know the extent of the damage done by the stone, we will act as if there is none. You will be placed upon the watch over the Elders and small ones during the day. It will be your duty until your father’s test. At that time, assuming all is well, you may choose your own path. This is the decision of the council."
 Velkar looked at him with more seriousness now that the laughter had ceased. The other elders nodded in apparent agreement. “This will free a man for the rooftops to stand watch and will give us time to assess your situation further."  They usually did not have such a watch, but with the attack of the dragon, it was no surprise that one was being implemented.

Alador was relieved, he did not mention he had wanted to do just that. It had felt right to protect the small ones against the dragon. It had been almost instinctual to do so, and he breathed a sigh of relief at his assignment. In truth, the council was being quite generous with the suspicion that his Lerdenian blood was asserting itself. “I will be happy to serve
in this capacity."  He answered with a respectful dipping of his head.

Dorien smiled and looked at his brother for a bit. Some of the Elders were downing their drinks as if to leave. “Will he still be allowed in the circle, Elders?"
 Dorien’s question stilled the movement of those getting ready to depart.

Jespian laughed. “We would be lynched in our sleep if we denied him."
 Jespian winked as color resurged into Alador’s face. “News of his, uh, stamina has spread amongst the women like wildfire.”

Alador groaned as everyone laughed once more. Even the adults were laughing heartily, and the
alehouse owner, Mistress Belithes winked at him. He didn’t look at anyone else for fear of meeting another female gaze. Mugs slapped the table in appreciation of Jespian’s quip.

Velkar pounded the table to gain attention once more. “Elders, we are not quite finished here."
 Velkar looked up and down the table till all stilled once more. It took a few minutes for a couple of elders seemed hard press to stop chuckling. When it was finally silent once more, he turned his gaze back to Alador. “Alador, please tell the council what you did to repel the dragon."  Velkar eyed him. The movement and humor settled as all eyes returned back to the young man sitting before them.

Alador swallowed hard and looked up and focused on Luciesa. She seemed less threatening to him. “I waited for him to open his mouth and breathe fire and then shot down his throat."
 He said this as if it was quite common. Everyone was quiet as they watched Alador and he shifted uncomfortably. He was uncertain what he had said wrong for the silence had gained an almost palpable weight.

No one spoke for a long time. Finally, Luciesa responded with a bit of kindness, “You understand if you had been wrong that the dragon would have consumed you in fire?”

Alador nodded slowly “I could not let him breathe for the small ones were behind me in the brush."  He said firmly. “It seemed the best thing in that moment.”

Velkar tapped his chin thoughtfully, his mind considering. “It has been several years since a dragon has attacked a village unprovoked. I find it odd that one has done so now. The gods have always protected the Daezun from the ire of dragons. Perhaps the times are truly changing."
 At first a few smiled, but the look on Velkar’s face showed no amusement. Everyone was quiet as the elder considered the events before him. “Unless…”

At that word, Velkar’s gaze moved to Alador and rested upon him. Alador swallowed hard at the deep scrutiny he was given, and his eyes dropped unable to hold either elder’s gaze any longer. He did not know the elder’s thoughts, but it felt as if they did not bode well for Alador. Luciesa reached up and placed a hand over Velkar’s, drawing attention from Alador to herself.

“Surely more time must pass?"  Luciesa asked Velkar. She looked at Velkar, a question in her eyes. Her soft question drew Velkar’s attention from Alador.

Luciesa and Velkar exchanged a serious look, and a heavy silence hung over the table. All the elders were watching Velkar and Luciesa. Alador snuck a look in the continued silence. She shook her head slightly, and Velkar frowned. When finally Velkar spoke, it was as if the subject had somehow been resolved between the two. “We will spread the word of how you repelled the dragon. It is a dangerous tactic, but the information should be given to the other archers. I believe our questions for now are answered. We will await your father before any additional matters are discussed."
 Velkar nodded curtly. The other elders seemed to breathe a sigh of relief in unison.

“Yes Elder."
 Alador looked with relief to his brother. He could see the same relief in his brother’s eyes. He slumped down in his chair slightly, feeling as if a large weight had been taken off his chest.

The elders began to murmur amongst themselves, and a couple of the adults moved to open the door back up to the village. Velkar and Luciesa were whispering, and both appeared to have a look of concern. Meradeth smiled at Alador and then rose and moved to leave the building.

Dorien nodded and clapped his brother on the back. “Well then Alador, my dear lad, I do believe you owe some ale to some miners, and I am sure the elders wouldn’t mind a drink of your slips."  He flashed Alador a look that Alador understood immediately. They both knew his position was very insecure, and some celebration and sharing of his largess could not help but soothe the tense waters they had just sailed through. “It is a fine day and one to celebrate."  Dorien’s usual loud and boisterous voice drew the eyes of all those in the large room.

Alador looked around the room and slowly smiled. It was true, despite the tension of the last hour, he was an adult now. “Ah yes, I did promise to share."
 He got up and walked to the bar, many of the elders watching him closely. He looked over at Mistress Belithes who stood drying a tankard. “Run a tab and I will pay you first thing in the morn, Mistress?"  His tone was one of question and hope. He did not want to leave everyone and have to run home for slips.

Mistress Belithes tossed
the towel upon the bar and began pulling up additional tankards. “Aye, for I know where you live and what drink your brother best keeps. I am sure if I cannot find you, he soon would." She grinned at him and began filling mugs. Alador and Dorien ferried them to the elders that hadn’t hurried to the bar to be the first to share in Alador’s good fortunes.

Alador had been rather surprised. He had turned with two mugs only to have them taken from his hand by grinning elders who congratulated him before drinking deeply and moving off. He had been surprised elders could move that fast.

Once that was done, Dorien went to the door and flung it wide. “The alehouse is open, and Alador is buying."  There was a cheer that could be heard from outside. Having been waiting for the alehouse to reopen, it was not long before the room was filled with adults and middlins.

Alador eyes widened as he saw the number of mugs shared and passed around
, many being refilled again and again. Unaware his brother was watching him, he jumped when his brother approached him and whispered in his ear. “Better a few slips and to be well thought of then too much merit in that testing.”

Alador nodded. He feared they were going to drink the alehouse dry at this rate. Unable to watch more, he grabbed a mug for himself and went outside the bustling house. He looked around for Mesiande. He was surprised she had not been here. He sat on the stoop and sipped his own tankard. He now dreaded his father coming for his naming day. Always before, he had hoped to leave with his father one day. Now, now he wanted nothing more than to stay right here. He finally had a home, and it was now threatened by the very thing he had sought all of his life, a little magic.

Renamaum was meeting Pruatra by the small lake where they had first mated. He smiled as he hefted the large fish for their dinner into the air. She was heavy with egg and would soon lay. He planned to take her to the cave he had prepared. Its entrance was well protected. The cave did not even show to others except at the lowest of tides. At all other times, the entrance was under the water line. It then rose up from the sea and inside there was a small stream of fresh water. He had made a bed of the softest sea grass and sprinkled it with treasures from a nearby wreck.

This would be his first clutch, and whether there was one egg or many, he was looking forward to having dragonlings to teach. He would teach them the old ways and the pact made with the mortals that walked the isle. He would teach them the value of home and the bounties of the sea. So much world was out there to explore. And when it was time, he would take them to the magic pools to drink for the first time.

He roared with excitement and danced through the air. His wings banking left and right as he sought the updrafts, playing in the wind. He spotted the landmarks and began a slow spiral down. He knew she would love the fish, it was one of Pruatra’s favorites. In addition, it was still cold and only recently had stopped twitching, the catch was fresh. Heavy with egg, she had not been as swift. He spotted her along the shore and then he noticed she was not alone. A large black dragon was faced off with her. He recognized the irritated twitch of her snake like tail, its blue scales catching the light as it moved back and forth.

He banked down hard and came in beside her with no grace. He dropped the fish a few feet before he hit the ground, so as not to damage it. The furious beat of his wings to slow his descent doing little to minimize the ground shaking impact. He eyed the black as he looked at his mate. “Problems, Pruatra?”

Pruatra blinked the eye near him in a lazy manner as she drew her head up. “It would seem this black seeks to take your place as my mate. Why even now he was regaling me with tales of your demise and the fine lair he has ready for my eggs."  She looked at Renamaum with almost imperious consideration.

“My demise?"
 Renamaum rumbled with humor. “I see and may I ask how I have come to such a sudden end?"  He moved a step forward as the black before him appeared unconcerned and presented as having little fear.

“Why I killed you, of course."
 The black dipped his head in acknowledgement ever so slightly. “It was a fine battle.”

“Should you not actually fight the battle before you claim the prize?"
 Renamaum almost liked this interloper.

The black inspected a talon and then looked up at Renamaum. “I always find it easier than actually exerting myself if the prize can be convinced the battle is done.”

Pruatra snorted with indignation. “As if I believed you. I would know if Renamaum fell, we are true mates.”

The black peered at Renamaum. The blue dragon had drawn himself up to full form. Renamaum surveyed the black. His weapon was more deadly, the dripping acid could render scales nearly useless. It would make up for the fact that
that the black was also somewhat smaller. He also knew the black flight could bank on a tighter round then he could. However, he and Pruatra outnumbered him, and that was a point he was hoping would put the dragon off. He didn’t want Pruatra in a fight, but he also knew she was a willful mate and was likely to make her own choices in the matter.

“Pruatra, take a swim."
 Renamaum hoped she would get his message. The black dragon’s acid was diffused in water, but their weapon could be launched from within it.

Pruatra gave an indignant sound of air as she turned and lumbered her body off the beach and into the lake. She submerged out of sight, and Renamaum knew she was safest there. Whether she would stay there or not, well that would be another matter.

Alador shook his head free of the strange vision that had caught his thoughts. He realized that he had not seen Mesiande. In some ways, the female dragon reminded him of her. He sat upon the steps of the
alehouse gazing about the village as it moved and breathed with a seeming life of its own. He did not see her hovering anywhere. It was later in the day than he had thought when he first left the ritual hut. The sun was well past the high mark. The sounds of the repairs being made from yesterday’s fire filled his ears. The village would send the dead to the gods tomorrow. Preparations were being made for funeral pyres. He had seen a korpen pulled by with a cart of boughs. It usually was two to three days before a funeral. There was a pyre to build and then of course the preparing of the bodies. With so much going on, maybe she had headed out of the village.

He stopped by the house for his bow and quiver, then he headed for the fields. It was a day of work, so perhaps she had not decided to help drink up his slips and had instead stayed to her duties. Most that had taken advantage of the free ale would also have only a cup or two and return to their tasks. He smiled at the thought of Mesiande sitting at his table, glass in hand. He kind of liked the idea of providing for her. He walked along happily, now on the task of seeking out the girl that held his thoughts. He knew she wasn’t with Gregor because Gregor had put down two mugs of ale before he had wandered out.

Gregor had never been one to turn down free food or drink. He was usually first in line at any gathering where food was involved. He didn’t seem to carry any fat and yet he could out eat Alador two to one on any day. Alador had long since learned not to try to outdrink him. He smiled remembering the time the two had snuck off with a small keg and worked to out drink the other. He had woken up in a dress. He still had no idea whose dress that had been.

He hop
ped the stone border that stood between the fields. Each field’s border was built from the rocks that were cleared.  It left the ground free for planting and given that Korpen were not prone to a great deal of effort, it kept wild herds out of the fields. Prang could jump, so they didn’t even bother to keep them out. In fact, it made for easy hunting at times.

The crops were just breaking ground, and small green sprouts were within every row. The task at hand now was to thin where too many seeds had fallen to insure that the yield was strong and that the plants did not choke each other out. It was not work he enjoyed and would often volunteer to work in the forge. He would rather sweat in the heat of sun and forge then try to thin those delicate plants.

He nodded to several that were involved in this task, but he did not see her anywhere. He wandered the field to the far end towards the river. It was beautiful in the spring season. The trees were all full of bright green leaves, and the prickleberry bushes that grew along the outer border in places were awash with bright purple blossoms. As he made it down to towards the river, he saw two figures against a tree. It looked to be lovers. He started to turn another direction, and then looked back. There had been something about the girl against the tree that seemed familiar. His vision focused as it did on the targets, racing towards him. It was Trelmar and Mesiande. She had her back to the tree, looking very angry. Trelmar had one hand on the tree beside her head, her braid in his hand, and the other hand was stroking a finger slowly down her cheek. Mesiande was pressed back to the tree, her hands were tightly clenched. Trelmar’s back was to him. His finger stopped at her lips, and Alador could see her trembling as if he stood beside them.

Rage flooded through Alador, and he began to run towards them. His eyes flitted between the ground he was crossing and Mesiande’s face. He vaulted the stone fence that marked the field, and threw down his bow and quiver as he drew close. Normally, his bow was far too precious for such rough handling, but in that moment, Alador did just not care. He knew what Trelmar was planning. There was only one reason he would pin Mesiande against the tree like that. He tackled Trelmar just as the middlin was leaning in to take a kiss. Trelmar looked up just before Alador landed in the middle of him and tried to turn to fend him off. Mesiande’s gasp of shock was lost as the two went rolling down the small incline tangled up in one another. When they hit the bottom, the
y both pushed back trying to untangle from the other. Both Trelmar and Alador rolled up almost simultaneously and squared off.

Trelmar grinned maliciously. “Finally a reason to beat you senseless as Mesi here is a witness that you started it."
 His tone dripping venom.

Alador didn’t wait for further conversation. He had one desire, and that was to beat Trelmar senseless. The middlin had tormented him all his life, and now had dared to touch his Mesiande. He launched himself at Trelmar, trying to smash him in the face with his fist. Alador’s intent was clearly broadcasted, and Trelmar was quicker than him and so easily blocked and sidestepped. Alador felt the blow to his ribs as his breath left him. Trelmar spun about and kicked him further down the incline toward the water. Alador barely kept his feet attempting to catch his breath, his lungs felt on fire.

“Stop it!  Stop it both of you!"  Mesiande picked up a rock and threw it hard, catching Trelmar in the shoulder. “I will fetch the elders, I swear I will!!"  Mesiande screeched at them both. Her eyes wild with panic.

Neither man seemed inclined to pay much heed to her as the bully strode towards Alador. Trelmar didn’t even glance at Mesiande when the rock hit him. Trelmar had beat him so many times before, but this time Alador felt no fear. He heard the man coming as he was trying to draw air and Alador managed to turn and as Trelmar launched himself at Alador’s back. He grabbed the man’s arm and using his forward momentum, managed to swing him into the river. Trelmar was caught unprepared and landed face down into the water, the splash sending water over Alador, as well. The river was waist deep and fairly swift.

Trelmar came up sputtering as he sought to gain footing against the current, his eyes filled with hatred. “You will never have her. You know this, right?  Once I tell what you have done, they will send you to live in another village. I will take her as my housemate. No one will want her once they know some Lerdenian half breed soiled any small one’s she might have."  Trelmar’s sneering tone was cutting, and even Mesiande put her hands over her mouth. Trelmar pushed the hair out of his eyes so he could see. “I will make sure every night she curses the day she met you."  Trelmar’s eyes raked over Mesiande, his meaning clear in his undressing gaze.

That threat was the last thing Alador remembered. He launched himself at Trelmar where he stood in the water, and they both went under. The river current grabbed them as they fought. Each struggled for footing to have the leverage enough to hit the other. Blood filled the water near them as they became a tumbling mass of fists and fury. The frothing and splashing mass was being taken downriver. Mesiande ran down the bank shouting as they fought. Neither heard Mesiande underwater, and they were gasping for breath each time they came up. The river pushed them over rocks as the two were banged and carried through the small rapids towards the small lake downstream. As the two fought, another battle filled Alador’s head melding with his own flying fists.

“You could just fly off and let me have her."
 The black drew back slightly, his hindquarters tensed to spring into the air. “It would save us both a lot of time and energy.”

“I am afraid she carries my clutch and I am rather partial to the idea of raising them."
 Renamaum moved ever so subtly, ready to pounce. He would not make the first move of aggression. It was not his way. However, he was not afraid to defend what was his. She was his mate, and no slimy black was going to worm in and take her from him, especially when Pruatra didn’t want him in the first place.

The black used this moment to strike. He thrust forward and up just enough to attempt to rake his talons across Renamaum’s eyes. The massive black wings, down thrusting with power enough to bend the small saplings nearby.

Renamaum had been ready and rather than ducking down, he twisted and grabbed the leg above the talon. He did not want the black in the air if he could help it. He bit down hard bringing a cry of pain from the dragon above him. Wings beat madly as the black tried to free itself from the painful grasp of the blue dragon that held him.

Renamaum waited, knowing the black dragon would try to free himself with his breath weapon. The massive black wings above him beat frantically and finally he felt the black take the great inhale. Just as that inhale slowed, he let go of the black dragon's leg. The black dragon’s acid spewed from its mouth but given that it had been beating its wing so frantically to get away, it shot forward and up. Renamaum immediately launched up into the air, as well. It would take some time for the acid to resettle and in that time he had a window to gain a further advantage.

The two dragon’s spiraled up as they looked for an opening. Renamaum purposefully widened his bank slightly so that the dragon would perceive a way to get behind him. He counted on the black waiting for his breath weapon and giving chase. He under calculated the intelligence of his foe as the black suddenly came up from his left. The black had banked even tighter, and his talon raked across the fragile membrane of the wing.

Renamaum’s scream of pain brought Pruatra’s head
out of the water below them. He could only hope she would have more fear for their clutch than his own well-being. Distracted by his mate, he almost missed another strike at his wing and was only able to bank his wing down at the last second. The black’s vicious claws raked across his back scales, the sound echoing down below them.