Dragon's Mother

Chapter 1

"You know, when you came to me to join your journey, I was imagining a cool adventure. I'd help read the map for you, collect supplies on the road, and act like your average squire. Keep your weapons clean and tidy, always at hand when you need it. Everything you yourself mentioned, Sir Hendrick! So how in the king's name did I end up carrying all of your stuff including the other three knights in your guild and without a horse at that?" Ansel asked, glaring at the back of Sir Hendrick's head who was whistling a merry tone atop his noble steed, and the boy groaned mumbling about his aching feet. Before him were five horses, four of them carrying the knights. The last one was pulling a small carriage behind them though Ansel wasn't entirely sure why. He'd jokingly asked if he could ride in it since they wouldn't let him ride on the horses, even just sitting on the coaches seat like he was driving, but he was scolded and ordered not to go anywhere near it.

"You're doing a great job kid! Keep up the good work!" Sir Hendrick called back, fussing with his hair for a moment and gave Ansel his winning smile over the shoulder who rolled his eyes in return. "We're coming up on a town right now and we can spend the night in a tavern. Drinks on me!" Sir Hendrick called and there were cheers from the nights who pumped their fists into the air. Ansel, on the other hand, let out a long sigh knowing that didn't apply to him and he didn't like to drink anyways.

There were exactly four knights in all and despite being forced to travel on foot carrying half their stuff on his back, Ansel liked the company of the other members who had joined their guild. Similar to Sir Hendrick, there was Sir Stephen who was known for his looks and charm but he was actually charming. Women always fell all over him, falling for his looks the minute they laid eyes on him. He didn't even have to do anything, women approached him begging for his affections. Other than attracting women, Sir Stephen wasn't all that bad and was even pretty fun to hang around with fun jokes and even was even teaching Ansel how to use a sword when they set up for camp or took a break on the road. Sir Rodwell on the other hand... was rather aloof. He barely spoke a word, he never smiled, and he mostly glared at everything. Ansel accidentally bumped into him at the start of their journey when they were still loading everything onto the horses, and him, and the man sneered down at him baring his teeth at Ansel like a wild animal. After that, Ansel all but avoided Sir Rodwell and the man seemed grateful for it because he didn't acknowledge Ansel's presence at all. The last knight was Ansel's favorite, Sir Chester who preferred it when you dropped his title. Chester was like the big brother Ansel always wanted and the mother he never knew, doting on everyone and caring for all. He was always quick to help when needed like helping Ansel if he struggled to get his heavy pack on, helping an older woman who was struggling with her fruit cart trying to get it to her fruit stand for the day, and even helping a little girl finding her lost kitten who was up in a tree. Not only that but Chester was the only other person who knew how to cook who loved trading recipes with Ansel and experimenting with new ingredients they found in different towns. Some were pretty good and they promised to pick them up on their way back to share with their friends and possibly the king in Chester's case. Other times... well, let's just say the guild party needed to rest for an entire day.

They had been traveling for three whole days now, the sun setting to the west just as they reached the town where they immediately headed to the stables to put up the horses for the night so they could rest up while their riders got lodgings in the local tavern. The pub was noisy, as most were unless there was a rare lull or it was so late that most of the occupants were dead drunk, and it was especially lively what with three young ladies in rather revealing dresses were dancing on a little stage singing to the men who crowded around them. Many hoots and hollers rang out through the tavern, one man even tried to join them but was yanked back by a rather hefty bar wench who threatened to throw him out if he tried anything with her daughters which stopped man drunks in their tracks but the sober Sir Hendrick followed by Sir Stephen were drawn to the women just the same. Sir Rodwell left, wanting to check out the local iron smith to see what kind of weapons he might be selling, leaving Sir Chester and Ansel to figure out the room situation with the tavern owner.