Dragon Riders of Etrea 2—Chapter 14

It never ceased to surprise Rasud just how quickly things could turn to shit. 

He moved to the side of the wide street and pulled Shel with him. Her eyes were wide and scanned in every direction. The woman was absolutely terrified. And she had every right to be.

Moments later, five ranks of soldiers marched by, all with spears and shields. Their armor gleamed and they marched as one. Most notably, the brightly colored tabards on their chests held not the king’s colors, but Duke Ardun’s. 

Although perhaps that was the wrong way to look at it, since Duke Ardun was now King Ardun.

“I’m just glad we didn’t arrive a day earlier,” Shel said as she watched the soldiers march by. She pulled at the neckline of her pale blue dress, still not used to the thing.

“Yes, our leisurely pace has certainly benefited us in this instance,” Rasud said. He, too, watched the soldiers as they walked by.

While the king of Selfoss had not been a hugely loved man, toppling a monarchy was still something met with a mountain of resistance. Rasud had carefully asked the locals about the whole ordeal and had been able to piece together what happened.

Duke Ardun had put his money to good use and bought out most of the king’s guard. Those that refused to be bought were simply killed by their comrades. Those same soldiers turned on their own king and ran him through, as well as all of his family.

Soldiers still loyal to the king took to the streets and fought valiantly in their attempt to stop Ardun. The Duke’s forces were well-equipped and highly disciplined, so the fighting was brief and violent. His wizard had even taken part, using magic to slaughter a dozen men at a time. People spoke of that in tones of horror. 

The remaining soldiers had simply surrendered to prevent any further bloodshed. King Ardun had given them an ultimatum: swear fealty to him or leave the city immediately. Rasud was surprised at that; he would have expected Ardun to simply kill anyone that wouldn’t follow him. That would have been a bad way to start his rule as king, though. Hearts and minds, after all.

Most of the soldiers had simply pledged fealty, although a few chose to leave. They went home, gathered their things, and immediately left the city unharmed.

It had happened so quickly that the city was still a chaotic mess. Ardun had planned this for some time, and for him to take the throne in only a day spoke broadly of his abilities. And his power and influence.

“So, what do we do now?” Shel asked.

“I’ll tell you what we do,” Rasud said. “We go on with our lives as if nothing happened. Because, my darling, the reality is that our lives will be just the same.”

“Can we please leave?” Shel asked.

“Oh, of course!” Rasud said. “Sorry, I forget sometimes that you aren’t used to cities such as this. By the way, keep your hand over your coin purse. People will rob you, otherwise.”

She gave him a startled look, but he simply grabbed her arm and pulled her along as he pushed his way through the crowd. Too many people lined the streets, making movement difficult, so Rasud slipped his other hand beneath his cloak and grabbed onto his short staff. He spoke to his ancestors, asking for their help.

In front of him, people yelped as they were suddenly pushed aside. An empty space opened up before Rasud and he pulled Shel along, hurrying out of the area.

“I see even your ancestors are used to the city life,” Shel said as she quickly moved behind him.

“Oh yes, they’re a huge help here,” Rasud said. “This way.”  He pulled her down a narrow side street, where the crowd thinned out to almost nothing. Once they got to the next wide street they were able to walk normally. 

Rasud offered his arm and Shel just looked down at him.

“Slip your arm through mine,” Rasud said.

Shel did, then shuffled a few steps until they were walking in sync so they wouldn’t jerk each other around. “People walk like this?”

“Oh, all the time,” Rasud said. “We can hold hands if you’d prefer, but I like this.”

Shel looked at their interlinked arms. “No, this is fine. It’s just new.”

“Your former colleagues didn’t hold hands very often, did they?”

Shel laughed loudly enough that several people turned to see what all the noise was. “Oh, even the thought of that is just silly. No, the men choose a woman and she raises their children while he works in the field or in the city. Or sometimes, joins a raiding party.”

“Such a noble occupation,” Rasud said. “Just imagine coming home to your children. ‘Daddy, how was work?’ ‘Oh, it was great, we killed several farmers and robbed them.’ And the wife just watching with pride in her eyes.”

“You paint a picture in tones of mockery,” Shel began, then sighed. “But yes, there is more truth in that than I’d like to admit. So again, what is the problem with this new king?”

“Well, the main issue is that he took the throne by force,” Rasud said.

“And that’s bad,” Shel said as if seeking confirmation.

Rasud chuckled. “Yes, my lovely lady. You see, here in the city we believe the right to rule should pass from father to heir, not by any sort of merit or decency of character. Or by popular vote. Ha! That’s a good one.”

Shel shook her head. “That is so strange. If he is more capable, then he should rule.”

“Be careful how loudly you say that,” Rasud warned. “Personally, I do not care who sits on the damn throne, as long as I have gold in my purse and you by my side. So, what did you think of our lunch?”

“Amazing,” Shel replied. “The food was so colorful, with so many flavors I’d never experienced before. And the wine was even halfway decent.”

Rasud reached over and patted her arm. “That’s just the kind of life I’m trying to give you. Say, I have some business to take care of, but I’d like for you to meet someone first.”

Shel looked a question at him. “Be glad I trust you.”

“Very glad,” Rasud replied. “Trust is a difficult thing with me, but you have mine and I have yours and that’s all that matters. Here, down this street.”

Rasud avoided the southern parts of the city at all costs—Shel was likely to get into a knife fight down there, knowing her—and instead took her north and east. They walked through wealthy neighborhoods where the houses were made from cut stone and had yards of clover and grass.

At one point, Rasud stopped in front of a smaller house, two stone stories with a peaked tile roof. It was surrounded by a stone wall, topped with iron bars. They stood in front of the gate so they could catch a view of it.

“What do you think of this one?” Rasud asked. “Can you imagine us living there? Just lovemaking and wine and books. Our children running around in the yard, attending the best schools in the city. Maybe our daughter attends the magic academy up in Gardabaer.”

Shel smiled at him. “That does actually sound nice. I suppose it’s good to have dreams.”

“Do you remember that man I spoke with last night?” Rasud asked, barely able to conceal his smile.

“Yes,” Shel said. “You signed some papers and gave him a handful of gold. Aren’t you supposed to give him more today? Is that the business you need to attend to?”

Rasud nodded. “Yes, I need to hire a man to carry my chest from my basement. Henrik’s as well. Gotta pay for this house somehow.”

Shel stared at him. “What?” she asked in a flat voice.

Rasud smiled. “Just wait until you feel the sheets. It’s like sleeping on a silk cloud.” He pulled a key out and placed it in her hand.

Shel looked down at the key, then back at the house. She opened her mouth to say something, then suddenly closed it. If Rasud knew any better, he would have said she bit back a sob, but he would never say that to her. Her eyes shone with unshed tears.

“Rasud,” she said as she hugged him so tightly he thought his ribs were going to break. “I’m so glad we found each other, Rasud.”

“Yes, I do have an eye for beauty,” Rasud said, his voice strained. Shel released him and he laughed. “We’ll sleep here tonight, but I want you to meet someone first.”

“Who?” Shel asked as she slipped her arm back through his.

“You’ll see,” Rasud said. “It’s a surprise.”

“I don’t like surprises,” Shel protested.

“Well, you certainly like them when they’re in the form of a house,” he said.

She leaned down and kissed the side of his head. “You’ve got me there. I suppose one day we’ll have to have that conversation about children, right?”

“I want three,” Rasud said. “Although of course I will not be the one birthing them, so your opinion will count more than mine.”

Shel laughed.

They left and continued walking around the city. Rasud purposely set their path in directions that might be beneficial to him; some places were good for gathering information and some weren’t.

“Well, that’s disconcerting,” Rasud said as he looked to the side.

“What?” Shel asked, following his gaze.

Rasud pointed to a large sheet of parchment pinned to the side of a building. Several others like it decorated the side, but it was only one that drew his attention. He pulled Shel closer to further examine it.

“Wanted, dead or alive. Ten times the reward for bringing back alive. Both considered highly dangerous.” He stared at the sketches of him and Henrik on the poster. They weren’t perfect, but accurate enough for him to recognize.

“That’s a big reward,” Shel said.

Rasud frowned. “I’m worth more than that,” he grumbled. “Well, this certainly changes things. If the new king thinks he can hunt us down and bring us in, he’s going to be sadly mistaken.”

“What about the egg?” Shel asked quietly.

“Yes, good point. Would his wizard even know that it hatched? And if so, would he want the baby dragon? Not that he stands any chance of getting it, of course.”

“We should probably stay away from posters like this,” Shel said, glancing around.

“Fortunately, I have this lovely new face,” Rasud said, running a finger down his cheek. “They’re looking for that other guy, the one that’s half orc. Not me. But yes, let’s get out of here.”

Ten minutes later they found themselves in front of a massive stone building. It was an ancient design, with a peaked roof that towered far above the paving stones. Stained glass windows glittered in the sunlight.

“It’s beautiful,” Shel said. “What is—is this a place for your gods?”

“One of them, yes,” Rasud said. “I’m not exactly the religious sort, but after recent events I figured I could at least say thank you.”

“To the god?”

“No, to the priestess who blessed Henrik and me,” Rasud said. “I think you’ll like her.”

As soon as Rasud set foot inside the temple, he realized he would have some explaining to do. He didn’t get much time to think about it, as Mother Dura was the first woman he saw.

She still wore the pristine white cloth over her face, covering everything except her dark eyes. She noticed them enter and immediately approached them.

“Welcome to the temple of Lunias,” she said with a slight bow of her head. “How may I help you?”

“I suppose you won’t remember me, Mother Dura,” Rasud said. 

Mother Dura looked at him for a moment, then shook her head. “I am very good at remembering faces, but I cannot say that I have ever seen you before.”

“Oh, you have, but I looked different,” Rasud. He chanted a few things under his breath and gave his hand a flourish. A brightly colored flame burst into existence, then faded away after a few seconds. Fortunately, his ancestors were so used to his little demonstrations that they were like second nature.

She blinked. “I have only met one man capable of doing that before, but you are clearly not him.”

“Let us sit,” Rasud said, motioning toward the wide pews next to them. He and Shel sat down while Mother Dura stood in front of them.

Mother Dura watched them, clearly confused. Rasud tried to think of the best way to explain things, and decided to just be forthright. 

“I am that same man you met weeks ago,” Rasud said. “I was here with my companion, Henrik. I used magic to change my face so I could better blend in here in the city.”

Mother Dura’s posture immediately changed. “But how—well, magic, but still. And how is your friend? Why is he not with you?” A hint of worry crept into her voice.

“Oh, he’s fine, absolutely fine,” Rasud said. “Certainly better than most people here in Selfoss these days. I’d tell you more about him, but I don’t think you’d believe me. Instead, I wanted to introduce you to Shel, my better half and the love of my life.”

Shel gave him a wry look, then stood and tried her best at a curtsy. Rasud had spent some time teaching her how to do that after she picked up several dresses in Limestone. She was still horrible at it.

“Oh, so proper,” Mother Dura said with a slight giggle. She curtseyed back, then reached out and took Shel’s hands in her own. “Oh, you are just as lovely as a sunrise, has anyone told you that?”

Shel blushed. “Rasud tells me that every day. Now I know where he got the saying.”

Mother Dura nodded. “Good. Make sure you treat her well, Rasud.” She squeezed Shel’s hands again. “I’m assuming you’re here for a blessing?”

Rasud shrugged. “Actually we just stopped by to say hello, but I suppose another blessing wouldn’t hurt. I’m half convinced the last one saved our lives.”

Mother Dura gasped. “What happened? Oh, do I even want to know?”

“Fighting, Mother Dura. Lots of fighting, something that my friend Henrik is very skilled at. We’re all alive because of him. I think your blessing gave him a bit of luck as well.”

“Good,” Mother Dura said. “Give me your hands. Both of you.”

She held their hands in hers and began a lengthy prayer where she asked Lunias for prosperity, compassion, and peace of mind. Shel smiled when Mother Dura asked Lunias to bless their children. Mother Dura asked Lunias for the kind of love that pervades even after death.

As before, Rasud felt a faint tingle across his skin when she finished the blessing. Shel’s eyes widened and she shivered.

“I do hope you’ll come again, and soon,” Mother Dura said. “And bring your friend. What was it, Henry?”

“Henrik,” Rasud said. Nice try, but she knew the man’s name. “With the direction his life is taking him, I can’t promise you’ll ever see him again. But take my word for it when I say he’s doing very well. As for us, we just bought a house on the north side.” Rasud put his arm around Shel’s waist.

“Oh, I am so happy for you two,” Mother Dura said. She pulled them both into a tight hug. “Your children are going to be so beautiful. Cherish every moment you spend with them. Nothing can ever compare to the feeling of your own child in your arms.”

Rasud pulled a golden coin out and passed it to Mother Dura. “Thank you, as always. I’d say spend this on wine and fine food, but I know you’ll put it to better use.”

Mother Dura bowed her head as she accepted the coin. “This will go to the children. Fare you well, Rasud and Shel. I hope to see you both again soon.”

After that, they left the temple. Here on the northeastern side of the city they were far enough away from downtown that there were no riots, no soldiers marching down the streets. Things were quiet.

“She was nice,” Shel said. “I just met her and I feel like I hugged my own mother.” 

“Yes, she has that effect on people,” Rasud said. “Keep your knife ready, my love. We’re going to head to a rougher part of town.” He turned and looked all around them, just as a familiar habit, taking in his surroundings. “I’ve had this nagging idea for a couple days and I need to talk to someone about it.”