DRAGON BAIT

Abstract

They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. However, through sheer will and determination, even from the pits of hell true greatness will rise.

Chapter I

Good Intentions

There weren't always dragons in the Valley, that wasn’t until after the cattle came. The people of Loham were shepherds, hunters, fishermen, and some who raised fowl. They grew barley, oats, corn, and wheat…enough that no one was starving, but everyone could dream of more. The colder seasons were often harsh, but the stores of food were usually enough. However, after one such harsh season, Garshin felt that more was needed.

In the Valley of Loham, Garshin was much respected as he was one of the original settlers of Loham. Though now a bit old and gnarled, he was broad and solid as stone. Among the other settlers, Garshin quickly became someone the others looked up to. Not only was he a hard worker and a skilled craftsman, though not much of a talker, Garshin did not hesitate to aid others when called upon. As the seasons passed the Valley of Loham matured and the town began to grow. First, there was the market where the farmers traded their goods, then the Mead house where the men often gathered to drink and tell over embellished stories of heroism, then the Smithy where the scarce metals found were forged into much-needed tools, and finally the town hall where groups of settlers would meet to talk about their common problems or use it to celebrate special occasions.

One day Garshin and his son Edjer went into town to trade a portion of their wares for other supplies they needed. Edjer was a head taller than his father, though not as broad in girth. He was lean and chiseled, an angular image of Garshin. After finishing at the market, the two decided to stop at the Mead house for a bit before heading home. It was here that Garshin overheard a traveler spinning yawns about the many places he visited. It was one part of the story that caught their attention, something that both he and Edjer had heard before. Talk of a beast that could provide more food than any four sheep. How rich and succulent the meat was, how easy it was to store, and how some of the inner parts of this beast were so tender it would melt in your mouth and keep you longing for more. This made Garshin more determined than ever, to find this beast and bring it home to the Valley of Loham.

After sharing mead with this traveler, named Jendar, Garshin learned that his new companion had seen these beasts before the last cold season. Upon hearing mention of the cold season Garshin cringed. He thought “The last cold season! Many lost nearly half of their stores because they did not listen to me. I told them that the homesteads with older silos needed to take heed to fortify or rebuild them entirely. While heavily covering them with sap can help to waterproof them for a time, the heat and the cold would eventually cause them to weaken. My own began cracking three seasons ago, luckily, I rebuilt them before this last brutal cold.”

Jendar went on to tell Garshin that these beasts could be found a little more than a fortnight ride due West by horseback, or at least half as much more on foot. There was a large village called Hingson, that sat close to the shore of a huge saltwater inlet from the Mastian Sea. A myriad of large ships docked there, baring banners from many different nations. The more Jendar spoke, the more both Garshin and Edjer became mesmerized. Though Garshin had traveled from deep beyond the foreboding mountains in the East, it was a harsh and desolate place that forced them to seek land more welcoming. It was during that journey Garshin met Illysia, Edjer’s mother, but this was all many seasons ago…now a distant memory.

There was something about Jendar that made his stories come to life. It wasn’t just that his swarthy skin and deep melodic voice made him different than anyone Garshin ever met before. No, it was the light in his eyes that unveiled a deeper, quiet, strength…the kind of strength gained through experience, wisdom, and sheer determination. From the rumble of Jendar’s words, he and Edjer could see the many colorful ships, vast like large floating homes upon the stormy sea. The call of the hungry sea birds hovering above a bustling marketplace full of vendors selling their trinkets and wares. Even something as simple as the smell of thick salty air, rich with moister, laying heavily upon the skin all added richness and color to what they were hearing. With words alone, both foreign and familiar, Jendar painted a picture for them that defied anything they had ever seen before.

After a couple skins of mead and much conversation, the sun was waning over the mountains at the edge of the Valley. During this time Garshin made known his desire to bring enough of those beasts, Jendar called Cattle, back to Loham to bolster their food supplies. While it would take a few seasons or more to breed enough of them to make a difference, like a father, Garshin was always concerned about the wellbeing of the town he had helped to build. Jendar understood this, after all, Garshin would be forever known as one of Lohan’s founding fathers. Jendar, respecting the sincerity of Garshin’s quest, accepted the offer to set up camp at his farm to help them prepare for their pending journey.

Jendar pondered the prospect of becoming involved in yet another quest. After all, when he was about Edjer’s age, he had survived a viscious war against the Talimok, watching both friend and foe alike die from ruthless battle. He had since travelled to many shores, fighting both man and beast, searching for…he did not know what. He only knew he was weary and wanted no more of it, just a chance to be at peace and perhaps do some good. Maybe, the notion of helping these people out could explain the nervous energy in the pit of his stomach and the pounding in his chess when he heard and understood Garshin’s subtle call for action. Perhaps this is what Jendar had been looking for all along, a place he could contribute and become a part of, a place he could settle down in during his waning years, a place he could call home.

By the end of the second day of banter between Garshin and Jendar, a plan began to take form. It became clear to Garshin that there was much he did not know about other cultures. When Jendar began outlining the things the people of Hingson would value most, Garshin felt at a loss. He began to fear they would not have enough for trade, but Jendar assured him that there was much Garshin owned that would be more than enough.

Jendar explained: “When trading, having good quality merchandise helps but it is far more important to know how to trade. The value of a thing is determined by the perception of the fellow eyeballing your wares, and the amount he is willing to pay is based on need or desire braced against availability. The more a fellow thinks he needs or desires a thing the more he will be willing to pay, but imagine this thing is rare or difficult to find…how much more do you think he would be willing to pay?” Garshin understood what Jenar was saying but believed his goods were too common to earn more than his idea of a fair market price.

“In addition to your woolens, skins, and dry goods, I noticed a few interesting bobbles you have on the mantle in your great room.” Jendar continued. “Can you get any more of the colored stones you have for decorations, especially the white ones?”

At first puzzled, Garshin responded: “What? Oh, oh that.” Pausing for a moment, as if in deep thought, Garshin finally let the words form painfully in his mouth. “Those…my wife Illysia use to collect those whenever she would accompany me going fishing on the river. She didn’t like fishing, mind you, but she loved the sound of the stream rushing by and the smell of the water thrashing the earth.” Garshin’s eyes glittered as if mesmerized…remembering some hidden treasure as he continued: “She would find the darndest things along that river, it was like…like she could find the beauty in everything. Alas, she took deathly ill when Edjer was only five seasons old. Poor buck was never quite the same after that. Without...without his mother.” Jendar immediately felt the deep hole in Garshin’s heart, but before he could say anything, Garshin blurted out: “What is that boy doing?”

Garshin and Jendar had just finished their tour of the fields and were now approaching the main house when they could see three riders racing towards them but still a long way off. While Garshin could spot Edjer, even if he was a speck of dust in the distance, it wasn’t until they got closer that he recognized Edjer’s two companions, Wollard and Cetan, Edjer’s closest friends since childhood. When the boys finally pulled up, beaming with excitement. Edjer said: “Da, I’ve been listening to you and Mr. Jendar talk for the past couple of days now and I know what you two haven’t mentioned yet.” Seeing he now had both of their attention he continued. “We are going to need a couple of extra sets of hands, especially for the trip back home.”

“Is that so” Garshin challenged “and I suppose you two boys are the solution?”

Both Wollard and Cetan spoke in unison: “Yes Sir!”

“Well, I’m not so sure” Garshin responded. “It might be better if you two stayed around here and looked after this place while we’re gone. After all it might take as much as three fortnights or more before we return.”

Cetan spoke up this time: “Mr. Garshin, both Wollard and I already spoke with our Das about this. Hearing what you were planning, they both thought it would be a good idea for us to come along and they would gladly look after your place. They both agree that all of Lohan might be in shambles by now if it hadn’t been for your help and guidance over the years.”

Garshin started to speak, then paused for a moment and looked over at Jendar. Taking his cue, Jendar looked over at the boys, hard, as if taking each of their measure. Finally, in his deep baritone voice, said: “You boys know that Mr. Garshin and I won’t be able to take responsibility for either of you once we’re out on that trail…are you sure you two can handle yourselves?”

It was Wollard who spoke up this time: “Yes Sir, Cetan over here can hit a sparrow out of a tree with a bow and arrow from a hundred paces and I can pretty much do the same with my sling.”

Cetan added: “Sir, all three of us have been hunting around here our whole lives and we know these woods, as much as three or four days out, like the back of our hands.”

Before Edjer could jump into the conversation Jendar held up his hand, cutting off any more comments. Staring intently into each of their eyes, he slowly formed the words. Do you boys promise to do exactly whatever Mr. Garshin and I tell you to do?”

Each of them replied in turn: “Yes Sir!”

Jendar then looks over to Garshin, who also looked at the boys carefully. To the boys, the silence was deafening, but Garshin finally spoke: “I guess that’s it then, you boys are coming along.” Which was immediately greeted with the boys shouting in celebration, as if they had just won some great contest. For once, they get to go on a real journey, far beyond the Loham Valley.

Yet, once again, Jendar’s booming voice cut them off when he said: “Before you boys get too happy, I have an important chore for you. Edjer!”

“Yes Sir?” Edjer replied.

“You know that decoration on the mantle in the main room, the one with all those pretty color stones?” Jendar asked.

“Yes Sir…my Ma’s…” It was as if the rest of his words choked off in his mouth.

Jendar continued: “Well don’t worry, we won't mess with those, but do you know where your Da’s favorite fishing hole is?”

“Yes Sir, Mr. Jendar.”

“Your Da and I are going to need you to take these fellows with you and go find as many of those stones as you can carry, the more the better. Especially the white ones, make sure to get as many of those as you can. Also, if any of you great hunters happen upon some meat and pelts along the way, that would be fine too…not too much meat mind you, because we won’t have enough time to cure it properly, that will be our rations for the first few days or so. Just make sure the stones are your priority, especially the white ones.”

“Yes Sir!” Edjer answered, then looked over at his Da who gave him a slight nod. With that, Edjer shouted to his companions, “let’s go” and took off on his horse as if challenging his friends to keep up with him.

It was then that Garshin and Jendar looked at each other with a knowing smile, the dream is now made real. Turning back towards the house, Garshin said: “I think it’s time for a drink, I have a few of those skins of mead back at the house.”

Jendar chuckled and said: “Me too, stowed with the rest of my gear.”

“Good!” Garshin retorted. “Maybe now you can tell me a little more about them white stones you're so interested in...that and another one of those fairy tales about the Ravagers that eat people, or, about those monster birds that can breathe fire and burn down villages.” With that, they both chuckled, though with Jendar it was more of a reflex. Still, deep down, they both knew that this would be the last quest either one of them will partake in. The boys just made it real, and it is up to them to pass the torch.