The Dragon King

Part 2: It All Burns

Jason overlooked the town from the top of an abandoned windmill, the sun slowly creeping its way across the sky.

"Would you look at that, Mister Fortes wasn't late today."

Jason turned around to see a girl around his age standing behind him. The girl smiled, her dark brown hair tied back in a losse ponytail with a few strands falling over her face. Her soft brown eyes giving him a feeling of relief and a small giddiness. She sat down next to him, they're arms brushing against eachother.

"I was only late that one time okay." he said. She laughed and punched him on the arm playfully, she brought her hand down next to his.

"I heard what happened, are you okay?"

"Word sure does travel quick doesn't it." he shook his head, "I'm okay Victoria, they just roughed me up a bit."

He let out a sigh, "Our friend Black asked me to join the Rooks." She moved back slightly her eyes opening wide, she was about to say something but Jason cut her off.

"I refused, there's no way I'd ever become one of them."

"I know that but why did he ask you directly. That never happens."

He shrugged keeping his eyes on the town, Victoria bit her lip and lowered her gaze, "Hey Jason... have you ever just thought about just leaving Hainsworth?"

He laughed it off, "And go where? The next three towns are also controlled by Rooks, there's like no where to go."

"What if we go somewhere else, like past Capitol Wall..." she threw herself back and laid on the ground. "Like imagine it Jason, behind those walls we'd be safe. No bandits, Ravagers, and no goddamn Rooks. I even bet the people are so much more different than us, the towns clean and probably the air even smells different." she turned her head towards him and looked him in the eyes.

"I actually do plan on leaving soon." she said softly. He furrowed his brows, "Are you serious?"

She got up, "Jason, I can't stand it here anymore. There is so much out there and I am stuck rotting away in this Deos forsaken place. I can't stay here and become like my parents. If the Rooks one day told them they wanted to take me you know what they would say? They'd be like go ahead, she's all yours." she knelt down beside him, reached over and grabbed his hand.

"I want you to come with me." He looked away towards the town, the chance to finally leave this place. He wanted to leave so badly, but at the same time he didn't just want to abandon his family. Victoria had told him before that she had no reason to be here anymore, her parents were a lost cause, her brother had been murdered by a Rook and she was getting at the age where the Rooks would start harassing her. The only reason she stayed was because of Jason.

"We can definetly make it if we both go, it would probably only take us a day, two at the most." her grip around his hand tightened, "I really don't want to go without you Jason." She leaned in closer, inches away from Jason's face.

"We can settle down in one of the first town's we find, I can try and become an apprentice for a tailor get better and then maybe even open up our own shop. You can most likely find a job in one of the sawmills." Jason's heartbeat began to race, he could smell the faint aroma of dyes and fresh cloth coming off her. He smiled and looked down, he traced his fingers across her knuckles, "You're always coming up with crazy ideas."

He closed the space between them and placed his lips on hers, the sweet, gentle feeling filling them both with a sense of security and warmth.

"Tonight, as soon as the Rooks are gone meet me at the gate. I want nothing more than to leave this town, and I want you at my side." Jason whispered softly to her. A light red blush spread across her cheeks, "Don't be late, Mister Fortes." she planted a kiss on his cheek and ran off down the windmill.