Dawn of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 069 - Partners in Plans (Patreon)

Kaen had felt like a spectacle as people watched Master Bren pushing him down the street in that wheelchair, as he called it.  It did not ride well along the sidewalks, and everyone who saw and recognized him felt the need to come up and ensure he was okay.

They all had been relieved to hear that Bren had just wanted him to rest after another long training session to prevent injury or burnout after having just returned from a quest the day before.

As he let Bren push him back to the inn, Kaen had a thought enter his head.

Pammon, are you ok?

I am fine, why do you ask?

Kaen could tell Pammon was not flying but instead up in the mountains to the east, probably basking in the sun.

You are usually flying unless you find food.  Why are you sitting still?

I ate well, and finding a pack of boars helped reduce the required time.  I am a little tired today.

Wincing, Kaen wondered at the thought running through his head.

When did you get tired?

It’s been a few hours, but I felt drained, so I decided to relax and let the sun recharge me.  Why do you ask?

I’m not sure if it was me and what my lifestone was doing.  I think I unlocked how to make it respond, so I trained with it for four hours.  The instructor told me that days long ago, men did similar things, but their hearts and lifestones exploded from doing so.  I am afraid I may have caused you to be weak or tired by doing what I did.

A wave of something that felt like confusion or disbelief hit Kaen.  When Pammon struggled with an emotion that wasn't joy, anger, or something simple like that, Kaen had a harder time understanding it.

I could feel your lifestone, but I knew you were focused and not in danger.  I think I…

About ten seconds passed, and Kaen was about to ask Pammon why he had stopped.

I know I can feel it more now.  Before we flew, I had a harder time knowing your lifestone was doing something.  Now, it is like we are connected more.  I am sure this is something we would know if we had one who could train us.  Perhaps one day, we can find out more.

Should I be worried about the drain it might have on you when I use my lifestone?

A huge wave of laughter covered Kaen in his mind, and he found himself smiling from it.

I would not want to call myself a dragon if I were in danger because of what you did today.  It was nothing that I could not have dealt with easily.  I simply choose to enjoy a warm day with a full stomach.  You do not need to worry about hurting me.  I’m not weak like you two-legged people.

Pammon was laughing again, and it helped more than Kaen realized.

The pit that had been growing in his stomach was starting to dissolve.

Well, thank you for telling me that.  I’m glad to know someone isn’t overconfident in their abilities.

A sudden jolt of the chair and a quick stop caused Kaen to realize that Bren had reached the street the inn was on.

Parked out before the inn was an ornate coach with four horses and a small crowd of people standing around it.

“I’ll be a giant's uncle,” Bren murmured as he tapped Kaen’s shoulder.  “You need to stand up and walk from here.”

Climbing out of the chair, Kaen stretched before pointing at the cart.

“I’m assuming you know who that is?”

“That is Lord Hurem,” Bren stated as he pointed at the emblem on the front of the coach. “See those two snakes intertwined?  They represent his family’s crest, as they have been part of a medicine line for generations.  Most of the healing potions one sees that are worth buying in this town come from their production facility.”

Trying to remember names that Sulenda had mentioned earlier about lords and all those who wanted to meet him, Hurem did ring a bell, yet he could not remember why.

“I guess that means I’ll have to go inside, even if I smell like a sweaty goblin?” joked Kaen.

“Odds are they are here to see you,” Bren admitted, glancing around the street.  “Most of their kind would never come here unless they had a significant reason to.  By the looks of the people watching, you are that reason.”

Glancing at the people on the street, Kaen finally noticed all of them had turned to watch him and Bren as they moved toward the inn and the coach.  Most smiled and waved, but they gave them a wide berth so that their path would not be blocked.

“I wish I  had a different pair of clothes,” Kaen stated as he glanced at what Bren was wearing.  “Perhaps we both might wish for something other than this training armor.”

Shaking his head no, Bren smiled.

“Better to show that you are constantly working on improving than lounging around all day inside an inn if you ask me.  Then again, no nobles are coming to visit me at my place.”

Kaen nodded and smiled as they made their way to the door.  There was no telling what to expect inside.

“Lord Hurem, allow me to introduce to you adventurer Kaen.”

Kaen gave a slight bow as he approached the table Hess, Sulenda, and the man he now knew was Lord Hurem were sitting at.

The man’s back had been to him, but when he turned around and saw Kaen, a wave of shock hit him.  The man looked to be maybe forty if he was lucky, and his clothes were finer than the ones he had tried on this morning.  A fine gold chain ran across from each of the vest buttons, keeping the vest in place over his fit figure.  The man’s salt and pepper hair was cut short and spiked a little at the front, not the way he had imagined a Lord at all.  His face had one small scar on it near his ear, but other than that, his skin looked absolutely perfect.

“Pleasure to meet you, Lord Hurem.”

The man smiled and held out a hand toward Kaen.

“Do me the pleasure of skipping the normal pageantry and welcome and join us at the table for a drink.”

Grasping the man’s hand, Kaen felt strength in his handshake.  There was no doubt the man had a lifestone or that he was stronger than a normal man his age might appear.

“Lord Hurem, the man with me is Master Bren, the one who has been training me in the art of one-handed weapons and shields.  Is there room at the table for him as well?”

Without waiting a moment, Lord Hurem extended his hand to Bren, who gave a firm handshake in return.

“I would be honored to have the man who is working hard to keep you safe by training you to join us.  Nothing we discuss today isn’t anything I am planning on keeping quiet.”

Sulenda snapped her fingers, and the server, Stacy, quickly brought over another chair to the table while Etlina brought over a glass of milk and a small cup of alcohol for Bren.

“Sulenda tells me that you are interested in trying to start an academy or something like a school in the town.  I reached out to a few of my friends in town, and we would be honored if you might allow us to help you in such a noble adventure.”

Sitting there, doing his best to keep his mouth from hanging open, Kaen slowly took a drink of his milk while glancing over the top of his mug at Hess and Sulenda.  Both of them were smiling and nodding, but neither of them was helping in the conversation at all.

“I am interested in that,” Kaen finally replied after putting his drink down.  “I feel it is the least I can do in honor of Luca and his sacrifice, as well as helping to replace the large number of adventurers we have lost recently.”

Lord Hurem frowned as he nodded, rotating his glass cup between his fingers.

“Nasty business, for sure.  I heard the culprit had been found.  If there were no women present, I would spit for how disgusted I feel about this situation.”

“Feel free to spit if you think it merits it,” Sulenda proclaimed, and she leaned over and spat on the ground.

“While I am glad they were discovered, I wish we could have interrogated them correctly,” Hess added.

Each of the men around the table mimicked Sulenda’s action and spat on the floor of the room before sitting straight in their chairs again.

Kaen realized the room was almost empty when he sat back up.  Sulenda had cleared out the inn, keeping most of the town outside, which now explained the crowd of people whom he had first seen by the carriage.

“Bad business to know a nation was behind this.  We are considering slowing down our shipments of potions to them, even knowing how it might impact others,” Lord Hurem declared as he glanced at Hess and Kaen.  “I know I have the two of you to thank for finding that group who was disrupting trade in that direction.  This is one of the many reasons I am here today to support your endeavor.”

He undid one of the chains on his vest and pulled out a piece of paper that was folded up, sliding it across the wooden table to Kaen.

“This is a signed letter of promise that the bank will accept to help with what you are planning on doing, Kaen.  I have also talked with a few people I know who have land that might be usable for such a place.  I can have someone show you the grounds or let Sulenda act in your stead.”

Picking up the letter, Kaen felt his face go white. There on the paper were eight signatures, all committing five gold each to the purchase of land, building supplies, and more for an academy to be started by him.

“I.. I..”

No one said anything as Kaen sat there, stammering and glancing from the paper to Lord Hurem.

“This was just an idea a week ago,” Kaen finally declared as he held the paper out toward Hess and Sulenda.  “How has it already gotten this far?”

“I was busy while you and Hess were off having fun and questing,” answered Sulenda.  “I told you I would pick the nobles to meet with.  Things just got sped up a little bit after what you two squashed and after the news of this past week.  The men and women on that paper are committed to what you wanted to do because they all see the importance of it now.”

“You bringing Master Bren here was just a sign that this was meant to be,” interrupted Lord Hurem.  “I have heard great things about his training and the two boys who are currently under his tutelage.  We have no doubts that this place will be a success and a launching pad for the next generation of adventurers.”

Glancing at the others sitting around him, Kaen saw all of their faces, each covered with a smile and eyes that were sparkling in excitement at what he was going to do.

“Kaen, I would be honored to help in any way I can and to recommend other instructors for the academy,” Bren said as he put a hand on Kaen’s shoulder.  “Your name will carry a weight right now that no one else will.  You will draw boys and girls across the kingdom who are willing to commit to something great.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Kaen finally replied as he bobbed his head, still in shock at what had taken place so quickly.

“Don’t say anything,” Hess declared as he tapped the table with his fist.  “Drink your milk and smile.  We will do what needs to be done.”

Grinning, Kaen rolled his eyes but lifted up his glass and took a long drink from his mug.

“Actually, I do need to do something.  I could really use a bath and some clean clothes.  I know I stink.”

Everyone laughed and nodded, rising from their seats.

“Lord Hurem, I promise to do the best I can for the school and will find some way to repay you for the aid.”

Holding out his hand toward Lord Hurem, he waited for him to shake his hand.

Shaking his head no, Lord Hurem motioned at Kaen with his head while looking at Hess.

“He doesn’t know, does he?”

Sighing, Hess shook his head no.

“Remember what I said about not making promises or binding yourselves to Lords and nobility?” Hess asked as he crossed his hands across his chest.  “You are about to do that.”

Lowering his hand, Kaen looked at both of the men and had a confused look on his face.

“What do you mean?”

“You told me you would find a way to repay me.  Worse is that you used the word promised during that.  Had I wanted, I could have tried to use my lifestone and forced a bond across us.  What I would have required to repay me could be years of service or something else.  You need to be careful what you pledge or promise to a noble.”

Shock hit Kaen when he considered what that meant, and when he realized that bond might force him to use Pammon for something, he almost turned green from being sick.

“I didn’t know,” he whispered.

“I assumed as much,” Lord Hurem admitted as he clasped his hands behind his back.  “I am not a man to abuse one like yourself, but there are many who would, especially as you grow in power.  The only advantage you have is the stronger you become, the harder it will be for one to invoke that kind of bond on you.  So choose your words carefully when you promise someone something and shake on it if they are of a noble line.  Most do not possess the skill to force a bond, and the few that do are careful not to be accused of abusing it too often for fear of the king.”

Standing there, lost in thoughts of what all he still did not know, Kaen nodded.

“Thank you again, Lord Hurem, for your kindness.  I shall do my best to remember it.”

Slowly extending his hand toward him, Kaen smiled when Lord Hurem reached out and clasped his hand and shook it.

“Much better!” he replied as he smiled at Kaen.