Dragon Skin (2 page)

My stomach clenched as the king took the sword from me. He held it out, testing its balance. The highly polished silver metal gleaming in the Hall’s candle light. Twinkling and shinning like nothing this land had ever seen. The long fuller grove in the middle showed precision and high craftsmanship. The bronze guard and leather wrapped hilt spoke of it functionality. No work of art, this was a killing tool. A dragon killing tool.

“For two years sire I searched the Davorian dessert for star stones. Tromping through that vast wasteland looking for the special iron rocks. Stones that fall from the sky in a fiery blaze and lay on the desert floor until they are found. A Davorian master taught me how to work the …. “

“Impossible,” the wizard Morrell said. “The Davorians never share their secrets, especially when it comes to working their iron.”

Careful Stephan I said to myself as a look of doubt passed over the wizards face. If any part of the story is not believed the whole will fall apart.

“I lived with them sir. Became one of them,” I said, shooting Brianna a look. “Test the blade Sir wizard; I am sure you have the means.”

Morrell called a young boy over then sent him to his lair. The king continued to handle the sword, his eyes squinting in ecstasy. “The balance is excellent, the best I have ever held.” 

The young boy returned and handed the wizard a smile vile of clear liquid and a small black stone.

“Load Stone,” The wizard said holding the item against the sword blade. The small stone refused to stick to the metal like it would a normal Iron weapon. The King smiled. I smiled. There was nothing to fear here. The blade truly was Davorian Steel.

Frowning in confusion the Wizard poured a small portion of clear liquid over the silver blade then quickly stood back as if he expected it to explode like a wet log in a hot fire. His brow creased in confusion. The liquid trickled down the blade then fell to the wooden table where a small puff of smoke erupted sending a strong sickly aroma of rotten eggs and dirty linen into the air.

“No,” Sir Roland said “This boy cannot possess Davorian steel.”

“Here, test it yourself,” The king said handing him the sword.

Roland took it gingerly as if expecting a trick. His eyes narrowed as he measured it with his hand, evaluating the workmanship. Standing back he swung a quick figure eight but the blade caused not a ripple in the air. Swishing and swirling her made several parries and thrusts. Each one faster than the one before.

I noticed several of the king’s arms men looking longingly at the weapon. My palms began to sweat as I watched my arch enemy manipulate the blade. To see him touch something I loved sent chills down my spine. Finally, raising an eyebrow in slight doubt he shrugged his shoulders before having a young squire return my weapon to me.

I sighed in relief as I slid it into its scabbard. If both the wizard and Roland accepted it as Davorian, none would question.

“Wait,” Morrell said. “Even Davorian Steel can’t pierce a Dragon’s hide.”

“True grand wizard, very true. But before I could kill the dragon I first had to find one. It took a lot to leave the Davorian village and the people there. They had treated me well, made me one of their sons. Some urged me to stay, begged in fact but I had a mission. Something bigger than me.

For two more years I searched. Following reports and rumors of reports. A dragon had been sighted in the Eastland’s. I would travel there only to find the beast had departed, or more likely, never existed. Another was said to be in the swamps of Ostern. Again, no luck.”

“It was a rough life Your Majesty. Especially after the comforts of that Davorian village,” I said and almost smiled to myself when I caught the look of concern on Brianna’s face. Was she jealous? Nothing would be better than to learn she was jealous and had pined for me a little.

“I lived on the road. Alone, with nothing but my horse and my sword. Each day I rode. Each night I practiced. Every person I met along the way I queried for news of Dragons. My life revolved around my quests. Finally, an old farmer told me about a traveler reporting tales of a Dragon.

“Where?” the king asked as he leaned forward. I had him; if he accepts my story I had him. My heart raced. So close after so long. Don’t fail Stephan, there is too much on the line.

“The farmer told me that a young dragon had been sighted in the Maitlen Mountains. He said that the beast had been terrorizing the locals for over a year. Taking both people and livestock. The mountains echoed with the screams of over twenty people taken back to its lair and devoured.”

Now, for the first time I looked at Brianna, her eyes big in shock, she hung on my every word. They all hung on my every word.

She was as beautiful as ever I thought, letting them wait a moment. Her soft skin glowed. Her eyes sparkled and her luscious hair fell, framing a feminine face of pure love and joy. My heart skipped as I became lost in her stare.

“Then what,” the wizard demanded.

I smiled back to him. You old prick, I thought. Thank you.

“It took me months to reach the foot of the Mountains and another week to climb to the top. As you know the Maitlen Mountains are the highest of all the kingdoms. I climbed and climbed. Hand over fist up narrow trails and across snow bound passes. I climbed so high that I could look down on the tops of clouds. The air grew thin and the smells of the forest disappeared with the trees until only rock remained.”

Here I paused to let the scene set in and looked off into the distance as if remembering those high peaks.

“Once there,” I continued. “I began my search. For two more weeks I looked into every cave. Each hollow and possible hiding place. Nothing worth eating lives at those heights. I became sore and dizzy. Then I became hungry, tired and ready to give up. Sure that once again the rumors had been lies.

After relentless searches, with no food, I decided enough was enough. I would climb down the mountain the next day.

I was awoken the very next morning by the distant cry of an animal. An animal so large that its roar sounded like a waterfall. The sound sent my bones to shivering and my mouth became dryer than the Davorian dessert. I wanted to find a hole and crawl into it and pray the beast didn’t find me.”

“Finally, gathering my nerve I searched the skies and saw the Dragon. His wings drumming a steady beat as he returned home, a yearling cow clasped in his claws.”

Every person in the room was holding their breath. Even Roland was no longer pretending disdain.

“The monster was huge yet he flew through air like a starling. The cow twisted to get free but Dragon's claws squeezed tightly. The cow was well and truly trapped. Then the Dragon tilted his head back and gave another roar of prideful delight. The sound sent a shiver into my soul. Gathering my things I started to follow the beast. Fighting to keep him in sight.”

“I didn’t know if I could keep up. He might dip behind a mountain top and I would never see him again. Instead he landed on a hanging crag overlooking a rocky valley. With three quick chomps he finished his meal.  Scrambling up the shale I tried to keep quiet but the rocks kept slipping from under me. Tumbling down the hill, clicking and clacking all the way. 

"The huge beast heard me, ruining any chance I might have at surprise. He roared and jumped off his perch to swoop down on me. I brought out my shield, expecting to be roasted. I waited for his fiery breath but nothing happened.

Instead the giant winged lizard landed before me on the steep slope.  His mighty weight causing the shale and loose rocks to slide from underneath him. He flapped his wings to regain his balance then tilted his head from side to side, his fangs dripping with saliva. Looking like a dog trying to figure out which hidden hand held the treat.”

Brianna gasped and several people held their hands to their mouth in fear.

“Obviously being full from his last meal he didn’t know what to do with me. I saw my opportunity and rushed him, screaming at the top of my lungs for reasons still unknown to me. At first he didn’t do anything. Surprised I think by the fact that a mere human thought he could attack a mighty dragon.”

“Seeing that I was serious he drew back his long neck and let loose a blast of fire. I’d expected this, I’d planned for this. Using my shield I crouched behind it, waiting for him to exhaust himself, letting the fire flow around me. Unfortunately, no one ever tells you how long a dragon’s fire lasts. I’d thought second but still he bellowed. The shield grew hot and I feared I’d lose my grip and expose myself to a fiery death.”

“The shield grew so hot that the heat passed through to my arm.” I said as I stopped and rolled back my sleeve, exposing my left forearm. The nasty scar crawled from wrist to elbow, red and wrinkled white skin testifying to the heat of the blast.

People shuffled to get a better look. I twisted so that everyone could see and watched Brianna’s eyes narrow with concern and obvious pain. It helped my heart to know she still cared.

“Eventually,” I continued. “The fire stopped and he began to draw in a huge breath to reload. I realized this might be my only chance. Knowing that even Davorian Steel couldn’t breach his armor, I rushed the monster and thrust my sword up into his mouth, between his teeth and directly into his brain. It was like pushing into a stone. My arm shook with the force. I know that I struck true but still the beast wouldn’t die. He roared and scraped at me with his mighty claws.”

Here I paused and lifted my shirt showing them the three ugly scars across my belly. The jagged red lines could be nothing except a dragon’s caress.

The king studied my wounds and looked me in the eye, begging me to continue. Everyone was beseeching me to continue.

“His wing knocked me down, pulling the sword from my grip. It hung there, the tip buried in the roof of his giant mouth. He twisted and turned trying to free it but lost his footing and began to slide, then tumble, rolling down the hill. Every turn brought the hilt of the sword hard into contact with the ground. I expected the weapon to shatter and the beast to return to devour me, but it held. The Davorians had taught me well.”

“At last the giant monster came to rest at the bottom of the rocky slope. Unmoving, Dead. The sword had done its job. I can tell you that no one was more surprised than I to have survived.”

“The next difficulty was removing his skin. Even dead, some of its magic remained and I could not cut through its armor. I had to cut from the inside. Working down his long throat I removed the skin I show you now.”

The room was silent, no one breathed, no one moved.  Each person was up on that mountain imagining what they would have done.

The king’s eyes darted between myself and the giant skin on the floor. This was the moment. If he believed me I was rich. If he didn’t I was dead.

Smiling he nodded his head and said, “I believe you.”

The room erupted in cheers.  Sir Roland looked like he’d swallowed an ale mug. His face scrunched up in pain with nothing to do but accept the verdict. Brianna looked at me like a young woman should look at a man. Her eyes focused in admiration and pure love.

“Name you price son. What will you take for your trophy? I would have it adorn my hall.”

I looked at the king, then at Roland. Smiling I said “Only two things Sire, Kendall’s Keep and Lady Brianna’s hand in marriage.”

The crowd yelled in surprise and the king looked down at me like he wanted to stomp me into a corner and leave me there. It was too much, his expression said.

“Here me your majesty. Think about how good an offer I bring you. One, you get a Dragon Slayer as a liege man. Not many kings in our history have had a Dragon slayer bend a knee and swear an oath of loyalty. Two it places a Dragon Slayer in an empty keep on your border. Your neighbors to the west will think twice before they encroach. Three, it places Lady Brianna in another house. No longer will you have to suffer her barbed tongue and biting wit.”

Any one of the arguments might have been enough but I think it was the last that did it. Brianna had frozen at the mention of her name. I had not discussed this with her. Was I overstepping my boundaries? Did she still want me? The gossip said she was betrothed to Roland, had she decided to forget me and accept that low frog of a man.

“What of it Bri?” The king asked.

“What, No,” Roland yelled jumping up as his hand went to his sword. I swear if looks could kill I would have died two lifetimes ago.

“Sit down!” the king bellowed. People forgot how forceful he could be when he wanted to be. “Well Bri, do you want this man?”

She paused a moment, her face white. Her eyes boring into me trying to understand. “Yes,
your Majesty, of course I will take him for a husband,” she said. My heart began to beat again.

.o0o.

Stephan

Brianna and I rested our horses as we looked out over The Kendall Valley. Tonight would be our wedding night. I’d refused to share her bed while under her uncle’s roof. We would wait until we reached our new home.

A distant gray stone castle nestled in the foothills protecting the only path to the mountain passes. Our new home. Two villages rested on the valley floor separated by checkerboard green and brown farms. It looked peaceful and productive. My heart swelled with pride, it was all ours. Quite a long way from a Smith’s forge.