The Dragon Rider Vol. 4 Death of a King

Six

"Here I thought I would never have to see you again." Glaring down at me, Jenkins wiped his hands on the worn-out apron. He still looked the same. It was as if time hadn't touched him.

Placing his hand down on the large wooden table beside him, Jenkin's smirked. "What a pleasure to see such a beautiful face."

A sudden laugh to my left caught my attention. Rubbing his long beard, Talios smirked. "Do you know this man?"

Nodding, I eyed Jenkins. "Mr. Jenkins, I can't say it's a pleasure to see you again."

"Oh, but it's always a pleasure to see me. After all, am I not your favorite person?"

Gritting my teeth, I quickly scanned the area. "I'm not here to speak. I'm here on orders of the King."

"I know what you're here for." He said. Turning to a stack of meat, Jenkins grabbed it from the table before he threw it into a wooden crate. "If I was you I'd be careful about that boy, Abagail."

At the mention of the new rider, something stirred in me. Talios too turned at the mention of the boy, a frown on his face. "What can you tell us about the boy?"

Smirking, Jenkin's slammed his knife into a rabbit's leg. Flinching at the sickening sound, my hands clenched around my bow. "Answer the question, Jenkins."

"You have grown haven't you?" He said. "All I know is he suddenly appeared around here a year ago. Always kept to himself until three days ago. Suddenly he started to prance around the place like he owned it..." Turning his full attention to me, Jenkin's gaze became serious. "I'd watch your back with him, Rider."

Nodding, I took in his words. If I wasn't the only one who felt odd about this boy, then maybe there was something really wrong with him. Turning to Talios, he gave me a small nod before walking away back down the path we came from.

Turning to go, Jenkins called after me. Turning my body slightly so I could see him, I watched his frown deepen. "Take my words with great care, Abagail. People have disappeared since he's been here. Be careful."

Bowing my head slightly in thanks, I caught up to Talios.

"What do you take with all of that?" He questioned once I reached him.

Shrugging, I eyed a man trying to steal an apple from an overturned crate. "There's nothing we can do." The man turned at the sound of my voice. He looked tired and very malnourished. As he pulled his hand away, I shook my head with a small smile before looking ahead of me again.

"I'd seen that." Talios laughed.

Smiling, I continued on my way. If Thomas was meant to be a rider then there had to be a reason behind it. Yet even though I put my faith in the gods and founder dragons, something about him just didn't sit well with me. Whatever it was I knew Jenkins was right. I had to keep my guard up around him.

Thomas still had a lot to learn about being a rider, and with the acceptance ceremony being held in two days, his true nature would be tested not just from William, but me also.

Once we arrived back at the field we landed in, a few soldiers now accompanied William. He seemed to be in deep conversation with Luca and Thomas. William stood beside Luca as Thomas stood between two soldiers.

Again as if I was reliving my encounter with the king, the soldiers wore their silver armor, as a few carried the royal flag with the phoenix flying proudly in the middle. As I watched everything around me, I felt a pang of guilt. I hadn't been able to spend time with my loved ones since everything had happened. I missed Alex and Jessica. I wondered how they were and if they were healthy.