Dragon Whispers

Gideon

The boy with brown eyes and curly brown hair, grabbed his coat and hurriedly put it on. He could hear his parents speaking in the big room, they were more than likely eating their breakfast.

He scratched at his stubble that grew only here and there on his square jaw, and let out a sigh.

Late again, his Masterio would say.

He pulled on his boots, and walked over to the door, the wooden floor creaking with every step. Opening the door, he saw his younger sister pulling on her coat as well.

"Ah, Gideon! There's a slice of meat for you on the table, you can eat it while you run! Now you better hurry, if Masterio Lewis finds you late again, he might disown you, and we really can't be having that. The horse is ready outside, Eidelyn prepared him." His mother, who had blonde hair unlike the rest of the family, explained, basically pushing him out of the door.

He grabbed the slice of meat and grabbed his bag that hung on one of the pegs against the wall.

"I'll see you tonight Eidelyn, father, mother!" He yelled out as the door shut. He let out a quiet laugh and shook his head, making his way over to the horse, his horse, who was tied to a post.

"How are you, boy?" He asked, tying the bag to his saddle. The horse let out a whinny in response. Gideon climbed up the rather large, black horse, and as he was about to ride off, an older woman scuttled hurriedly over to him.

"Young man!" She called out, waving her bag. She was quite obviously some noble. "Young man!" She called again. "Is this the DeClare residence?" She asked.

"Yes of course. Gideon DeClare at your service, madam." He told her, bowing. "What do you require?"

"Oh, you're the son, yes? I was searching for your parents, I heard they performed their services here. Is this correct?" She asked.

"Yes, you are right. Just knock, they will help you with any ailments you have." He explained with a polite smile. "Have a good day madam." He added finally, and kicked the sides of his horse, riding off to the main of the town.

People moved out of his way, they had been used to him riding in late for the past nine years since he was apprenticed to Masterio Lewis. He rode through the crowded streets quickly, making his way to the stall in a matter of minutes.

"Boy!" The Masterio called out, an annoyed look on his face. He was behind the stall.

He was an older gentleman of around fifty summers, with grey hairs that covered basically all but his head. He had a scar that adorned his left eye, from a fight with a beast when he was much younger. His right eye, was clouded over, he could not see through it, although it did not seem to disable him in anyway.

"How many years have you been with me?" He asked. Gideon rolled his eyes, getting off of his horse and tying it to the stall.

"Nine, sir." He responded, jumping over the stand.

"And in those nine years, how many times have you been on time?" His voice was gravely, not one that would be able to tell you a story to sleep.

"Twice, sir."

"Twice! In nine years, you've only been on time twice! I swear, if I wasn't fearful of your parent's hexes, I would have disowned you years ago. But they give me a good amount of money." He let out a sigh. "Now take care of the stand, will you? I have business to attend to." He said, and with that Masterio Lewis walked off to some place that Gideon wasn't bothered with finding out.

The day was just as any other, he yelled out things about amazing prices for such jewels, people would buy, and he would make a good amount of coin for himself, and his family. Of course, there were those few that would see it.

It, was nothing really big, it was just a brand on his wrist. Of course, he had been given it at the moment of birth, and of course, it caused him many troubles, but he had grown used to the jabs, and the attacks. He grew used to losing business because of it, mostly because he knew that there would always be those that would buy at the prices they gave.

He returned home with 500 gold, enough to pay taxes for the month, as well as be able to pay for food.

"How was your day, son?" His father asked as they ate their dinner. Gideon reached for another slice of boar.

"It was good, the usual. Lots of business." He responded, his mouth full.

"Did the soldiers cause you any trouble?" His sister asked.

"Why do you bother asking? You know the answer. Of course they did. They always do." He let out a sigh.

"Oh, Eidelyn lets get off of this topic, yes? I'm sure there are many other things we can talk about." Their mother said. She never liked talking about it, even though it was her profession. She never liked the injustice they were treated with, and she would never speak of it.

"Yes mother." Eidelyn sighed.

There was an awkward silence for a long while while they ate, the fire flickering in the middle of the table.

"Eidelyn, daughter, you have barely even touched your meal." Their father said.

"I'm not that hungry." She responded simply.

"You best eat. Winter is coming soon, and you'll need all the fat you can get. I hear it will be a harsh one." Gideon told her, finishing the last of his meal. As she was about to respond, there came a knock at the door. Everyone froze, terrified.

"I'll get it." Their father said warily, about to get up. Gideon shook his head and motioned to him to sit back down.

"I'll get it. If it comes to it, I can put up more of a fight." He explained, putting his plate down and walking towards the door. There came more knocks, these harder than the last. Gideon opened the door, and there stood two of the king's soldiers.

"DeClare residence?" The tallest asked.

"Yes, this is it, Gideon DeClare, at your service." He answered, not quite keeping the door open all the way.

"There has been information that has been arrived to the king, dragons have been seen around this place. You wouldn't mind if we looked around to make sure you aren't committing any treasons, would you?" The shortest said.

"I would mind, quite a bit. We are just finishing eating dinner, after all, but I suppose, I can not stop you. Mind your heads, we have spells in the process hanging on the ceiling." He told them. They gave him a grateful nod and entered.

"Gideon, dear, what's going on?" His mother asked.

"Don't worry, madam. We're just searching for any evidence of dragons residing in this home." The tallest explained.

Dragons were a sensitive subject. It was known that the DeClares were once dragon whispers, able to communicate with them, although with the hunting of them, it was unsure if they still retained that ability. It was best to keep quiet about it, nobody wanted the king to find out.

They searched the bedrooms, and after finding nothing of interest, they were on their ways.

"Brother?" Eidelyn called out, once they had left.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Don't ever let soldiers into this house again."