Wild Rider (Dragon Castaway Book 1) [Complete] {2018 Wattys Longlist}

Chapter 21

Wyena stood at the bar in complete shock. A commoner had just punched out a Dragon Knight knowing full well about the title that he held. If someone had told that story to her she would have simply dismissed the thought as ludicrous.

She shook herself back to reality remembering that she had a job to do, retribution could come later. Looking to Ramor she saw that he was equally as dumbfounded. As he brought himself back from his shock he bent over the bar trying and failing to cover his fits of laughter.

Wyena rolled her eyes as she turned her attention to Elgenon. "Are you alright?" she asked as he picked himself up off the floor. His eyes held a murderous look that promised nothing but trouble in the future.

"I want that man's head on a spike!" he ground out wincing at the pain.

"Later, right now we have a job to do" she said turning back to Blas. She felt a stab of sympathy as she saw the man's pained expression but pushed down the feeling.

"We are looking for someone who may have been in the nearby village when it was attacked. Has anyone come through here with a story like that?" she asked.

The innkeeper shook his head. "No, there hasn't been anyone in here telling stories about escaping a raid or anything like that."

"The guard at the gate said that as well" she replied her spirits fading. This was going nowhere fast and that grated on her nerves.

"They could still be out in the wilderness if this was recent. The folk around here do have a knowledge of the forest and would be distrustful of anywhere soldiers may congregate." The innkeeper said.

Wyena scratched her chin in thought. "I suppose that is possible, for the moment I think we will search the town."

The innkeeper shrugged "it is your prerogative I suppose."

"Still, it is a good thought" she said, "do you know anyone who is truly knowledgeable of the wilderness?"

Blas grinned sheepishly. "I know the best, he could probably find anyone you needed to out there."

"Great, do you know where he is?" she asked her spirits lifting.

"Yes and no" he replied. "He just punched your friend in the face and stormed out."

Wyena pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a low groan. "Of course he did."

Fortunately, Ramor spoke up, changing the subject. "Your last name is Narvyyk right? Like Reas Narvyyk?" he asked.

The innkeeper brightened. "So, my brother is still at the academy then?

Wyena nodded. "He is one our lecturers in the history of Balistrea"

"Is?" Blas asked looking puzzled. "You are still in the academy?"
Wyena flushed slightly. "We will be getting out soon, this mission is a test before we are inducted into the army."

"Well, give him my best the next time you see him. It has been quite some time." He said

"Why did you give up an academy post to settle all the way out in this wilderness?" Ramor asked.

The man's face fell rapidly and Wyena could plainly see it wasn't something that he wanted to discuss. "Thank you for your help" she said heading off the conversation, there was no need for him to feel obligated to answer personal questions. "We'll take our leave now."

Gesturing to the pair she turned and walked out.

"Still no closer to our goal" she thought despondently as they made their way back towards the gate. It had been a long shot, but that was of little comfort. They were still stuck and she had no idea where to go from here.

"You are forgetting something" Elgenon said through gritted teeth.

Wyena let out a sigh. "You are really set on pursuing this matter?" she asked. Having a commoner strike a nobleman was a serious breach of protocol but gallivanting around after an uppity woodsman was the last thing they needed to be doing right now.

"It is my right to discipline anyone who thinks themselves above there station!" he insisted furiously. "This shouldn't take long enough to distract us from the mission."

"Fine" she reluctantly agreed, looking to the sun. There was still daylight left and they could use a distraction before starting up again tomorrow. "Go on ahead and tell Jadiak to get the mounts ready."

Elgenon nodded and took off through the gate grinning with barely concealed bloodlust. As he disappeared from sight Ramor looked at her incredulously. "You're seriously going to go after someone just for doing what we've all wanted to for years?!"

Wyena let out another sigh. "I don't want to, but we're stymied for today and he's not going to shut up unless we do something about his wounded pride."

"Plus, we're Dragon Knights, and our job isn't just to defend Balistrea but uphold its laws which includes making sure commoners know that it is not ok to strike a noble" she said bitterly, the irony of trying to put someone in their place when she had rejected hers was not lost on her.

Ramor looked unhappy but didn't contradict her. "So where do you think that guy came from? I've never seen anyone who looked quite like him before."

"I don't know" Wyena said shaking her head. She had wondered that herself. His black hair, tanned skin, and sharp features were unlike any she remembered seeing. They had been quite striking though. Wyena fought down a blush as she quashed the girlish notion. She was a Dragon Knight, not some swooning court lady.

Ramor looked at her with concern. "Are you ok? You seem a bit distracted."

"I'm fine" she said tightly. "Let's just get Elgenon's stupid vendetta out of the way so he can focus on the actual mission again."

Walking out of town Wyena looked to the dragons and saw that Elgenon had already mounted, not even bothering to hide his eagerness.

"Squad leader" Jadiak said disapprovingly as they approached. "I have heard you approved a personal vendetta, is this true?"

She nodded "unfortunately Elgenon won't let the matter rest."

"There is something you must know" he said looking over to see that Elgenon was out of earshot.

"What is that?" she asked quietly.

"There was a man that came through here, unlike any I've ever seen. He acted strange towards the mounts and something about the markings on his arms was familiar but I can't place what" he replied.

Ramor's ears perked up. "This guy have black hair and tan skin?"

Jadiak nodded quickly. "How did you know?"

"Because that's the same guy that laid out the little lordling" Ramor said once again trying to stifle a laugh.

"Interesting" Jadiak replied. "Vendetta or not, there is something unusual about that man, something I believe we should investigate."

"How are we going to find him? This place is both vast and his home" Wyena asked incredulously. This was getting out of hand, they couldn't neglect their mission to spend all their time trapezing through the woods after someone just because of vague suspicions and a bruised ego.

Jadiak smiled thinly. "I saw the direction he took when he entered the woods. He can't have gone too far.

"Fine" she huffed. "At least we can get this matter out of the way quickly."

Mounting Whirlwind she motioned for the rest of her squad to follow as she spurred him into the air and followed Jadiak towards a large set of mountains in the distance.

As they approached one of the peaks she scanned the ground below and spotted a lone figure emerging from a cave.