Lady Dragon Riders - Chapter One

THE LONE TRAVELER CHRONICLES
Book Two – Lady Dragon Riders

Chapter One


June 9, 37,692 AD

The long trip across the great salt sea was exhausting and taxed them to the extreme. After a short stop in Havenhall to see her parents, Analia and Elise decided to seek adventures in the lands of the rising sun. Stories told by the boastful Nordland seafarers, described great castles, beautiful women, honorable knights, strange animals and frightening sea creatures living in a green and bountiful land. Since she and Elise were determined to explore, regardless of what anyone else said, her father, Emperor John III of Angalund, provisioned them and gave them his blessing. They planned on leaving much sooner, however, it was several months before they managed to escape the festivities and demands her parents insisted she endure. They had, after all, spent little time with her during the great war.

“It will be nice to actually know what exists in the east?” he smiled as they mounted up to leave. “We can’t really trust those blustering Nordlanders; they make up all kinds of outlandish stories. I will expect a lengthy description of your adventures upon your return.”

“Be careful, Princess,” her mother, Empress Cathrine stated, barely holding back tears which were threatening to burst from her eyes at any moment.

Analia could see the concern and fear in their features. They had just recently discovered that she was their long lost daughter, Princess Audrey, and they had spent little time together due to the great war against her adopted homeland of Camalund.

For the first few hours of their journey over the endless water, she thought of them and the other wonderful friends she had made over the past few years. Among them was her friend and protector, Whiff, a mighty white dragon with whom she had learned to communicate through mind-speak. With Whiff’s help, she had united the dragons and mighty war birds of the Valkyri, and helped to end the war.

The other friend accompanying her on this journey of discovery was her close companion Elise. Elise was one of her Uncle Ryykon Thoragild’s squires. She had been born and raised in the wild and rugged mountains. Her family was free folk who professed no allegiance to any king or lord, which made them outlaws in the eyes of the realm. Elise was not a large girl, but short, slim, and sinewy. She kept her dark raven hair trimmed like a squire and possessed very large and sharp eyes. No one would honestly call her beautiful, but behind her stoic features she was very cute. She was also the fastest and most agile person Analia had ever met.

Elise was beyond doubt the best tracker and scout in the army and had more knowledge of the forest than even the Khelti who often boasted of their forestry skills and renown stealth. Elise used only one weapon, the dagger. She wore a belt of well-balanced daggers and knew how to effectively use them. During practice she would place a dozen daggers on an equal number of targets, whether they were stationary or moving and she could do so while running, jumping or twisting at awkward angles.

Many hours later, as soon as they passed over land, they descended in slow spiraling circles looking for movement and a small clearing in which to land. A clear stream meandered across the thickly forested landscape and a small village, of sorts, could be seen on the horizon. They spotted a perfect little clearing near the stream and glided in for a soft landing. They slowly climbed down from their saddles and walked about in an exaggerated bowlegged manner, trying to loosen their half numb legs and regain their earth-bound equilibrium. They untied the straps on their saddles and removed them from the dragon’s backs, along with their bags and few weapons.

“I’m for a short walk, a good bath, and something tasty to eat,” Analia quickly stated. “I’m so hungry I could eat a dragon.”

“Think again, Little Lady,” Whiff mind-spoke. “You may enjoy burned animal flesh, but I saw a tasty grove of blackberry vines as we were landing and I too have a powerful need to quieten my growling belly.” He mind-spoke with the other dragon to join him in his thorny repast and they stumbled off into the thick underbrush.

“Just a figure of speech,” Analia mind-spoke back. “You know I wouldn’t eat you, Whiff.”

“Disgusting,” a friendly mind-speak thought came back. “I must teach you to eat veggies, Little Lady, and forget about consuming other living creatures.”

Analia had been through the same conversation with Whiff before but she had no intention of giving up the food she had grown to love. She had been shocked at first to learn that the dragons consumed only vegetation; it went against everything she had been taught, however, she had learned a lot in the past few years and had added that to her long list of new found knowledge.

Whiff was king of the dragons in the Camalund rook. For a long time he refused to accept any potential riders who approached him, but he accepted Analia from the very beginning as a rider and companion. His head was twice that of an average horse, his skin felt like tough boiled leather, and he was pure white. The young female dragon that had chosen Elise was smaller and, unusual for dragons, white and brown. She had named her Cali, short for calico.

“I’ll get a good fire started,” Elise stated heading for the underbrush to find dead wood. “You have the honor to find something to break our fast. I’m sick of hard biscuit and dried cod.”

Analia removed her horn bow from its protective sheath and grabbed the arrow pouch. The bow was short but very powerful and was used in battle as a weapon of war. It was the perfect weapon for the dragon riders. She had practiced often with her good friend, Sean, a master bowman, as were all Khelti warriors. The Khelti were used as mercenary archers by most of the known kingdoms. Sean and her close friend, Talina, were now, Ser MacAngis and Lady Talina, with estates and titles in both Camalund and Vituria. They were now planning their wedding which would undoubtedly be massive as Talina was of Viturian royal blood and Sean was the second son of Queen Niami and King MacAngis of the Khelti.

Analia walked into the thick underbrush in the opposite direction in which Whiff and Cali had gone, their passage would likely have scared away any potential game in that direction. The air smelled clean and fresh with a hint of evergreen or pine and the dead leaves on the ground were damp from a recent shower. She followed the small stream as it twisted and turned and was soon rewarded. A large bird, which she assumed was an odd looking turkey, was drinking water and completely unaware of her quiet approach. She slowly crept nearer until she could not possibly miss, and then let loose her gray goose shaft striking the bird in the neck.

Soon, she was back in the clearing with the body of the enormous bird slung over her shoulder. She dropped it near the stream for cleaning and glanced back at Elise. “That’s one heavy bird,” Analia huffed. “Biggest turkey I’ve ever seen.”

Elise sauntered over and picked up the bird’s head. “That’s no turkey, Sis,” she stated. “That is a genuine chicken, a very big chicken, but none the less a nice fat hen.” Elise had grown accustomed to calling her Sis because Analia was also called, Audrey, and the two names confused her. Analia strongly encouraged the short, Sis, as they were sister Dragon Riders and she had no siblings of her own. Elise and she were very close. During the war, Elise had traveled hundreds of miles and endured incredible hardships to save Analia from possible death, or worse, and lost her own life as a consequence. Thanks to the magical ability of a powerful wizard, combined with Analia’s love, she had been returned to life.

“That chicken must weigh at least fifty pounds,” Analia stated. “I almost didn’t kill it but I knew we were both very hungry and we need the nourishment.”

Elise gave her a wary smile. “If chickens grow this big around here, I’m almost afraid to see what size the other animals may be. A five hundred pound hungry wolf is something we do not need to meet up with.”

While the huge bird was slowly roasting over hot coals, the two young maidens took turns washing in the cool stream. Analia was soon to reach her six and ten year and Elise thought she was about the same age. Both had a few more years to grow before they flowered into full maturity, but they were already very lovely young ladies.

Analia possessed a crown of shimmering auburn hair which gently cascaded down her back. Her eyes were an unusual light violet color, almond shaped, but large and canted upwards giving her a fairy look. Her nose was classical but short and slightly turned up at the end. Her mouth was small, but she possessed generous sensual lips. Her small breasts were yet to fully develop, but her slim torso and shapely hips indicated that she would soon evolve into a strikingly beautiful woman.

By the time the large bird was cooked, at least portions of it, Whiff and Cali returned from their blackberry foraging. The girls were quietly stuffing their faces with the delicious fowl, hot juices running down their chins and moans of delight coming between bites.

“That bird is almost as big as my buddy Primus,” Whiff mind-spoke as he curiously watched their total lack of human etiquette. Primus was the name of a great war bird near the size of Whiff, whose riders, called the Valkyri, were now friends of the dragons and dragon riders. They had joined forces during the last war through Analia’s interception. “I watched a rabbit bound from the blackberry patch,” Whiff continued. “He must have weighed almost as much as one of you ladies. Big blighter he was.”

“There are people around her too,” Elise stated. “I found a portion of a footprint on the other side of the stream while I was bathing, most likely someone from that village we spotted in the distance. The print was several days old and made by a heavy man.”

Suddenly, Whiff lifted his huge head in alarm. “Cali said she hears dogs barking,” he mind-spoke to Analia. “They’re getting closer to our position.”

“Visitors?” Elise questioned, noting the sudden alarm on Analia’s face.

“Hounds,” Analia replied, “coming this way.”

Whiff, can you fly high enough to spot them? She mind-spoke, “preferably without them seeing you.”

“I’m on it,” Whiff replied with a beat of his mighty wings.

They started taking their small camp apart while waiting for Whiff to scout the intruders. They kicked dirt over the fire to prevent smoke, repacked their bags and got the saddles ready.

Whiff’s reply came shortly. “There are half a dozen men and two hounds heading in your direction,” he told Analia. “They’re not wearing armor or helmets and appear to be looking for something or someone.”

Analia told Elise what Whiff had mind-spoke. “Probably villagers looking for someone,” Elise replied. “If they were hunting, the hounds would scare any self-respecting game away before they could get close enough for a kill.”

“Let’s walk out and meet them,” Analia suggested. “We’ll leave the dragons in hiding, they may scare the villagers away and I would like to get some information from them if possible.” She replaced her bow in its sheath and grabbed her quarterstaff. She was very deadly with the weapon, a fact that several boys older than her had learned the hard way.

They slowly walked through the brambles and low bushes until they came to a part of the forest where most of the underbrush had been cleared for cooking fires. They immediately spotted the men and hounds about two hundred yards ahead of them in a partially cleared field. They were checking piles of cut brush with long staffs then hurrying to catch up with the lumbering hounds. As they drew near, they stepped forward into the clearing so the men could see them. The hounds immediately started baying louder and the men halted in fear or uncertainty.

“We mean you no harm!” Analia shouted. “We are simple travelers.”

“Ave eu seen a young girl?” one of the men shouted back. “She is about six years wit’ long straw colored hair and wearin’ a homespun tunic?” It was clear that the men were local peasants for they resembled the family and friends among whom Analia grew up. They were poor serfs who worked the land for survival.

“No!” Analia shouted back, heading towards them. “But we will help you look for her. My sister here is a good tracker.”

Elise took off at a slow jog at a right angle from the farmers. Within minutes she had found a set of small footprints leading deeper into the thick underbrush. She signaled Analia then bent low and pushed her way deeper into the brambles.

As the men congregated near the spot where Elise had disappeared into the thick underbrush, Analia got a close look at the six of them. Four were elderly, probably five and forty years, one was in his twenties and the sixth was around ten years of age. All wore rough homespun tunics and open leather sandals. Their faces were rough from the weather, their hands deeply callused, and their hair was kept long and tied behind their necks with a piece of ribbon or strip of leather. The big ugly hounds lay down on the soft grass and pretended to sleep.

They said nothing but stared at her with curious faces. Finally the young boy spoke. “Eu be travelin’ to where?” he asked.

“We’re on an adventure,” Analia smiled. “We come from a land far to the west and we want to see how people live here.”

“There be nothin’ to the west but wild Northmen and savages,” the younger man emphatically stated glancing at her with renewed interest. “You have an odd way ta speak, sounds a bit loike Britisher, but different.”

“We call it the common language,” Analia replied. “Where I come from everyone speaks it.”

Suddenly, the bushes opened and Elise walked out with a small dirty girl in front of her. The child had scratches on her face and briars in her hair but otherwise appeared unharmed. One of the older men stepped over to her and picked her up. “Bothia, what for due you run away, child?” he asked in a soothing fatherly tone of voice.

“Sir Axel’s boy said he was gonna take me ta the castle and make me a scullery maid,” the youngster whimpered. “I don want ta go ta his nasty old castle.”

They heard a loud hailing behind them and turned to see several men approaching. “Tis the Reeve,” one of the men whispered.

As the men approached, Analia could see a look of anger and spite on the faces of the men with her. They obviously did not like the men or at least one of the men approaching. One of them, a short heavy set man carrying a white stick stood out from the others. He had an arrogant manner about him and swaggered as if he owned the land.

“The Bailiff’s man,” another of the men spat. What for is e’ doin’ ere?”

“What goes here?” the man titled Reeve asked in an authoritative manner as he ambled up to the small group. “Who are these strangers on Sir Axel’s fief?”

Elise did not like the pompous attitude of the man. “Who are you?” she spitefully replied,

The man looked taken aback for a second. “I hold the stick and I am the overseer representing Sir Axel’s demesne. What right do you have to question me, and by what right are you on Sir Axel’s property?” He held up his white stick, his apparent badge of office.

“They was just ‘elping us ta find little Bothia,” the father replied pointing at Elise. “Girl thar found ‘er real quick.”

“Still gives them no right to be on private land,” the Reeve replied. As soon as he finished, one of the hounds took off into the underbrush followed closely by the other. They had clearly smelled or heard something of interest.

The Reeve and the two men with him glanced suspiciously at the two dragon riders and headed into the brush, followed closely by the small band. As they came to the small clearing where Analia and Elise had made camp, one of the hounds came strutting back with a large chicken bone in his slobbering mouth, the other hound was digging in a bag lying next to two saddles and was finally rewarded with half a chicken breast.

The Reeve looked as if he might explode. “Poaching Sir Axel’s game are you?” he screamed. “You’ll all be punished severely for this. You know the laws against poaching.”

Analia could see the fear on the faces of the villagers. Evidently poaching carried a severe penalty in this part of the world. “We killed the bird,” she stated. “We were hungry and we are new to your land and did not know we were committing a crime. Do not blame these honest villagers.”

“Where are your mounts?” the Reeve asked, glancing at the saddles lying on the grass. He was now very suspicious as only the wealthy or those of proper nobility could afford riding horses. These girls did not look like nobility. They were dressed in strange attire and both carried illegal weapons on their saddles. One of them even wore a belt of sharp daggers around her waist.

Analia did not want to bring the dragons into play; she hoped to make contact without scaring the daylights out of the locals. Besides, this arrogant man would likely classify them as invaders or at least the advance scouts of an invading force and send runners to his liege.

“The horses are probably around here somewhere,” she casually replied. “My sis and I will look for them.” She walked over and removed her money pouch from the saddle, and dug around until she found a silver coin minted by the Nordlanders. They obviously visited this realm on long sea voyages and the locals would not be as suspicious of the coinage as they might be if she gave them a coin from Angalund.

Analia tossed the silver coin to the man they called the Reeve. “Here is enough coin to pay for the chicken.” She stated. She knew it was enough to pay for an entire flock of chickens.

The Reeve looked greedily at the coin and it was clear he knew its value. “Well, I guess we can overlook this one mistake,” he smiled, biting the coin. “Sir Axel’s bailiff will be most pleased.”

Analia knew for certain the silver coin would never be passed on to the bailiff, the greedy man would keep it for himself and brow beat the villagers into being quiet about the entire affair. She signaled Elise to follow and picked up her saddle and headed into the thick underbrush.

When they were a sufficient distance from the villagers, Analia mind-spoke to Whiff and he and Cali quickly joined them. As they secured their saddles and belongings on the backs of the dragons, Analia thought about their next move in the adventure.

“It’s obvious that we can’t ride around on the dragons and hope to explore this kingdom,” she finally stated glancing at Elise. “We don’t know the customs or laws and if that greedy man had any better sense, he would have turned us in for much more than a piece of silver.”

Elise quickly caught on to her trend of thought. “We need to make ourselves like one of them.”

“Unobtrusive is the word,” Analia smiled. “We must find a larger village with horses and buy two of them to travel on. We can make up some lame excuse for being alone, and we can purchase local clothing to blend in. We can’t be peasants and we can’t be high nobility, we must be somewhere in between.”

“Since we do not know anyone in this realm, how can we pretend to be someone of means?” Elise questioned. “We don’t even know the minor knights and lords, other than that Ser Axel, who appears to be a small landed knight.”

“We use the arts of bluff, pretense, and deception,” replied Analia. “We find someone with knowledge of those things and pay them well for the information we need, someone young and impressionable, such as an up and coming young Squire or Page. We have plenty of coin; the gold crowns my father gave us were all minted in Nordlund.”

“I’ll never pass for a Lady,” Elise shrugged. “I was raised in the wild and know very little about nobles and their manners. I learned some from your uncle, but I learned more about how to kill them. I will have to be your servant girl or whatever they’re called and let you do all the talking and scheming.”

Analia grinned. “I think we can arrange that, scullery maid.” Both laughed at the inference as they mounted their dragons to leave.

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Lady Dragon Riders - Chapter Two  (13+) The adventures of Analia and Elise continue in a far off land. #2073174 by Oldwarrior