A Dragon's Bond

The Hooded Man

     A hooded figure broke from the safety of a dimly lit doorway. He dashed from dark spot to dark spot within the village, clearly not wanting to be seen. Sully, the tower night watch for the towns militia had been watching the suspicious figure since he entered town two days ago.

     He turned to the fellow guard member standing in the tower.

"Vestuvious. Did you notice this slimy guy sneaking around the village?"

     His half-awake partner turned his head up from his hands that he had been resting it on.

"What are you going on about now Sully? You worry far too much. The last exciting thing to happy here was when the Queens scout came and took up volunteers."

     He turned his attention back to his eyelids and his chair.

"Now leave me alone so I can catch up on some sleep. The miss won't hardly allow me any sleep. Always filling my ears with nagging when I'm at home. I have some catching up to do."

     Sully sighed as he watched his partner drift off again into a slumber.

"Well I'm going to go check him out. You watch my post while I am gone Vestuvious."

"Yeah yeah. Sure thing."

     With that Sully made his way down to street level again and off to the last location he saw the hooded man.

     He began slowly making his rounds through the market, making sure to check every corner and dark place. He had just given up and turned to head home when something caught his eye. He froze in place and slowly turned to his left catching the hooded man slipping through the doorway to the local tavern. Sully quickly made his way over and into the tavern behind the mysterious man.

     Once inside his senses were flooded with the carnival of activity surrounding him. There was a handful of men already well into their drinks sitting at the bar top, beer covering the countertop and slowly making its way to the floor. Laughter and joyful speaking could be heard from every direction, and men puffed on clouds of warm spicy tobacco before releasing their disappearing wisps into the room.

     Sully's eyes scanned the room until he found the man again, taking a seat in the back of the room. He quickly made his way over before plopping down across from him to the man's surprise.

"I have been watching you stranger. You cling to the shadows like a man who has something to hide. What are you doing in my town?"

     The man nervously looked around the room. Sensing there was no way to escape he sighed and hung his head before speaking.

"My name is Quaid. I am escaping the Queen."

     Sully's eyes went wide with shock as his eyes scanned the room nervously. He grabbed Quaid by the arm and pulled him closer.

"You need to be more careful with information like that my friend. You never know who is listening. The Queens men have been around scouting villages looking for that new Alpha Rider. What kind of trouble are in you exactly."

     Quaid shook his head before speaking again.

"Not here. You are right it is too public. Is there any where we can go?"

     Sully sat for a moment quietly digesting what was going on. He was clearly having some sort of internal battle over his next words.

"This may come back to bite me, but follow me. I have a place we can speak."