The Dragonriders

Chapter 1

A Village Burned

Shirley

Three knocks. No response. Strange. The oil lamps are lit on the other side of the window. Why would the hunts master waste oil? He of all people should know how hard lamp oil is to come by as he is the one who has to hunt for it. Just like he is responsible for the guard schedule of our village. The hunters don't just hunt for the village. All the hunters that are not needed to hunt usually spent their on duty time standing guard or practicing with either the sword or bow, depending on what they are most needing training with. But now... I already was at the training fields earlier and they were locked. Impatient I knock again, now a lot louder. Finally I get an answer.

The hunts master opens the door looking like he hasn't slept in a week. His hair is a mess, his clothing messy and tattered and his beard unkept. I've seen beggars looking better than him. 'Hunts master?'

The guy rumbles. 'Yes. Now what is it? I got stuff to do as well, you know. I'm a busy man.'

I take a deep breath. 'I've come for the job opening you had. The one for hunter apprentice. I got a bow and quiver...'

As I say it I hold up a piece of worn parchment where the hunts master had scribbled a quick request for a new hunter on and nailed it to the village notice board. It didn't specify a lot but since I'm not the traditional type to sit at home and knit clothing I gave it a go. You can't tie me down with a husband. The hunts master looks at the paper and then at me. 'Hmm... not what I did expect but since I haven't had any responses so far and the last three guys ran off... I'll give you a shot. Payment is four silver coins a month, housing is in the barracks at the back. You'll learn to make arrows from your master, who will introduce himself in the morning. You are his assistant until he deems you ready to go on yourself. Here is a uniform and here are the keys to the barracks and the training field.'

He hands over a small pile of clothing and a keyring and then closes the door. With that I walk around the house to the barracks. When I try to open the closest door I discover that one of the keys has a number stamped into it, though it is a bit worn down. Looking around I discover every door has a number next to it, and soon I find my own room. Its small and barren, with just a chest, a set of bedside drawers, a rough wooden desk with a chair and a bed. Looking around the room, opening the chest, drawers and the drawers of the desk I find a quill, a small pot of ink and hidden at the back of the bedside drawers a small, rough forged knife. The last occupant must have left in a hurry. I put my bow and quiver in the chest and then go to sleep.

The next morning I wake up to someone banging his fist on my door. 'Wake up greenhorn. It is time for your first lessons.'

I roll out of bed sleepily and open the door. 'Its still early... couldn't you wait a bit longer?'

The man in front of me is bulky and dressed in the uniform of the huntsman. Well, that is what it looks like initially anyway. Instead of a deer hide cuirass he is wearing a drakeskin cuirass. This guy has killed a dragon. He also has a heavy sword on his left hip and a somewhat ornate bow in his quiver. His quiver is partially covered by his green cape with dark spots blotched all over it, though the hood is lowered to his back to reveal his face with a scar on it. This hunter has seen his share of battles. When he sees me he growls softly. 'Hunters must get up early to catch the best food. Now get dressed in your uniform. I never want to see you outside your uniform during work hours again.'

I'm astounded. 'I didn't even know this was my work time. If you have a moment I'll get dressed...'

He rumbles. 'You got a minute'

I quickly run inside, closing the door with my foot behind me, and get dressed quickly. The uniform isn't the most comfortable but it will do the job. With only a few seconds to spare I open the door. The senior hunter grumbles. 'First up, get your quiver and put it on. No hunter is ever unarmed. Next up, hunting knife. Today you will learn to skin, gut and get the meat off of animals and you will need a proper knife for that. Lastly, until you made a name for yourself, you won't show your face. So put that hood up.'