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Chapter Thirty One

The rest of the day seemed to drag on forever. After the heart pounding heat of battle, and the seemingly endless flow of adrenaline that had roared through my body all morning long, the aftermath seemed far more arduous and difficult to drag myself through then the battle itself. The long nights with little sleep and little food were catching up with me, and as the adrenaline pulsing through my blood stream wore off, and I turned myself from battle to the tasks of a commander in the battle’s aftermath, I began to feel more and more worn out.

I had tried to hard to avoid becoming anything resembling their leader, and yet here I was, leading them not only into battle but into the time that came after it. I put Kylah and Ravek to as many tasks as I could, and found myself faced with yet more. And despite my distaste for the role, I found myself unable or unwilling to turn down the humans who asked me to help perform them. Whether by choice or by simply bad luck I continued to take charge of what had once been their army, and was now my army. I was not particularly found of that term; my army. It made it sound as though I was just some general sending them out to fight for my own gains. If I had to take any sort of ownership, I preferred at least the term our army, as if we were all in this together. Which, of course, we were.

Ravek made himself known to me not long after we had taken the castle to tell me that his men had joined up with the rest of our forces and had killed or captured all the remaining bandit-soldiers who had fallen back to the castle and surrounding area. Some of his men were still going alley to alley and house to house to root out any more bandits, and he suspected they would be doing so well into the night.

Ravek wished to start an immediate count of the dead, to gather them from throughout the city and place them together for funeral rites and identification, but I told him he would have to wait. The blacksmith with the shaved head was not happy at first, but after I explained myself, he came to agree it was probably the best course of action. Rounding up all those we’d lost would take a lot of men and a lot of effort, and I was not yet ready to spare them. Instead, I told him his first priority needed to be seeing to all the wounded. I wanted him to put every man he could to making sure we had all our wounded together and being given the best care possible. I also wanted him to find a few men to locate doctors, healers and surgeons throughout Talhof and put them to work first on our soldiers, and then the wounded of our enemy.

I made it clear to Ravek that our wounded needed care immediately, while the dead could wait. I also made it clear that our second priority should be to make sure Talhof understood exactly who we were and what had just happened. If they thought we too were bandits or that I was simply some wicked monster who had bewitched them, we would find ourselves with far more dead to round up when the townspeople turned against us.

Once I had Ravek straightened out, I finally acquiesced to allow Kylah to deal with my arrow wound. Stubborn as usual, she was unwilling to take up any other responsibility until I’d allowed her to do so. So I settled myself inside the castle where it was dry and she fetched some aid supplies contained in a little wicker basket. Soon I was gritting my teeth and scratching the beautiful white and black marble floor with my claws as she cleansed the arrow hole with hot, searing spirits. And as she sewed it shot with thick, sinew threads into both muscle and skin, I had to resist the urge to pound my paws against the floor in pain, lest I should break something else. Kylah, sweet as ever, told me not to be a such a baby. She told me I’d hardly complained when they’d sewn up a whole patchwork arrangement of arrow holes a few weeks ago, as well as a nearly fatal axe wound in my side.

I hissed and irritably reminded her I’d been unconscious that time.

When the damnable stitches were complete, she bandaged me up the same way they had before, only this time she applied the gauze and cotton with a few extra dabs of sticky resin to try and keep it affixed even in the rains outside. I stood back up and tested my front leg, and as I’d feared I could feel the irritating things tugging at my flesh with every movement I made. Wonderful, just what I wanted. Another set of stitches to itch and bother me incessantly. Still, one set of stitches was better then a dozen of them.

All in all I supposed I’d come out of that battle pretty well. Only one arrow that had stuck in me this time, and a few holes punched through my wings that while painful would heal easily enough. This time around, the worst of my injuries seemed to be self inflicted. I gingerly unfurled my wings, testing them once more, and then folded them back up again with a little hiss.

“Quit fussing with your wings,” Kylah muttered, putting her supplies away.

“You quit fussing with your…well…just quit it!” I snapped at her with approximately none of the sarcastic bite I’d first intended thanks to my worn out brain being unable to come up with anything she might be fussing with.

“Why do you keep opening them anyway? They’re not going to feel better yet.”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I suppose the same reason I couldn’t help but poke at my stitches before or the same reason people prod sore teeth with their tongues even though it only makes it hurt more.”

Kylah bent down and retrieved a little drinking bowl that looked as though she’d purloined it from my collection. She dropped some green herbs into it that were nice and leafy when she harvested them a few days ago, but were now half dried out. Then she poured some of the harsh medicinal spirits into the bowl and got a little pestle to mash up the spirits and herbs. When she was done she handed me the bowl.

“Drink it, Vraal.”

I sniffed it, and the aroma of sharp spirits and bitter herbs left my nostrils stinging. I hissed at it as if trying to scare it away. “No!”

“Drink it!” She said, a little sterner then before. “I’ll help the pain.”

Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad idea. I took the bowl in a paw, took a deep breath, and then tipped the concoction back to my muzzle, and my head back against my neck. The taste was hideous, and the texture was even worse. Somehow how the herbs had given the spirit’s a gooey, sticky consistency that slid down my tongue and along my throat like slowly oozing honey. And while it had the texture of honey, it had the taste of hot, burning milkweed, painfully bitter. I nearly wretched it back up, and it took several hard gulps to get it down.

“Poison!” I coughed, tossing the bowl down in disgust, my throat still burning.

The wooden bowl clattered across the marble floor, and Kylah picked it up, laughing at me. “You’re such a complainer, Vraal. You’ll feel a lot better in a little while, I promise.”

My tongue and my muzzle were already feeling a little odd. Half tingly, and half numb. I worked my tongue across my black lips and my gray chin a few times, then glared at Kylah. “Was that the sort of herb that shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol?”

“…Yes,” Kylah admitted, adding “I didn’t have enough for a dragon sized dose. But alcohol intensifies the effect.”

“Wonderful,” I muttered. “If my heart explodes or my liver fails, my last words are going to be to order Ravek to bite you.”

Despite the extremely unpleasant nature of the concoction, Kylah was right. Not long after I’d forced myself to quaff it the pain along my wings and behind my shoulder was already starting to fade. It did not disappear entirely but was reduced from rather severe to little more then a nagging ache. No worse then I occasionally felt in my bones when it was very cold out. Ugh, I was getting old, wasn’t I.

The strange stuff she’d given me also had the side effect of helping to rejuvenate some of my spent energy, at least for a little while. Before long I was back out in the fog and drizzle despite Kylah protesting that I should remain inside the castle and keep my bandage dry. I told her since she was so good at bandaging me up by now she could always do it again later and went out into the city anyway.

I didn’t go too far from the castle, mind you. I know most of the town wouldn’t yet know about me and there was no reason to give anyone a scare, or give them a reason to attack a wounded, and apparently drugged dragon. I found that despite the temporary energy boost and the reduction of my pain, my brain didn’t quite seem to catch up to the rest of my body. Someone asked me a question and I stared at them blankly, mentally fumbling for an answer.

With a little effort and concentration I was able to get my brain to cooperate, though. I helped Ravek and Kylah choose soldiers to make sure all the wounded were being tended, and then to choose groups of men to spread word of our intentions, and others to lead those groups. Within a couple of hours we had every wounded soldier brought to the castle in the center of town, which we set up as a temporary medical center. They needed shelter, and it was the only spot that was not only big enough to house them all, but also currently vacant. When we no longer needed it I had every intention of handing it back over to the townspeople but for now it would serve as a center for our doctors and surgeons and our recovering wounded.

Next I had all the captured soldiers rounded up, their hands bound and I had a few men start going through them. Getting names and ranks and any information they’d give us, treating those of them that were wounded. We would have to find a place to house them, but now they were stuck out in the rain while we took care of other priorities. Busy as we were we had little time to interrogate them, but I did overhear a few early conversations. It seemed that much as I tried to make it clear that Kylah led Emerfeld’s forces, our enemies too were led by a woman. Some of the men referred to her as the Scarlet Queen, others the Scarlet General. Apparently she had fiery red hair, and rarely gave out her real name. She reminded me of something, but I couldn’t quite place a paw upon it. It seemed as though it was her idea in the first place to take over this part of the world and ally themselves with the nearby king. For a bunch of bandits, her men seemed surprisingly loyal to her, and I was a little distressed by that.

I had imagined the bandits being lead by someone little more then a barbarian king. Controlling them only with brute force and a promise of wealth. Not with word and intentions that though twisted, may have once been noble. Still, perhaps some of that was in my head. There was nothing noble about taking a town by force, and the things the people had done to the innocent villagers was even less noble than that. This woman was either a twisted tyrant in her own right for condoning it, or a fool for not realizing it was going on.

Whatever the case, I put this Scarlet General out of my mind and turned myself back to the task of town’s liberation. Because of the size of the town, it was much harder to convince everyone that not only were we their friends, but that I was their friend, as well. In Emerfeld much of the town had come out of hiding to take up our cause and help free themselves. As a result, they had seen me shedding blood and battling their enemies. Moreso, after the fight they’d all come by at one time or another to see me as I lay unconscious, bloodied and struggling for survival. I had endeared myself to them that way, proven to them I was not the monster they’d always thought a dragon would be.

Here in Talhof, that had not happened. Much of the attack had taken place overnight, in the dark and the fog, and those that had come out of their homes were probably quite confused as too who and what was attacking their town, and I doubt it became that much clearer when sunrise finally brought a misty white light spreading across the town. They would have been greeted either by battle, or by dead and wounded, and no doubt they would have heard opposing stories depending on who they encountered first. Of course they hated their occupiers, but when their town was suddenly attacked by a mysterious group of armed men along with a dragon setting fire to part of the main road, what reason did they have to doubt the bandits words that they were trying to protect the town from us?

Several times that morning were encountered large groups of armed townsfolk in the area around the castle. I was both surprised and hearted that the moment the group of townsfolk came into view, cautiously approaching the castle area with sword, axe, spear and bow, I found myself surrounded by a wall of men. A group of our soldiers had taken it upon themselves to become my bodyguards while I was injured, and we were still in relatively hostile territory. They did not say anything about it to me, and I said little to them, either. They simply seemed to materialize around me, their backs to my scales, their steel drawn, shields raised, and arrows notched. As I moved, they moved, ready and prepared to defend their dragon with their lives.

In truth, the first time it happened I thought we were about to be ambushed, that the men had sensed something I had not. In a way they had, only as it turned out it was a large group of townsfolk, probably former Talhof militia members who came to defend their town against “The Dragon”. Chief among them was one of the shopkeepers who owned a shop along the main street, where the storefront had burned down and charred bodies were scattered about. For all he knew, those were his friends.

Yet the moment they were in sight, weapons drawn, my new bodyguards were everywhere, ringing me with another layer of protection. One which given my injured wings and oddly inebriated state I probably would have needed should the townspeople have had their chance to attack me. Thankfully, seeing the dragon suddenly surrounded by potentially hostile and well armed men gave the crowd reason to hesitate. And it was not long before Kylah showed up to explain the situation best she could.

After promising to compensate the men for the burned buildings, the crowd warily stood down. One of our soldiers wanted them to disarm themselves, but hoping to smooth things over, I got as close as I dared, my new bodyguards following my every move, and I told them that not only could they keep their weapons, but I encouraged them to do so as a show of good faith. Hopefully that would help prove we were who we said we were, and not another group there to occupy them.

Even as that situation resolved itself, my bodyguards did not disperse back into our army. They did not stand around me constantly, but they stayed nearby, and at the first sign of trouble or townsfolk who might wish me harm, there they were. Ringed around me like living armor.

Though I did not say as much just then, the experience made my heart soar. I was truly making progress with these humans, progress for my people. In a few weeks these men had gone from hating and fearing dragons, to surrounding one they saw as a friend, ready to shed their own blood to protect his life. In a way, that had me soaring higher then my wings could ever carry me.

By the time evening finally fell, it was a wonder I could even crawl back to the castle to find space to sleep. The pain that had faded had come back worse then ever, bringing with it a gnawing sense of fatigue that grew and grew and sapped what little strength I had left until I finally had to give in to Kylah’s urgings and go rest. My back and my wings burned, my legs ached, my shoulder hurt, and I was starving yet barely had the strength to eat. Kylah brought me some roasted meat that I forced myself to gulp down, along with a barrel full of water. Then I carefully worked my way past the wounded men in the castle to an area Kylah had arranged for me to sleep in till we found better accommodations.

It was a fine spot, I did not mind sleeping among my men. Let them see that the dragon too was wounded, and happy to spend his time recovering with them. I muttered something about being proud of them as I made my way to the corner where several blankets had been spread out for me. I lay down and curled up, and was promptly fast asleep.

I slept late into the next morning, and did not mind that no one had bothered to wake me with the dawn. I just hoped that the other men who had given so much of themselves on the march here and then throughout the battle had gotten a chance to get some good rest too. I was hardly caught up on sleep and only just setting my first paw down on the road to healing, but at least I was feeling a lot better then I was the evening before.

My head was clearer, and much of the fatigue-wrought ache in my body was gone. Though it had left in it’s place a lingering soreness from all the exertion of battles and flight. My wings and my back still ached like hell every time I moved, but the pain was not as severe as it had been the day before. As I pushed myself to my feet, stretching my limbs, my tail and my back, I saw that quite a few of my bodyguards had spent the night watching over me, and keeping watch on the entrances to the ground floor of the little castle.

Once I made my way back outside, the rest of the group rejoined, and I was once more being trailed by watchful men. I hoped that by now they had no more need to keep guard over me, but I was glad to have them anyway. I told them so with a rather humbled ‘Thank you” that I directed to everyone around me before moving on.

With a little work, I was able to locate Kylah and Ravek. Neither of them looked like they had gotten much sleep. They were sitting around a scratched up old table someone had brought out of a nearby store, seated upon stools someone else had liberated from a tavern damaged in the battles. They had a map of Talhof spread across the table, and each had a writing quill and inkpot, and they were circling and marking sections of town. From the looks of it, they were using the map to narrow down parts of town where a few remaining bandits might yet hide, and the areas they were not sure the people were yet on our side or had even been informed of us. Though I was a little disappointed we hadn’t already gotten to talk to the whole town, I was at least glad to see there were only a few such areas left. The two of them had some crusty bread, a few thick slices of cold sausage and some cheeses laid out on wooden plates, the remnants of their breakfast.

“Have you two even slept?” I asked, walking up to the table.

“Of course,” Kylah said, a blatant lie. “I had at least eight hours.”

“No,” Ravek said, grinning at me as he ran a hand over his bald head. “She didn’t. She was still awake and still working when I went to bed, and I only got about four hours of sleep. When I got up? She was up then, too. If she slept at all it wasn’t for long.”

I huffed at Kylah, blowing her dark brown hair around her face. “So you made me go to bed early but you stayed up all night working?”

“Right,” Kylah said with a nod, chuckling and taking a bit of bread, then offering me what was left on the platter. “You needed the sleep more then I did.”

“Uh huh,” I muttered. I took the platter in one paw, and carefully picked the bits and pieces of food off of it with my claws, popping them one by one into my muzzle. “And when are you going to sleep?”

“Later,” Kylah said, waving her hand at me as if trying to wave of the notion like she’d shoo away a fly. “When we’re finished and everyone knows we’re their friends. And so are you.”

“Speaking of,” I said, licking my muzzle. Then I waved a paw around me at all the men who had taken it upon themselves to keep me safe. “Are you responsible for this?”

“No,” Kylah said with a sly grin that told me that wasn’t exactly true. “They did that on their own. I may have suggested someone should watch over you while your wings healed, but they all took it upon themselves.”

“You’re one of us now, Commander Vraal!” One of the men piped up, overhearing our conversation.

That statement had the odd dual effect of both putting me on ease and on edge at the same time. I looked down at that man, flaring my crests a little, my many fangs revealed in a smile. “I am heartened to hear that, Soldier. But please, don’t call me Commander. Just…Just Vraal. I’m…I’m only in charge right now because Kylah and Ravek couldn’t do it all themselves, and someone else had to step in to help out.”

The soldier smiled back at me, rubbing at the recent stubble on his chin. “S’usually what makes a good commander.”

I suppose he had a point, but I chose not to admit it. Instead, I turned my attention back to the map. After setting the empty platter back down, I tapped a few of the areas circled in black ink. “Are these the only areas left?”

“Right.”

“Then get them taken care of so that you can get some sleep,” I said, rustling up Kylah’s hair the way I knew she hated.

She flung her hands up in defense, and squirmed away, nearly tumbling off her stool in the process. “Cut it out, you lizard brat!”

I merely smirked at her, swiveling my frilled ears a little. “Do you think we can have those areas convinced of our cause by this evening?”

“I should think so, yeah,” Ravek replied, folding his arms over his powerful chest. He was in a green tunic, and judging from the dark stains on it, it was the same green tunic he’d worn beneath his chain mail during the battles the day before.

“Good. How have the others been responding to us?”

“Well enough,” Kylah said, trying to straighten out her hair with her hands. “They’re a bit more wary then the other towns, but most of them are coming around quickly enough.”

“Good,” I said again. “By tonight, or tomorrow night at the latest, I want to celebrate our victory. The more of them we can bring into the celebration the better for our morale and our unity.”

“Celebrate? Vraal, we lost a few dozen men…” Ravek scowled, looking down at the table.

“And they will be mourned,” I replied, my voice as soft and reverent as a dragon could be. And I meant it. Already my own heart was heavy with those losses, I thought of that shopkeeper I’d liked with the arrow in his belly. No one had come to tell me if he made it, which I’d taken to mean he had not. Yet, if there was any good news, a few dozen men was actually less then I’d been afraid we had lost. “But let us not forget we do not have time for days of mourning, let alone weeks. There will be time to mourn each individual lost and to commemorate their lives and sacrifices when we are sure we are safe. But we all know our enemies are going to try and counterattack, and none of us know when that will be.

“We have won a great victory here, and all five of your people’s towns are free! The men are worn out, battle weary and yet they must face an even tougher battle. We need to boost their morale, they need a chance celebrate the victories they have had, and the freedoms they’ve won. In doing so, we shall also mourn those we’ve lost as a group. It is the way dragons would do it, and if you would accept that, we would mourn them together by celebrating the lives they had, and the free lives we are making for those they have left behind.” I held up my paw towards Ravek. “I promise you, Blacksmith, you will have all the time your people want to mourn those you’ve lost, after we have taken down this Bandit Army once and for all. For now, I think it is in our best interests to keep our morale up, to celebrate out victories, and let our soldiers remember their friends fondly. To raise drink and cheers to their names and enjoy themselves while they have the chance. It would do our army better then a sad, dour funeral would do it, and it would do this town better.”

Ravek finally sighed, picking at one of the dark stains on his shirt. “Yeah…well…”

“Vraal’s right,” Kylah said.

“Here, here!” added a few of the men who’d taken to guarding me, several of them thumping the hafts of their spears against the cobblestone.

Ravek finally cracked a smile. “Very well, Dragon, we’ll do it your way. But you’d damn well better not drink all the ale this time.”

“It was the mead he drank, Ravek,” Kylah pointed out.

“Either way, save some for the rest of us! If we’re going to mourn our men through celebration we’re going to do it right!”

As it turned out, we did do it right, and I did my best not to drink all the alcohol. We were able to get men into the last few areas of town we’d not yet visited, and in the process we rounded up a few more bandits hiding out in peoples home’s. In one case they had been using a family as hostages, but thankfully our soldiers were able to free that family without any further incident or injury. Frightening as it no doubt was for that family, it did help prove our point that we were the “good guys” here.

Once the majority of the town was safe, I wandered it’s streets to meet as many of it’s people as I could. Kylah, Ravek and I all had different definitions of “safe” but given that I was the dragon, mine was the only one that mattered. It wasn’t as if the two of them could really stop me from doing something when I put my mind to it. In fact, Kylah tried, but she gave up after about the third time I’d shoved her onto her rump and walked on without her.

The town met me at first with fear, and then with hesitant curiosity. They were not as immediately open to me as the other towns had been, but they warmed throughout the day. After a few hours of walking the cobblestone streets to meet the people we’d liberated, my body was beginning to ache deeply again, especially my wings, and all along my back. I thought I had definitely torn some flight muscles and perhaps even damaged some wing ligaments with that dive the other day, because now my back was even more sore then my arrow wound. But I did what I could to ignore the pain, and make my way around the town.

By the time night fell we were still finishing up the aftermath of the body. Once all our men had been accounted for one way or another, I set our healthy soldiers to the task of helping the townsfolk clean up, starting with all the damage I’d done to the store fronts all the main street, followed by the mess that burning watchtowers caused when they collapsed. Because I wanted not only our men in on our celebration but also the town, we scheduled it for the next night. As people warmed to our efforts and their spirits began to rise, we started to spread word of a massive celebration to take place in the city square, near the castle we’d taken up occupancy of.

Much as I wanted to stay up late that night helping out, Kylah forced me into bed early. Truth be told, I’d probably have fallen asleep in the streets anyway if I hadn’t gone to curl up in my corner. The battle had taken a lot out of me, and whatever strength I had left after my healing process sapped most of it was quickly worn away by a day spent walking around town. After filling my belly with meat, I returned to my sleeping area, closed my eyes, and did not open them again till well into the next morning.

The next day went a little better then the one that proceeded it. More and more of Talhof’s residents were opening up to us. Some of them began to arrive at the castle to thank us in person, or came bearing gifts. Some came to stare at the dragon, and ask Kylah just what she’d done to tame me. I replied that I was the one who’d tamed her, but I don’t think they quite understood the joke. But the more time they spent around me, the more they realized that I wasn’t simply some tame beast, but actually friends with the men who had fought alongside me in battle. That I had helped free many of those same men who had in turn come to free Talhof, and that I had done the same here.

Because of our successes the previous day, we were able to spend most of the afternoon planning and preparing for our celebration. I had put a few men in charge of preparing the bodies for burial or burning, or whatever it was they wished to do with them, and set up an area for all their friends to pay respects before they were interned one way or another. Some men wanted to have their friends sent back home to be buried by loved ones, and I made sure they had the means to set that up.

I also made sure there was a comprehensive list of all of those that we’d lost, and that list was then passed around. Each fallen man or woman would have someone speak about them tonight at the celebration, but I was going to make sure that no one spoke about them until they’d had at least a few drinks. Reminding those preparing to speak that this was to celebrate their lives, not mourn their deaths.

Much like we’d done in Croglin, we got all the local taverns to open their doors to us. We “liberated” as many tables, chairs and stools as we could, bringing them all out to the large square near the castle. The same place I’d hurled the statue only a few days before. Thankfully the people were not too upset about the loss of a historic statue, given that it’s sacrifice had helped earn them their freedom. The square had been cleaned up since then, and by the middle of the afternoon it was already filling up with tables and chairs. And not long after that, it was beginning to fill up with people as well.

And with the people came food and drink. The same taverns who happily provided us furniture provided us alcohol, as well. Especially when we promised that coin looted from our defeated foes would soon be flowing right back into the pockets of the townsfolk they’d stolen it from to help pay for all the goods we were about to consume. As happy barkeeps rolled out kegs of mead and ale, and barrels of whiskey and rum, restaurant owners followed their lead and began to arrive with massive platters of food for everyone to feast on. Even those who worked in other areas of town brought food they’d cooked at home to share with friends and liberators alike.

Soon the scents of every kind of food I could imagine were wafting through the air, making my stomach rumble loudly enough to scare several small children. They ran to tell their mother that the dragon was “Growling at them”, and it probably didn’t help that I tried to explain myself by telling them I was merely hungry. Oh well. One frightened mother amidst hundreds of thankful humans was a pretty good ratio. And I could always send Kylah to smooth things over for me if I needed too.

Before it got too dark we had row upon row of tall torches set up throughout the square. Several torches per table, enough to keep the square well lit all night long, and to chase off a little of the winter chill that seemed to be growing by the night. Here and there oil lamps were set out upon tables as well, next to steaming platters of roasted meats and vegetables. Before the celebration had even officially begun, food was already running out and being replaced by happy chefs, and drink being refilled by even happier barkeeps who were already well into their own merchandise. Any time they could, people were passing coin into the hands of those providing food and drink, as if happy to finally have a chance to jump start their own town’s economy again.

Though I had half planned a sort of welcoming speech to officially get the celebration started, I decided there was little point. By nightfall the square was already packed, and in a wonderfully far cry from the tense mood that had pervaded the freshly liberated town for the last few days, it was not long until the sounds of jovial laughter were ringing out across the square.

I wandered amidst everyone for a while, and could barely keep a smile off my muzzle. As their spirits picked up and the drinks kept flowing, the people began to treat me almost as warmly as they had in Croglin. It wasn’t long before people were offering me things to eat, and though I’d already been eating my way through the celebration, I had plenty of room left in my belly for all the self-proclaimed best dishes in Talhof. One man swore to me his slow roasted venison was the best thing I’d ever eat, and he was certainly not far off. The woman who was just setting food up on a table across from him told me this venison was good, but her apple-braised boar was even better. She may have been right.

On and on it went, and though I tried to restrain myself, when people began offering me glasses of private reserve whiskey and barrel aged spiced rum, a pitcher of special, dark ale, and a cup full of private stock red wine, I soon found my belly filled with delightful warmth once more, and my own spirits lifting higher and higher like the smoke from all the torches around me.

Once I’d had a bit too much to drink, I decided to call more attention to myself. I sat down near the center of the square, tipped back my head, and roared. Almost immediately, the crowd went silent. For at least a few moments, I know many of those same people who’d been feeding me and giving me liquor were suddenly having second thoughts. Wondering if I really was going to eat them after all. I let them wonder for a few moments, peering around. I spotted a group of my own soldiers, standing around, grinning at me. Kylah and Ravek were with them, and from the smirk on Kylah’s face, she knew what was going. I pointed to my men with a paw, and then through my paw in the air as if beckoning them to answer my roar.

They answered it with exuberance. Kylah, Ravek, and all my bodyguards immediately threw their fists into the air, shouting at the top of their lungs. With nary a moment’s hesitation, every other soldier I’d brought to this town with me joined in the fray, my whole army drunkenly roaring back at me in victory. When they finally ran out of air, I took a deep breath, tipped my head back, and gave the loudest, most ferocious roar I could! Tables shook, children clapped hands over their ears, jugs and platters nearly rattled right off their tables. And despite the pain, I flared my wings as far out as they would go, thrusting them towards the sky in a sure sign of victorious dragon celebration.

This time when my roar died off, everyone in my army answered at once. Before long, the rest of the town began to get the idea. I wasn’t roaring because I was going to attack them, I was roaring because I’d saved them! Because we’d won, because I was happy, because I was a little drunk, and damn, because that’s what dragons do. Once more we exchanged roars, and this time when my own lungs were empty, the entire town answered me. Louder even then I could have been, men and woman shouting in joyous, exuberant victory, children screaming at the tops of their lungs, and eventually, the dragon joining them in one final, deafening cacophony of celebration.

When it faded, I grinned, and slowly swiveled my wedge shaped head around, raising my voice a little. “Now that I have your attention…”

That garnered more laughter and cheers then I’d expected. I didn’t think it was all that funny, but I suppose that was what joy and drink did to a crowd.

‘I have gathered you all here to celebrate two things! Firstly, to celebrate your own freedom. And secondly, to celebrate the lives of those who were lost to earn you that freedom!” I paused a moment, to let that sink in. I did not wait long, though, I didn’t want extended sorrow spoiling the joyous mood of the evening. “But this is not a time to mourn! This is a time to celebrate!” I waved a paw around me, and snatched up an entire pitcher of ale. “I think we’re all doing a damn fine job of it!”

While the crowd cheered, I downed the entire pitcher of ale in a few long, deep gulps. It was good ale, with a rich, full flavor, and just enough carbonation to tingle across my tongue a little. Strange the way yeast did that to a liquid. The crowd seemed to take that as a sign to make a toast. It wasn’t; I just felt like downing a pitcher of ale. But it was a perfectly good time for the rest of them to raise their glasses, mugs, pints, cups, and whatever else they might be drinking from, and they nearly all did so.

“When a dragon dies,” I said, once everyone had finished their toast. “Tradition holds that we do not mourn him. Yes, we grieve in private, and we hurt deeply for every dragon lost. There are so few of us left these days, how could we not grieve? How could we not cry, and hurt. But it is not our way to spend days or weeks languishing in our pain. Instead, we celebrate them. We deal with the loss, with the pain through celebration! We gather together, and we speak of the one we have lost. We share our best memories of them, we eat and we drink, and we make ourselves happy. We celebrate and cherish everything about that dragon’s life.”

I paused, the crowd now was nearly silent. I hadn’t really meant to get myself speaking up in front of everyone again, but apparently that was what drink did to me. “There is much about my kind you do not know, and more you never will know. But in my long life time, I have seen many dragons die, and I have seen many more leave, and never return. I suppose, in our way, we simply do not have the benefit of time and food and some of the things you have that let you grieve for days or weeks on end. Though we were once many, by the time I had hatched we were down to dozens. When one of us was felled by arrows, or run through by sword and lance, it did not change the way we had to live our lives. We still had to hunt every day, we still had to provide for those of us left alive, we still had to feed our young.

“We had no time for prolonged grief, and we had little room for it in our hearts. From even before I had hatched, we all knew we were a dying race. That did not stop us from trying to enjoy what little time we had left, from trying to raise our children happy and satisfied. We all knew that any day the humans might find our last hiding place, and slaughter us in our sleep. When one of us ventured too far from safety, and never made it home alive, what point was there to grieve for weeks on end? We gathered in our valley, whether it was warm and sunlit and the grass was soft, or whether it was frozen, and the snows numbed our paws and fell upon our wings. We gathered, and we spoke of the one we’d lost, and we spoke of why we’d cared for them. Even those that did not get along would raise their voices to celebrate the life of the one we no longer shared the world with. We ate until our bellies nearly burst, we drank until the world swam in circles around us, and the next morning the pounding in our heads merely reminded us that we were still alive. We hurt, yes, but we took our happiness while we could, we spread our wings, and our lives went on.”

I looked around until I spotted a bottle of wine, and carefully hoisted it up in my paws, holding it to the crowd. “So I gather you here today, not just to celebrate your freedom, but to celebrate the lives of those who helped you earn it! Their fight is now over, and with their lives they have brought you freedom! There is much more work yet to do, if we are to ensure this freedom lasts. There are battles to be fought, defenses to be fortified, and lives to be lived. This is not a time to mourn, this is a time to celebrate! So I ask you all, will you celebrate with me?”

I tipped the bottle back to my snout, and began to down it’s contents. I was happy to see a cheer slowly rise and grow among the crowd. Like a living thing, it began small and weak, but nurtured by the words and the toasting cries of those assembled it grow and grow, gaining strength until it was like a dragon’s roar before it finally faded again. When the cheers had eventually died away, I set down the bottle, and licked my muzzle.

“There are those who would like to speak about the fallen. If they could now have your attention for a little while, they would be deeply honored.” I glanced over to the friends and family prepared to speak of their lost ones. “If you could keep your remarks to happy memories and cherished times, and good things, that would be for the best.”

Not that I really expected anyone to come up and start badmouthing someone who owned them money or anything, but you never knew with humans.

I stepped away from the central area of the square, and the first man up took his place. I had considered speaking myself, about the shopkeeper who had fallen from the arrow wound in his belly. He was the only one we’d lost that I had gotten to know personally, at least to a small extent. But in the end I decided that was not really my place here, not yet. So I made my way through the crowd as gingerly as I could considering I was starting to feel just a little light headed, and a little unsteady upon my paws.

As I walked through the people, quite a few of them came up to touch me. It was still a strange experience for me, having humans put their hands upon me as I passed. I didn’t mind it so much now, it was almost soothing in a way, dozens of hands gently brushing my scales as I walked. I smiled at those I could pick out from the others, I thanked them for coming, and for listening to me. I thanked others for food and drink, even now they were still offering me bites to eat and mouthfuls to drink.

Eventually, I made my way back to Kylah. I was a little surprised she was not among those prepared to speak, but she had earlier told me she felt it better to just let the rest of our men do the talking. That was fine, after all I wasn’t going to speak about anyone in particular, either. I settled down next to her near the back of the crowd. She leaned up against me, and when I lowered my head a little, she put an arm around my neck. I wrapped a warm, ebony wing around her and together we watched our celebration.

Chapter Thirty Two

The next morning I was pleased to find I awoke without another crushing hangover. I found myself swaddled in warm, soft blankets donated by the people of Talhof the night before. I vaguely recollected stumbling my way back from the celebration to the small city castle that served as our temporary headquarters. Upon returning I found my sleeping corner had been filled with blankets, pillows, cushions, and other soft fluffy things to help me sleep comfortably. I was happy to have them, as I could already tell a chill had set in overnight, and if anyone had been sober enough to light fire’s in the castle’s hearths they had long since burned out.

I lifted my head from the pillow on which it had been resting and peered around the large open area. Most of the men who’d been sleeping there had already risen for the morning, their bed rolls and donated blankets spread in dissarray upon the floor. For a moment, I thought I should have a talk with them about keeping their sleeping area neat and tidy, but I soon realized Kylah would love to point out the hypocrisy involved given the state of my own home.

Begrudgingly I pushed myself to my paws, and shook the blankets from my body. Cool air washed across me and made me shiver a little. I rustled my wings, then spread them as I stretched, and yawned. My wings still ached as soon as they were spread, but not as badly as the day before. I took a few steps forward, and stretching out my hind legs one at a time. As soon as I was up and moving, a few heavily armored men peeled away from the shadows to escort me.

“Morning, my friends,” I muttered, chuckling under my breath. “I see you’ve upgraded your equipment.”

One of my bodyguards laughed, tapping on the breastplate he wore. It was iron emblazoned with the image of a horse rearing back. “Had some of the prisoners take us to their equipment storehouse. Found all kinds nice things there.”

Another man piped up. “We tried to give them to the townspeople but they said we’d need them more then they would.”

I scratched my muzzle with an outstretched claw. “That was kind of them.” I glanced around, a few men had matching breastplates, others heavy suits of chain, still others chain and metal plates interwoven. A few now had matching shields with the same symbol on them. Though I wasn’t sure, I suspected that rearing horse symbol meant our enemies had stolen this gear. Likely taken it from a shipment headed somewhere the guards and knights used that image as their coat of arms. “You don’t all match,” I said with a little laugh. “Then again, our little army never has. It’s worked well for us so far.”

As I made my way outside, I noticed the men had gathered up some better spears and lances as well. Good! Free quality equipment would go a long way to helping our army finish this fight. Really, if all went well, we only had one more battle to prepare for. Much as I might like to rest and relax, I knew that Kylah, Ravek and I would have to start planning for that last push. I knew it would be our most difficult, dangerous fight, and I also knew it was a battle we had to enter into if Kylah’s people were to keep hold of their newly won freedom.

Once outside, the morning cold hit me much harder. I peered up at the sky. It cloudy and white, like gauze stretched thinly across the sun. I could smell ice in the air, and while it wasn’t snowing here, I knew it was snowing somewhere nearby. Probably closer towards the mountains. At this rate it wouldn’t be long before winter spread it’s white blanket across all the land. I did not know how that would affect our battle planning, but it would certainly make travel even more miserable then it had been on the way to Talhof.

I scrunched my gray tipped snout a few times, trying to warm it up. It was already cold enough that my breath came in great heaving clouds that were lofted and twisted into coils by the chill breeze that blew through the area. Around me, men were bundled up woolen cloaks and thick winter coats. It was almost cold enough to make me long for those warm blankets Kylah and I had snuggled in beneath the trees on the way back from my home. Snuggled? Had we snuggled? I snorted. As if dragons snuggled. Well, we did, we simply did not tell anyone about it.

My belly rumbled loudly enough to have a few of my men glancing around as if they were hoping to spot something for me to eat before hunger caused me to turn back the goodwill tide I’d created and simply eat one of them. I snapped my jaws just to make them a little nervous.

“Someone find me some food,” I said loudly.

I started to walk off, and the men followed me. I looked down at one of them, glaring. “I thought I asked you to find me some food?”

The armored men nudged one of his friends in the arm. “Go find Sir Vraal some food.”

“Yes, sir!” The other man dashed off.

For a moment, I was glad to see that levels of rank and pecking order were being established even among my body guards. That was good! It was a sort of organization we desperately needed, and one less thing for Kylah and I to have to micromanage. On the other paw I wasn’t sure about this Sir Vraal business. And on the other paw, a hind paw I suppose, I really had to piss. I was trying to get rid of the bodyguards so I’d not feel so awkward with them all standing around while I did so like some blithely ignorant pack animal relieving itself in the streets.

I was hoping they’d get the hint, but if they had they were ignoring it. Finally, I sighed, and started walking for the outskirts of town. There was a large, grassy area beneath some trees, near the wall that would do just fine. As usual, my ring of bodyguards walked with me. While I normally would have been glad to see so many townspeople now waving at me, or calling out a greeting to the bodyguards and myself, I really had to go.

Eventually I neared the grassy area, and glanced around at my ring of protection, and some of the nearby townsfolk. “I have just awoken, you know.” I paused, no one seemed to know what the hell I was babbling about. Finally I gave a little growl at them. “Even dragons have to piss in the morning! I’d rather you not all stare at my while I do so, but if that’s what you enjoy, I suppose I can’t stop you.”

That got a few guffaws from the men, and at least one shocked blush from a woman nearby. I walked over onto the grass, and closed my eyes. I didn’t think anyone was watching me, but it was hard to be sure, and I wasn’t going to look around to find out. Either way, I soon felt much better, and was returning to the plaza outside the little castle.

When I returned to the plaza, I was glad to see they had already begun setting up a table with food for me. I imagined most of the men had already eaten, and I wasn’t going to wait around for any sort of politeness. I settled onto my haunches at the side of the table, and reached down to the roasted hog they’d presented me with. It was cold, it might well have been roasted the night before, but I certainly didn’t care. I tore a hind leg off the carcass with my paws, and began to swiftly devour the meat. I’d soon set the bone aside for later, and dug into the rest of the beast. Cold or not, it was still delicious, with a rich, slightly sweet, slightly smoky flavor. I wasn’t sure how they’d done it, but I had to admit that human cooking did tend to impress me.

By the time I was nearly done with my food, word must have reached Kylah that I was finally awake. I glanced up when I heard her voice in the distance, greeting some of my men. She had a great woolen cloak draped around herself guarding against the cold. It was dyed dark green, and much to my amusement, it’s hood seemed to be lined with some kind of gray fur. She had the hood pulled up, and as a result her entire face was surrounded by fur.

“Morning, Vraal,” Kylah said when she arrived, immediately picking at the remains of my breakfast.

“You look like that thing’s giving birth to you,” I said with a growling laugh.

Kylah scowled, and flicked a bit of pork at me. It bounced off my nose and made me blink. “Oh, very funny. This was a gift from one of the townsfolk, it would be rude not to wear it.”

“It might be ruder to be seen walking around in that thing.”

“You’re asking to get kicked, Vraal, and you’re not going to like where I aim.”

That made me cringe just a little, and I picked up a larger piece of pork to flick back at her. “You’re a wicked thing, Kylah. Can’t I at least maintain some sense of being intimidating in front of the men?”

“Only when we’re in battle.” She laughed to herself, and rubbed my neck. “How’re you feeling this morning?”

“Better, now that I’ve pissed, and eaten.”

Kylah scrunched up her face inside the furry hood. “Hopefully not at the same time.”

“Not this time,” I said.

She rolled her eyes at me. “Let me check on your wounds.”

“You make it sound like I have a choice,” I said, lowering my head to sniff about the carcass for any more tasty morsels.

While I finished picking through my breakfast, eventually breaking open a large bone to suck at the marrow, Kylah examined my arrow wound. She waved someone over who brought a basket of supplies. In short order she’d cleaned up the wound a little, checked the stitches and applied a fresh bandage. Then she moved to poke and prod my wings, not ceasing until she’d managed to wring a loud yelp from me.

“That is enough,” I finally hissed at her, turning my head to glare.

She put a hand on her hip, and slowly shook her head. “Crybaby.”

“That look would be much more effective if it didn’t look like something furry was trying to squat you out upon the ground.”

Much to her dismay, that caused Kylah to burst out laughing. I smirked a little, and pushed myself back up to all fours. “From now on, no poking and squeezing my wing joints. We both know they’re sore, making me cry out in pain isn’t going to prove anything else.”

“I just want to make sure you’re not flying…”

Before I was ready, I’m sure she was going to say. But I cut her off. “I could fly right now if I needed too, I could even make that same dive if it came right down to it.“ Of course, if I did that right now, I’d probably never fly again afterwards. But she didn’t need to know that. “When do the stitches come out?”

“When they’re ready,” she muttered, punching me on the shoulder. “For a dragon who’s such an old man, you’re really a brat sometimes.”

“Ah, shut up ya old maid,” I laughed. I saw her eyes widen and was quick to push her back and away from me with my tail before she decided to try and kick me under it. “You called me old first,” I said in my own defense.

“You are old!”

I turned around to glare down at her. “Aren’t you the one who told me I wasn’t that old after all?”

“And you’re the one who’s always saying ‘Spirits, I am getting old,” she said, coarsening her voice into an admittedly good approximation of me.

“You’re not supposed to agree,” I said, giving her a gentle shove with my paw. “Where’s Ravek this morning?”

“Talking with some of the men,” Kylah answered, a scowl tugging at the corners of her mouth as she folded her arms. “There’s something I came to talk to you about, too.”

“Oh?” My crests flared a little in alarm, a tingle running down my long neck. Perhaps it was just my natural paranoia, but I suspected she hadn’t come to plan another celebration. “Then spit it out, already.”

“We received a message this morning, flown in by hawk.” Kylah unfolded her arms, and began to fiddle with the edge of her cloak, before rubbing some of the fur of her hood between her fingers. “Some of our people have spotted some unusual troop movement among the Scarlet Bitch’s remaining army.”

“What sort of movement?” I asked, a little trepidation creeping into my voice.

“Not sure exactly, drills, patrols moving further then usual beyond the boundaries of their castle’s lands. Probing, maybe.”

“As though they’re looking to confirm we’re re-taken your people’s cities. Or even looking for weaknesses in our outer defenses.”

Kylah slowly nodded.

I grit my sharp teeth, an icy snake coiling deep in the pit of my belly. They were catching on faster then I’d hoped they would. It was not a good sign, and it made me wonder if this Scarlet Bitch as Kylah had dubbed her was more clever then I’d realized. Perhaps she had a system set up, her own people sending her messages frequently to assure her they were still in control. A day or two without those messages, and she knew something was wrong. Or perhaps someone had escaped our grasp, slipped through our claws as we tightened our grip on the towns. Whatever the case, we would have to accelerate plans.

“We need to return to Emerfeld,” I said, lashing my tail in anger, causing a few of my bodyguards to stumble back out of the way.

“I know,” Kylah said, putting one hand on the hilt of the dragon bone sword I’d given her, and squeezing it. “We’ll start marching some of our men back to town, set the rest up here to defend this place in case she tries to send her forces to retake this town first, thinking we won’t expect it.”

“That’s not what I meant,” I said, shaking my wedge shaped head a little. “I mean you and I have to return. Today.”

“Vraal, you can’t fly-”

“I don’t have a choice, Kylah, we don’t have time to walk for weeks on end again when this red-haired wench might be planning to attack Emerfeld tomorrow. We need to return and find out exactly what is going on as soon as possible. Tell Ravek. Have him designate his best men here to plan this city’s defenses, because he should return with us as well.”

“But Vraal…”

“It is not up for debate, Kylah!” I growled at her, thumping my tail against the cobblestone, and snapping his jaws sharply. “This is not a chance we can take. Perhaps it is nothing, perhaps it is a sign of an impending attack. Either way, we must return to Emerfeld and find out.”

Kylah looked down, her expression slowly darkening. I thought I’d angered her, at first, but then she reached out and gently rubbed my increasingly gray chin. “I’m just worried about you, Vraal. You’re pushing yourself so hard for us, and your wings…”

“Are sore, but functional,” I said, softening my own tone. I lowered my head to nuzzle her cheek, and give it a gentle lick, uncaring of who was watching. “Flying will not injure them further, and we both know we’ve been away too long already. Your people need us.”

Kylah nodded. “You’re right, Vraal.” She leaned in and kissed my nose, then smiled, and turned away, heading off to find Ravek.

I noticed one of the soldiers watching me with a foolish grin on his face. “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing,” he said with a laugh. “You two just sound like you’re married, or something.”

I gave a loud snort, flaring my crests. “Hardly! If she was a dragon and she was really my mate, she’d have never let me win an argument.”

That got a laugh from the men gathered around me, and I laughed with them. Though, on the inside, I was worried. Though I wouldn’t tell her now, Kylah was right. My wings were injured, and I would be pushing my luck to fly all the way back to town before they’d healed. Still, I had little choice, and I’d be damned to flightless hell before I’d let all our work be undone merely because I was too scared to fly upon injured wings.

While Kylah was away, I stretched my wings, testing them. They were still sore, though not as much so as they day before, and not badly enough to hinder my flight. Though I knew that may change with extended time in the skies. Still, I did what I could to prepare myself. I stretched my vast black wings as far as they’d go, worked them up and down, mimicking the motions I used to ascend. It made my wings ache, my back ache, and the joints where they met ache even worse. But after a little while, I’d worked the worst of the stiffness out of them, and was hopeful that a day’s flight would not be too much for me to handle.

When Kylah returned, she had Ravek with her as I’d asked. He had a sound tactical mind, and I wanted him back in Emerfeld in case of problems. I knew that he had at least unofficially promoted a few men, and that was why I wished for him to choose one of them to remain behind in charge of things here. Kylah was still wearing the green cloak with the fur lined hood, which silly as it might have made her looked, did seem appropriate for flight in the cold. She’d also strapped on her other sword, and had a large pack stuffed full of Gods knew what, as well as her bow and a quiver of arrows buckled snugly to the pack. Ravek took had a pack, and much to my dismay I realized they both intended to buckle their things against my body as though I were some sort of greatly oversized pack mule.

Still, I decided against arguing. Ravek looked nervous enough has it was to fly upon my back, perhaps even more so then Kylah had seemed when she first plied the skies astride me. He stood still, staring at me a moment, and Kylah took his pack from his arms and came over to me. She had enough experience now with securing gear against my body that it took her little more then the span of a few breaths to have both her pack and Ravek’s bucked snugly against my sides, with long leather straps that spanned around my body. While Kylah had been away I’d sent someone to go and gather my own belongings, my helmet, the small painting of my family, my bracelets, and everything else I’d brought with me. Kylah buckled that pack around me as well before dusting off her hands.

I lowered myself to the ground, and flattened out my wings. Kylah quickly climbed up atop me; I was glad to get no more argument from her. We both knew that the safety of her town and her people’s movement for freedom outweighed concerns for the health of my wings. Ravek walked up alongside me, and then just stood there, shifting awkwardly from one foot to another.

“Are you coming?” Kylah asked him before I could do the same.

“He’s…” Ravek started, first addressing Kylah before turning towards my head. “You’re…not going to do anything that might make me fall off, are you Vraal?”

I should have just said something like, ‘Of course not Ravek, there’s nothing to worry about’. Instead I flexed my wings, and said, “Probably not. What, you’re unafraid to plunge into battle but frightened of flying?”

“Man is not meant to fly,” Ravek muttered as he pulled up the hood of his own, thick brown winter cloak.

“Oh? That’s odd, because ‘woman’ certainly doesn’t have any trouble flying,” I said, grinning back at Kylah who seemed pleased with that comment.

“Come on, Ravek, we don’t have all day,” Kylah said, leaning to one side and offering him her hand. “Just don’t grab his ear when you climb up, he hates that.”

“Would you enjoy having your ear wrenched about?”

“I didn’t wrench it, Vraal, I just tugged it a little.”

Ravek took Kylah’s hand while she and I bantered back and forth. Normally I’d also tell him to go ahead and grasp my wing joint while he pulled himself up so long as he didn’t squeeze it too tightly. But sore as it already was, I didn’t want to make matters worse. Thankfully Kylah seemed to be thinking the same thing as she made sure he didn’t grab my wing base either. With the help of her pulling him up, and a boot rather uncomfortably jammed against my scales and then my shoulder, Ravek eventually managed to climb atop me. For some reason, I found it amusing that she made him sit behind her.

Once they were secure, I took a look around at my bodyguards who had already cleared space for me to take off. I felt a little bad leaving them on such short, sudden notice after they’d gone to such great lengths to start protecting me. I took a few steps back, angling myself so that I had a clear street to get a good running start, but paused for a moment.

“My friends,” I said, addressing the men who had taken it upon themselves to assure my safety. “I greatly appreciate your concerns for me! Thank you very much for looking after my life, and my safety. I am sorry to leave you so suddenly, but I look forward to seeing you soon in Emerfeld, if not back here in Talhof.”

One of the men laughed, walking forward to pat my nose. “It’s alright, Sir Vraal. We understand, the leader has to go where he’s most needed. Some of us will remain here to protect the man in charge of the city, others will start marching back to Emerfeld along with a portion of our army.” He smiled at me from beneath his iron helm, punched me in the shoulder like an old friend, and stepped away. “Take care of yourself, Sir!”

I still wasn’t sure about all this “Sir” business, let alone their continued insistence that somehow, I was their leader. But it was not a point I was about to argue. “You as well,” I replied, hoping my little farewell had sounded official enough.

When everyone was out of the way, I bound down the street. I wanted a good running start to take just a little of the strain off my wings, ascending was always the hardest part of flying. A little extra speed would help reduce the workload just a little, and it was my hope that a little would go along ways towards preventing me from injuring my wings any further.

I leapt into the air, flared my wings and swept them downwards, pulling myself a few dragon-heights towards the sky. My wings and my back ached, but not too badly despite the added weight from my passengers and their gear. By now I was used to flying with Kylah on my back, it was no different with Ravek as well aside from the fact I definitely noticed the extra weight. Still, it was no harder that it had been carrying both my son and my daughter on my back, in the days when I was still a part of a family.

For a moment, the memories made me ache. Even after my son had learned to fly, I still persisted in carrying him here and there. When the four of us went on a journey around the valley, at first he wanted to fly on his own, but inevitably he’d grew weary, and need to be carried. And of course, if Reenasarana was riding her mother when I took Venargravax upon my back, she’d call out, “I want to ride father too, I want to ride with brother!” Much the same as if Niara’oraalous was the one carrying Venar upon her back and I, Reena, my little girl would have chirped out that she wanted to ride with her brother, up on her mother’s back.

I sniffed a little bit, the cold air did little to help ease the clenching in my throat. A blinked away a few misty years that threatened to finish forming, and cleared my throat with a growl. The last time I’d carried more then one life upon my back had been only a day or so before my son had nearly died. It had been a while since I thought about them, I’d be too busy with this little war I’d found myself embroiled in. Part of me felt guilty to have gone so long without actively thinking about my family, and part of me was relieved to have been away from the pain, to have only though thought of them here and there in happy ways when gazing at the little cloth painting I kept tucked beneath my neck.

“You alright, Vraal?” Kylah called out to me over the winds that were whipping around us.

I glanced back with a genuine smile. I wasn’t sure how, but she always seemed to know when I was reminiscing about my family, or when something unpleasant was wrapping it’s talons around the core of my soul. Assuming we dragons had a soul, I suppose, though I liked to imagine that we did. “I’m fine, Kylah,” I said. “Thank you!”

She smiled back at me, and rubbed my neck, her emerald eyes somehow shining even in the gloomy, clouded winter light. “If you’re sure,” she said.

“I’m sure,” I replied, and at least for the moment, I meant it.

I flew lower then usual throughout our day’s flight. Cold as it was near the ground it was only going to get colder the higher I went. Beyond that, Ravek was clearly nervous flying atop a dragon, and I decided to be merciful and not scare him any further. This time. Granted, if my wings had been feeling better I might have made a point to put him through some extended and frightening aerial acrobatics just to see if I could make him piss himself. Then again, given that he was seated upon my back that was not an idea I relished.

The clouds hung low and white, and I flew even lower. Here and there I flew just above the grasping claws of the skeletal trees now all but utterly barren of leaves for nearly as far as I could see. In some places, gentle curtains of mist drizzled across us, and I began to understand why Kylah stuck with that ridiculous looking fur lined cloak. When the icy mists washed over us, she pulled the hood up even further, and the tufts of fur sticking from it helped shield her face from the tiny cold droplets. Ravek kept his own hood as far forward as he could, though it afforded him slightly less protection then Kylah’s. Cold as the mists and winds made my own muzzle and exposed ears, I almost longed for a fur lined hood of my own, though I’d never dare say as much to Kylah.

As the day progressed, the air grew colder still, the scents of winter snows and frigid air tinted everything. Now and then tiny, powdery snowflakes fluttered down around us, picked up and swirled occasionally by the chilly gusts. The whiteness of the clouds and the scent of ice in the air threatened a cascade of snow to further chill our journey, but at least for the time being the clouds unleashed little more then gentle flurries.

By the time we neared Abdon I was already starving again. Hauling to humans and their belongings through their air was hungry work. It was well past lunch time, but a late lunch was better then no lunch at all. Especially as I knew it would be well past dinner time when we finally reached Emerfeld.

I landed carefully on the long, central street that stretched through the narrow riverside town of Abdon, and was quickly greeted by men from our army who had remained here to guard the town and work with the local populace, as well as many of the locals who came out to greet the dragon who had helped to free them once more. Kylah, Ravek and I were only going to stay for a short time, yet all three of us were a bit humbled by the heroes welcome we seemed to return.

We went to a restaurant we’d all enjoyed while here before, a cozy looking place built from blocks of stone shipped in from Renstone. Each stone was a slightly different size and shape carefully fitted together, giving the building an almost natural look. A wrought iron fence surrounded the place, and though the last time I’d been here it was covered with dark green vines and blue flowers, they’d died off by now. I told Kylah and Ravek to go inside and warm up, and that I would eat outside. Tempting as the warmth was, I did not wish to risk further injury, or property damage by attempting to squeeze my way inside. Yet, Kylah and Ravek both wished to stay by my side instead. Which, I must admit, I found rather touching.

The restaurant’s owners flat-out refused to take our money for the meal they prepared for us. And cold as it was, they turned the cooking pit outside into a small bonfire so that the three of us could still warm ourselves even outside. There were still a few flurries falling here and there, but between the fire and the surprisingly pleasant company of happy townsfolk, I barely felt the cold.

Despite the icy weather, the village’s fishermen had been hard at work all day in the river. Stretching their nets across it first thing in the morning, emptying them around lunch time, and stretching a new set of nets to be checked again at night. So the fish they brought us for lunch was fresh as could be, prepared with a hint of spices and roasted above the lovely fire they’d built to warm us up.

As we ate, we told all the gathered people of how well the operations in Renstone had gone, and how the battle for Talhof had fared. The people were in turn happy to hear we had freed Renstone and Talhof, and saddened to hear that we had suffered losses of our own in so doing. They even promised to hold a vigil and a little celebration on behalf of those who had fallen just as had been done in Talhof. I was a little worried and felt a bit guilty to be the one to deliver such news, as I knew that a small part of our force in Talhof had been recruited from here in Abdon. And in truth I had no idea if any of those from Abdon had lost their lives, or even been injured. Kylah assured those who asked that she had people in process of contacting relatives of anyone who had fallen, so that made me feel a little better.

The town’s warmth and hospitality made me wish we could have stayed longer. I felt as though I must be the first and only dragon to have ever felt truly welcome in a town, let alone so welcome he wished he could stay longer. But alas, we had had to return to Emerfeld, and when our meal was concluded, it was time to return to the skies. Thankfully, the folk of Abdon seemed every bit as understanding, bidding me farewell and also loading me up with yet another pack, this one filled with food and drink, treats for the dragon who had somehow helped save their little town.

Back to the sky we went, flying beneath the swirling clouds. Now and then I glanced back to check on Ravek. I couldn’t tell if he was enthralled by flight or terrified, his eyes seemed to alternate between wide open and squeezed tightly shut. I supposed not every human could take to flying upon a dragon as well as Kylah did. After all, they were creatures not naturally meant to fly, and for some that was surely a frightening proposition.

The ache in my wings had died away while we rested and dined, but once I had taken to the skies against they throbbed worse then ever. By the time the light was fading and we were finally nearing Emerfeld I was gliding as much as possible. Every wing stroke sent pain into my back. I didn’t think that I had done any permanent damage to my wings but they were definitely not completely recovered. I kept my eyes forward towards my destination as much as possible so Kylah wouldn’t see me grimacing in pain now and then.

I was relieved when I finally saw the lights of Emerfelds torches, lamps and lanterns finally appeared up on the darkening horizon like fireflies fluttering beneath a lavender sky. By then the clouds were low enough that some of them draped foggy shrouds across the town, and the lamp light that shone and reflected off the lights made them look like flickering spirits, stalking the town.

I descended quickly, spiraling downwards over the town. I did not wish to startle the entire town with a roar, and so I swooped low enough that our sentries, watchtowers, and anyone else who was out on the streets would know I had returned. I landed in the central square, where workers hurried to cover up whatever the mysterious surprise was they’d been working on since I’d first freed the town. Once my paws were set upon the cobblestone I folded my wings, groaning in discomfort.

Kylah quickly slid off my back to rub my neck, and then take my muzzle in her hands, glaring into my pale blue eyes. “Did you hurt yourself, Vraal? I warned you…”

I pulled my head back with a little laugh, and gave her fingers a quick lick. Then I made a show of snapping my teeth close to her hands, not that I could even cause her to flinch that way anymore. “I’m fine, Kylah. I’m just old and sore.”

Kylah shook her head, and went to help Ravek dismount me. I turned my head to watch the man’s awkward attempts to get off of my back without appearing as though he was in a hurry. He failed, and nearly knocked Kylah onto her rump in the process. She stumbled, gave him a shove, and laughed at him when his face reddened.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Kylah said through a smile.

Ravek grimaced. “No, but it’s not my favorite way to travel.” He quickly turned to offer me a sheepish grin. “No offense to you, Vraal. I just couldn’t help but think what would happen if I fell off of you!”

I snorted, and lashed my tail, scratching at the cobblestone with the claws of a hind paw like an angry bull preparing to charge. “You’d have been squashed upon the ground, and we would have kept flying because there’d be little left of you to find.”

Ravek grimaced inside his hood, shaking his head. “Not a very comforting thought for my return trip.”

“There won’t be a return trip till we’re sure Emerfeld is secure,” I said, flicking one of my frilled ears. I tilted my head to the side, peering at Kylah. “Well?”

“Well what?” She asked, working her fur lined hood back a little bit. It was still cold here, but not as cold as the wind during flight had been.

“Well, when are you going to take all these damn packs of me? I’m not a mule, you know.”

“No, you’re definitely not a mule,” Kylah said with a wry grin. She rubbed her hands together to warm them up before working the half frozen buckles along my sides. “But you are a stubborn ass. Keep it up and I’ll give you a working over with a switch just like one, too.”

“You do, and I’ll kick just like one,” I muttered.

By the time Kylah had all our gear unbuckled from my body and settled up on the ground, quite a few of our soldiers and townfolk had come to greet us. I asked for food, and a few stiff drinks to help ease the ache in my wings. Kylah as usual insisted on inspecting my wounds before we did anything else, and so as she prodded my already aching wings, and inspected my stitches I answered the people’s questions about our operations. We had kept them well informed via messenger hawks, but they were all eager to hear first hand accounts of our victories, as well as our losses.

Upon hearing that we had lost some of our friends, they all shared an impromptu moment of silence. I knew that merchant who had died had a wife somewhere in town, I’d have to go and tell her that her husband was among the dead. That…would not be pleasant. Yet strangely I felt as though that was somehow my duty. Why, I was not sure. I would wait till the following day, however, as by now I was far too sore and weary for such a conversation.

By the time food for the three of us had arrived, Kylah had finished her inspections. Which was good, because if she held me from my food and drink any longer just to keep adding more and more pain to my wings I was probably going to knock her on her ass. Which I told her in no uncertain terms. She of course replied that if I did that, she would bash me about the head with the large, heavy looking platter all my food came on.

Our men had brought enough roast mutton for the three of us. Which, really, meant they’d brought enough for me and I was willing to share a little of it with Kylah and Ravek. They’d also brought me a bucket of ale and a flask of stronger spirits, and I was happy to imbibe deeply of both. Though the alcohol may well have dulled all my senses, I was most grateful for it to dull my pain. Thanks to a day’s flight and Kylah’s torture masquerading as inspections, my wing joints were steadily throbbing now, as was the area along my back where I’d pulled the muscles that powered them.

Through my meal, more humans gathered and though by now I was getting used to being surrounded by their kind, I still found myself longing for a quiet meal now and then with just Kylah and myself. Or perhaps with just a few close friends. Still, I did not mind the humans company, I was just tired. I answered their questions best I could, and was glad when Kylah and Ravek began to answer more of them then myself. I was feeling as weary and sore as I could remember, and when I was finished eating I was more then ready to crawl into whatever shelter I could find and sleep.

After dinner, I picked my pack up in my jaws, and silently walked the torchlight, fog-draped streets with Kylah, making my way back to the former stable that had become my second home. The grass in the fields around it had turned brown while we were away, dying off as winter slunk nearer and nearer by the hour. I imagined at least a few heavy frosts had already set in over the many nights we’d been away and helped to speed the pasture’s demise. The pines and spruces that lined the banks of the river beyond the straw-and-clay brick building were as green as ever, of course, but the other trees had nearly lost their leaves, only a few holdouts still clinging to the last the last vestiges of autumnal life.

The building itself remained as I remembered it, but as Kylah moved ahead and pulled aside some of the heavy blankets that hung in front of the open-faced former stable, and to my very pleasant surprise I could see that the town had taken very good care of my little home. Though the clouds filtered out most of the silvery moonlight, my night vision was one thing that so far had not begun to deteriorate with age. I saw no sign of the expected cobwebs or insect infestations, and there were now dead and dried pine boughs scattered around. In fact, the only sign that a dragon haven’t been living there for the last month or so was the rabbit that bolted out of the place as soon as the blankets were moved. Wise choice, little rabbit, for you would make a tasty midnight snack.

I made my way inside and sniffed around. The place still smelled of fresh pine, and I could see that they had piled a few freshly cut pine boughs in the corners of the place to keep it smelling fresh, just as I had done. How thoughtful of them, and sneaky, as they must have sent someone to do that while I was eating my dinner. Looking around, I could see one other sign that a dragon hadn’t lived there recently.

The place was far too damn tidy.

But I was too tired at the moment to bother scattering things about the place just to make it seem a little more like home. I could always make it nice and messy after a good night’s sleep. As I set my back down, and began to unpack the few possessions I’d brought with me, I was struck by how strangely this place felt like home. I had lost count of how many nights I had spent here, and only now did I realize just how much I’d missed this little horse-smelling hovel while I was off helping to free humans.

“What a strange life I lead now,” I muttered, pulling my helmet out from my back. I looked over at the stone dragon statue’s head, and slowly set my helmet down atop it. “I hope you’re proud of me now, you bastard.”

“I think he’s very proud of you, Vraal.”

I smiled at Kylah a moment, and she gently rubbed the fine scales of my cheek with her hand. I wasn’t sure if she was just humoring me, or if she meant that she herself was now proud of me. Or, perhaps she’d just joined in my little corner of madness, and had begun imagining the statue to be judging her, as well.

“Thank you, Kylah,” I said, deciding it didn’t matter.

I unpacked the rest of my things, drapping the picture of my family across the back of my helmet, sticking the bracelets on the statue’s broken horn, and scattering the rest of my things around the area. Kylah peered down at the little picture I’d painted on cloth while I finished my unpacking. She gently picked it up, admired it a little, and ran her fingers over it before she set it back down.

“The paint’s finally starting to come off,” she said, gently.

I looked down at it. She was right, the paint itself was cracked, flaking off. The cloth I’d painted it upon was starting to fry and tear. I supposed being crammed under a dragon’s helmet in battle after battle would have that effect on any work of art. Still, I was not surprised, and not really disappointed. After all I’d chosen that particular piece not just because it was small enough to carry with me, but because it was on soft cloth, and not among my best works.

“That’s alright,” I said, gently patting the cloth with a paw. “With any luck, it shall only have to survive one more battle, and then it can be retired.”

Kylah smiled at me, her green eyes somehow shining brightly even in the darkness. “You have to survive one more battle, and then you can retire, too.”

“I shall do my best, Kylah,” I said, a hint of a smirk crossing my muzzle. “I should like to retire. I think I shall bake pies.”

“…What?” Kylah blinked at me in confusion.

“Isn’t that what humans do when get old? Bake pies and sit around and complain?”

Kylah laughed, and shook her head. She pulled her hood away, her brown hair nearly exploded in all directions at once as if ecstatic to have free reign again. “I’m not sure, but I think you have the sitting around complaining part pretty well mastered, already.”

“I am an excellent complainer, aren’t I.”

I spread out the blankets of my bed a little bit, and began to nestle down into them, curling up with my tail wrapping around my body. I found my eyes drawn to the blue blanket I’d brought from home. It was one I’d had for ages; the one that when I was so near death Kylah had lovingly altered for me. I would never forgot what told me that morning, either, when she thought I might be dying.

I wanted to wrap you in the sky forever.

I wondered, for a moment, if she would ever know just what those words meant to me. I reached over and pulled that blanket close to me. I ran a paw pad against the soft, white wool, and felt my heart swell. I also felt my throat heat and tighten, my eyes burn with the urge to release what seemed like a lifetime’s worth of unshed tears. How such small, heartfelt kindness could go such a long way. If someone like Kylah had done something like that for a dragon earlier in our existence, had a dragon done something like I had done for her people, then our kind might still have had a future.

I sniffed, and pushed myself up onto my haunches. I saw Kylah staring up at me, in the darkness. She’d taken her cloak off, planning to spend the night here as she had in the past. I knew she could not see me as well as I could see her right now, and at that moment, I wanted her to know how I felt. I suddenly grasped her and pulled her against me, hugging her tightly against my scaled chest.

Words fell unbidden from my tongue like sudden summer rain. “You are the best part of my life now, Kylah.”

I heard her breath catch in her throat, and I felt her shoulders shake. By now, I knew well enough it was a feeling we both shared. I also knew that it might well a feeling we could never truly put into words, or express to each other. For now, that was alright. For now, it was enough just to be her friend. To be near her.