The Golden Rider Book 1: The Golden Traitor

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I road all through the woods to Landile, and I only stopped twice to allow Radon to rest and to eat and get a quick drink.  I didn’t want to take too long because after night the roads got all the more dangerous.  By now the sun had just set and I was on the lookout for the right path that would lead me to Landile, and I was also keeping an eye out for possible hazards like thieves or rogue Dragons.  My hand tightly clenched onto the handle of my sword just in case.

Two hours after the sun set, I caught sight of the great wooden walls that surround Landile.  I sighed in exhaustion from riding all day as they let me pass into the safety of the village’s walls.

Towards the outskirts of the village, there were not many lights, and everything looked rundown and old, but as I neared the town square, I could hear music and see more lights.  I nudged my horse forward down an old dirt road that lead to the center where I knew the Tavern was.  In Landile Square, I could see a festival of some sort going on because there were people dancing to a well known folk song, and kids ran around with candies and goodies.  I smiled as I saw the sign with the overflowing beer mug.

First, I led Radon to one of the few horse stables outside of the Tavern.  Many of the stables nowadays were Dragons only, but because Landile was technically a village, they had very few Dragons and Riders living here.  I dug the few coins out of my purse attached to my hip for the fee, and then I dragged my tired aching body to the Tavern which was just as loud and crowded as the Square.  Landile was one of the largest villages in the Lands; it was more like a town in fact, so there was always lots of people and partying.

I navigated to the bar and waited for the tender to get to me.  I sat there tracing my finger along the swirls of the wooden counter until someone cleared their throat.

“You be lookin’ a bit young to be on ya own,” the tender said.  “Wha’s a wee lil lass doin’ by ‘erself?”

“I’m looking for Doyle.  I was sent here by my Headmaster on business.”

“Yur lookin’ at ‘im,” Doyle said as he cleaned an empty mug.  “Oi!  ‘At means yoo must be a Rider!”  He looked around to see if anyone was looking before he leaned in closer.  “Go to the back room.  We’ll talk in private there.”  I noticed that he had dropped the accent.  I nodded and went to go the room. 

When I got in the room, I looked around as I waited for Doyle.  There were a few candles illuminating the small room, and there was also a table in the center with a few chairs surrounding it.   I sat down in one as Doyle walked in and closed the door.

“Not too many people in this town care for Dragons at the moment.  Our supplies were late this year because of rogue Dragon attacks.”

“What happened to your accent?” I asked as I noticed he was no longer speaking in a weird way.  He laughed at me.

“As a bar tender, some people have it in their minds that I’m supposed to use that type of accent.  My name really isn’t Doyle either, just another prop.  Your Headmaster is a very smart man not to tell you my real name.  If you asked for my real name, I would have told you no one with that name lives here.”

“What is your real name?” I asked.

“Depends on which Academy do you go to?  I don’t like many of them.”

“The first.”

“Oh!  Then you’re in luck!  Stacey’s Academy is my favorite!  How is the old man?”

“His name is Stacey?  But that’s a girl’s name!” I laughed as his face dropped.

“I wasn’t supposed to tell you that, was I?” he asked and I shook my head.