Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 20

     "So now I don't have to worry about that problem."

     "So what's so bad about this Nelax guy that you'd agree to my terms?" Evergreen asks.

     "He's nice looking, but I like my men to have thoughts and know how to think on his feet. When we went hunting he lost me within a few minutes, his excuse was he didn't know the layout of the woods. He didn't even bother to gather food, he just scurried back to the camp. If you point him at the fight he's pretty good, but if things go bad, he'd be next to useless."

     "So he doesn't have the knowledge to be considered your equal?"

     "Its more than that, I want someone whom I can trust to have my back. To know that if I go right and he goes left we'll still be okay."

     "He doesn't approve of your warmongering?"

    "He thinks since he is a man he is better at war than me," I spit out.

     "Has he seen you fight, you are unstoppable," Evergreen says.

     "He has not because I will not follow one like him into battle," I retort. "Besides if I'm so good how come I'm the one wounded in the bed?"

     "You had no armor to protect you," he says calmly. "Now I am going to read you the fable of the Ice Queen." He picks up the book and sits in the chair next to me and then begins to read it out loud. Late in the afternoon, Rose comes dashing into the room.

     "We have a problem," she shrieks.

     "Slow down, sister, what is going on?"

     "Several plains riders have been spotted on the southern roads. They are armed and don't look happy."

     "Calm down, they are probably just wondering how I'm doing; or if I'm alive."

     "How long until they reach us?" Evergreen asks.

     "About thirty minutes," Rose blurts out.

     "Then wheel me down to the courtyard and we'll straighten everything out," I say smiling at her.

     "You are right, I'm just a little nervous," she says. I wait for her to leave and then give Evergreen a look.

     "I don't think my uncle would send someone, which probably means someone gave Nelax the idea of rescuing me. I'll do my best to straighten it out, but he's not the best listener."

     "We'll all be there to help straighten this out," Evergreen says. He gets me situated comfortably in the chair and down to the courtyard with at least ten minutes to spare. I try to smile, but I feel like crap. Still I scrape up a smile as Nelax rides through the gates with a small war party.

     "Nelax it is good to see you," I say drawing his attention to me. "Why did you bring so many men for a visit?" I ask pointedly. His face betrays his confusion and his father steps into the gap.

     "You didn't return from your hunting we worried," his father says.

     "I found an easier way to solve the tribes problems and took it," I say still smiling. "Come I am sure my host will be happy to find you rooms for the night and food for both men and beasts," I smile my most charming smile at Nelax father. Evergreen issues orders and soon riders and beasts are being led off to be fed.