Chapter III: Here There Be Dragons
Part II: More Questions Than Answers
By the time Dave and Penelope returned to camp, the rider, Luke Alves was well on his way to the King and a plan for the others had been formulated. Penelope and Kevin join Spencer and Emily at the fire. The rest of the troops spread out helping the villagers recover their belongings and building temporary shelters. Meanwhile, Dave joins Aaron and Morgan at the planning table.
"Derek and Emily will go with Spencer. They will follow the river to the base of the mountain and then go up the side of the mountain to the fortress," Aaron explains. "They should have good coverage from the forest for most of the journey. It's the last section I am worried about."
"What has you worried?" Dave asks.
"It's all open space for several hundred yards, they'll be extremely vulnerable."
"So, we traverse that section at night," Morgan cuts in.
"It's very rocky terrain," Aaron says as he shakes his head. "Very dangerous at night."
"You've been there?" Dave asks.
Aaron, a deep frown marring his face, looks at the older man. "A few times. Searching for Princess Erin. King Gideon surmised that she was being hidden there years ago."
Dave grunts and nods his head.
"What happened? How come you didn't rescue her?" Morgan asks.
"We could never get close enough," Aaron answers. "The last time we went there, the fortress was barren. That was many years ago. We thought she and the dragons were dead."
"If Morgan and Emily are going with Spencer, what are the rest of us to do?" Dave inquires.
"We wait for the King's soldiers to arrive, then we head to Gehenna," Aaron says succinctly.
Dave shakes his head. "I don't like it."
"I didn't imagine you would," Aaron chuckles.
"Why does Spencer have to go on this side quest? Why can't he wait here, where it is safe?"
"He believes there is a book that has a spell to reverse the dragon spell," Morgan explains.
Dave eyes the dark-skinned man then looks at Aaron. "And you believe this as well?"
"Do you?" Aaron counters.
"I believe in Spencer."
Aaron nods.
"How long should it take for us to travel near the water?" Morgan asks.
"Four to five days," Aaron answers.
"And how long until the King's men arrive?" Morgan asks.
Aaron shrugs. "I cannot say for certain."
"I'm not waiting around and doing nothing," Dave growls. "While we sit around and wait, how many other villages get burned to the ground? How many people are killed? And women stolen?"
"What do you propose we do?" Aaron replies. "Our numbers are not large enough to fight the dragons at this time."
"I'm going with Spencer to find the book."
"I need you with me," Aaron argues.
"For what?" Dave cries. "I will not fight the dragons. I cannot. Therefore, I will not be of any help to you. Let me help my nephew. Penelope and I will guide Spencer. Morgan and Emily can stay with you."
Aaron takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. He looks at the other man who has been patiently watching the exchange. "What do you think?"
Morgan shrugs. "I prefer to go with the kid as well. A group of five…"
"Six," Dave cuts in. "Don't forget the lion."
Morgan grins. "Six - is still stealthy. And we may need a few extra hands."
Aaron stares at the map on the table for several seconds. "Fine. You should leave tonight when it gets dark just in case we are being watched. Stay under the cover of the forest and do not breach the fortress until you see the King's troops approaching. Understood?"
Dave glances at Morgan. "Understood," both men say in unison.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Emily asks as she nods towards the group at the table.
Spencer squints in the direction of the planning table. "I'm not certain but Dave doesn't look happy."
"He hasn't looked happy this whole trip," Penelope chuckles.
"Not true," Spencer counters. "He looks happy when you're around. And I noticed that you were holding hands when you returned to camp."
"Mmm," Penelope hums.
"Are the two of you more than friends?" Emily presses.
Penelope smirks at her. "I'm not telling."
"Not telling what, Baby Girl," Morgan interjects as the three men join them around the fire. Morgan deliberately sits next to Penelope.
Dave glares at the younger man as he quietly takes a seat next to Emily.
"Now why would I tell you, if I just said I wasn't telling?" she huffs.
"To impress me?" he grins.
"You should be trying to impress me, not that it will do you any good," she replies. She looks at Dave and smiles brilliantly.
Dave gives her a half-smile in return before turning to his nephew. "Do you really think you can turn the dragons into humans?"
Spencer nods. "They are already human. I just have to reverse the spell that made them dragons."
"From a book that we don't know for certain exists?" Dave asks. He continues quickly. "And if it does exist, how can we be certain it's in Gehenna?"
"It has to be," Spencer insists. "Whoever is behind this needs more than one spell to do all of this and maintain control over so many people."
"Do you think this is the work of just one person?" Morgan asks.
Spencer thinks for a moment. "It could be more than one person, but I doubt it."
"The question I want an answer to is why?" Emily asks. "Why kidnap women and turn them into dragons? They are not taking gold or jewels. They are not taking land. It doesn't make any sense."
"There's only one answer," Morgan says solemnly.
The group turns to look at him.
He says one word. "Revenge."
"We will sound the horns when the soldiers arrive to let you know when to move to the fortress," Aaron tells them. "We'll do it as night falls and begin our journey towards Gehenna at that time."
"We'll do our best to be there in four days," Dave replies. The two men shake hands. "Stay safe, my friend."
"You as well," Aaron smiles grimly.
As darkness falls, the group mounts their horses and heads towards the river. Penelope rides behind Dave as Spencer rides with Emily. Kevin pads ahead of the group watching for danger and searching out the best trail to follow.
The moon sits low to the west having traveled across the sky during the day and making visibility low.
Morgan takes the lead after Kevin, followed by Emily and Spencer with Dave and Penelope bringing up the rear. Penelope's arms tighten around Dave as they enter the cover of the forest.
"You okay?" Dave asks.
"Yes," she replies quietly. "Just a little nervous."
"It's not too late if you would rather stay in the village," he tells her.
"Absolutely not! If there is to be an adventure, I want to be on it too."
Dave chuckles quietly. "You, my love, are an amazing woman."
"I know."
They follow the trail until the moon dips over the distant mountain and the forest becomes too dark to traverse. They make camp without a fire, settling in close together for warmth and safety. Penelope and Dave share a blanket. Kevin lays next to Penelope as Spencer sleeps next to Dave. Emily and Morgan finish the line of sleepers. The horses doze nearby.
The next morning, they wake early and mount up, eager to be on the trail. They eat breakfast as they ride. Eventually, the trail tapers off to the river and the open. Morgan blazes a trail through the thick underbrush keeping them close to the river but out of sight.
Halfway through the second day, a piercing screech fills the air. The group is overcome by an overwhelming amount of noise. Suddenly, the day turns to night as the sky is filled with dragons. The beating of their wings causes the trees to sway harshly back and forth.
"Where do you think they are going?" Spencer yells.
"Based on their path, not to the village," Dave answers. "They are headed further East."
"Too bad we're not closer to the fortress," Emily sighs as the level of noise decreases. "I wouldn't mind attacking when the dragons were gone."
"That definitely would be favorable," Dave replies. "Let's keep moving."
Several hours later, the dragons return. This time they do not fly directly over the group of travelers.
The group continues to ride for as much of the day as they can. In some places they veer away from the river as the brush gets too thick to ride through. Penelope leans against Dave's back and naps for short periods. Dave clasps his hand over hers whenever her arms go slack. Each night, they stop as the forest goes dark and sleep until the sun rises again.
Halfway through the fourth day, they reach the end of the forest. Morgan pulls to stop and dismounts.
"This is as far as we go with the horses," he announces.
In front of them lay a field filled with large boulders and tree stumps. The rest of the group dismount and join him.
The field leads to a rock wall about 3 meters tall, which wraps around the base of the fortress.
"How do we get through that?" Penelope asks.
"We go over it," Dave replies.
"Oh sure," she nods. "That sounds easy enough."
"It's not, but we will make it happen," he tells her. He turns to the group. "We should find some food. There may be some berries nearby. And then we should rest as much as we can."
"I'll go get water from the river," Morgan volunteers.
"Spencer and I will look for berries," Emily says. She looks at Spencer who nods in agreement.
"I'll see what I can find as well," Penelope murmurs.
The group disperses, leaving Dave to stare at the fortress.
Back at the village, Aaron and his knights continue to help the villagers repair the huts that are not totally a loss. Early in the morning of the fifth day since Dave and his group headed up the mountain, Aaron woke to the sound of pounding hooves. He rose quickly and was joined by his crew as a single rider rode into the village.
"Luke! You're back faster than I expected," Aaron calls out as the younger man pulls to a halt.
"I didn't have to travel all the way to the castle," Luke explains. "Somehow word got to the King of our travel to Gehenna."
"How many troops did he send?" Tara asks.
"All of them," Luke smiles. "Hundreds of soldiers."
"How far away are they?" Aaron inquires.
Luke points down the road. "On the other side of that ridge. Aaron, the King is here. He wants you to come to him."
"King Gideon came here?" Aaron frowns. "Why?"
Luke shakes his head. "He doesn't explain himself to me."
"Stay here and rest. I'll be back," Aaron orders. He grabs his mount, saddles him, and heads down the road.
Once over the ridge, he comes upon hundreds of soldiers resting at the sides of the road. He is briefly challenged but once recognized is allowed to pass without further question. About a mile down the road, he finds the royal guards and is led to a tent.
"Sir Hotchner."
Aaron smiles at the young squire who called his name. "Anderson! How are you?"
"I'm well, Sir. King Gideon is waiting for you over here," Anderson replies.
"Lead the way," Aaron says. He follows the younger man around a copse of trees.
King Gideon sits on a stump surrounded by the officers of his army.
"Sir Hotchner, my Lord," Anderson announces.
"Aaron!" King Gideon hails. "Come here."
Aaron crosses the short distance between them and bows. "My Lord, I'm surprised to see you here."
"My presence was requested on the battlefield," King Gideon replies with a wry smile.
"From whom, my Lord?"
King Gideon's smile fades. "It wasn't from you?"
"No, my Lord," Aaron denies. "I sent Luke to ask you for troops only. I'd never put you in any danger."
"The missive came by hawk," King Gideon explains.
"It was not from me or mine, my Lord. You should return to the castle," Aaron pleads.
King Gideon stands. "How far are we from the battlefield?"
"The actual fortress is two days travel from here, across open land."
"So, our troops will be vulnerable," King Gideon muses.
"Yes. However," Aaron begins. "We have an advantage. A small group, led by the Black Knight…"
"The Black Knight!" the officers exclaim.
"David Rossi is alive?" King Gideon asks.
"Aye, my Lord," Aaron nods. "He and his nephew, Spencer, believe that the dragons are actually human females who have been changed by magic. They believe they can reverse the spell if they find a book that explains dark magic."
"Huh," King Gideon frowns. "So, what is the plan?"
The shadows lay long across the group as they lay resting on the ground under the trees. Dave holds Penelope close, her head on his chest. Uncertain what the future would bring, he hopes that she will be part of his. He begins to doze when Kevin jumps to his feet, ears pricked forward.
"What's happening?" Emily whispers warily.
Dave sits up on alert, as do the others, and listens carefully.
"What is that noise?" Spencer asks.
"Battle horns," Dave says sternly. "Pack your gear, it's time to fight."
End Part II