The Dragonwalk Highway: The Fellowship of Thirteen

7 - The Mother's Womb

Zelda woke to the sound of high-pitched bleating nearby—like, really, really nearby. A makeshift quarters had been made for her and Sheena inside the busted wagon. The servants had completely removed the wagon from the axles and wheels so that it laid flat on the ground and the canvas covering offered her some semblance of privacy. Sheena was still sleeping soundly so she didn't bother waking her. She peered out the back of the wagon to investigate the noise and came face-to-face with a sheep. That wasn't odd in itself since they were out in the country. What was odd was that the sheep was shackled to a sleeping Sir Melthiar—and Oron was nowhere to be found.

Melthiar's eyes snapped open. There was no easing awake for the old soldier. It was as if someone had pulled a lever and activated him. He went from "asleep" to "awake" instantly.

"Princess, what's wrong? I heard your breathing change. Is everything all right?"

"Well, Sir Melthiar, you are chained to a sheep so, no, I'd say something is amiss."

The sheep greeted him with a boisterous BAAAA! Melthiar was instantly on his feet and shouting orders. The Red Shirts who had been on watch ran over and were questioned but of course they had seen nothing. Melthiar woke the other Reds and began to organize search teams, but Zelda quickly intervened.

"Don't waste your time. He's long gone. He waited for his opportunity and he took it. We'll never see him again—ever."

"GOOD MORNING!"

Everyone turned in one simultaneous motion. Oron had seemingly appeared from out of nowhere. Two horses trailed after him, their reigns bunched together in one hand. In the other hand he held a large sack. "Who's hungry?" He tossed the sack on the ground and a dozen apples poured out. Quitch, Stormy, and Ruddiger were on the ground collecting them before they had made a full rotation.

Melthiar and Zelda each seemed to be trying to figure out if Oron was real or some apparition summoned to deceive them. The horses, growing impatient, began to whinny.

Melthiar cleared his throat. "Where'd you acquire the horses?"

"Donations from the nearby farm. Figured we could use some more horses with the wagon all mish-mashed and such."

"And the apples."

"More donations. These simple country gits have a real Rodney for the royal family. They love 'um. 'Whatever the Dragonwalks need, we's here to serve' they says they does."

He tied the horses to the tree where he had previously been tied. When he turned back to the Princess, Melthiar met him with a solid left hook. The blow wasn't meant to maim, only to make a point. Oron rubbed his cheek and spit blood onto the ground.

"I acquire us horses and them there apples and this is how you choose to show your gratitude? With a half-hearted old man fart of a knock to my noggin?"

"You escape from your chains and you want me to show you gratitude?"

"I left you some company."

The sheep unleashed a wet, rippling fart.

Melthiar stepped in close so Oron could taste his morning breath. "I don't know what you're playing at, scab, or what you have to gain from being on this quest, but you will be on your best behavior moving forward. We may need you as our guide but you can certainly guide us missing a finger or two."

He pulled his sword and let the blade rest against Oron's cheek. Oron used the blade to slide an apple in half. He took a bite and allowed the juice to dribble down his chin.

"Apple?" he offered.

Melthiar placed the sword back into the scabbard and walked off in disgust. Oron offered a slice to Zelda. She took the apple slice and then let it fall into the dirt.