The Knight's Dragon

Chapter 17. The Hermit

The Villagers then decided to leave the scene before they cause any more trouble. "Forgive us your majesty." Said the Villager from before. As they all left, Roden turns his attention towards Isaac who was still shaking his head after being attacked. "Is this your house Isaac?" Roden asked him. Isaac looks at the house next to them. "Yes it is." He said. Roden helps the young knight off the ground. "Go inside." He demanded. "We have a lot to talk about." Isaac walks into his house with Roden right behind him. Roden looks at Gregor for a moment before going inside the house. "Stand guard." Roden continued. "Yes your majesty." Said Gregor. Roden closes the door behind him and turns to Isaac. "Have a seat." He said. Isaac nervously sits down at a wooden table while Roden sits at the other end. They look at each other for a moment before Roden finally speaks. "How are you feeling?" He asked. Isaac clears his throat. "Fine your majesty." He said nervously. Roden leans closer to Isaac. "You never made it to Black Rock Mountain." He said. "Didn't you?" Isaac tells the truth. "No." He said. "I did not." Roden nods his head. "I see." He continued. "Conan didn't want you to go did he." Isaac was surprised. "How did you know?" He asked. Roden grins. "Nither I or Conan never wanted you to go." He said. "So you're not angry?" Asked Isaac. "Not at you." Said Roden. "My anger is towards the dragons. They took my daughter. The most precious thing I have. The resemblance of her mother. No Isaac. I am not angry with you for coming back. I've told you before I sent you away. Everyone has the right to be afraid, and everyone has the right to live." Isaac felt relieved that Roden wasn't necessarily angry with him, but he still felt ashamed of himself. He looks down at the floor for a moment. "I'm still unworthy to the Village." He said. "They all think that I am a coward." "You let me worry about that." Said Roden. "At the meantime, I'd like to ask you a favor." "And what would that be your majesty?" Asked Isaac. "I would like for you to come with me back to the Castle." Said Roden. "I'm going to grab anyone that I can to go with me to Black Rock Mountain to get my daughter back. But don't worry. You will be safe as long as you stay by my side." Isaac's heart skips a beat. "You're majesty!" He said with concern. "For your information, I am not a coward. I may have never made it to Black Rock Mountain, but I've learned some things on my journey." Roden becomes curious. "And what would that be?" He asked. Isaac doesn't tell his King the full truth, but he gives him the most important details. "I've met someone who lives in the forest in a small cave. He's a hermit, but he knows a lot about Black Rock Mountain. He's been there before." Roden becomes sceptical. "Oh?" He said. "And how do you know?" "Everything he said to me made perfect sense." Said Isaac. "He knows how to go in and out of the cave. If so, then he knows where the Princess is too." Roden still doesn't understand. "And how do you know that this hermit is not telling you some kind of a tale?" He asked. "Listen your majesty." Said Isaac. "You're gonna have to trust me on this. The hermit knows the way. I just know it!"