The Champion *ON HOLD*

Chapter 13- A Bed, Food, and a Healer

A/N: Okay, so not much happens in this chapter, but it does go over a few things that HAVE to happen. Also Lysagh is pronounced LIE-sah. And the above picture is a VERY close representation of Leovar. I know its from Final Fantasy but holy crap its almost exactly how I imagined he would look. Anyway I hope you enjoy chapter 13 of The Champion.

By the time they reached the village, it was already dark and the only light they could see by was that of the waxing moon, and even that wasn't constant, what with it being overcast, and snowing on top of that. Avery was in a foul mood. She hurt, bad, which was enough to make her grumpy and snappish, but she was cold as well, and that combination made her downright bitchy.

Leovar had tried to make conversation with her, but after snuffing him one too many times with curt, snippy answers, he had given up. A part of her wanted to feel bad for him, but she simply didn't have the patience. Especially after finding out that dragons and their riders radiated heat. So there was Leovar, nice and toasty on top of his dragon, and Avery was riding her destrier, pain radiating through her neck, shoulders, and back, shivers wracking her body, her teeth chattering. If she were a bitter woman, she would have hated him right then.

The snow had picked up and was falling heavier and Avery didn't see the village until they were almost entering it. Leovar slid off his dragon and grabbed some saddlebags from behind the odd saddle on the dragon's shoulders. He swung them over his shoulder and patted his dragon's neck. She huffed and took flight, creating a mini blizzard around them.

"Most people are intimidated by dragons. Sila will find a place to bed down tonight away from view of the villagers." Avery nodded and followed Leovar on Gus as he strode confidently, almost arrogantly, into the sleeping village. She looked over at the unicorn and frowned.

"It would probably be best if you hid as well." The creature stared at her with its solemn eyes for a moment before turning around and trotting sedately back into the forest. She nudged Gus back into motion and caught up to Leovar.

"The tavern should still be open. Once we get settled in, we can see if the healer will look at those wounds." Leovar didn't look at her as he spoke, and she figured he still thought she was being a bitch. Avery didn't respond, afraid if she opened her mouth, a cutting remark would come out. The lamp hanging over the tavern door was the only light on in the village and Avery found it strange. Even though the small town she lived in practically died after five o'clock, there were still lights on to mark businesses, houses, and at least keep the street lit.

Leovar walked around the side of the tavern and brought Avery and her dogs up to a stable. A boy, probably about twelve, sat snoozing on a stool, arms crossed, head hanging limply over his chest that rose and fell gently. Leovar lightly nudged the boy's knee with his boot. The boy shot up, looking around him in almost a panic before his eyes settled on the man clad in armor that gleamed pure white in the moonlight.

He tossed the boy two coins and said, "A good rubdown, some grain and water, and a warm stall for the horse." The boy looked at Leovar, then past him at Avery. His eyes widened a bit before scrambling up and moving over to the horse. Diesel and Koda both growled in warning to the boy, who stopped in his tracks as the large dogs bared their teeth. His eyes were as wide as saucers.

"Sitzen sie." She commanded. The dogs stopped growling and sat as she dismounted. Leovar grabbed her saddlebags and flung those over the shoulder that held his own saddlebags. Avery frowned, knowing the added weight had to be heavy. He didn't seem at all uncomfortable with the weight of the saddlebags. The boy, still watching the dogs with fear, grabbed the reins of her horse and led it into the stables.