Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 4

I dismount after my uncle and enter his tent. I see my aunt and give her a hug after removing my helmet and armor.

     "Do you own any other clothes?" she asks looking at the thin pants and shirt.

     "No need for any other clothes, all I'm good for is fighting," I say slipping into a chair and watching the people inside. I recognize my cousin as he glowers at me.

     "What eats at you cousin?" I ask smiling with extreme care.

     "Father doesn't think the young ones are ready to fight in a real battle," he says sourly. "He went to fetch you because your name instills fear in others."

    "I noticed several of your younglings warding themselves when I entered the camp," I say, keeping the smile in place.

    "It is because their parents tell them foolish stories of you like you are a boogie monster," my aunt says.

    "I am the boogie monster," I counter. "Or haven't you heard of me." She laughs as always and goes about making me a place to sleep among the people. I wait for everyone to go to sleep and then take my bedding outside and sleep under the stars. I won't tell them it feels good to be among my people again; even if it is just temporary. I wake in the morning to find several small and curious children staring at me just out of arm's reach. I pretend to sleep a few more minutes and then jump up and yell. "Yum breakfast!" I lunge half-heartedly at one of the younglings and watch them scream and scatter.

     "Adrina," my aunt scolds from the tent flap. I work hard not to cringe at her tone of voice; instead, I turn and smile at her.

    "Yes Aunt," I replied grinning at her.

     "That will not help your reputation," she says. "Breakfast is ready and it doesn't include any younglings. Besides the others have arrived." I gather my bed and slide into the gloom of the tent. I look at the thin gruel in the mug and grimace.

     "Why haven't you hunted, gathered some berries or something," I ask after choking down the mediocre meal.

     "We are unable to hunt because the interlopers are too close and it is the same reason we don't gather."

    "Well, I intend to go do both or starve," I say starting to pull on my armor and weapons. "No offense aunt but that was retched."

    "None taken, but you can't just go wander off," she chides.

    "I will go with her," Nelax says, pulling his bow out and rising with me.

    "Don't expect me to wait on you," I say.

     "You will mind your manners," Uncle snaps.

    "I will with or without your permission. I promise to kill every enemy I encounter and bring back enough food for our village and the heads of our enemies." I kiss my aunts cheek, ignore my uncle the chief as he glares at me, and grab all my weapons. I check my weapons, and leather armor and then head out in a direction I am sure will have food. I pull the bag from my belt and proceed to pick berries, nuts and roots until the bag is bulging. I have already lost the great Nelax thankfully. Then I work my way down to the lake and take out several water fowl without incident when I see the dust heading towards my location. I quickly scoop up my last kill and carefully work my way away from the lake and into the thicker cover of the forest. I finally spot the pursuers and carefully notch another arrow. I let it loose hitting one of them right between the eyes.