Dragonsbane

Aren's Discovery

Chapter 5

The News

       

Aren’s mind buzzed with excitement and fear at what he had just seen. It was a real, live dragon. And it had taken his brother! He replayed the moment in his mind. He had gone to the tree he and his brother had spent so much time in, because it was the place where he could think the best. With the serenity and quietness that was opposite of the bustling town with its noisy crowd, it made the perfect place to sort a problem out.

He had been offered a job; to join a group of men to make a journey to Shanur, (where there was whispers of rebellion), and if he did the job right, could get promoted. Or he could stay in the city with his love, Isabella as he trained his squires. Being knighted less than a year ago, he already had a destrier and three squires. He grinned. Life had really smiled down at him. But the crossroads of opportunity had risen up, leaving the easy path now a forked road, leading who knows where.

 The squires could use a trip, and Isabella would want me to get a promotion. But I can’t leave her for months! And it is a long and grueling path… he started climbing the tree, thinking fiercely. As he grasped for a large branch he stopped mid-reach. Did I just hear something? He listened closely, breathing softly for less interference. Voices! He stayed there for a moment, mystified. Nobody knew of this place. Maybe somebody followed me and is trying to get a laugh by scaring me. He grimaced as he thought of a couple fools that would just love to do the very thing. He would show them. Slowly he inched his body upward, toward the fork in the tree. This joke is going to be on THEM he thought, already chuckling to himself. Suddenly he jumped to the crook of the tree, ready to scare off the jokers. But before he could let out a boo, he was knocked off his feet by a shocking ROAR! Falling backward from the blast, he hit the ground with a squelch. He sat there in shock, momentarily forgetting to breath. A wind burst forth out of nowhere, smashing him to the ground. Leaves blasted him with an amazing force as the wind continued to pin him to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a ginormous shape block out the sun. Slowly the wind died down and he was able to ease his body around and get his first look at the object. Vast bat-like wings were attached to an enormous serpentine body. Suddenly it sped away so fast Aren’s eyes couldn’t follow it. He was sure of one thing. The voice he heard was his brother’s.

And the dragon had taken him away.

Slowly rising to his shaky legs he had ran to tell the news. Which got him to where he was right now; in front of the castle. The huge structure was forbidding. Its large murky windows seemed to veil dark secrets. It looked strong and menacing against the light summery day. A few soldiers walked in and out of the iron gates, and some peasants meandered about, hoping to get a glimpse of the Queen.

Aren took a deep breath, trying to get the courage to walk into those hostile doors. He had only seen the Queen twice, once when he had been knighted, and the other time when she had been on her yearly parade. He had gotten a glimpse of her as she sat, waving from her carriage. There were many stories floating around about her. Most of them had been old maid’s tales. But many seemed to have a ring of truth to it. One rumor was that the Queen had cut off the thumb of General Watson because he had lost a battle. Sometimes Aren saw him riding his destrier around Redfield and he could’ve sworn that he had a thumb missing.

Also there were people saying that if her clothes weren’t tailored quite right she would have the tailor banished from the kingdom. Others claimed she had killed a demon with her bare hands.

Overall she did not seem like a very forgiving Queen. And if he had not really seen what he thought he did…. His hands crept up to his neck. He would be hanged.