Prince of Dragons

Chapter 11 - Oppression

"It feels good to be free again," Arwund said, stretching. He'd grown fairly stiff sitting in that chair. He looked at his necklace. "I still wonder why that Carlard guy wanted my necklace." 

"He wanted it?" Maréin asked. 

"Yeah, but he forgot all about it and left me without taking it," Arwund laughed. 

Joandrey looked at Maréin from the corner of her eye, as if she was assessing him. Then she said: "You really are a treacherous man, aren't you, Arwund?" 

It was Enorwin who reacted. "What do you mean?" 

"He said he'd join the Servants, but as soon as you guys show up, he betrays us," Joandrey explained. "I don't get why you trust him." 

Enorwin looked at Arwund in surprise. "You said what?" 

"Hey, I thought you were dead," Arwund said, raising his hands in defence. "It would almost be logical for the earl to assume that I was the one who killed you. I was only trying to guarantee my safety." 

Enorwin shook his head. "You could have returned to court, turned yourself in and defended yourself during your trial. My father is a just man: he would never convict anyone of a crime that person is not guilty of." 

Arwund laughed joylessly. "You clearly have a lot more faith in the judicial system of the Flaming Lands than I do." 

"Are you criticising my father?" Enorwin asked. 

"What if I am?" Arwund retorted. 

Maréin rolled his eyes. "There they go again." 

Joandrey looked at him. "No mind tricks to stop them this time?" she asked. 

Maréin shrugged. "It would be a waste of energy." 

Arwund noticed Maréin looked different now than when he had freed him. He now had the same relaxed appearance Arwund was familiar with again: Maréin's strange, commanding air was gone. He wondered what had happened. 

Enorwin seemed to notice it, too. "Can I pick up my sword again?" 

"That thingy is really important to you, isn't it?" Maréin curiously asked him. 

"It is not a 'thingy'," Enorwin sharply corrected him. "It is a symbol of chivalry." 

Maréin quietly laughed. "Alright, you can pick it up. However, I would not use your precious little 'symbol of chivalry' to attack." 

Enorwin crouched down and carefully touched the hilt of his sword with his fingertips, before grabbing it and standing up again. "How did it get so cold before?" he asked. 

"I have certain... shall we say... powers," Maréin said vaguely. 

"I gathered," Enorwin said. "What are you? Some kind of... draconic human?" 

Maréin smiled enigmatically. "Couldn't be farther from the truth, I guess. Although... come to think of it, there may be a grain of truth in it after all." 

Arwund grinned. "And you're not telling us any more, I suppose?" 

"I don't think our chivalrous young friend would be very happy if he figured it out," Maréin said. 

"Frankly, you're only making me more curious now," Enorwin said. "Furthermore, I would prefer to know who my companions truly are, instead of having to guess at the extent of your 'powers', Maréin." 

"I might tell you someday," Maréin said, "but not now." 

"Well, if we're not gonna hear any more from you, I suggest we get out of this place," Arwund said. "I don't know about you two, but I have this nagging fear that sooner or later this whole network will collapse."