Lorcan: Dragonquest

Chapter 10

The caravan traveled for a week through verdant rolling countryside sprinkled with farms and villages. Tilled fields flourished forth crops of green wheat, vegetables, herbs, and plants tied to stakes in the ground that held them far above the earth. Men and women tended them, carefully examining the flowers that bloomed on them like snowfall and trimming the shoots that bore no blossoms. Eventually, they arrived at a small walled town dominated by a castle that perched on a huge rock that stuck up like a tree stump. A curved earthen ramp led up nearly all the way to its main gate, which could only be reached via a drawbridge.

At an empty spot within the curve, the caravan drew to a halt and Henorm called a meeting of the caravan guards. "We have arrived at Haute Roche," he announced. "Come, collect your wages, and buy what you need from the town. We leave at dawn."

Lorcan and Cokelli took the money and went into the town to find an inn. When they had stabled their horses they went upstairs to their room and refreshed themselves. The gnomes crawled out of the bags they had stowed themselves in and began to explore the room.

Cokelli emptied their bags and checked their clothes to see what needed to be repaired. "It's just as well we are being paid," he said. "And that we are not staying at inns every night, otherwise we would not be able to afford to keep going."

"We'll be fine," replied Lorcan. "We both know how to live off the land. Stop worrying, Cokelli."

"One of us has to. I'd better get our laundry done. You might want to go to the market before it's finished for the night."

The sun had gone down by the time Lorcan had returned with supplies. He put them away, then he and Cokelli went downstairs for dinner, which consisted of bread and garlic-laced stew washed down with beer. They sat together, two Soduaners in a sea of foreigners, none of whom could (or would) speak any language they knew. Looking around, they saw Beso sitting with Heshbon, Henorm, and some other merchants, chatting and swapping stories.

"I am beginning to realize how much I appreciate you, Cokelli," said Lorcan, staving off the pangs of homesickness with a long draught of beer.

Cokelli smiled. "Is that homesickness or beer?"

"Both," replied Lorcan. "But I do mean it."

Some Aefwealding knights came in and sat at a table nearby, but none of them would even acknowledge either Lorcan or Cokelli. When they had finished eating, they went back to their room.

The following day, the caravan set off, moving steadily southwards. The terrain grew increasingly rocky and hilly. In the distance, a range of snow-capped mountains loomed and they were heading straight towards them. Excitement coursed through Lorcan's veins. Ahead of them, somewhere in mountains like these, Fierreled dwelt. A few months from now, he would find a way to battle the dragon—after the other contenders had softened him up a bit first—then return with the head and claim his right to rule Heftreeke.

A wide grin stretched Lorcan's lips until he saw that the other contenders had similar expressions on their faces. A sharp nudge from Cokelli brought him further down to earth.

"Lorcan, we can't all succeed at this. At some point, we'll have to work together, then be rivals."

"True, but a man can dream. That funny smell—it's still with us."

"I will speak to Henorm. He's the friendliest of them."

"Why aren't you going?" Lorcan asked when he saw that Cokelli was still there.

"I am waiting for him to come back up the line."

After a while, Henorm rode back up the line as Cokelli had predicted.