Morning came and everyone was ready to hunt, even before they had breakfast. Even the locals wanted to join them, so they could get in practice before the big battle. Selwyn and the others thought it was a good idea, so they split up into three groups. They would have experienced and inexperienced together; that way if those without skills ran into something they couldn’t handle, they would have someone to help them out. They were all fed and out of the city just after dawn.
They hoped to catch any troll that might be getting to shelter late. They didn’t find any trolls, but they did find more than a few fights. The locals were banged up a little, but they all survived. One had to be brought back from the brink of death, but he never died.
When they went back to the city for lunch, there was a ruckus at the gate. When they got close enough to see what was happening Culfang saw someone he had been waiting for. To everyone else, except Rylan and Osric, they were surprised to see an old man standing in front of the gate. He was bald and wore clothes that were all the color of gold.
“Who is that?” Valeris asked.
“I don’t know his name; in fact, I don’t think Culfang knows it. Tiernan does, but he won’t tell anyone. It has something to do with names having power,” Rylan explained.
“Do you mean to say that that is the gold dragon?” Selwyn couldn’t believe Culfang had talked the gold dragon to fight with them.
“The one and only, well, I don’t know if he’s the only, but you know what I mean.”
“This child won’t let me through the gate!” The little old man was saying to Culfang when they walked up.
“Why are you not letting this man in the city?” Culfang asked the guard, but before he could answer his friend spoke up.
“It is because I’m old! Oh he didn’t say it, but he didn’t need to; I can read minds you know.” He tapped his temple.
“What does age have to do with letting my friend in?” Culfang asked the guard while staring him directly in the eyes. The guard swallowed hard before he could answer.
“The city can only hold so many people. It can’t grow with the population, so the elderly aren’t allowed in, and those that live in the city are asked to leave when they turn sixty.”
“That’s why we want to help you defeat the evil in these lands. If the land is safe we won’t need to keep this awful law,” one of the people that had hunted, and fought with them said from the back of the group.
“He is my guest and will stay with me at the inn. He is not here to live; he came to help defeat Vileheart.” Now, let us pass before he bites your head off.” The guard thought he meant the old man would really bawl him out, but Culfang meant it literally.
“Very well, he is your guest, so he is welcome.” The guard stepped out of the way, and the whole crowd walked passed giving him a hateful look.
“I am sorry. If he knew who you really were he would have let you in right away.”
“He should treat all people with dignity no matter their age.”
“I will buy you a nice, soothing mead when we reach the inn,” Culfang said in a calm voice that the dragon responded to.
“Very well,”
“Which inn are you taking him to?” Rylan asked out of concern. He didn’t want the dragon insulted any more than he already was.
“The Orange Toad,”
“Why not the other inn, it’s just a name; it’s not like they have a real dragon’s foot.” Rylan must have forgotten the dragon could read minds.
“Of course, they don’t,” Rylan assured him. “I just thought you might be offended.”
“Not at all, in fact, it’s kind of flattering.” Rylan was glad he had such a good nature.
They kept it to themselves what he really was; no need to stir anything up if they didn’t need to. They did go to the Dragon’s Foot for a drink, but they went to The Orange Toad for lunch. Everyone was hoping Arden and Tiernan would make it back before the end of the day. Lunch came and went without either one returning. They went on the hunt again after their stomachs had settled.
They didn’t have as good of luck this time. They didn’t know it, but the monsters had smelt the dragon and fled the area. But at least they had something to keep them busy. They return to the city before dark, and still there was no return from either Arden or Tiernan.
“Surely they’ll make it back tomorrow.” Valeris missed Arden more than she thought she would.
“Well, it won’t be too long.” Rowena was trying to be a comforting friend.
“Let’s get going. We don’t want to miss dinner with the old man.” Rowena and Valeris were still staying at the Dragon’s Foot. Rowena wanted to be close to Ril’dar and Valeris was sharing the room with her. They were the only two women on this quest, so they decided to stick together.
They had been seated and served, and they were all having a wonderful conversation when they were interrupted by a scruffy looking boy who walked up to Valeris.
“What can I do for you, young man?” He pulled a flower out from behind his back.
“Someone paid me to bring you this flower.” Valeris’s eyes lit up. She jumped to her feet and started looking for Arden, but didn’t see him anywhere. She turned to the boy who was still standing there. She assumed he was waiting on a tip.
“Where is the man who gave you this to bring to me?” The boy took her by the hand and led her to the door leading outside. She looked out and saw Arden standing in the street with his arms full of flowers. She burst through the door and ran to him. She jumped in his embrace and threw her arms around him, crushing the flowers, and covering his face in kisses.
“I missed you so much.”
“And I missed you just as much.” He could spend the rest of time standing in that street breathing in the smell of her and feeling her against his skin. However, reality crushed that dream as thoroughly as Valeris had crushed the flowers.
“Can we get something to eat now?” Arden let out a little laugh as he wiped away his tears of joy.
“Not before you are introduced to my wife to be.” Valeris had a look of amused confusion.
“Jabin, this is Valeris.” He put one arm behind his back and the other on his stomach and then bowed low to her.
“Pleased to meet you,” Valeris gave Arden a look that was now more confused than amused.
“Valeris, this is Jabin, my adopted son.” Jabin’s face lit up when he heard those words from Arden. Valeris was rocked on her heels. She never would have thought of Arden as the parenting type, and that was one thing she really liked about him, but she kept her composure.
“Pleased to meet you, as well,” She wasn’t really sure what to do here, but she did a little curtsy. “You and I have a lot to talk about later,” she informed Arden with a slight edge of anger.
“Now that we know who everyone is, let’s go eat,” Arden said with a bit of joy.
Everyone had been watching from the door and windows. When they saw them coming they all took their place at the table. When they walked in everyone stood up and yelled his name as they crowded around him. When the room had settled down he said, “First things first. I met up with the army and gave them a map to follow. They will be here either tomorrow late or the next day. And this,” he indicated Jabin with a hand gesture, “is Jabin, my adopted son.” Jabin’s face lit up again. Everyone, like Valeris, was stunned. After the initial shock, they all congratulated him.
“Boy, when you pirates do something, you go all out.” Osric gave a friendly pat to Arden’s back.
“I guess Tiernan hasn’t made it back yet?” Arden looked around the room.
“No, he hasn’t. I see you dodged my comment,” Osric pointed out.
“We’ll talk about that later.” Jabin pulled up a chair by Arden’s. He thought about pulling it between Arden and Valeris, but she didn’t look too happy, so he settled with sitting by Osric. He helped himself to the food he could reach and Osric helped him with what he couldn’t. Arden was surprised to see Jabin take to Osric so easily. Osric wasn’t scarred up like the general had been, but he hadn’t allowed soldiers to beat the boy either.
They talked about what happened since they had last seen each other. The talk went back and forth from person to person. Their meal was coming to an end when Tiernan burst through the doors.
“Tiernan,” Rylan called. He was the first to see him. Again, the table was abandoned, except for Jabin; he was too hungry to care even if he had known Tiernan. There were hugs and back slaps all around. Once everyone had settled down he told them where the army was and when they could expect them.
“That’s great; they should get here around the same time as the troops from Seahold,” Selwyn said. They all knew what that meant, the day set for their departure. They would leave the day after the troops arrived. Tiernan leaned over to Arden and told him he would like to talk to him later. ‘You’re not the only one.” Arden thought.
“So, when did you all decide to stay here?” Tiernan asked.
“A couple of nights back,” Rowena answered. “He removed the spell he was using, and we split up between the two inns.”
“Well, I for one don’t care where I sleep, as long as there is a bed.” The innkeeper brought Tiernan a plate and a flagon of ale. “Thank you, good sir.” While he was filling his plate, he noticed Jabin. “And who might you be?”
“I’m Jabin, Arden’s son,” he said this as if it were common knowledge. Tiernan was shocked, but he didn’t show it.
“Well, Jabin; I’m Tiernan, it’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s good to meet you as well, Tiernan.” Jabin barely took his eyes off his plate. Everyone else had finished eating, but Jabin was still hungry. Arden let him eat as much as he could hold. He knew Jabin hadn’t had very many good meals in his young life, so he was going to let him indulge himself for a while.
Talks were renewed now that Tiernan had given them something else to talk about. Their excitement was renewed as well.
“If Vileheart didn’t know we were coming; he’ll know in a few days. The troops tramping through the wood will get his attention. So, we won’t have any surprise on that end, but we still have a trick or two,” Selwyn said.
“Did he just call me a trick?” the gold dragon asked Edred.
“I don’t think that was his intent, but yes, I think he did,” Edred said with a little laugh.
“Oh well, I’ve been called worse.” The dragon let out a little laugh of his own. He had lived a long time and learned not to take things, or himself, to seriously.
“Tell me, Tiernan. Did you have any trouble on your errand?” William asked.
“Not too much trouble; I did run into a group of monsters that I was only able to escape because a scout came to my rescue.”
“And how did he help you escape?”
“She,” Tiernan corrected. “She had a magic item that cast a wall of concealment. She said it had been in her family for a long time.”
“What kind of item,”
“She wouldn’t tell me that, but what she did tell me was she was the daughter of a general.”
“I think I may know who you’re talking about. You’ll have to point her out when she gets here.”
“I’ll do that.”
“And what about you, Arden, did you have any trouble?”
“No, I sure didn’t.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Tiernan, can I talked to you a minute?” Arden asked when he pushed his plate away.
“Yes,” They walked over to the bar where they could hear a bit easier.
“Can you do me a favor?” Arden asked.
“I probably can. What is it?”
“Can you watch Jabin for a while? I need to talk to Valeris. She’s not happy with me.”
“I can do that. Take all the time you need. I’ll watch him for the rest of the night if you’d like.”
“Thank you.” He put a hand on his shoulder. “Now if I can get Jabin to stay with you.”
“I don’t think that’ll be a problem. He has taken a shine to me. I’ll go tell him you want to see him.” Tiernan walked back to the table and sent Jabin to Arden.
“Hey, Jabin, can you do me a favor?”
“I guess so.”
“Can you stay with Tiernan tonight?” Jabin got a scared look on his face. “I’m not leaving you, if that’s what you think.” His face relaxed.
“I guess I can.” Jabin didn’t want to disappoint Arden.
“Thank you. You’re a good kid.” Arden walked him back to the table. Jabin jumped in an empty chair next to Tiernan. Arden leaned over Valeris’s shoulder and asked her to go for a walk with him.
“I didn’t mean to shock you,” he told her when they were outside.
“Did you even think about me, or us, when you decided to drag some child home with you?” Valeris asked with a little more anger than she meant to.
“It’s not like I just plucked some kid off the street. Jabin has been through a lot in his life. He’s been through more than you, or I could comprehend.”
“Like what,” Valeris asked with an unbelieving tone.
“I won’t tell you everything, for his benefit.” He told her some of the horrors Jabin told him.
“Alright, you did a good thing by rescuing him, but I thought you didn’t want children, or at least not for a few years.”
“Even after what I have told you, you aren’t moved by his plight?”
“It’s sad, yes, but there are a lot of children in his position. Are you going to take them in as well?”
“Well, no,”
“And why not, are they not worthy of your attention?” She really wanted him to give some thought before he made his mind up.
“Are you telling me to give him up?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Have you given any thought to who will take care of him while you’re at sea?”
“I thought you would,” he said honestly.
“Did you really? I planned on traveling while you were gone; for weeks at a time.”
“Then I’ll take him with me. He can be a cabin boy.” Arden was trying to show her he hadn’t jumped to his decision easily.
“What are you going to do with Jabin while we’re off battling Vileheart?” It was a good question he hadn’t given any thought to. “And what if you don’t come back? Who is to care for him then?” He looked confused. He hadn’t given any thought to that either. He had let his emotions rule his mind. Maybe he did rush in with his eyes closed, and his heart opened, but it still felt like the right thing to do.
“I’m sure Edred, or Tiernan would take him in, if it should come to that.” He felt confident in his answer.
“Edred and Conrad plan on traveling, so I wouldn’t count on Edred. Not to mention that he has already raised one child by himself. And Tiernan is planning on going with Thryth through Kingdom Tunnel to the dwarven lands.”
“I’m sure one of them would take him in.”
“You may be right, but they wouldn’t need to if they weren’t put in that position.” She was beginning to make him rethink his decision. Every time he gave an answer; she would shoot it down. “Look, I love you, but I think you need time alone to give it serious thought. I will watch Jabin if you wish.”
“Tiernan is watching him. He said he would keep him tonight so we could talk. You’ve given me a lot to think about.” She gave him a hug and a kiss.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” She walked back to the Dragon’s Foot and left him to his thoughts. He returned to The Orange Toad to have a drink. He wouldn’t drink enough to cloud his mind. He just needed something to calm his nerves.
“Need an ear?” Edred was sitting in a dark corner of the bar. When he saw Arden sit down at the bar, alone, he knew he would need a friend.
“Thank you for the offer, but I need to think about a few things.”
“Sometimes it’s easier to think things through if you hear them out loud.” When Arden didn’t say anything, Edred sat down beside him. “Is it about Jabin?” Arden only nodded. “I take it Valeris isn’t thrilled to be a mother before she’s married?”
“That’s one way to put it.” Arden tipped up his ale.
“And she’s not ready to be tied down with Jabin while you’re out at sea.”
“I told her I could take him with me.”
“So, what else seems to be the problem?” Edred asked.
“I didn’t think about how my decision would affect everyone around me.”
“Other than it making her a mother, who else is affected,”
“Right this minute, Tiernan, he’s watching Jabin because I needed to talk to Valeris, and you wouldn’t be sitting here counseling me. But the biggest would be if I didn’t return from the upcoming battle. Who will take care of Jabin? Will you, or Tiernan, or Osric? Either way it affects others,” Arden tilted his mug for another drink.
“If you and Valeris had a child, it would affect the same people the same way. Valeris just didn’t have nine months to prepare herself for it.”
“I hadn’t thought about it that way. But I did act selfishly.”
“You did the right thing. If I were to find an orphan in the woods, I would have done as you did.” He paused for a moment before he continued. “I don’t mean to be harsh, but it sounds to me like Valeris is the one with a problem.”
“Well, she sure made me feel like it was all me.” He took another drink. “So, what’s the answer?”
“I can’t give you the answer, but I can tell you none of us would consider Jabin a problem. If something did happen to you, and we couldn’t bring you back, anyone of us would be happy to take him in. Would it change our lives? Sure. But we would still do it because it’s the right thing to do.”
“You make a lot of sense. I just hope she comes around to seeing things your way.” Edred grabbed Arden’s arm and gave him a gentle squeeze.
“Given time, I’m sure she will.” Edred finished his drink. “I’m turning in, unless you’d like me to stick around a little longer.”
“No, go to bed. And thank you for your counsel.”
“Anytime, just clear your head and get some sleep.” Edred left Arden sitting on his barstool.
Arden finished his drink and left for his room. He would let things unfold; however they happened. He hated the thought of losing Valeris, but if that was her choice, so be it.