Valtava: Dragon Sword

Chapter 14

"Ada! Ada!" Tony called as he ran out the door and into the gardens surrounding the mansion. He looked around for the girl until he finally spotted her standing under a large oak tree, with her back towards him. He slowed to a walk and stepped up to her, then called her name gently again.

"Ada, are you alright?" He placed a hand on her shoulder and tried to turn her to face him, but she resisted and walked a few steps away.

"You really don't like me, do you?" she asked, her voice quivering.

"No, Ada, that's not true at all. What makes you think that?"

"Then why are you so hesitant to agree to marry me?" She turned to show her face at last, and Tony could see that she was trying hard to hold back her tears. It was then that he realized how deeply he wished to be with her, and he knew that feeling was reciprocated. For the past few days, he had only been pushing his feeling away, trying to hide them and doubting whether they were real. But now, the girl he wanted was right in front of him, and she was his and only his.

He smiled, raising a hand to wipe away a teardrop that had streamed down Ada's cheek. "Don't you think fate is strange sometimes? I had been looking desperately for you, and it turns out you were right beside me this whole time. The Heavens must have arranged for us to meet, and I'm so grateful for that."

Ada couldn't help but follow his contagious smile. "So...you agree to it then?"

"I'll speak to your mother about the wedding plans. I won't make you wait long, does that sound fair?"

Ada nodded and brushed her remaining tears away, then buried herself in the warmth of Tony's arms.

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Stephen strolled down the streets, glancing at the vendors lining either side and trying to see if there was anything new and interesting. But he had been walking along the same streets for days now, and everything seemed to bore him. He did notice it was livelier than usual, and people seemed to be engaged in chatter about something exciting. He stopped and tuned into a conversation between a group of merchants.

"Did you hear that Madam Colipan's daughter is getting married?"

"What?? Who's the lucky man?"

"You'll never guess it!"

"C'mon, just say it already!"

The merchant leaned into the others, then whispered, "It's none other than the Dragon Master! Can you believe it?"

The group hollered loudly, cheering and sharing their excitement. Stephen almost jumped when he heard the news. Tony and Ada are getting married? A part of him was in joy for them, but another part was worried. He still replayed the events that happened the day he was kicked out of the mansion, and he knew there was something strange about Ada that day. He feared something grim was happening but couldn't wrap his head around what it was. He could only hope that Tony was strong and skillful enough to defend himself if something wrong did go awry.

He continued walking down the streets and arrived at a blacksmith's shop, where several men were busy forging weapons at their anvils. Finding nothing else to do, he paused and watched as they worked, trying to identify the different weapons as they came into form.

"Another bright new day for you, Stephen?" one of the blacksmiths asked. After countless days of touring the streets, almost everyone recognized him.

"If you say so," he said in response, trying to sound cheerful. He laid his eyes on the largest sword in the back of the room that was cooling, and he immediately blurted out, "The Dragon Sword!"