Dracotaur Boyfriend: Saba 2 (special preview)

Sometime has passed since the team and I were hired to take care of those bandits in the farming village. I had wanted to invite Saba to join us after the fighting was over, but somewhere in the scuffle he vanished. I searched for him, finding only his dented helm at his campsite. I took the token with me, keeping it hidden amongst my things. Every so often, I would look at it and run my finger under the devit where my foot had kicked him.

I do not blame him for running, in fact, I understand it. After everything he said, I suppose my views did not align with his. It’s easier to run, and that’s fine. The only thing that hurts is the ‘what-if’ of it all. What could have been. What I genuinely felt. I had grown feelings for Saba, I admired his strength to stay so assured that there was still good in the world and he was willing to shoulder it. There was attraction between us, and something more than just surface things. There was a connection, even if our lives were different, even if we stood on opposite ends. It hurt because of that connection.

A job was taking us to another small village. This one housed a nobleman who had hired us. Apparently there were strange creatures in the woods who were eating his sheep and injuring the people working his land. He wanted us to hunt this creature and kill it so he could stuff it and put it on his mantle. The village was quite well off compared to others I had seen. So I figured it would be a good place to hang around for a while, pick up work, easy coin. I had little doubt in my mind that whatever was happening on the nobleman’s property was either wolves or his own laborers making up stories to cover the fact they were robbing him blind. It happened more often than you’d think.

Once we arrive and get settled, I realize I had forgotten to pack my whetstone. I left to go find the local blacksmith to purchase a new one or have him sharpen my blades for me. Going into town I asked around and one old man gave me a strange response.

“Well, to tell you the truth, we have two. There’s the old one and the new one. Now the old one is where you’d expect. Just follow the smoke. But the new one, who may be weird, but he’s good at what he does, you follow the river to the old mill. Not the new mill mind you. The old one. You can tell it’s old because it doesn’t have that wheel anymore. The new one has it. So you want the old blacksmith in his usual place. Or you want the new blacksmith in the old place.”

“You said the new one is good. I’ll just go find him.”

“Oh yes, the new one. Weird fella. Big lizard with four legs,” he chortles. “Never seen sucha  fella. Probably why he took the old mill. People don’t know how to handle their different sometimes.”

I stop and look back at the old timer. “A lizard with four legs?”

“Like one of those fancy horse people you see walking around these days. The whatcha’call’em.” He snaps his fingers as he tries to think.

My brow pinches. “Centaurs?”

He points at me. “That’s the ones. Quick thinker you are, young lady. Must got a brain as big as your arms.”

I leave, even though the old man is still talking away. I follow around the river, seeing the new mill, and then further down there’s the old one. I can see smoke coming from the chimney, and when I let myself inside there’s noise from the back.

I step in, looking around. The place looks temporary, as if he’s only here to work. I know it could be a longshot that this dracotaur is Saba, but I can hold out hope can’t I? Saba said he liked to go wherever he felt needed, but surely he’d have somewhere to go when he was tired. Somewhere he could rest and wait to see where else he could go to play the white knight. I step inside the shop, feeling the heat coming from the back room. On a table there I see a few pages with sketches crudely drawn on them. Some looked like armor, others had weapons. One had a very detailed image of a helm that was quite rounded it at the front.

I look back, hearing someone curse in the room beyond me. I gather myself and go through the door, knocking on the frame. I see the dracotaur standing over the fire and he looks back. It isn’t Saba. His scales are dark gray, and he’s not as svelt as Saba was.

“What is it then?” He spits.