Dragon Riders of Etrea—Chapter 28

Tobias’s horse was a fine animal, so Henrik tied the reins to his saddle to keep it near. Besides, out there in the wastes, there was nowhere for the horse to really go except to an untimely death at the hands of orcs, predators, or the heat itself.

The small chest containing the egg was lashed to Tobias’s saddle. They left Tobias’s grave and hurried north, moving as quickly as they could without wearing out the horses.

“At least now we don’t have to fight him for the egg,” Rasud said. 

“What’s that about?” Shel asked.

“Do you want to tell her, or should I?” Rasud asked, smiling at Henrik.

“I will. You take too long,” Henrik said. “We were hired by a rich man in Selfoss to steal the dragon’s egg. When we got there, you had already stolen it. Anslie, the dragon rider, sent us to retrieve the egg.”

“And that’s what you’re doing?” Shel asked. “You aren’t going to take the egg to this rich man?”

Henrik shook his head. “I agree with what you said earlier. The egg belongs with its mother.” He looked over at the small chest. Something about it made him feel strange; he couldn’t explain it, it was a sensation he had never before experienced. He wanted to stay near the egg. To protect it, to keep it safe. It just felt like the right thing to do.

“And you were thieves back in the human city?” Shel asked.

“The best of thieves, my dear,” Rasud said. “There wasn’t a man in all of Selfoss better than us.”

“So, what happened?” she asked.

“I got caught,” Henrick replied with a sour look. “I was overwhelmed. A dozen men took me and threw me in jail. I sat there for three days, waiting for the headsman’s axe to end things, but instead Rasud showed up and got me released.”

“Is that so?” Shel asked, looking at Rasud.

“I had spoken to Duke Ardun and convinced him that he needed the best thieves in the city, and one of them was about to be executed. He agreed and had Henrik released from prison. We accepted his offer, and here we are.”

“And here you are,” Shel repeated. “I hope you’re eager for a fight, Henrik. You know the rest of the orcs from my party will follow us, right?”

Henrik nodded. “You said as much earlier. We’ll be ready for them.”

“I always find myself getting into fights when you’re around,” Rasud said, then shrugged. “I suppose I’ll be setting more people on fire, in that case.”

Shel turned in her saddle and looked behind them, concern making her purse her lips. “More will be coming for me. For the egg of course, but once word reaches Torgan a bounty will be put on my head. He won’t rest until I’m dead.” She let out a deep sigh. “I know I’m doing the right thing in returning the egg to the dragon, but my life is basically over.”

“My dearest Shel, you know I will protect you, right?” Rasud steered his horse closer to her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She eyed the witchman warily. “I barely know you. How can you make these promises? How do I know you wouldn’t say the same to any other woman”

Rasud huffed. “Shel, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve seen in the last ten minutes. Of course I mean it.”

Her eyes narrowed. “If you want to test your magic against mine, I may oblige you.”

“None of that,” Rasud said. “Look, I like you, okay? Don’t make things awkward for me.”

Henrik struggled not to laugh.

“You are a strange man,” she said after a moment, but she kept her horse near his.

Rasud looked over his shoulder and winked at Henrik.

“So, what’s your plan for today, Henrik?” the witchman asked.

“We ride until we find a defensible position,” Henrik replied. “We know the orcs are coming, so best to prepare for it. We’re outnumbered, so we’ll have to use the terrain against them.”

“And if we find nothing but flat ground?” Rasud asked.

Henrik frowned. “Then we fight anyway. You can get some more practice setting people on fire.”

“I can help,” Shel said. “If you need to reshape the ground, my ancestors will do it.”

Henrik nodded. “Thank you. We might need that.”

“So, what exactly do your ancestors do for you?” Rasud asked. “Where do their strengths lie?”

“With nature,” she replied. “Shaping the ground, as you saw earlier. They can do the same with solid rock. They can even make plants grow stronger and faster, so I spend a lot of time at our farms, ensuring our crops are healthy.”

“Can you do anything that can be used to kill?” Henrik asked.

She nodded. “If the weather is right, I can call lightning from the sky.”

Rasud whistled. “That’s something I’ve never been able to manage.”

“It’s dangerous, so I prefer not to. It can harm me just as easily as whoever I’m targeting. What about you?” 

Rasud grinned. “My ancestors like keeping me alive, and they enjoy getting a taste of the living world. They’ll do just about anything to protect me.”

Shel frowned. “So, what exactly can they do? I saw them set people on fire earlier.”

Rasud’s grin deepened. “They’re particularly good at that. In short, killing and healing. That’s what my ancestors are best at. Sometimes I can convince them to do other things—speaking of which, Henrik, hand me your water skin.”

Henrik tossed his empty skin to Rasud, and the witchman began whispering quietly. Shel focused on what he was doing and watched in amazement as the ancestral spirits took the water skin and filled it with water pulled from the air.

“Amazing,” she said. “You must teach me that.”

“That’s going to cost you,” Rasud said as he accepted the water skin from the spirits.”

Shel frowned. “So now there is a price on teaching?”

“One kiss,” Rasud said. “Tongue optional.”

She gave him a flat look. “If you were any closer, I’d slap you.”

“Okay, fine,” Rasud said, feigning exasperation. “No charge, just this once. Come here.”

They put their heads together and Rasud explained his methodology. Henrik fetched his looking glass from his saddlebags to help pass the time.

At that time he saw no signs of anyone behind them. They would probably wait until nightfall to attack. He continued scanning all around them.

“We’re in luck,” Henrik said, pointing off to their left. “Trees.”

“I’m not sure I’m following you,” Rasud said, turning to look in the direction Henrik pointed. “Please explain how trees equal luck.”

“Shel, your ancestors can work with plants, you said,” Henrik said to the witch.

She nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”

“Can they shape things from the trees?”

She thought for a moment. “I don’t see why not. What do you need?”

“Straight poles, about as long as I am tall. Sharp at one end.”

She turned and looked back at Henrik. “Spears? You want my ancestors to make spears from those trees?”

Henrik nodded. “If your ancestors are going to help us dig, then we can drive the spears into the ground to keep their horses from charging us.”

Shel nodded. “I can do that.”

They angled their horses to the left and hurried towards the small cluster of trees. They were indeed a pathetic lot, none of them reaching more than ten feet tall. But it was what they had.

Shel dismounted her horse and watched the trees for a moment, then fetched her staff from her horse. It was nearly as tall as she, with intricate carvings covering the dark wooden surface. She held it in front of her and began to chant.

Rasud nudged his horse closer to Henrik. “Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?” he asked as he watched Shel call upon her ancestors.

“Do you actually like her or are you just trying to get your dick wet?” Henrik asked quietly.

“Oh, I’m sure I’d enjoy a dip in her pond,” Rasud said. “But yes, I do actually find myself liking her. Her magic is strong, as is her personality. There’s something raw about her that I find myself attracted to. I imagine she’ll be a fierce lover. The kind of woman to keep me in line.”

“Just be careful with the tusks, okay?” Henrik said.

Rasud huffed. “Let me remind you that I am incredibly careful with where I stick my penis.” He looked over at her. “But yes, I’ll watch the tusks.”

Henrik watched in amazement as two wispy spirits took hold of the crooked trees and pulled on the branches, tugging the curves from them. After ten minutes, each tree had three branches that stuck out, straight as an arrow. The spirits made chopping motions with their hands and split the branches from the main trunk.

“Will six work?” Shel asked over her shoulder. “I can get a few more but I’d rather not kill the trees. They’re survivors, living out here. I respect that.”

“Six should work,” Henrik said. Had he twenty of them he would still want more, but six would hopefully be enough to guide the orcs away from certain areas. Henrik would rather focus on victory than worry about what he didn’t have.

The spirits brought six perfectly straight branches to Henrik and he reached down and accepted them with a word of thanks. Each one was as long as he was tall.

“If there’s nothing else, we should get going,” Shel said as she pulled herself into her saddle. “If we can’t find the right land, we’ll make it.”

They continued north at a fast walk for a time while Henrik focused on the spears. He set them across his lap and used his knife to hack at the tips until they were trimmed into sharpened points. After a moment, Henrik looked down at the spears, then used his knife to chop each one in half. That length was still useful for keeping charging horses at bay, and twelve was better than six.

When evening came, they were still surrounded by nothing but flat ground. The foothills were still another day’s ride north of them.

“Looks like we’re building our fortifications,” Henrik said, calling for his horse to stop.

Rasud and Shel slowed their horses, then turned and rode to Henrik.

“Where, here?” Rasud asked.

Henrik nodded. “Might as well. It’s flat for as far as the eye can see. If we keep going, that’s less time we’ll have to prepare.” He tossed the pile of stakes onto the ground, then went over to Tobias’s horse and untied the small chest containing the egg. Holding it closely to his chest, he took it over to the other two.

“You look like a proud mother,” Rasud said.

Henrik gave him a wry look. “I just want to keep the egg safe. That’s what really matters here.” He turned in a circle, examining the area. “Shel, can you make a low wall surrounding us? Waist high would probably do the trick, and big enough to safely fit us and the horses inside. Add some extra room, keep the horses away from the battle.”

She nodded. “I can do even better and create a second wall around the horses so they don’t get spooked and run away. I’m assuming you’ll want me to dig a ditch around the wall?”

“Exactly,” Henrik said. “I’m glad you understand what’s going on.”

They all worked hard to prepare the area, though Shel’s ancestral spirits did the majority of the labor. Three hours later, as the sun neared the horizon, they took a moment to relax within their newly constructed wall. 

It was a circle, twenty feet in diameter, with a wide ditch surrounding it. Even without stakes, horses wouldn’t be able to charge into them. A second wall, nearly as tall as Henrik, surrounded the horses. It was a tight fit, but they seemed okay for the time being.

“I wish we had some wood to burn,” Shel said.

“A fire would lead them right to us,” Henrick replied.

She frowned. “You’re right.  I don’t suppose you have anything decent to eat?”

“Not unless you consider dried strips of meat decent,” Rasud said. “You can have Tobias’s food, since he won’t be needing it any longer. There should be some hard cheese and bread as well.” He let out a heavy sigh. “How I wish for some apples. Even a pear.”

“What are apples?” Shel asked.

“Oh, my dear,” Rasud began in a dramatic voice. “Sit down and let me tell you about the most wondrous fruits ever.”

While Rasud flirted with the orc woman, Henrik sat down next to the chest containing the egg. Once again he felt something strange within himself while near the egg. He flipped the latch and examined it for a moment. 

It was dark gray in color, almost like stone. Other than the stone-like color, it was unremarkable. Large of course, as it contained a baby dragon. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe,” Henrik said as he reached out and placed his hand on the egg. It was warm to the touch.

Lighting almost seemed to flash through his mind. Not in a painful way, but a massive surge of power flooded him and threatened to overwhelm him. Henrik fought through it and stared at the dragon egg, wondering what was going on.

“You’d better not do that again,” Henrik said quietly. “Or I’ll be having scrambled dragon eggs for breakfast tomorrow.” The threat was empty, of course, but he smiled after saying it.

Again, something flashed through his mind. Something massive and powerful. It reminded him of when he had locked eyes with Tossyth and felt her power press on his thoughts. He supposed it was just something dragons did.

“Stay safe,” Henrik said, and patted the egg. He closed the chest and latched it shut.

“Tomatoes!” Rasud exclaimed. “You can make the most incredible sauces with them, Shel. Oh, I have such a world to show you.”

She noticed Henrik standing there. “Everything okay?”

Henrik nodded. “Eat your dinner and then two of us will go to sleep early. The third will stand watch, and we’ll rotate every few hours. The orcs will attack after dark.”

“Are you certain of that?” Shel asked.

“Never underestimate my companion’s knowledge on killing people,” Rasud said. 

“If I wanted to kill us, that’s when I’d attack,” Henrik said with a shrug.

They ate a quiet dinner, then Rasud helped Shel get comfortable. With her respected position as a shaman, she definitely wasn’t used to using her saddle as a pillow, but her complaints were minimal. 

Rasud took the first shift. Henrik fell asleep rather quickly—having been healed earlier left him tired—but he slept lightly, for he knew he’d be fighting in a matter of hours.