Dragnara: The Last Dragon Rel (First Draft)

Chapter 1

I reached back into the open closet and grabbed the staff. I could feel a pulse. This pulse was almost like the heart beat of a human, but much stronger. I then shut the closet door and made my way back into the cold with haste. I never did get to take my hunting gear off, but in a way I am glad, but I know I will have blisters that will earn me free drinks at the pub for a week. I ran to the stables and Betty was there waiting on me as if she wanted to tell me something. I shook off my emotions and loosened my belt as quickly as I could. "Grandpa is in trouble Betty we are going to bring him his staff," I said placing grandpa's staff on the earth of the stable.

She nodded in approval and then sneezed. I opened the satchel that was hanging on a nail in the stable. Damn, it is filled with berries. "Shit these must be old," I cursed out loud. I quickly reached in and pulled one out and popped it into my mouth then realized that was a horrible choice. The texture was greasy and it was too ripe. The sour taste will linger in my breath for days. Realizing I was wasting time. I quickly dumped the horrid tasting berries out. I wanted to curse them and stomp on each individual one for wasting my time and good breath.

I then snapped the satchel around Betty's thick brown waist and gave it a good tug to ensure the tightness. I pulled the sword from my recently loosened belt, and then I put the sword into the left satchel. I then grabbed the staff that was wet from the small mounds of snow. I put this into the left satchel as well. I then tightened my belt after debating if taking off my belt to put the shield in the other satchel would cost me time, which it probably wouldn't fit anyways, I thought deciding to keep it on my belt. I put my left foot on the stirrup and kicked off the ground with my right and made a connection with my foot and the  stirrup.

I then untied the reins from a wooden post that was accessible only when I leaned over forward on the saddle. I then pulled back and Betty quickly exited the stable as if she knew time was of the essence. Betty then worked into a full speed gallop. The snow was blurry her speed is unbelievable for her age. Most horses her age would fall over and die. But something kept her alive and kicking. She wasn't a pedigree horse made for a specific speed. She was just a standard rouncy, breed for carrying logs; she loved grandpa more than anyone in the world. Betty probably loved grandpa more than she loved me. She had good reason though. Betty knew Grandpa a lot longer than she knew me.

Grandpa brought Betty here from the realm of Earth. I was a baby when he came and lived with me and mom and my brother and sister. We were a happy family. Soon I was beginning to notice that Betty was starting to slow down. This made me snap back to reality. Betty then slowly came to a stop her head drooped down, pushing her mane over her eyes and into her nostrils. Her muzzle hovered a few inches above the snow and then she started to sniff like a hound. I didn't know why, I then in the corner of my eyes saw a bush move. I hopped off of Betty and then crept towards the bush. I stopped and knelt down to reach for my dirk.

I then progressed to the bushes a bit closer and then my mind raced; it could be a horrible goblin or an elf. Whatever it was I was sure that it was vital to have it checked out. As I continued to creep upon the bushes; I tried my best to keep the same pace of movement. And then I heard a crunch in the snow, before I could blink a small creature was standing beside me.

He looked like a human, but he was the size of a small child. His face was mature and he had a white beard. "Who... What are you?" I stuttered.

"There is no need for that puny little dirk you are carrying," He said with a look on his face that said, I'm pissed off you said 'what are you'.

I looked down at my dirk and then realized he was no threat to me. No weapon was visible on him and he had a hand full of mature Zokk Berries. I can never pass down Zokk Berries. Hell, I haven't even had anything to eat today, besides that bad berry. I need something in my system. My mouth started to water thinking about the blissful sweet and sour combination that mature Zokk berries offered. I then returned my dirk to its leather sheath and examined him from his leather boots to his brown small satchel to the small amount of grey hair on his head. His facial features made me imagine a much younger version of him. He had a strong pronounced jaw-line and broad shoulders. For his age he was a strapping handsome fellow, with cheeks of ruby color and youthful smile. His eyes glimmered of bright green like emeralds in the sunlight.

He then walked a bit closer and held out a berry. I jumped back. I wasn't prepared for the sudden move. I then realized how harmless this man was. I reached a berry from his open and grabbed one. To hell with my manners; I devoured it spitting out the seeds. The taste of a mature Zokk berry is like five seconds in Avalon. I can't begin to explain the juice and the texture. The flavor is so sour and bold and at the same time. I imagined myself in a castle on the island of Avalon. I had my very own servants and among those servants was: King Arthur, Merlin, and Morgan le Fey. I snapped back to reality. I looked around and then thought to myself, this is the second time I have had a day dream. I looked over to Betty and she was right where I left her. I then focused my attention back on the short handsome old man.

He looked at me as if I was weird. The short man cocked his head to one side. "Are you on a quest by any chance?" He said as he took a glance at my shield on my left hip.

"Yes, I am I need to find my grandfather and bring him his staff," I said shaking my head trying to re-focus.

"Why do you have a bow on your back and a small dirk? But yet at the same time you have a kite shield, a royal kite shield at that."

"Why do you ask so many questions?"

"Why are you eating my berries?" He asked smiling.

I then realized. This cheeky little bastard has a point. I walked over to Betty untied her left satchel and produced the sword from it. The sword looked even shinier than before. It also felt a bit heavier. I walked back over to the small man and handed him the sword. I was feeling secure that I could drop him with the flick of an arrow.

He grasped the handle and rubbed the blade and then tossed it up into the air catching the hilt. He gave it a few swings and then balanced it on his hand only to twirl it around back into his grasp. He really was a great swords man, with amazing eye-catching tricks. No doubt there.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I am checking it."

"For what?"

"This sword is of royalty; my guess is that this sword belongs to Grandon's son the Elven prince you better get this to him as soon as possible or it will cause a uproar. I then realized I shouldn't tell him about the dead boy that I found. He would probably accuse me of killing the prince then stealing the sword and the shield.

He threw the sword up and caught it so that the hilt faced me and the blade was towards the snow. "I can accompany you and feed you berries," he said holding up a satchel full of blissful delights.

"So where did you find this sword?" The short man asked, tossing it in the air then catching the hilt in a repetitive cycle.

I didn't know what to say or do so. I quickly tried to change the subject, hoping he would forget his question.

"No, this mission is for me it is much too dangerous for you."

He laughed, then held his left hand out and a sphere of energy started to form, he is a wizard. My grandfather showed me this trick. It is a spell that wizards use to show their magical abilities and ranks. The ranking system goes from one though ten. One is a very powerful wizard and ten is a magical being with merely street performer powers. The sphere was fully formed then the number two showed up. That proves it he is an amazing wizard, but this is a quest I must finish myself.

He looked at me for a second and then closed his left hand and the sphere disappeared. He wasn't going to take no for an answer. He twirled the sword so that the blade pointed at the snow and the hilt was within my reach. I took the sword by the hilt noticing that it did feel much heavier. I placed it in Betty's satchel and the gold from the hilt stuck out near the top. There was no denying it the sword increased in size but why and how? The short man hopped on Betty like his height didn't matter and said, "We will take turns."

I had no choice; maybe he could be useful on my quest. If he gets in the way he is gone! I told him my conditions and then pulled him off the horse. "I am riding on Betty today you are a wizard you can fly," I said.

"But it takes so much energy, "He complained and then he hit his knees and he was hovering. "We are going to take turns damn it. I supplied you with Zokk berries," He said angrily shaking his fist.

As deep as the Dragnarian tunnels,

As valuable as gold that lies in beneath and between the stones,

As committed as the mother is to her babe,

And so is the depth of our love.

-Proverbs of SunGuard