Dragon Riders of Etrea—Chapter 13

They woke two hours later, although Rasud had to be shaken to get off the ground. He would have snored the rest of the day away, had they let him. 

Feeling more refreshed, they mounted their horses and continued the boring journey through the monotonous lands. It was wild grass as far as the eye could see, and where it wasn’t grass, it was farmland. Henrik felt like he hadn’t seen more than a handful of trees the entire day. 

As the hours dragged on and the sun passed overhead, a low stone wall came into view on the left side of the road. Calling it a wall was a bit generous; a wall-shaped pile of fieldstone was more accurate. Henrik couldn’t imagine how long it took the farmer to dig up all those stones, much less stack them into a wall, but the stones as well as the lands beyond clearly marked this as a farm. His house looked to have been built from the same stones.

“I wonder if anyone from Limestone tried to follow us?” Henrik wondered aloud.

“Hopefully not,” Tobias said. “I would imagine once they sobered up a bit, they turned and went back home. Although at least the stable boy sent them all in the wrong direction.”

They stopped for a moment and looked at the farm. It had been recently abandoned, that much was clear. The house was still in good repair, but a layer of dirt covered everything. Henrik saw a pitchfork nearby, and the tines had a layer of rust on them. No farmer worth his salt would let that happen.

“This was the farmer that saw the dragon,” Henrik said. 

“Look over there,” Rasud said, pointing to a section of the field near the fence. The dry ground was torn up, as if something massive had dug at it.

“That’s where the dragon got his sheep,” Henrik said.

“How big are these damn things?” Tobias asked.

“Big,” Rasud said as he clicked his tongue at his horse. It continued walking past the farm. “Although seeing that, I assume ‘really fucking big’ might be a better way to phrase it. But at least this crater in the ground is a break from the monotony. Your boss should pay us extra for how dreary this is.”

“Ah, it’s not so bad,” Tobias said, gesturing at the barren land around them. “Fresh air, and plenty of, uh, mostly dead grass, although there’s less as we get closer to the mountains. Well, if anyone else is out here, at least it should be easy to spot them.”

“Speaking of which, please tell me you brought a looking glass,” Henrik said.

“Of course. It’s in my saddlebags,” Tobias said.

“We’ll have to take turns keeping an eye on the horizon,” Henrik said. “I want to stay far away from anything else out here.” He pointed at the trail in front of them. “I don’t think anyone has been on this road for years, not including the farmer that left until your fellow soldiers passed through a few weeks ago. Although it looks like even he didn’t go out this far.”

Tobias squinted at the ground and nodded. Henrik wasn’t sure if the soldier knew what to look for, but it came easily to his eyes.

Grass had long since grown over the road, but it was still broken and trampled in many parts. Without regular rains to wash away the evidence, some of the tracks themselves were still visible. There was no mistaking the way a shod hoof tore up the ground at a gallop. Two dozen horses did a lot of damage to the dirt path.

They continued east until the path disappeared and only a trampled strip of grass remained. That, they followed, and after some time Tobias pulled the looking glass from his saddlebags and began scanning the area.

“Anything?” Henrik asked, although he already knew the answer.

“Just scraggly brown grass, as far as the eye can see,” Tobias answered. He slipped the leather cap over the end and handed the looking glass to Rasud. 

“I should have brought a book,” Rasud muttered, slipping the looking glass into one of his robe pockets. “It is positively dreadful out here. I could almost wish for someone to attack us so I would have something to do.”

“Not out here,” Henrik said. “This dry ground is easy to slip on. You have to watch out for dust and sand, also. It seems a small thing, until you get dust in your eyes while someone is trying to kill you.”

Tobias nodded. “Good tip. I’ve never fought in land like this.” He looked around them. “Not quite a desert, but it’s close.”

“At least we don’t have to worry about it raining,” Henrik said. “I hate fighting in rain. Sword gets slippery, water drips into your eyes, boots want to slide everywhere.”

“I’ve never experienced it, but I’ve heard fighting in the cold can be dreadful,” Tobias said. “Your fingers and toes get stiff from the cold. You work up a sweat from the heat of battle, and the moment you stop the sweat freezes and you’re cold.”

“I’m glad I never bothered with using swords,” Rasud said. “None of what you described sounds enjoyable, not in the least.”

“If it makes you feel better, there aren’t really any good fights,” Henrik said. “Rain, snow, sunshine. Doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t call any of it fun.”

“I don’t know, sometimes when I’m slamming my shield into someone, I feel truly alive,” Tobias said. “It’s a feeling I don’t get anywhere else.”

“I can agree with that,” Henrik said.

Rasud looked at both men and harrumphed. “Well, every time I set a man on fire, he smells of burned meat, and I absolutely detest that smell. It just reminds me that Henrik here needs to take better care of himself.”

Henrik laughed. “The seasons change, kings change, over the centuries even gods change. I’m glad you’ll never change, Rasud.”

“Well, I’m just glad you consider me better than weather, monarchs, and deities,” Rasud replied.

They rode for what felt like forever as the sun slowly descended behind them. Rasud did his best to keep them entertained by telling ridiculous stories. Tobias still never quite knew when he was serious or not. For that matter, half the time Henrik didn’t either, and he had been the man’s best friend for more than a decade. 

“You know who I miss?” Tobias said. “And this might sound odd, but Mother Elara. Now there’s a kind soul. My mother passed years ago, so it was nice to be around someone with that same kind of warmth.”

“Yes, Mother Dura was much the same,” Rasud said. “I could only wish for someone like that in my life. Maybe when we get back I’ll ask her to adopt me.”

Henrik laughed. “She has devoted her life to a higher calling. I have a feeling she wouldn’t give it up for anything. She seemed sad, though. Loving, but sad.”

“Yeah, I caught that as well. Sad, like she’d never forgive herself.”

“Mother Elara wasn’t like that,” Tobias said. “She raised five children and all of them were successful, so she wanted to give back to the gods. She works at the temple, hoping to bring some joy into other lives.” He shrugged. “At least, that’s what she said. No reason to doubt her.”

“That’s such a rare quality these days, don’t you think?” Rasud asked.

“Not often, but you’re young and healthy. Think all you want,” Henrik replied.

Rasud looked at him, eyes wide in shock. “Henrik! You told a joke! And not only that, a funny one!”

“Oh, don’t ruin the moment,” Henrik said.

Tobias laughed. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“By the gods, some of my charm must be rubbing off on you,” Rasud said. “I must redouble my efforts. Soon, the women will be laughing with you, instead of at you.”

Tobias laughed even harder.

“Okay, what should we joke about, my friend?” Rasud tapped his lower lip as he thought. “Well, my mind always goes one place, and that’s women. How’s this? A man walks up to a prostitute and asks what she’ll do for three silver. ‘Anything,’ she replies. ‘Anything?’ he asks. ‘Yes, anything,’ she says again. He hands her three silver. ‘Here, go paint my house.’”

Tobias laughed so hard he wheezed. Henrik just groaned. 

As the sun began to set, they slowed their horses and finally dismounted. Tobias took a moment to look behind them, at the sunset.

“Will you look at that?” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful.”

“Not even me?” Rasud asked as he swung his leg down from his horse. “Yes, that is quite lovely though.”

Henrik turned and watched the sky. Only a few thin clouds streaked across the sky, and they took the bright reds and oranges and shaded them to pink. The sky seemed to go on forever out here, and cast an orange glow on everything. 

“Don’t get to see that very often in the city,” Henrik said. “Buildings block the view, and the air is so muggy I think the sun is just grateful to be gone.”

“Why Henrik, that was rather poetic of you,” Rasud said. “I swear, I’m proud of the progress you’ve been making lately.”

“Oh, stop,” Henrik said. “Help me set up our camp. Not that there’s much to do.”

Together they untacked their horses and arranged their saddles in a loose circle. There was no wood to burn, nor was it particularly chilly that evening, so there was no need for a fire. Henrik drove a stake in the ground and looped their reins around it so the horses wouldn’t run away at night. After that, the three men settled down in a circle, reclining against their saddles.

“You know, this isn’t as uncomfortable as I thought it would be,” Rasud said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder to indicate his saddle.

“You say that as if you haven’t done it before,” Tobias said. “I would expect a man of your sort had slept on his saddle quite a few times.”

Rasud chuckled. “Oh Tobias, you underestimate me. I don’t like leaving the city. Do you see anyone to rob out here? Any mansions or palaces to sneak into? No, I prefer to stay within the confines of the city wall, and once my work is done, sleep in my own bed. Or preferably, in the arms of a woman.”

Tobias shook his head. “You seem like a decent fellow. I do wish you had a better way to earn your bread.”

“I do enjoy good bread,” Rasud said.

“He’s limited in that,” Henrik explained. “No one will hire a half-orc man. He could become a man whore.”

“No chance of that happening,” Rasud muttered.

“Or he could use his considerable talents and steal a few gold pieces from the wealthiest people in the city,” Henrik finished. He looked over at his friend, who was still muttering about how he would never be a man whore. “He’s a better man than you’d believe. Half of the orphanages in the city practically depend on his handouts to stay open, since the king won’t pay them enough.”

“The king,” Tobias muttered. “I know I’d lose my head for saying this, but he doesn’t do half the job he should. Sometimes I think he enjoys sitting on his throne more than actually being a king. I’ve heard his advisors and his council do all the work for him, while he just drinks and eats and whores his way through the days.”

“I can think of worse ways to spend my time,” Rasud said.

“Yeah, but he’s the king,” Tobias said. “Call it treason, I don’t care. We need someone better on the throne, like some of those northern kings that work their asses off. Someone with ambition. Someone willing to work hard to better our nation and our city.”

“Why do I get the feeling you’re going to mention your boss next?” Rasud asked.

“We could do far worse than him,” Tobias said with a frown. “He’s not always a pleasant man, but he is fair. Remember, you stole from him and killed two of his men, and he saved you from the hangman, Henrik.”

“By sending me on a mission almost guaranteed to find me in a dragon’s belly,” Henrik said.

“Yes, but at least he gave you the chance. The king wouldn’t do that. Hell, he wouldn’t even pass judgement. He’d just let one of his advisors do all the work.”

“You have a point there,” Henrik said. “So, is Ardun eyeing the throne?”

Tobias shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve heard whispers, but no more than that. It wouldn’t surprise me. He’s already the wealthiest man in the kingdom, and money is power. If he wanted to take the throne, I don’t think it would be difficult.”

“Well, all of that is fine and dandy, but it’s above my head and above my concern,” Rasud said. “Right now, all I’m worried about is how much sleep I’m going to get tonight. I have a bad feeling Henrik is going to wake me as soon as the sun rises.”

“What a smart man you are,” Henrik said with a toothy grin. He slid down until his head was resting on his saddle. “Might as well get what shuteye we can. Tomorrow we’ll start seeing how far we can move each day.”