Dawn of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 079 - Hess and Pammon (Patreon)

“If I didn’t know you were an adventurer, I might confuse you for one of them snooty nobles,” teased Eltina as she gazed at Kaen.

He was sitting at the bar with Hess, going over a few pieces of paperwork for his academy, and was waiting for the carriage to arrive that would take him to Ava’s parent’s residence.

“These old clothes?” Kaen joked as he hopped off the stool and spun around.  “Why, I’ve had these things for a whole week.  You know these must already be out of style by now.”

Chuckling, Eltina bobbed her head as she stroked her beard.

“I think you are actually finally growing up into the man Sulenda says you are,” she replied.  “I’m glad to see you still haven’t lost your sense of humor yet.  Good luck today, you're going to need it.”

Kaen started to ask what she meant but Eltina had already hopped off her block and was moving to the other side of her domain.

“Is it going to be that bad?” Kaen asked as he sat back down on his seat.

Hess grunted as he flipped through the stack of pages he was double-checking.

“I can’t give advice other than not to promise anything and to beware a woman like Lady Hurem.  I doubt she will harm you, but I have no doubt that she is well aware of her daughter's affection toward you as well as her husband’s opinion about you.”

Looking up from the paper, Hess smiled awkwardly as he put his hand on Kaen’s shoulder.

“I can’t help with this next part.  Lords and Ladies do not often get along with me,” Hess explained.  “I am a little too forward and brash and don’t give a hairy green goblin arse about them and their wants.  I don’t play games, and I have a history of telling people what I think, which is why Fiola and a few others have not always been my greatest ally.”

“What about tomorrow?  You are coming tomorrow, right?”

Snorting, Hess rolled his eyes and nodded.

“Sulenda would not let me miss this.  I feel like a fool, knowing the outfit I must wear for that.”

“That makes two of us,” joked Kaen as he put his hand on Hess’s shoulder.  “At least we will be a pair of fools in the King’s court.”

Shaking Kaen a little, Hess grinned and gave a little push, almost knocking Kaen off his stool.

“Let’s finish this up before you go.  I don’t want Sulenda getting mad at me for shirking my duties.”

The next hour was spent double-checking the number of students, instructors, staff counts, and everything Sulenda felt Kaen should know about.  His mind struggled to appreciate all the nuances and specifics regarding salaries and costs of housing all these people.  Knowing he would eat through the entire forty gold, the lords had committed to this venture was staggering.  Yet knowing they would hopefully have fifty students within a year brought a sense of pride he wouldn’t let go.

“Remember, our friend will be waiting with those antlers you wanted in a few hours at that clearing.  He said not to be late.”

“Oh, I won’t be late,” Hess laughed as he shoved Kaen toward the carriage waiting for him.  “I have a full cow, slaughtered as a gift and waiting in a cart outside of town already.  I need to hurry and get to him.”

Kaen grinned and tapped his forehead.

“I cannot begin to tell you how excited he is for this.”

Smiling, Hess nodded and shooed Kaen into his ride.  He felt Sulenda putting her hand around his waist as she waved at Kaen with her other.

“You sure this is the right decision?” she whispered.  “It’s like sending that boy into the wolf's den.”
Hess nodded, waiting for the door of the carriage to close.

“You know, if I thought you or I going with him would help, I would do it.  We both know there is nothing we can do now.”

Leaning over, Sulenda kissed Hess on his cheek before slapping his butt with her hand that had been holding his waist.

“Well, get that cow delivered to whoever it is and hurry back.  I want to make sure things are ready for tomorrow,” she stated excitedly.  “I still can’t believe I am meeting King Aldric tomorrow.  Me! A lowly inn owner!”

Hess spun around, drew her into an embrace, and stared into her eyes.

“There is nothing ordinary about you. That is why I love you.”

Her lip quivered, and she bobbed her head at those words.

Standing on his tiptoes, he kissed her forehead and laughed after doing so.

“I forgot how tall you are,” he teased.

She just smiled and laid her head on his shoulder for a moment.

“Go do what you need to do,” she finally said as she broke their embrace.

Nodding, Hess winked at her and moved toward his horse, waiting for him.

“Pammon, I need you to listen to me.  I am going to tell you something, and you cannot tell Kaen what I tell you until the day you reach your quest location.  Do you understand?”

Staring at him, Pammon’s eyelids flickered and narrowed at Hess as he licked his snout.

“If you promise me you will not share what I say until that day, nod your head.”

Pammon snorted at him. It was something akin to a growl, but Hess held his ground as he faced down a dragon that was now larger than the shed they had built in the woods back in Minoosh.

“We both want Kaen to be safe.  Right?”

Pammon nodded slowly as his massive eyes took in everything Hess said and did.

Moving slowly forward, Hess put his hand on Pammon’s snout and let out a sigh as Pammon did not move away.

“I love him.  I know you love him too.  This is why I have to do this the way I am.  I made a promise and cannot break it,” Hess explained as he scratched the scales below Pammon’s eyes.  “If you want to help me keep Kaen safe, you need to promise me.”

Pammon sat there a moment as Hess watched him.

He knew Hess would not ask such a thing if it wasn’t important.  He didn’t like keeping things from Kaen, but if Hess was willing to trust him, he knew it was for the right reasons.

Lifting his front talons slowly, he gently tapped it against Hess’s heart and nodded his head.

“Good!” exclaimed Hess, joy sweeping across his face.  “Now listen.  Bad things will happen and you will be the only way we all survive.

Pammon sat there, frustrated.  Hess’s news of the invading armies of creatures had left a bad taste in his mouth, even after eating that delicious cow.  He stayed motionless as Hess fastened the ropes and the bundles of arrows onto his back near where Kaen would sit.  It was a smart move on Hess’s part, proving how much Hess cared about Kaen.

“Now listen, if things go bad, you keep that promise to flee,” Hess said again as he tightened another rope down.  “You two are more important than all of us.  If something happens, you fly to the elven kingdom, Roccnari.  They will take you in, and Elies will give you two the training you both need.”

Snorting, Pammon slowly nodded where he knew Hess could see his acknowledgment.  He would never allow Kaen to die if he could help it, even if he had to carry him in his talons while he flew.

It was taking every ounce of his being not to let his emotions flood through their connection, but thankfully, Kaen was enjoying himself at that girl's house.  He took a deep breath and blew it out forcefully, causing Hess to glance at him as he dealt with those feelings of a woman trying to steal Kaen.

“I don’t like it either,” Hess proclaimed, believing Pammon agreed with his last statement.  “Now remember, try not to let these rub against too much stuff as they might snap or come apart.  I have double-tied and used more rope than is needed, but three hundred arrows are on each side of you.  I pray that many is unnecessary, and I won’t go into detail on how hard it was to procure that many without bringing attention to it.”

Hess moved back and examined his handiwork, watching as Pammon moved around again and tested his wings.

Satisfied that they didn’t shift too much or slide, Hess moved back to Pammon and held out his hand.

Coming forward, Pammon put the bottom of his head on Hess’s hand and trilled.

Hess smiled and gave a long scratch along those neck scales before giving a small hug on his neck.

“I’m glad you two found each other,” Hess declared as he moved back, wiping a tear that had formed in his eyes.  “You two are perfect for each other.  Thankfully, you both don’t act like egglings anymore.”

Pammon couldn’t help but laugh as he felt the thrum in his body growing louder.  Hess was right. They were perfect for each other.  He was grateful for how Hess had helped both of them and knew it would be hard on Kaen when the time came to say goodbye for a while.  As he sat there looking at Hess and wishing he could tell him those things, something in the back of his head itched.  He felt like he was being guided to do something to show his appreciation.

Eyes going wide, Pammon realized what he needed to do.  Lifting his talons, he plunged one at the base of one of his side teeth, ignoring the pain as he pressed it until the tooth came free.  Using his tongue, he brought it out of his mouth and clasped it carefully between his claws.

Hess was staring at him in shock.  He could see the look of confusion on his face until he saw the tooth he was holding.

Moving forward lightly on his three legs, he held out the tooth to Hess, who slowly came forward and took it from him.

As Hess stood there, holding the six-inch long tooth in his hand, Pammon moved closer and put his head against Hess’s.

He could feel his mana building up, wanting to be used.  He gave into it, allowing knowledge he had no idea of before to flow through him.

[ Mark Complete - Hess Brumlin ]

Hess’s eyes went wide as he received a notification.

[ You Have Been Marked by Pammon ]

Glancing at the tooth in his hand, he saw it glow briefly before returning to its normal white color, blood, and roots still hanging from the top of it.

Thank you for keeping Kaen safe and for trusting him to me.

Hess felt the sound in his head.  He knew what it was, but he couldn’t believe it.

“Pa… Pammon?  I can hear you?”

The thrum of Pammon’s laughter echoed in the clearing they were in as he nodded.

Yes.  I just figured it out now.  Somehow, because my desire to say thank you was so great, it came upon me.  I didn’t know it was even possible until now.

Holding up the tooth, Hess pointed at it, shaking his head in disbelief.

“You can talk because of the tooth?”

I don’t know everything yet I know when we are close and you have that, you can hear me.  I also know where you are because you have my tooth.  It would do nothing if someone else took it or you lost it.  I am not sure I can do this too often, but you are worthy of this, Hess Brumlin.  You are worthy of my thanks that I will never be able to repay.

Laughing as tears streamed down from his face, Hess smiled, put out his hand, and moved to embrace Pammon.

“I cannot tell you thank you enough.  I know it is not easy what I have asked yet we will do what we must to protect our boy.”

You are correct.  Now, I know you need to return and I need to go scout like you asked.  I will tell Kaen the code words when I confirm what I find.

Scratching Pammon’s neck one last time, Hess smiled and bobbed his head.

“Be safe, Pammon.”

Hess wanted to say more but found no words to add.  He felt the tooth in his hand and gripped it tightly.

I will and you be safe as well.

Pammon turned, preparing to take off, when he paused and looked back at Hess.

One last thing.  Make sure that Kaen does not let this woman ensnare him.  I am not ready to lose him to a woman.

Choking as he laughed, Hess covered his mouth until he regained his composure.

“I feel the same way,” Hess replied.  “I’ll do my best.”

Nodding, Pammon launched himself upward as Hess kept an eye on those bundles of arrows.  Thankfully, none of them fell off or slid down right now.  Hopefully, the leather he had wrapped the rope in on specific areas would prevent them from rubbing too much.

Looking at the tooth in his hand once more, Hess smiled as he put it in a pouch on his hip.  He then moved to where the two large antlers were waiting for him, knowing he needed to get home.