Chapter 18

“I’ll be back in a few days,” Shavala told Zhailai, hefting her travel pack over her shoulder.

The other woman nodded. “I should be done around here tomorrow, then I’ll head to the other village—that river campsite we scouted.”

“I’ll meet you there when I can,” Shavala said. She took one last look around the camp to make sure she’d packed everything, then joined Corec, who’d been playing with Risingwind while he waited.

He stood when he saw her coming. “Will she be all right on her own?” he asked. Zhailai was already heading out to another farm, taking the staff with her.

Shavala snickered. “She’s three hundred years old, and she’s spent more time among humans than any other living druid,” she said.

“Oh, ahh, I suppose she’ll be fine then,” Corec said. “I should probably warn you, I gave Kevik and Georg your rooms. Just until we have more of the building work done. I moved your things in with Katrin and me.”

“I shouldn’t stay in the keep anyway,” Shavala said. “Now that Risingwind is larger, he’ll just make a mess.” There were some things, it seemed, that the dragon couldn’t be trained to do. Or not to do. “Is the granary still empty?”

“The granary? Yes, but we haven’t fixed it up yet. It’s in bad shape.”

“As long as the door latches, it’ll keep him from getting out while I’m sleeping.”

“Katrin was hoping you would spend some time with us,” Corec said. “So was I.”

“I will, but I can’t leave him locked up by himself all night long.”

Corec nodded. “We’ll work it out. We’ll have to scrounge up some boards to lay over the holes in the floor.”

Shavala and Zhailai’s camp outside the village of Creekbend was only a mile from the keep, and it wasn’t long before Hilltop came into view. Risingwind had been bounding along ahead of them, his wings fluttering as they caught the wind. When he saw the village, he stopped and stared, tilting his head curiously at the unfamiliar sounds and activity. Shavala had kept him away from any settlement larger than a farm.

“I’m not sure how to do this,” she admitted. “He’s never been around this many people. And if he sees a chicken or a dog...”

“Let’s try this,” Corec said. He knelt down and gathered Risingwind up in his arms, then stood. “Oof, he’s a lot heavier than the last time I picked him up.”

The little dragon squawked in annoyance, but he was accustomed to being carried, even if it had been weeks since Shavala had been able to manage it.

They took the main road up the hill, Dot following along behind. The people in the village stopped what they were doing to stare at the sight. They had to have heard rumors about the dragon already, and while some had fear in their eyes, others seemed merely curious. Corec stopped several times to reassure the settlers that they weren’t in any danger.

Risingwind struggled in his grip, twisting around and trying to look at everything at once, but Corec kept a firm hold on him.

Excited whispers followed in their wake as people got over their initial fright. More onlookers arrived, drawn by the commotion, and fathers lifted small children onto their shoulders to give them a better view.

Shavala didn’t relax until they reached the gatehouse. She hadn’t been so tense around people since her first visit to Tyrsall, but it seemed Risingwind had made it through his first real test. The settlers hadn’t demanded that he be killed for his mother’s crimes.

Inside the courtyard, they were met by Sir Kevik.

“Bloody hell, Corec,” the knight said, staring at the dragon. “You really let it hatch. I couldn’t tell if you were joking or not. Do you know how dangerous that is?” His hand was patting the side of his hip, as if seeking the reassurance of a weapon that wasn’t there.

“We’ve got it handled, Kev,” Corec said. “If it comes down to it, Shavala and I will ... take care of the matter. But so far it’s been fine.”

Shavala was careful to not think too deeply about that. Corec wasn’t part of the tree bond, but she didn’t want to pass any violent thoughts of her own to Risingwind.

“If you say so,” Kevik said. “Welcome back, Miss Shavala. It’s good to see you again.”

Shavala gave him a nod and a friendly smile in greeting.

Kevik turned back to Corec. “We may have a problem. Do you remember Eslin Hightower?”

“The baron’s son?” Corec asked, letting Risingwind down. “I know the name, but I don’t think I ever ran into him. Hightower didn’t let his kids roam around near the fortress.”

Shavala knelt to scratch the dragon’s head and make sure he didn’t dart back out into the village.

“Eslin’s the second son, and he’s not a kid anymore. He left Larso for the free lands a few years ago—to make his fortune, or so they said. There may have been more to that story, but if so, they kept it quiet.”

“All right. What about him?”

“He’s here,” Kevik said. “Along with two other lordlings. They’ve asked to speak to you.”

Corec was quiet for a moment. “Well,” he said finally, “I should have known they’d show up at some point.” He looked over at Shavala.

“I’ll be fine,” she said. “I’ll take Risingwind to see Katrin. Go do whatever you need to do.”

Corec recognized one of the visitors. He’d encountered Blaine Derival during the winters he’d spent in Four Roads, but had always avoided talking to the man. Back then, Corec had still been ashamed of how he’d been forced out of the knights. He hadn’t wanted to find out if the story had spread to the free lands.

The youngest of the group had to be Eslin Hightower. He was close to Corec’s age, with long, foppish blond hair. Both he and Blaine wore the finery of their previous station in life, though it had seen better days.

The third man was the oldest, perhaps in his forties. Unlike the other two, he was dressed like a freelander, though one who was wearing his best outfit for a visit to town.

“Gentlemen, welcome to Hilltop Village,” Corec said. His words echoed around the nearly empty great hall. The room was too large, really, for what they needed.

The three men stood to greet him. They ignored Kevik, who took a spot leaning against the wall near the entrance.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Tarwen,” the older man said. “Dorin Westport, at your service. I understand the appropriate term of address is Warden?”

“Call me whatever you like, Mr. Westport. We don’t stand on ceremony here.”

Hightower strode forward and clasped Corec’s forearm. “Eslin Hightower,” he said.

Blaine raised an eyebrow at the overly familiar gesture, remaining where he stood. “Blaine Derival,” he said with a quick nod. He didn’t appear to recognize Corec.

“A pleasure to meet you all,” Corec said. “Sir Kevik tells me you make your homes here in the free lands?”

Dorin nodded. “It’s a rough place, but it can be rewarding for those with the right ... fortitude.” He couldn’t hide the quick smirk that crossed his face when he glanced at the two younger men.

“Fortitude?” Blaine said. “Is that what you call mucking about in your fields?”

“Now, now, there’s no need to be snippy,” Dorin said. “We’re all friends here.”

“You’re a farmer, then, Mr. Westport?” Corec asked.

“I dabble,” Dorin said. “Some farming, some ranching. Mostly, I oversee things—it’s important to hire the right people to take care of all the little details.” That last bit was directed at Blaine again. “Of course, some of my workers headed down your way when they heard there was free land to be had, but I’m not worried. I’ll find replacements soon enough.”

A gentlemen farmer, it seemed. One who’d either been careful with his money or was still being supported by his family back home.

Eslin shook his head. “You’d never get me out on a farm. I prefer the city life, even if it is just Four Roads.” Four Roads was larger than the town of Hightower, but perhaps the man had spent some time in Telfort before coming east.

“What do you do, Mr. Hightower?” Corec asked.

“I’m a businessman,” he said. “I’m sure you know how it goes—always one deal or another in the works.” He didn’t notice Blaine rolling his eyes.

“Mmmhmm,” Corec said. “So, what can I do for you gentlemen?”

“It’s quite extraordinary what you’ve accomplished here,” Dorin said. “Everyone’s heard of the dragon’s keep, of course, but I hadn’t realized the extent of it. And we must have passed a dozen new settlements along the way.”

A dozen? Corec had known people were settling to the north, and his soldiers had even made contact with the nearest group, but a dozen was more than he’d expected. And that would be just the new villages along the Farm Road. What about all the surrounding area? There was no way his few armsmen could patrol the whole region.

He didn’t let his surprise show. “I can hardly take credit for it all,” he said. “A lot of people have helped us get to this point.”

“Certainly, and yet everyone knows who’s responsible,” Dorin replied. “There’s a sense of optimism that can’t be put down entirely to defeating the dragon.”

Eslin nodded. “But such a large territory will be difficult to administer. You’ll need help.” His eyes flickered to Kevik. “The right sort of help.”

Dorin shot an annoyed look at him for speaking out of turn. Or perhaps for saying too much.

“What did you have in mind?” Corec asked.

“We’re all in the same situation here,” Blaine said. “You need leaders and administrators, and that’s what we were trained for. Between the four of us, we should be able to handle anything that comes our way.”

“And I have contacts in southern Larso,” Eslin added. “Noblemen and merchants with influence in the capital. With enough support from the peerage, King Rusol might very well grant you your own duchy!”

Corec stared at him for a moment before answering. “You know why I left the kingdom,” he said. The scattered sons of Larso in exile had an unspoken rule to not ask each other why they’d left home, but Eslin had to know about Corec, even if the others didn’t.

“Ahh, well, I...” Eslin faltered for a moment before pointing to Dorin. “Westport’s family allows magic, and most of the other western lords. Why not here?”

Dorin shrugged. “Putting aside the question of support from Larso, I do believe we can offer skills your people here may be lacking. With such a rapid influx of settlers, you’ll need help imposing order.”

Eslin snorted. “Can these freelanders even understand the concept of order? The mayor and town council in Four Roads are useless—a single actual threat and they fell apart. What did they think was going to happen with no one in charge?”

Corec forced down his first impulse. “I noticed that myself,” he said, keeping his tone slow and even. “The dragon had been menacing Four Roads for months before I arrived, and yet, in all that time, no one stepped forward to deal with it.”

Blaine and Dorin looked away, realizing the trap they’d walked into.

“Exactly!” Eslin said. “But now, we can really make something of this place! Why, it wouldn’t surprise me if more of the free lands ask to fall under your protection. You’ll need barons you can trust.”

“You say you lived in Four Roads, Mr. Hightower?” Corec said. “Tell me, where were you when the dragon was attacking the surrounding villages?”

“Me? I was—what do you mean?”

Corec glanced at the other men.

“I was home,” Dorin said. “Three days north of town. I’m not sure what you’re asking. I knew about the dragon, but I’m no soldier, and I certainly don’t have the sort of money you were throwing around.”

Blaine scowled. “What do you expect us to say?” he asked. “We could hardly have gone hunting the damned thing ourselves.”

“No, of course not,” Corec said. “That would have been foolhardy. But did you offer your services to the people who were taking care of the refugees? That so-called useless mayor and town council, who were doing everything they could to keep a bad situation from getting worse? Did you write to your families, asking them to petition the king for help?”

Eslin finally seemed to realize what was going on. “I don’t see how any of that is our responsibility, but I would have been happy to fight by your side. I spent years training with a blade, and I intended to volunteer as soon as Larso sent an expedition. Unfortunately, by the time I learned about your efforts, you’d already set out.”

What good did the man think a dueling sword would do against a dragon? And Corec had spent two weeks recruiting and training his group before they’d left Four Roads. Everyone in town had known.

“I see,” Corec said. “Well, I certainly appreciate your offer of help, but I don’t believe I have any fitting work for the three of you at the moment. I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing, but I’ll be sure to keep you in mind for the future. Who can say what will happen? Have a good day, gentlemen.”