Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 6

     "You're the one that rode into battle after me," I say with a fond smile.

     "I would ride into battle with you again if need be," he says clasping me on the shoulder in a warrior's embrace.

     "I will take you up on that offer my friend, if the time comes. As to the reason of my success, I do not think they anticipated an attack. I believe that was just a hunting party the same as me."

     "Then you were fortunate they didn't mistake you for the local water fowl," he teases.

    "I will get more food tomorrow, we must be strong, also I might spy out their camp," I say thinking.

    "Be wary of them, they know strange magic's," he says warding himself against evil.

     "I am always careful," I say, standing as he snickers. I grin at him in return and smile.

     "You haven't changed much," he says, as I walk off into the woods. I find some trees with edible bark and peel some off in order to fill my less than full stomach. I walk silently farther into the woods. Now would be a good time to forage while the light is gone. I grab a bag and head back into the edge of the woods. I let my eyes adjust to the darkness and then work my way back towards the lake. I find that the bodies have been removed from the earlier site. I finish picking the bushes clean and then slowly make my way towards the edge of the lake again. I begin to pick tubers and roots as I work through the silt at the edge of the lake. I manage to spear a few fish in the twilight and then retreat back up the bank before my splashing alerts any enemies. I can't seem to shake the notion that I've seen the draconian leader before, but the time and place elude me. I trudge into camp admits the snoring of most of the camp and drop my bag by the cooking fire. It will due for a good breakfast. Then I pull my bedding outside and lay down under the stars. I wake to here people laughing and open my eyes to find all the younglings gathered around me. The youngest roars at me in an attempt to sound fierce.

     "Dis morning we eat you," she squeaks out. Then they all fall on me and tickle me.

     "I give up," I say, between fits of laughter. The younglings run off to their parents laughing.

     "I think it's dangerous for you to sleep outside now niece," my aunt says. handing me a bowl of fish stew and pointing discreetly with her head. I look up and notice Nelax is studying me. I nod carefully that I understand and then smile.

     "See this is a breakfast worth waking up for," I remark, and duck as the wooden spoon passes the place my head occupied moments before.

     "Are you off to hunt again today?" my uncle asks, as I return my bedding to his tent, already armored.

     "Someone has to, and I also want to see their camp. I might be able to gather more intelligence in daylight. I really couldn't see much last night in the moonless night."

     "You are taking too many chances," my cousin grouches. "You'll end up leading them right to our camp."

     "Well then you'd better do your chores in your armor," I say with a straight face.