I had been traveling from town to town for over two weeks and yet I could not find a trace of the resistance fighters. Perhaps I should say Dragon's Fire, as the people seemed to like to call them. Of course everyone had heard of the Dragon's Fire and I heard stories far and wide of their accomplishments. When I pressed for more information about who they were, I found doors slammed in my face. I couldn't believe it. These were people I had fought the overseers for, the people I had risked my life for on more than one occasion. Still they shut me out and protected this Dragon, the leader of the resistance, who they viewed as a hero. It would seem I had not done enough for these people or maybe it was simply that Dragon had done more. I fought for them but it was Dragon who gave them food, clothes and money. It is a scary day when you find out you aren't quite the hero you believed yourself to be.
I was quickly becoming frustrated as I realized if I wanted to find any of the resistance fighters, talking to people was not going to do it. I had heard about a large caravan being transported from one town to the next. It was supposed to be filled with riches from one of the wealthy merchants. I won't go into how I found that little bit of info out. Suffice to say it involved some gambling and a little bit of bloodshed. There was now a well-known thief missing a finger. Hey it was for a good cause! I decided to track this caravan. If I could find out about it then so could the Dragon. I was betting that he would attack this cargo and that would lead me to him.
I had been tracking the caravan for the last two days. Not a move had been made against it and I was beginning to wonder if I had been mistaken. It was as I had these thoughts I heard the unmistakable sounds of battle. I had been following about half a mile to a mile behind so I wouldn't be spotted. Thus I had to run so I could catch up to see what was going on. As I finally came into view of the battle I saw that it was halfway over. The two wagons were on their sides and the horses pulling them long gone. About 20 men were fighting and the ground was littered with about 10 more that wouldn't be getting up. I could tell by the uniforms that 9 of those dead belonged to those guarding the caravan. It would seem these resistance fighters were well skilled.
I noticed one of the guards about to slay a man from behind who was busy fighting another guard. Without thought I let a dagger fly and it imbedded into the back of the cowardly guard. The man I had just saved finished the guard he was fighting and turned around to see what the noise was he heard from behind. He saw the dead guard on the ground and then looked up and around until his eyes landed on me. While the men continued to fight we just stared at each other. It was as if time stopped and there was just the two of us. The spell was broken when one of the men spoke to him. As I looked around I saw that all the guards were dead and some men were righting the fallen wagons.
I began to walk closer and watched as some of the men stopped what they were doing and took up a defensive stance. This surprised me; after all I hardly looked that threatening. I was a 15-year-old girl and hardly looked like a robber. If I could have seen through their eyes I would have known that I already had the walk and look of a warrior despite my age. I stopped my advance and looked over to the man who I had saved. I found his green eyes looking at and assessing me. He must have liked what he saw for he ordered his men to lower their weapons. It was when they complied I realized that he was the leader of this band of men. I glanced at his shirt and saw that it contained a fire-breathing dragon on it, as did the shirts of the rest of the men. I had found the group I was looking for, now I just had to convince them I meant no harm.
I called out to the green eyed man,"I am looking for the one known as Dragon. I have business with him."
An unreadable expression came over his face,"And what business to you have with the Dragon. Assuming I know who he is of course."
I let my eyes travel to the dead guards, to the wagons, to his shirt and then back to his face,"I believe you can take me to Dragon as for our business. It is between him and me."
I waited for what seemed like an eternity for an answer. I began to think I would be dismissed when the green-eyed man shook his head yes to a questioned not asked. He gave me a curt nod,"You may come with us but you must be bound and your eyes covered. Plus you must come unarmed."
I contemplated his requests and decided to follow them. Even if I gave up my sword, I could get it back if need be. I stepped forward until I was about a two feet from the nearest man. I than carefully withdrew my sword and laid it on the ground," I agree to your terms but I will want my sword back at some point." I then held my hands out in front of me.
With a gesture to the man in front of me, green eyed said,"So be it. You can call me Draco. What is your name?"
While he asked the question the man in front of me bound my hands with a secure knot. I tried the knot and felt it was well tied but I knew I could break it if need be,"I am known as Larissa."
I saw his eyebrow raise in a questioning way but he didn't comment on my name. Instead he said,"Once you get into the wagon one of the men will blindfold you. I am sorry it has to be this way but one can never be to careful."
I didn't respond but instead got into the wagon. One of the men helped me up then blindfolded me. I could feel someone get into the wagon and sit next to me but I couldn't tell whom till he spoke.
It was Draco,"It will take us awhile to reach our destination. If you want to take a nap you can. I will watch over you."
I cocked my head to the side as he spoke and when he finished I replied,"Alright and thanks." Even though I wanted to trust him I couldn't, not yet anyway. I relaxed my body as I pretended to go to sleep.
Many hours passed before I felt the wagon begin to slow down. I could tell we had left the road at one point and entered a forest area but I didn't know where we were exactly. Eventually I could hear sounds and smells that let me know we were no longer by ourselves. We seemed to have entered some kind of camp. I heard voiced cry out in recognition and praise to those who had captured the wagons. Another few minutes passed before the wagon actually stopped. I could hear Draco get out of the wagon and talked to someone though I couldn't tell what was said. A minute later someone helped me out of the wagon and removed my blindfold. I was amazed at what I saw.
I glanced around at what appeared to be a well fortified war camp. I estimated over 100 men just in view there could be more in other areas that I couldn't see. There were tents and campfires all laid out. I could see men practicing different sword drills. I glanced over to my right and saw Draco watching me.
I gave him an appreciative smile as I said,"Well I am impressed."
A smile broke out on his face as if he valued my opinion. I found this quite interesting. I glanced around again before turning back to him. I couldn't help but ask, "When will I get an audience with Dragon?"
The smile left his face,"Soon enough. Till then why don't I get you something to eat and then give you a tour?"
I had a feeling that if I pressed I wouldn't get to see Dragon any faster so I reluctantly agreed to Draco's proposal. We walked about the camp for over two hours and he showed me the different defenses and groups that this camp housed. I was surprised that he would trust me with this information. After all I could have been a spy. At the end of the tour he took me over to a tent that was rather large and had a Dragon flag flying from a mast. There were guards posted at the front and I inwardly smiled as I figured I was finally about to meet the dragon.
I was somewhat surprised when the two guards saluted Draco but shrugged it off figuring he was just higher in command than I had originally thought. He let me enter the tent first and followed behind me. I glanced around as I noticed it the place was a bedroom as well as the headquarters of this camp. There was a table that had maps and scrolls laid out on it. I was disappointed to notice that no one else was in the room save for Draco and I.
Draco motioned to a chair,"Please have a seat."
I did as he asked figuring that Dragon would becoming soon and maybe Draco was supposed to interrogate me first. I watched as Draco went to a table and poured a glass of water for each of his. I thanked him as he handed me a cup. He sat down in a seat across from me and for a few minutes he just stared at me.
Then with a sigh he said,"No what is it you want?"
I gave a little shrug,"I told you that is between me and Dragon?"
His eyes narrowed slightly,"I heard you the first time. Now I will ask you again, what do you want with me?"
I started to give a sarcastic reply when I realized his last to words had been "with me". I wanted to smack myself in the head as I realized Draco was in fact Dragon. How could I have been so stupid? Draco was a surname for Dragon. Then I felt my respect for him rise as I thought this Dragon had fought with his men. He didn't order them to go out and collect the wagon themselves. He went with them, was willing to die and to fight with his men. He didn't ask them to do anything he wasn't willing to do himself. No wonder his men were so loyal and the people loved him.
I stared him in the eyes as I replied,"I mean no harm. I am in fact looking for a man named Simon and was told he might be here."
I didn't finish saying anything more as I watched his lips twitch in amusement. I looked at him trying to hide in a laugh and couldn't keep from shaking my head,"Let me guess, your other name is Simon?"
He gave a hearty chuckle and in between gasping for breath I heard him reply yes.
Today was just not a good day. If the ground would have opened up and swallowed me I would have gladly welcomed it. I gave a soft sigh,"Well then it appears you are the man I came for. I want to say first that I mean you no harm."
He looked over to his desk and I could see my sword laying on it. I had wondered where it had been taken. Apparently Simon already believed I wouldn't hurt him. An interesting assumption and one I was surprised at.
I glanced back over to him and gave a smile,"Well I see you already figured that part out. I sought you out because you have a bounty on your head and because of a rumor I had heard."
His eyes lit up at the mention of the rumor,"I already know about the Kings warrant Larissa. As for the rumor, I think I know which one you mean. Before you say anything more I would like to tell you something."
I slowly nodded my head in assent and he continued to speak. "I suppose it is best to state that I know who you are. You have said your name is Larissa. A common enough name in these parts but one most do not admit to having it. There is after all a bounty out for a Larissa who is King Kusac's niece. That fact doesn't seem to bother you and I know why. You are that Larissa and you enjoy using that name and knowing Kusac can't touch you."
I raised an eyebrow in shock at his assumptions even if they were true. He didn't continue and I realized he was waiting for me to either confirm or deny his statements. I nodded my head that he was correct and motioned for him to continue.
He smiled at my nod,"Well I am glad I was right. Second I can assume that as I heard of your deeds, you have heard of mine. Even so you have not sought me out till now. I can only conclude that you have heard something else to make you come hear. Now the bounty could be one reason but I doubt it is enough, so there must be more. I believe that more would be the question of my parentage no?"
My admiration went up another notch as I listened to Simon. He was not only an honorable and courageous man but a smart one too. Perhaps he had deduced these all as he said but I had a feeling that he had spies that were watching me in my hometown.
I looked at him in shock,"Yes that is correct."
His smile grew wider,"Good. Then let me assure you that the rumor is correct. My mother was a scully maid who worked in the castle's kitchen. 23 years ago King Baka took a liking to my mother and a year later I was born. My mother was ashamed of getting with child and fled back to her family. She hid the pregnancy from Baka and he just thought she no longer cared for him. With the way the monarchy has been going it would seem to be a good thing my mother hid me."
I listened with amazement to his story,"Then that would mean....."
He finished my sentence for me,"I am your Uncle Simon. Like you a contender for the throne and a threat to Kusac's rule."