Chapter Ninety-Six - The Rusty Raven

Chapter Ninety-Six - The Rusty Raven

Chapter Ninety-Six - The Rusty Raven

The sandals Yoland had given me went clip-a-clop with every step, and the dress Id borrowed for the morning was light as a feather. It made it feel really weird as I bounced ahead of my friends.

Amaryllis had left her jacket behind to repair a few scuffs on it, and Awens trench coat needed a little love too, so we were all lightly dressed as we toured the town.

Where to next? I asked as I spun around Amaryllis.

World save me, youre getting more excited, not less, Amaryllis said. Youre like a hummingbird harpy who drank too much sugar-water.

Ohh, there are hummingbird harpies? That sounds cute!

Awa, Awen said as I spun around her. B-Broccoli is in a good mood. Thats alright, right Amaryllis? she asked.

It could be worse, Amaryllis said. She whapped me on the head with a wing when I tried to circle around her again. Be serious for a moment. We have a blacksmith to find.

I pouted, but Amaryllis was probably right. I had let the overwhelming excitement in the air get to me. There were so many people laughing and chatting and being happy around me that I couldnt help but want to bounce around all day.

Over there, Amaryllis said as she pointed to a shop by the main square.

A sign hung off the front with The Rusty Raven written across it next to a rusty bird-shaped bit of steel. The shop itself looked clean, despite the rustiness of its sign.

We stepped in only to find a bit of a line leading up to the front counter. There were a bunch of big men, mostly humans, but there were a couple of Ostri people and even a single plate-covered cervid.

Wow, this place is popular, I said as I slipped to the back of the line.

The man behind the counter was a black-feathered harpy with a big dirty apron who was wagging his talons in the face of some gruff looking man.

That, little one, is because of the tournament.

I stared at the person just before me, and then smiled. It was one of the Ostri people, a tall figure covered in dark-brown wraps who seemed bent in on himself. Hello, I said. Whats that about a tournament?

Ah, so youre not here for that? Too bad, I have never fought a Cinnamon Bun before, he said. It didnt sound threatening, more like he was genuinely sad. The tournament is what attracts so many of my siblings of the sands to this place. To test ones might, earn gold, and meet strange peoples. It is in many ways an attraction tailor-made for us. But you seem to be on a different path.

I guess so, I said. His voice was strange, smooth and soft, like cloth rubbing over cloth. Were just here because my spade broke.

A broken tool doesnt serve well, he agreed. How did you break it?

A wyvern bit it.

The Ostri man paused. Ah.

I nodded, then brought out the spade and the bit of the handle still stuck to it. It saved me in the end. It was either the spade getting bit or me.

That must have been an extraordinary fight, he said.

Yeah! I said. I pulled Awen close to my side. Awen got the kill. She smacked the wyvern with her hammer until it exploded.

Awa, it, it was nothing? Awen said.

Grinning, I looked way up to meet the Ostri mans goggles. Im Broccoli, Broccoli Bunch! I said as I extended a hand. These are my friends, Awen and Amaryllis.

He uncoiled a little from his hunched posture, took my hand in one of his and bowed over it. I am Ladle Secondson, the Sandwalker.

Oh, thats a cool name, I said.

Ladle nodded. Thank you, little one. It is the constellation under which I was born.

Is that how Ostri names work? I asked.

It is. First the constellation of your birth, then the order of it. Finally, your class. We do not prescribe much attention to the family of our birth, that way lies nepotism and weakness.

Amaryllis huffed. The Ostri put no weight in things like family. Or governments. Or laws.

Wow! Youre so fast, I said.

Caw, just have a few decently levelled skills. Saves a lot of time, he said. Now, lets settle.

Amaryllis was quick to stomp over, and what started as a bit of friendly haggling soon turned into a flurry of squawks and pomfing feathers as they argued over what they each considered a fair price.

Awen and I stood off to the side, staring wide-eyed as the price dipped and climbed.

I think that Amaryllis won in the end, because she looked very smug as she handed over half a dozen silver coins to a disgruntled shopkeep.

Dont forget to tip, I said.

The looks switched.

I ended up being dragged out onto the streets by a very unhappy Amaryllis while Awen held back some giggles.

We were heading back towards Yolands shop, me poking at Amaryllis while she called me all sorts of variations of idiot. Awen tailed after us, quiet, but she didnt look unhappy in her silence, not with her little smile and the way she followed us with her gaze.

I was hoping that wed get to have a bit more fun, see the sights some more, then maybe go to the dungeon the next morning.

A huge shadow raced across the square.

Amaryllis complaining stopped, the entire town went deathly quiet.

A sound, like sails snapping in the wind, echoed across the square, once, then twice.

I heard gasps and saw heads turning up to the skies.

A roar shook the air, windows rattled in their frames, people screeched in terror, horses neighed and I felt the sound pressing me down into the ground which shook in sympathy.

A dragon has asserted its dominance. Your bravery is questioned.

We were just next to the large square, bell tower rising above us, when the dragon landed.

The tower crumpled, the bell spinning off to the side where it crashed into the ground with a resounding dong! that made my ears ring.

Feet with talons longer than I was tall dug into the stonework with all the ease of someone gripping an empty can of soda. Wings as wide as a bus flapped once, sending heavy gusts of air beating across the square.

I shielded my eyes for just a moment before my attention was dragged back up to the creature standing tall and proud atop the ruins of the belltower like someone standing on a podium after getting an award.

The morning sun bathed matte blue scales over a beige sternum. A head with a jaw large enough to chomp a cart in half rose and grinned down at the panicking crowds below. I had thought the wyvern in the last dungeon beautiful and intimidating, but the creature above me trumped all that a thousandfold.

Insight, I muttered.

A cocky juvenile blue dragon Thunder Hammer, level ???.

The dragon chuckled, an unmistakable sound. Kneel humans! For I, Rhawrexdee, have decided to become your overlord!

We need to run, Amaryllis said. We need to run far and fast.

Awen, grabbed onto my side, her hands digging into me. She was trembling.

I am here to demand food! And tribute! And gold! Rhawrexdee declared. Become my servants and I will only feed upon the weakest of your number.

I carefully pried Awens hands off of my arm, then guided her over to Amaryllis side. Amaryllis, take care of Awen please, I said.

What? No! You moron! Amaryllis said.

But it was too late.

If this dragon thought he could bully a whole towns worth of happy people, he had another thing coming.

***