“Morning all,” Tiernan said when he and Jabin came downstairs. When Jabin saw Arden, he ran up and threw his arms around him.
“Easy there, fellow; you about knocked me over.” Arden lifted him off his feet, despite his size, and gave him a big hug. “Did you sleep well?”
“I guess.”
“Was Tiernan nice to you?” He gave Tiernan a wink.
“Yeah, I’m hungry. Can we get something to eat?”
“Sure thing,” Jabin sat down in a chair at the tables they had pushed together. “I’ve already told the innkeeper what we’d like, so it shouldn’t be too long.”
“Okay,” Jabin said through a yawn.
“Thanks for watching him.”
“It was my pleasure.” Tiernan leaned in to Arden. “I’d like to talk to you later, if you can find the time.”
“I think I can.”
It wasn’t long before everyone was fed, and groups were formed for patrols.
“Jabin, I need you to stay here with this nice gentleman while I’m in the woods.” Arden caught Valeris looking their way. She had a look that said, ‘See what I mean’.
“Why can’t I go with you? I can help. I have my own sword.” Jabin had a hopeful look on his face.
“You know; I think I will stay here with you.” Arden was talking to Jabin, but he was looking at Valeris. “I can teach you how to use that sword. Would you rather do that?”
“That would be great!” A smile broke Jabin’s face with excitement. “Nobody has ever shown me how to fight. I’ve watched others from a distance and copied what they did, but I don’t think I was doing any of it correctly.”
“You must have been doing something right. You’ve made it all this time by yourself,” Arden praised him.
“I guess I did, didn’t I.” Jabin had more inner strength than anybody Arden had ever known, and the boy didn’t even know it himself.
“Maybe when I get back I’ll show you a few things.” Tiernan tousled Jabin’s hair.
“Sure, alright,” Jabin didn’t sound as happy about that, but Tiernan understood.
“Thank you for offering to watch him for me,” Arden said to the dragon. “But he’s my responsibility.”
“Think nothing of it. It would have been a nice distraction for me.”
“You could join us.”
“I would like that.” He looked to Jabin. “If you don’t mind,”
“I don’t mind.” Jabin really didn’t mind as long as he was with Arden.
“I hate to interrupt, but we’re leaving.”
“Hold on, I’ll walk you to the gate. Jabin, go get your sword and wait here for me.”
“Alright,” Jabin ran off to get his prized possession.
Tiernan hung back while the others went ahead. He wanted to talk to Arden about the general’s daughter and would rather not have others listening in. As they walked to the gate, he told Arden what had happened, and that he couldn’t get her out of his head.
“It sounds to me like that item she claimed to have; may also have the ability to charm.”
“I thought of that, but what if that’s not the case?”
“Well, I think either way you should talk to this woman when she gets here.”
“I know this is going to sound childish, but would you go with me to talk to her.” Arden was about to protest. “Just in case it is a charm, maybe if you’re with me, she won’t use it as an advantage over me.”
“Alright,” Arden laughed and slapped him on the back.
“I’ll see you in a few hours.” They parted company when they reached the gate.
*****
Rowena and Valeris lagged behind the others. Valeris wanted to talk to Rowena about the surprise Arden sprang on her.
“So tell me, did I act rashly?” She had told Rowena about the conversation, she and Arden had before she returned to the Dragon’s Foot.
“It was a bit of a shock. I’m not sure I would have reacted any different.”
“But was I right in saying that he was selfish? Or am I the one being selfish?”
“I’ve been thinking about this whole Jabin thing. What Arden did was noble. Try putting yourself in the position he was in. Would you have done the same thing? Would you have given any thought about how it would affect Arden?” Rowena knew she, herself, would have done the same.
“I tried putting myself in his position, but I can’t say for certain that I would have done as he did, but my thinking has been clouded by the whole thing,” Valeris confessed.
“I understand. It must be hard to separate yourself from the picture.” They walked a short distance without talking. “Have you asked yourself why this is such a big deal?”
“I tried asking myself that question, but I let my anger get the best of me.”
“If you don’t mind, I have a few thoughts about that.”
“No, please. I want to know what you think.”
“Well, you aren’t even married yet, and he brings home a child, so you feel cheated. Like something was stolen from you. I’m sure you wanted to spend more time with him, alone, which is something you haven’t had a chance to do. Ever since you arrived at Seahold you’ve been surrounded by people. People you didn’t even know, in the beginning, and now you’re on this quest. And you had hoped that at the end of this quest you would get your chance to have him to yourself.”
“So, you’re saying I’m being selfish.”
“That wasn’t really what I was trying to say, but I can see how you would think that. No, you’ve been waiting patiently and your patients was about to pay off. Then you were slapped with an extension of sorts. Now you have to wait until Jabin is all settled in before you get your time with Arden.”
“I think I understand what you’re trying to say.” She let out a heavy sigh. “If I have to wait longer to get time alone with the man I love, so be it.”
“I hate that it has to be that way, but I think you’re right.”
“Now that’s settled let’s go kill some monsters!” Valeris exclaimed with enthusiasm.
“That’s the spirit,”
*****
Noon came and everyone returned to the city for lunch. As they approached the gate, they spotted riders coming out of the woods. It was the scouts from both armies. Tiernan saw the one that had been on his mind since he met her.
“Welcome to Dendra. I’m glad you could find it,” William said when they were standing in front of him and Wayland.
“Thank you, Sire.” All four scouts bowed.
“Report,”
“The armies will both by here by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Good to hear.”
“You four go get rooms. I’m sure you could use a good night’s sleep, because tomorrow you will join the troops in camp,” Wayland said. They all bowed and left.
“That was her,” Tiernan told King Wayland after they had walked away.
“I thought that might be the one you were talking about. Her family has been in Stonehaven’s army since the beginning of the kingdom.”
“Does that mean you know about her magic item as well?” Tiernan was hoping Wayland would be able to tell him everything he could about this woman.
“I can tell you it’s an amulet. It was a gift to her family, a long time ago, for their loyalty to the crown, and the kingdom. But if you’re asking what powers it contains, I’m afraid I can’t help.” Wayland could see Tiernan’s disappointment.
“Well, do you know if she is promised to anyone?”
“I don’t know that either, but I do know her father is very strict. If you were planning on courting her, don’t. He will only let her marry an officer in the Stonehaven army.”
“Really, why is that?” Tiernan couldn’t understand that kind of thinking. He thought her father would want someone she could spend the rest of her life with, and a soldier’s life isn’t very long.
“It’s been a family tradition for many generations, and you can bet she won’t go against her father’s wishes. So turn your eyes a different direction.” Wayland didn’t know Tiernan very well, but he knew the general would never allow Tiernan to be with his daughter.
“I’ll try, but I’m not sure I can.” Wayland wasn’t convinced.
“Can we get something to eat now,” Selwyn interrupted.
“Excuse me,” the gate guard said to him. “It looks like you have more company.” He pointed toward the woods to the south. Selwyn looked and saw their giant waiting for them.
They all went to meet the giant with weapons ready. He was supposed to be an ally, but he was a monster, and they didn’t fully trust him.
“What can we do for you?” William asked.
“I came to tell you I was able to gather help, and to ask you when we attack.”
“What kind of help,”
“A few giants and a few griffins, there may be others, but they haven’t decided.”
“Decided, do you mean which side?”
“No. If they don’t fight with us, they won’t fight at all.”
“Glad to hear that. We move out the day-after tomorrow.”
“I will meet you here with the others.”
“I look forward to it.” The giant walked back in the woods and was gone.
“Can we eat now?” This time it was Rylan, who asked.
“I hope so, I’m very hungry,” Tiernan said. They walked back to the gate and made it inside without another interruption.
Instead of going to one of the inns, they decided to try one of the taverns. The guard at the gate told them which one he thought was the best, and that was where they went. Tiernan went back to the inn and let Arden, and the dragon, know where they were eating so they could join them.
“We’ll be right there. You go ahead and get something to eat. I’m sure you’ve worked up an appetite,” Arden said.
“I can wait. I don’t think Thryth will eat everything they have.”
“Alright, I just want to run our swords to our room. Jabin, you wait here; I’ll be right back.”
Tiernan happened to look in the bar and see the female scout sitting at a table by herself. “I’ll be right back. I want to say hello to a new friend.” He left Jabin and the dragon standing there.
“Hello, again,” Tiernan approached her table.
“Hello,” was all that got.
“I was wondering if you would like to join us for lunch.”
“No, thank you. I’m waiting on someone.”
“Okay, I just wanted to thank you again for saving my skin.” She only looked at him as if he were some unusual bug. After a moment of awkward silence, he walked back to Jabin and the dragon. Arden rejoined them just as Tiernan reached them.
“Better luck next time boy,” the dragon said to Tiernan. Arden gave them a questioning look. “Tiernan was trying to make friends with the young lady,” he pointed to the scout. “She didn’t respond favorably.”
“Oh, alright, well, let’s go meet up with the others.” Arden put a comforting hand on Tiernan’s shoulder.
When they reached the tavern, everyone was already eating. They were looking for a place to sit when Arden saw Valeris waving him over.
“Jabin, go with Tiernan. I need to talk to Valeris for a minute.” Jabin hung his head but went with him.
“Good afternoon,” Arden said to Valeris and Rowena. Valeris patted the empty chair beside her. He took the seat.
“I’m sorry for the way I acted,” Rowena told him. “There’s room enough for Jabin in both our lives. And I think what you did was heroic.” She leaned over and kissed him.
“I hope you’re not just saying that because you think that’s what I want to hear.”
“No, I’m not. I love you, and I want to be with you. If Jabin happens to be a part of your life, then he’s a part of mine.” He stared into her eyes for a second before he leaned forward and kissed her back. Rowena got a tear in her eye.
“Would you mind terribly giving up your seat? I’d like Jabin to join us,” Arden asked Rowena.
“I don’t mind.” She gave Selwyn a pat on the hand as she got up.
“Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, so I’m calling off this afternoon’s patrol,” Selwyn announced. “We’ll have plenty of monsters to fight in the coming days. So, save your strength.”
“Culfang, I was wondering if you would tell us about Vileheart?” Selwyn asked after a few minutes.
“What would you like to know?”
“Everything you can tell us.”
“To start with I do not know who taught him his skills. I have been trying to find that out for some time.”
“Okay, but why does he think Zarail belongs to him?”
“He saw it as abandoned and claimed it as his own. He has worked many years to build his kingdom and wants to add to it. He has even made a general to lead his army.”
“What do you mean he ‘made’ a general?” Osric didn’t like the sound of that.
“That is a question best answered while not eating.”
“After lunch then,” Osric was intrigued and wanted to know how it was made, so he could better fight it.
“What about the dragon of shadows? Can you tell us anything that will help us fight it?” Rylan asked.
“That’s not for you to worry about,” the gold dragon said. “That’s my responsibility.”
“Not to be negative, but what if you should fail?” Osric asked.
“Then I will finish the task,” Culfang assured him.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to question your ability or power, but you didn’t do too well against it the last time we encountered it,” Rylan pointed out.
“I was caught unprepared, that will not happen again.”
“I hope your right. If you both fail I’m not sure any of us, or all of us, will be any good against such a foe.” Osric didn’t like to admit the possibility of defeat, but he had seen the dragon’s power and knew swords alone wouldn’t be enough.
“I will tell Rowena all she needs to know. If we fail, she will be your last hope.”
“You’re saying if she should fail, we will all fail?” Osric couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Yes,” That answer made them all feel inadequate.
“I will not fail,” the dragon said into the silence that followed Culfang’s answer.
“Oh, that makes me feel so much better,” Rylan said sarcastically.
“I think you should show more respect. We are lucky he agreed to help. He could have said no, and we would only have Culfang to deal with the dragon.” Wayland chided his son for being insensitive to such an honored guest.
“I’m sorry; we are lucky to have you. All the stress has me on edge.” After that the conversation turned lighter.
“How old are you, Jabin?” Valeris was hoping to find a way to feel as strong about this boy as Arden did.
“I think I’m twelve.” He was still eating, like most boys do when they have the chance.
“You don’t know for sure?” She couldn’t understand how he didn’t know his own age.
He stood up and whisper in her ear. “I’ve been hit a lot in the head, so I can’t remember as good as I used to could.” He sat back down and continued to eat.
“Oh, alright,” She felt bad for asking and wasn’t sure what to do now. Arden put an arm over her shoulders to comfort her. She thought that was bad, but she didn’t know all there was to know.
“Don’t worry; you two will get along just fine,” Arden whispered to her. She gave him a smile in return.
When they were all done eating they went outside to finish their conversation about Vileheart’s general.
“Explain to us how this dark wizard ‘made’ his army’s leader.” Osric didn’t know a lot about magic but thought it had to be unnatural; however he achieved it.
“I’m not sure it is something a young man should hear.” Culfang was looking at Arden.
“I’ll see you all back at the inn. Jabin and I are going to look at swords.” Arden craftily removed the young ears from the conversation.
“Do you want to come with us?” Jabin asked Valeris.
“Yes, I do.” She was surprised, he asked. She had a feeling Jabin didn’t like her. She also knew that Rowena would inform her of what Culfang told them.
“I am sorry to tell you this, Selwyn, Edred, but he used the bones from the royal cemetery, your ancestors. He used magic to bind the bones together, and he used the flesh of slain villagers to cover the bones. After that he clad him in armor and gave him a sword. But what makes him so dangerous is his mind; Vileheart gave him his own mind, or at least a copy. He did not give him his powers; he could not risk being overthrown by his creation.”
“That is awful.” Rowena paled when the image of such a thing came to her mind.
“What bones he did not use in his general, he used to make soldiers. He gave his soldiers swords and shields, but that is all. However, the only way they can be destroyed is with a magical weapon. So, if you do not have a magical weapon stay away from the skeletons.”
“I think we’re all covered, thanks to William, and Ladon.” Osric gave his new sword at his hip a pat.
“Anything else we need to know?” William asked.
“Not that I can think of right now.”
“All right, go relax while you can,” Selwyn instructed. They all split up for the afternoon and met back at the Dragon’s Foot just after dark.