"Your dragon is tame yes? There wont be any problems?" An elderly priest questioned as he lead us to an empty shack that we could use for the night.
"Rest assured that they are very well behaved' Miroku chuckled, though a bit awkwardly, due to him most likely feeling my annoyance from behind him.
After three day more days of being rejected and camping in the woods, we finally came cross a fairly large village. Definitely large enough to be considered a town. A quick look around I could see huts in the process of being torn down and more sturdy homes being built.
I adjust my grip on Ah-Uns reins. The way some of the people were looking at us was unnerving, like they were waiting for something bad to happen with the dragon.
'Ruling with fear seems to be what the northern lord does. history shows that type of ruling doesn't last forever. Hopefully it ends sooner rather then later...' I let out a deep sigh, loosely tying Ah-Un to a post in front of the shack.
Ah-Un, not having a care in the world, Immediately laid down for a nap.
I enter the shack with one last look to make sure the dragon would be ok. A shallow sinking feeling settled in my chest as we all try to relax in our temporary shelter. Rin crawled onto my lap the moment I sat down against the wall next to the 'door' which was just an opening covered by a curtain.
I take the chance to rest my eyes, trying to calm my buzzing nerves.
.
.
.
I must have been more tired then I thought since net thing I knew I was being shaken awake by rin.
"Lord Shihiro please wake up!"
I'm immediately awake. It's one thing for rin to say my actual name when she's upset but to call me lord? Something is dangerously wrong. My eyes snap open, instantly meeting rins tear filled eyes. I tune into arguing outside and I can already guess what the problem is.
I sit up straight, rin backing up to give me room "what's wrong rin? Is it Ah-Un?" I gently use my sleeve to wipe her face 'what happened while I was sleeping?"
I waited patiently while I could hear the arguing continuing out the door beside me. I could hear snippets of 'beast' , 'not fair' , 'no right' thrown around.
Rin took a couple stuttered breathes before she could properly talk "I-I wanted to spend some time with Ah-Un c-cause I thought they would be lonely outside by themselves. These mean men came and started asking a lot of confusing questions. They were being loud so the others came out since they were still awake. That's when the men started saying we were spies o-of the nor-northern l-lo-lord and that they are g-gonna kill Ah-Un!"
A sharp hiss passed my lips at that last statement. I stood up and promptly gathered Rin in my arms where she buried herself in my neck and chest. It was an easy three steps to exit the shack and see the ongoing confrontation. It was already dark out but the area was lit by lanterns sprinkled across the area.
Kagomes group bickering with three young men I don't recognize. So they weren't there when the priest welcomed us or when we were lead through the village. It seemed that what ever actual argument that was being made just spiraled into back and forth hallow threats.
"Alright that is enough!" I raise my voice to cut through their voices, gaining all the attention on me.
With Rin in my arms, I definitely didn't look that intimidating, at least to the village men who looked very offended that I interrupted them.
A deep smugness curled in my chest when one of the men looked in my eyes and took a step back in shock from my glare.
"Now instead of bickering back and forth like a band of baboons. How about discussing this matter like people with sense" I growl in annoyance, adjusting rin in my arms when she squirmed to look at the group.
