Rise of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 005 - Old Promises (Patreon)

I hate those trees and how their branches and foliage cover so much of the murky water.

From up here, Kaen could not see anything but a mass of browns, greens, yellows, and black parts that made up land and trees when not surrounded by dirty, nasty water.

The water from the east side of the bowl flowed down here and ended up in this place.  It was lower than all the other ground around them and sat there, unable to absorb it all, turning stagnant and deadly.

This was the home of so many things the adventurer guild had quests for.  He knew there were other pockets of these creatures all over the different kingdoms, but here was the largest gathering of these creatures.

Stories told of how they would grow for generations and then attempt to take over parts of kingdoms.  Only the adventurers and the dragon riders in the past had held them back.

Tharnok had mentioned it had been at least five generations since an army had come.  If they were moving now, it would not be a good thing for any kingdom, especially if Stioks was at the head of it.

Anything yet?  I know you hate when I ask, but usually, you see something by now.

Frustration floated through their bond, and Kaen knew the answer that was coming.

I cannot see much at all.  There are a few creatures, small animals, and even something large in a lake down there, yet the armies I would expect to see still need to be included.  We would have to fly deeper into their land, meaning we might be at risk of an attack.

No, I don’t want to risk that.  I only have about fifty arrows, and I don’t want a fight like that again for a long time.

You act like you were the one they attacked.  Those damn birds attacked me.  Me! With their black beaks that tore at me.  It took months for my wings to heal.

Absently, Kaen glanced at Pammon's wings as they flew.  There were a few small scars from where the birds had attacked.  They were not large, but a pack of at least eighty of them had come after them, shredding Pammon’s wings before they realized how dangerous they were.

It had taken Pammon’s breath and some dangerous flying for them to get all of them.  The trip home had been long and painful for Pammon.

Let’s turn back.  I’ll report what we didn’t see to Aldric and find out what he might know.

As Pammon turned, glanced across the land below him.  Death was in that area, and he doubted one could ever eradicate it all.

There were still a good four hours before the sun would be down all the way when Kaen realized Pammon was not taking the usual trip back to Ebonmount.

Are we going where I think we are headed?

Thrumming, Pammon nodded his head.

You had promised, and I know you had forgotten.  It is a good thing I always remember everything.

Which means you choose to do what you know is wrong.

Which means I choose to do what I want.

Both of them laughed as Kaen watched the town of Minoosh get bigger.  Pammon had remembered the promise Kaen had made so long ago.

The panic that had arisen at first as Kaen had Pammon land on the road north of town evaporate when everyone realized who it was.  Soon, the town was pouring out of the streets, and people were running to see the boy who left their town and become the famous dragon rider.

Cheers and shouts of welcome rang out from the crowd as people stayed a good distance from Pammon, biding him welcome as he sat on his saddle.

Not going to get down?

Only when the people we are actually here for show up.  I don’t want to have to deal with the crowd like last time.

The collective of people backed up as Pammon thrummed, his chest flexing from having not forgotten how Kaen was mobbed last time the moment he was away from Pammon.

“Kaen!”

There he is.

Turning his head where Pammon was looking, Kaen saw Cale coming, waving both arms at him and smiling.

Hess had kept his promise, and seeing Cale with both arms working took some of the pressure he always felt off for a bit.

“Cale!” shouted Kaen as he climbed out of the saddle and walked out a few feet from Pammon.  “Where is Patrick?”

“At the quarry,” he called out as he pushed through the crowd that was still blocking his path.  “By a dragon’s beard, get out of my way!”

Hearing Cale call for them to move, the crowd created a path and soon, both men were sharing a brotherly embrace, laughing and smiling.

“Good gosh, what happened to you?” Cale asked as he stood back and looked Kaen up and down.  “You been sucking on Hess’s teat? You are thick like he was and have almost a beard!”

Scratching his chin, Kaen felt the stubble on his face.  It was by no means something a dwarf could call a beard, but he had not worried about shaving and probably would not till tonight or tomorrow.

“Nothing but working out and eating,” he answered as he motioned to Cale’s shoulder.  “It looks like it works perfectly.”

Grinning, Cale rotated his arm a little and showed how his shoulder did indeed work.

“I won’t say it was fun… Actually, it was awful.  Worse than that potion you gave me, but those men and women Hess sent did what you promised,” he stated as he had a few drops of moisture forming in his eyes.  “I can’t thank you enough for saving my backside or for everything else.”

Leaning in close, Cale lowered his voice as he smiled.

“You have been gone too long, and I know you won’t believe me when I say this, but I’m married and have a kid on the way!”

Ignoring the shock, Kaen grabbed Cale, threw him in a headlock, and started wrestling with him as the crowd laughed and watched the two of them act like fools.

“Which of these poor women in town gave into your begging?” he asked as he let Cale escape.

“You remember Ella? Storven’s maid?”

Cocking his head and furling his brow a little, Kaen glanced at his friend and bobbed his head.

“How did you manage that one?”

Grinning how he always did whenever they did something stupid, Cale just stood there, puffing out his chest.

“While some of us were becoming an adventurer and getting a dragon, I was being consoled by a young woman who was impressed with how I acquired my injury.  Once she got past my personality, she said I wasn’t that bad to look at and liked that I made her laugh.”

Extending his hand, Kaen shook Cales as he thumped him on the shoulder.

“Congratulations!  I wish I could have attended the wedding!”

“It wasn’t that big of a deal,” he stated.  “Just the entire village and some of Storven’s special brew.”

Rolling his eyes, Kaen took off a pack he had been carrying and pulled out two pieces of rolled-up paper.

“I wish I could stay and chat more, but I need to return to Ebonmount and see the king,” he stated, emphasizing the last part.  “I wanted to give you this personally and make sure Storven lets the town know.”

“Stop,” Cale replied as he held up his hand and shook his head. “I don’t want to hear about the King.  It’s hard enough knowing you had a dragon.”

Shrugging, Kaen just handed him the papers.

“They are for the academy I started.  Four kids from Minoosh town will be admitted at my own request.  Tell Storven I said I trust him to pick the right four.”

“You know what this will mean to everyone here,” he replied as he took the papers from Kaen.

“I do, which is why I personally dropped them off.  I mean to give kids here a chance to be what we all dreamed of.  When yours is old enough, I’ll make sure there is a spot for that hellspawn.”

Both chuckled and shuffled their feet.  Knowing life was moving on quickly, the thought of children seemed impossible.

“I take it this means you will miss Patrick?”

“It does.  I had actually planned on doing this later, but Pammon,” Kaen said as he motioned to his dragon with his head, “reminded me I made a promise.  That and I think he knew I needed to see you again.”

Cale moved slightly to the side and gave a small bow toward Pammon.

“Thank you, Pammon, for keeping his sorry excuse of an adventurer safe.”

Pammon thrummed and inclined his head a little.

“On that note,” Kaen said as he grabbed Cale and gave him a hug once more, “I need to go.  Send a letter when your child is born.  I will try to come when I can and warn your wife of all the mischief you got me into.”

“Got you into?” stammered Cale as he shook his head.  “I am pretty sure I was the one who got roped into most of that.”

Laughing, Kaen nodded and waved toward the crowd of people who let out some frustrated moans, seeing Kaen was leaving.

“Stay safe.  You are the closest to a brother I have had, and I’m glad to see life is going well for you.”
“Likewise,” Cale replied.  “Be the adventurer you always told us you would be.”

Choking down a ball of spit, Kaen smiled and turned, feeling like he had just been punched in his gut.

That comment hurt.  Why? Asked Pammon.

Walking to Pammon, Kaen wiped a small tear that had formed and started climbing into his saddle.

I told him why I wanted to be an adventurer a long time ago, and he told me how great I would be as one.  Hearing him say that reminded me of how long I have wanted this but how hard it is.  I guess I understand Hoste more and more.

Pammon grunted and began to turn around, preparing to leap from the ground.

Oh, you aren’t…

Roaring, Pammon breathed a spout of fire up into the air, and the crowd behind him erupted in chaos, a few cheers and a few soiled clothes.

Thrumming, Pammon leaped into the air, sending dust and wind back at those who had not panicked at his fun.

One day, you’ll stop doing that.

It isn’t today, though, he responded, glad to have gotten Kaen’s mind off of what had been bothering him.

Kaen found himself relaxed as they approached the city with still an hour of sunlight left.

He had missed this place; so much had changed in the last two years.

They were not flying as high as usual, wanting to be low so people could see them and know he had returned.

Still, from a half mile into the sky, they could see the walls that had been built along the farms before the forest.  They were only ten feet high and about five feet wide but stretched for miles in both directions.  The road had a new gate, which provided a choke point for all incoming southbound traffic on this road.

He could see the workers digging a trench on the south side of the wall, and there were a few soldiers manned every so often along it.

They have taken your advice and made great progress.  It won’t stop an army, but it will slow them down.

They started the second wall as well, which is good.

A mile away was the next line of defenses Kaen had recommended, with some sections done and others marked off, matching the design of the outer one.

It has given many of the people in the city work to do, coins in their pockets, and the knowledge they are helping protect their homes.  Elies was kind to let me pitch his idea as mine.

He knew your name would get more people invested in this project.

Elies had been right.  They built upon his academy's success and the excitement of the people in having him as their dragon rider.  Aldric had been able to begin forming an army, and even with a slightly higher tax to help provide for this, many did not complain after hearing what had taken place a few years ago.

It is hard to imagine what this place will look like if war does come.  Against a dragon, this will do nothing to stop it.

Frustration and agreement flowed through the bond as Pammon flew quietly for a moment.

That is what we are for.  To fight that which they cannot.

He was right, and Kaen knew it.  If only he believed they could stop Stioks.