The Dragons Queen Saga

Part 4: Thedra

Dresden never tired of the road. Today though, he was completely out of dried meat and the terrain had evolved into human dwellings and tighter farmland. That meant less wild lands and more structures. Animals as far as the eye could see, and he wasn't allowed to eat a single one of them. Farmland confused him greatly. Why would any creature intentionally pen off sections of land so they could cultivate a small variety of plants and very few animals. The wild animals and vegetation were far superior in nutrition. Didn't they know that? The wild weeds were sparse, but the trees had come back into view. Forested areas here and there dotted a meadow streaked, hilly valley.

The people he had passed in the last two days were not friendly like Jafen. They were typical "simple people", cattle among human beings in Dresden's mind. Noblemen were insufferable for their superiority but the fearful commoners were far worse. They would kill you without justification, simply because of a superstitious belief. Noblemen at least looked down on those they despised. He understood that, and the thought smeared a malicious grin across a now bearded muzzle. With just two days left to the coast, he began smelling fresher air here. It hadn't rained in weeks and the sun beat down like a torch in the sky. Soon enough, there would be more rain than folks would know what to do with, and then the harvest, and from there cold weather would keep all these farmers indoors with their families.

Dresden enjoyed his little daydreams. He had become a true wanderer. He called no place home, slept wherever and whenever, and relied on no one for his needs. His threatening demeanour protected him from being robbed, since he was more frightening than some of the cursed race, more aggressive than scoundrels and thieves, and more dangerous than mercenaries. He had nothing to fear. Walking. His life had been reduced to walking. He could hardly tell the days apart anymore, and every step away from the Northern kingdoms was a step in the right direction.

Recent events made him question his choice to return to the coast. Go far enough and eventually you end up right back where you started. He couldn't let that happen. He would never return to BasNassal; the Dragons would never let him, and he didn't want to.

An arm waving from the road ahead of him pulled him back towards the landscape as sounds flooded his ears.

"You there, sir! Hey, can you hear me?"

A boy, older than a child but not yet a man, came running up to Dresden. His tunic and breeches made his lowly class instantly known.

"Hello traveler. My name is Heimel. I live in the cottage just there." Catching his breath, he pointed towards the North side of the road down a long hill, past a meadow, possibly a mile or more away. "My family saw you coming when you crested the rise and sent me to fetch you."

Dresden examined the boy further: curly mess of hair, busted footwear, he wore nothing of value. What would this boy's family want with him, he wondered? He fingered the bottle. Suspicion was a game that Dresden had to play. The Dragon Council would not stop interfering in his life for the rest of his days, and those were running out fast. That lesson had come very hard, not long enough ago either.

"What is your business with me? How do you know me?"

"It's my Gran. She insists you come and see us. She told me to let you know that you would be happy you did, Dresden."

Dresden raised an eyebrow - they knew his name! Curious indeed. He had not made many friends in the course of his journey and no one should consider him one. Yet, he found himself following the boy down the road to a humble cottage, under the cover of gigantic trees that he recognized. Pigs sounded behind the cottage, ducks played in the yard, and children ran about, catching bugs for the chickens. The scene felt peaceful, calm for a moment. The boy burst through the front door, bellowing.