(Dragonkin) Dragon Rider (6 page)

   He knew the guards would be looking for him to arrive from the east, and would be concentrating in that direction. He had been delayed in Kath by several days, and was close to a week behind his timeline, but he did not want Avren to know he was here until he walked into the tent that served as the headquarters. A lot of men were on their way from the eastern lands that the mage king now controlled, and he needed to move the men that were here to another camp farther west. It should have been done a week ago, but the delays were unavoidable. His orders were to take his men into the Wilderlands, and continue on until they reached the edge of the White Kingdoms. They were too set up their camps along the Wilder River, which ran north to south from the Shimmering Mountains to the blue marshes at the base of the purple Mountains, and he and his men were to stay at the river, and wait for further instructions.

   The Wilder River was close to one hundred miles from the borders of Grayland and the White kingdoms. It was not a wide or deep river, but it would supply his men with fresh water while they waited for their orders. They were not to cross the river for any reason, without Chidren's permission, and anyone caught doing so was to be executed immediately. Chidren had spent many years in the White Kingdoms, traveling from one end to the other, killing and raping his way through the countryside. He terrorized the people that he robbed before he tortured and killed them, then he burned down their homes before moving on. He would abandon the brigands that he traveled with after several weeks, taking the spoils with him, and leaving them to pay for the crimes, after alerting the guard to their location. It was the warrior that chased him, that made him return to Kath before his mission was complete, but he did not report it to Arnoran when he arrived. As he made his way back to the island fortress from that far away land, his men began to make their way west across the empire.

   The camp was growing quickly, but some of the men had been there for several months, and they were getting very restless. It was obvious that they had too much time on their hands, and that they needed something to keep them busy, but that would all change very soon. Chidren rode through the camp on his way to the hill, and the tent that was the headquarters, but when he walked inside, Avren was nowhere to be found. Chidren sat in the chair and looked through the records on the table, as well as the maps that were beside them. Things were not going as planned, and he already knew of the failure at the crossroads from the seers at Kath, but he had not returned to solve their problem. The three men that had appeared from the south when the ambush had been sprung, was most unfortunate, but it mattered very little to him. They were not Chidren's problem, but moving the men west and into the Wilderlands was. He was to worry about moving the men west, while Avren would take care of the warrior in the dragon armor, and the mage king was clear on that matter. When the last man had reached the Wilder River, he would have almost five thousand men in the camps. They were to build all of the siege towers and battering rams, as well as the ladders and weapons of war, from the wilderness. He only expected to lose a few men to the crossing of the Western Empire, but the Wilderlands would be a far bigger challenge, and he expected much bigger losses when they crossed it. It was inevitable with the nature of the kind of men he used, but they were the only ones that could be trusted to follow their orders without question.

   When Avren returned and found Chidren in the tent, he was furious. He had given strict orders to alert him when their leader had arrived, so he could prepare the camp. Someone would pay for this outrage, and he would enjoy killing that person, slowly.

   "Where is Gaston, and where is Rylee?" Chidren asked. "Rylee should have reported to you soon after the ambush at the crossroads failed."

   "I sent him to finish the job, along with four of our best fighters." Avren said, with a smug look on his face.

   "You fool. Send someone to get him, as well as the men that are with him, and bring them all back immediately." Chidren demanded, and looked at Avren with cruel and deadly eyes "And Gaston, where is he. Did you send him off as well?"

   "Yes, when Rylee showed up and reported this dragon man was not dead, I sent him to the crossroads to find out what had happened to the men we sent." Avren replied, hoping to ease some of Chidren's anger. "One of his men just showed up to report. That is where I was when you arrived."

   "Then go and get him, and bring him to me. We will discuss this further when you return." Chidren said, and he dismissed Avren with a wave of his hand.

   When Gaston's man entered the headquarters, Chidren was standing beside the table waiting for him.

   "Go and bring back Gaston, I need him for a special assignment, and find Rylee and bring him back as well. I will be here waiting, but tell them not to make me wait too long."

   "Yes sir, right away sir." The man replied, and he turned and walked from the tent to carry out his orders, and bring the men back to the camp.

   When he was gone, Chidren laid out their plans for the campaign. Avren would stay at the camp until most of the men had passed, and aid the bands of highwaymen that they had placed throughout the empire. Arnoran wanted the empire to be in disarray when he invaded it, and put up little resistance against him. There was also the matter of the traitor from Argnon, which must be coddled until he was no longer useful.

   No one was to stay more than four days when they arrived before moving on to the next camp, and they were to bring the few things that were sent from Kath, with them. Avren would be allowed to continue west when Chidren felt enough had men had passed, and all of the items that they carried were out of the empire, and into the Wilderlands. There would be three camps set up between the one in the empire, and the main camp on the Wilder River. Arnoran wanted the White Kingdoms under his control, so there would be no one for the nobles to turn to, when he took the old dragon empire for his own.

   When Gaston arrived six days later, and two days sooner than Chidren expected, he felt his timeline was getting back on track. Rylee was to follow the dragon warrior, and report back to Avren with any information he obtained. He sent Gaston and his men on ahead to find a faster way through the broken lands, and to set up a camp once they reached the Wilderlands. Only then was he to report back to Chidren. There was a stream that was one or two day's ride passed the broken land, and they were too set up their camp when they reached it. Rylee was sent to keep watch on the man in the dragon armor, and report any changes in direction he may make. He was to report to Avren at the camp, and receive his orders from him as well.

   It took more than a month and a half before Gaston reached the stream, and send word back to Chidren. He had one of the stones sent from Kath that was used to communicate with his armies, and was able to inform Chidren the night they arrived.

   It was still early when the groups began to leave the camp, and close to midday by the time Chidren himself began the journey west. He waited for as long as he could for the two men who carried the master speaking stone, which was to help Chidren keep track of all the camps along the Wilder River. They should have been here days ago, and he was to the point of killing them on the spot when they did arrive. In the end, Chidren had to leave without the stone, but he gave strict orders to send the stone on ahead as soon as it was found. The two men were to be tortured as long as they could be kept alive, and when they did die, they were to be strung up in the trees so wild animals could eat their bodies, and the birds could peck out their eyes.

   Chidren was confident that his plans would succeed, and the conflict would be short lived. He would be the one to win the battle for the lands west of the empire, and when the time came, he would lead the combined armies of the mage king against the empire itself. He did not know then that he would face the man who had hunted him throughout the White Kingdoms, and was responsible for cutting his mission there, short. He had no respect for the man, but then, he had never been around when the warrior showed up looking for him.

   The war for the Great Dragon Empire had been set in motion, but before it was over, Chidren would have to face the warrior that had hunted him for so long, and only the winner of that battle would be left standing.

Chapter Six

   Menimeth sat with his back to the wall in the main room of the inn. The small boy, that had brought him and his companions to the Red Falcon when they arrived in Argnon, sat at the table next to him and finished his meal. This was the best breakfast that he had ever eaten in the eight years of his young life, as far as he was concerned, and he did not let it go to waste. His mother had died when he was only three, and his father was killed while serving in the army two years ago. His father had borrowed money from Farlin to get armor and a horse, but died before he could return, and Chanry was left to work off his father's debt, and he worked hard.

   Farlin was the owner and innkeeper of the Red Falcon, which was the best inn and tavern in town. He was an easy man to like, but a hard man to understand, at least for most of the men who showed up to the fair every three years. He would have men thrown out of the tavern if they could not pay for their drinks, but would make sure they returned to pay their bill. Usually by searching them, and keeping everything they had, which would not to be returned until they did. He did not like men who drank in excess, and would run anyone out of the Red Falcon who became intoxicated, but if a man were hungry he would feed him. If his cloths were worn and ragged, he would give him new ones. If the man were poor, he would give him work, and pay him well. He never asked for payment from any one for the things he gave them, but he did expect honesty.

   Menimeth paid off the debt that bound Chanry to the innkeeper, and retained him as a guide while he stayed in Argnon. He liked the brighteyed well-mannered boy, and felt somehow drawn to him. He learned all he could from the boy about the fair, and about the town and garrison at the castle. He learned about the regent and his family, as well as Captain Brannor and his men.

   The rules had changed since the summons was sent to the towns and villages of the western realm, and at least four contestants must compete from each town represented in the fair. All of the towns must be represented, and all of the towns with less than four contestants present on the morning of the first day of the fair, forfeit their place in the contest. The contestants that were in Argnon from those towns, were to be conscripted into the army, and must serve at least three years. Anyone that failed an event would have to come back the next day and start again, and the next if needed. If they failed to complete all of the events in one day, by the end of the fourth day of the fair, they were to be conscripted into the army for a period of no less than three years.

   Menimeth had his cloak pulled tight around him, looking like a traveler that was here for the fair. There were several other patrons using the main room now, and more came in as time passed. The sun was not yet up, but the gray of early morning had taken Argnon in its grasp, as well as the men in their camps who had come for the fair. Chanry was finished with his breakfast, and Menimeth was drinking a mug of Blackbeer that was steaming hot, and smelled aromatic. He called Farlin and ordered breakfast for his companions, along with a mug of Blackbeer for each one, and when Farlin had gone to retrieve them, he turned to Chanry.

   "Would you go and rouse my friends from their slumber, and tell them their breakfast is waiting, please?" Menimeth asked the boy that sat next to him.

   "Yes Sir Meni, Meni, Menithormoth?" Chanry stuttered, looking at Menimeth with a smile.

   "Meni will do just fine for now son, and fetch my bow from the room as well. It is the longest one, and it has Elvin runes carved into it." Menimeth said, as Chanry bounded from the chair.

   "Yes Sir Meni." He said, as he ran to the door that led from the main room, and into the hall where the guest rooms were located.

   Menimeth finished his Blackbeer while he waited for his new friends to arrive. He had decided to compete with them in the fair for the village of Alenvale, to save them from being conscripted into the army. Kyler was the first to enter the main room, and make his way to where Menimeth was seated, though Feran and Javen reached the table minutes later, and at the same time as their food. As they ate their meal, Menimeth told them about the change in the rules, and his decision to compete with them for Alenvale. The three men were relieved to hear that they would not be conscripted into service, and ask if any other changes had been made, and Menimeth assured the men that he had heard nothing to make him believe it would be any different in competitions than before.

   Chanry came in with the bow he had been sent to retrieve from the room Menimeth occupied along with his friends. It was twice his height, and in a leather case of Elvin make and design, and when Chanry reached the table, Menimeth stood and looked at his new friends before he spoke.

   "I am going to look the fairgrounds over, as well as the garrison and the town. Join me there after you have finished your breakfast and Blackbeer, and do not forget your bows."

   Menimeth turned and walked from the tavern to scout around Argnon, with Chanry following close behind.

   "I can show you where everything is." Chanry said, as he followed Menimeth from the door, and into the street.

   "Thank you, but I do not wish to look like I am scouting the town." Menimeth said to the boy, "And it is after the fair that I will need your knowledge."

   "Yes Sir, Meni." The boy said, and fell in behind the warrior.

   Menimeth walked from the Red Falcon, and made his way to the garrison, and the fair grounds beside it. Taking mental notes of the town as he walked, he stopped in the great road, and looked down it to the east. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, and it looked as though it was coming down the road, on its way to the sky. Chanry stood beside him and looked down the road as well, but shook his head, and said.

"I don't see nuthen."

"I do not see anything." Menimeth corrected him.

   "Then why are you looking?" The boy asked, as he looked up at the warrior.

   "I was watching the sun rise, and looking at my future." Menimeth replied, shaking his head with a chuckle. "But for now we have the fair to investigate."

   Chanry took one more look down the road before turning, and said.

   "Yes sir, Meni." Running to catch up with the warrior.

   Men were beginning to make their way to the fairgrounds, while others were only now rising from their slumber. Menimeth walked the grounds slowly, going from one event area to the next, until he had seen them all. He made his way back to the garrison just as the gates began to open, and Captain Brannor came out with his men to begin stationing them throughout the fairgrounds.

   Brannor was the captain of the guard at Argnon, and protector of Falendor, the regent of the western realm. He did not like the fair, and thought farmers and merchants should stay farmers and merchants, as well as their sons. Falendor did not see it that way however, and used the fair to enlarge the ranks of his army.

   Men streamed into the staging area now, and Kyler, Javen, and Feran, were among them. Menimeth stood by the gates of the garrison with his hood over his head, and his cloak fastened closed around him. Chanry was beside him holding his bow in both arms, with a look of pride on his face. The inner gates to the castle opened, and the regent walked out with several over dressed men behind him. A table was brought out as well as a chair for the regent, and placed under a tent with the sides pulled up, built to shade him during the heat of the day. A carpet was laid down and a short platform placed on it, then a small rug for the chair was placed on the dais. This way the regent could watch the events while he sat, even if people were standing in front of him. Women were not allowed to attend, so the wife of the regent and his daughter, watched from a balcony just above the garrison wall.

   Two men in almost royal attire sat on benches at the table set up beside the tent, while they checked off each town as it was named from a list, and then set it to the side. One wrote the name of each contestant for that town on a parchment, while the other handed each man a tile with a number on it from a bag, which was sitting at the end of the table. When a town failed to supply enough contestants, which was only two, the men were given a red tile from a smaller bag, which was sitting on the table between them. Then the list would be marked for the forfeiture beside the name of the town.

   When Alenvale was called, Menimeth walked to the table with the others, and gave his name last. Three red tiles had already been placed on the table, and the two men were clearly surprised at the fourth name when he gave it. They looked over at the regent, who was not paying attention to them, talking to his servants instead. Menimeth did not miss the look on their faces, or the man they sent to talk to the regent, after giving them a tile from the big bag at the end of the table. When all of the towns were called, and all of the tiles had been given out to the contestants, the bags with the remaining tiles were tied, and the table was moved to the garrison wall.

   The first event was the easiest for the farmers and merchants. Each group consisted of four men, and the number you received from the bag, was the order in which you were called. There were four logs staked to the ground beside one another, about six feet apart, and weighted bags were swinging across the logs. Four bags for each log, and all that was required was that you must stay on the log, and reach the other end. The logs were very large, and everyone had as many as three chances to make it to the end.

   Most men moved slowly along the log, and would try to hurry when passing the swinging bags, before slowing down again. A few tried to shuffle along the log, and time the bags as they advanced. Some made it, but in the end, most resorted to the slow way. The three men from Alenvale accomplished the event, but Javen was hit by a bag on his first try, and had to do it again.

   Menimeth was in the last group to compete in the event. He did not remove his cloak, but unbuckled his sword belt and handed it to Chanry. The other men in his group were already standing on their logs when he walked up to his. Two of the men were having a hard time retaining their balance, while the third was passed the first bag. Menimeth stepped up onto the log and stood there, watching the bags as they swung back, and forth.

   "That one will need a push I think." One of the onlookers yelled, and the crowd of men began laughing.

   Menimeth rocked in time with the swinging bags, paying no attention to the laughter, then took off down the log at a dead run, and jumped over the short split rail fence, six feet from the end of the log.

   The laughter disappeared before he hit the ground on the other side, and the three men still on the logs, stood with their mouths open. All eyes were on him as he stepped back over the fence, and retrieved his swords from the boy. The man in the crowd that had taunted Menimeth, looked at him with anger in his eyes, but there was something about him that bothered Menimeth, besides his fancy cloths. He was the one that had the fastest time in the last two fairs, and he was also the regent's son. The regent no longer talked to his servants, but looked at Menimeth with curious eyes.

   The regent moved down to the next station where the second event was to be held, and it took a few minutes to set up the tent and his chair. Chanry walked beside Menimeth with a look of superiority and defiance, as they made their way to the next event behind the other men. No one had failed the first event, and that was the first time in three fairs that had happened.

   The next competition was designed to test horsemanship. Five rings two feet in diameter were placed standing up, and two feet off the ground. After that came the five poles in which a ring was to be placed on each one, and then you raced back as fast as you could to pass the starting line, and finish the event.

   Menimeth sent Chanry to the Red Falcon while he waited to take his turn on the horses. Three of the five rings had to be on the poles before you could return to the starting line, and a time of one minute was the limit to pass. Some men were having trouble getting on the horse after the start had been sounded, because the horses were skittish. Menimeth noticed that before the event began, and knew it was the regent's doing.

   Chanry returned before Menimeth's turn came, and handed him three sugar cubes, and a carrot. When his turn came up, he walked to the horse and gave him the carrot, and when the start sounded, jumped on the horse, and raced down the course. He was the only one to grab all five rings, and put them on all of the poles, and he did it in twenty-one seconds. His time was nineteen seconds faster than the regents son, who held the second best time, and it was the fastest time ever recorded at the fair. He gave the horse the sugar cubes after he had dismounted, but before he handed the reins over to the guard. Captain Brannor watched him and smiled, this was no farmer he thought.

   Swordsmanship was the next to last event, and the hardest for most of the men that competed. An imaginary foe was to be fought, and Captain Brannor judged the skill in the moves that were made. This was done one at a time instead of by groups, which was a change from fairs held in the past. The men from Alenvale did well after the lessons given them by Menimeth, and were applauded by the crowd when they finished. Menimeth was the last to be judged, and stepped into the small arena, walking to the center. Several shields were leaning against the railing, as well as swords, and when he did not choose one, Captain Brannor spoke for the first time, all day.

   "I see you do not have a shield, will you not choose one from these."

   He said, as he waved his hand across the ones leaning on the railing beside him.

   "No Sir, I do not like them." Menimeth replied.

   "Do not like them? How do you expect to win in a fight against a foe?" The captain asked.

   "With these." Menimeth said, as he drew his Elvin swords from their scabbards.

   They were the finest set of matching swords ever seen by any one at the fair, and they were far better than anything carried by any one in the empire. A hush came over the crowd, and for the next ten minutes, Menimeth mesmerized the onlookers with a style of fighting multiple attackers, of his own design. His swords flashed in the sunlight, and at high speeds, danced around his head and body. At the end of the exercise, he was down on one leg with the other stretched out behind him. One sword pointed straight out in front of him, and the other pointed straight out behind.