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

Chapter 33

Made it to the Wattys 2018 Longlist! Thank You to everyone who loved the story!

Jake pinched the bridge of his nose as he stared down at the fallen man. "It's a good thing I keep ruining the day of this world's best people. Why the fuck would one of the lord's personal guards be attacking a village in his own country?" he asked in exasperation.

Wyena shook her head despondently. "I have no idea, this makes no sense at all"

A thought was nagging at the back of his mind. Something from an old spy thriller, or was it a documentary? His head shot up as he made the connection. "It's a false flag operation!"

"What's that?" Wyena asked her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Exactly what you see" he replied. Native soldiers disguise themselves as being from an enemy nation and attack targets within their own country.

"But why?" she put in.

"Typically, it's meant to rally people behind a war under false pretenses. Even tyrants can't act completely independently, they need support" he explained. Throwing the body over his shoulder Jake began to head back out of the woods.

"True" Wyena conceded. "Rindar may be dragon lord but he isn't all powerful, he'd have to convince the main families of the need for war and some of them are quite independent. But this is an abhorrent trick, none would abide such dishonor"

Jake watched a look of incredulity dawn on her face as the implications struck her.

"The war with Hullcross started under similar circumstances, cross border raids into Balistrean territory. One of which decimated a village" She said numbly.

Jake nodded in understanding. He knew that it wouldn't have been the first time such a tactic would've been used in either his or her world's history. But for a person like Wyena who, despite her inclinations, had still grown up as the sheltered daughter of a noble family. She would've been steeped in the ideals of both chivalry and nobility without the reality, such an underhanded tactic by her lord would fly in the face of everything she'd believed.

He felt a little sorry for her as they broke out of the woods and into the open field. But he knew that if she was truly going to follow her chosen path, sooner or later she'd have to dispel her previous notions and learn about the scheming and political reality that went with her  profession. He also had no doubt that she could handle the realization on her own.

"At least I get vindicated in the process" he thought as they headed back towards the battle site.

It was a grotesque spectacle. Ragnarok stood next to the slain brown dragon. Jake Grimaced as he realized that the opposing dragon's neck was no longer attached to its body. Valkyrie was nearby, trilling with satisfaction as she rested amidst the charred remains of the raiding party.

"Why didn't you tell me they could breathe fire?" Wyena asked shooting the twins an amazed look.

"Didn't think it was necessary" Jake replied as he dumped the body onto the grass in front of him. "I had one part of your legend, why wouldn't I have the other?"

Wyena glared but said nothing as Jake began to pick through the remains for any more evidence. Unsurprisingly he found no indicators that they were anything but what they pretended to be.

Willing the twins to remain where they were he turned and walked back over towards the remains of the village, Wyena following in his wake. A small crowd of survivors had gathered near one of the larger buildings, probably a meeting hall or headman's house.