Dragon’s Lair

Chapter 1

There wasn’t always dragons in the Valley, or so our Elders had told our village.

Throughout the years we heard various stories about how the dragons came to be, or who, if anyone, had control of them. Some say they were born of magic, and that Wizards or Sorcerors had control. Some felt that they had been in stasis for centuries and were hatched with the massive volcano eruptions that had happened a few generations back. Then there was a theory that scientists had been using altered animal genetics in experiments with the goal of controlling and using them as weapons. These stories were as many and varied as there were people to tell them.

All I know is that our Valley had once been lush with trees, fields, and other greenery as well as livestock freely roaming the pasture land. Now, there is very little in the way of greenery; the trees stunted and twisted due to dragons scorching the land. Our livestock and fields sparse and carefully watched so the village wouldn’t go hungry. Our people still looking nervously to the skies, or listening for the roar of the dragons for fear of being caught up as food, or becoming part of the scorched earth.

My family was one of a small number of people who were assigned to protect the village. This included sounding an alarm when the dragons were heard or sighted as well as trying to clear the fields and streets of the village. We could even be called upon to provide distraction when our villagers needed a little more time to get to safety. Patrolling the village and monitoring visitors was also a part of our job. We were considered the village Guardians, or the Guard.

The village itself took responsibility for making sure the dragons had food, usually livestock or occasional game. This was done in the hope of preventing them from razing our village to the ground even though there were still times of unexpected and unexplainable activity by the dragons.

I knew that being a Guard was dangerous, but I had grown up surrounded by my family and other members of the Guard. It just felt like a normal part of life, mine at least.

My family, the guard, and the village, still keenly felt the loss of my father Galen, who was head of the Guard, as well as the loss of four of our friends and neighbors. A village close to us, attacked our village for food instead of attempting to barter or help out the village in some way. Those men no longer need to worry about food, or anything else for that matter.

As my father had also been one of the Elders on the village Council, my mother was able to temporarily step in to the position until she, or someone else, was approved to take his place. My brothers and I were doing what ever was needed to help her out as well.

I am the youngest, and only female of the siblings. My brothers always teased me about being the “afterthought” of the family. My father and mother called me a blessing and a “gift” after having all boys first. Despite being a girl, I was trained by my father as my brothers had been before me. This included hunting, the use of various weapons, and a few of the commonly used languages of the area. I was also taught how to fight, which I was especially grateful for as I was smaller then most and hated being picked on or bullied.

My mother saw to it that I learned how to cook, sew, read, do basic housekeeping, and manage household accounts along with my brothers to ensure an education that was as well-rounded as possible for all of us.

During our time of mourning, there seemed to be a restlessness, an increase in the number of visitors coming into the village as well as villagers leaving. This influx of visitors also bringing news from other places. Some of it relevent, most of it gossip about the current state of the government, and other things in general. I was never really one to pay attention to the news unless it directly affected the village. Things like news of unrest were common. Actual unrest that resulted in fighting, not so much.

It sounded as if our village wasn’t the only place being attacked for food. There were also places being attacked for valuables, and whole families being slaughtered and left to rot. One of the stranger bits of news was of people and/or families just disappearing. No one seemed to be able to make sense of what or why this was happening although opinions were as wide and as varied as the ones about the dragons.

One evening, several people arrived from one of the neighboring villages. Included in their number was a smaller group of people who seemed vaguely different while trying to appear relaxed and congenial, as if part of the main group of visitors. They seemed to have a wary and slightly menacing air about them, one of the men even more so then the others. I began to get suspicious about their intent.

Letting a few members of the Guard know of my concern, I was determined to keep an eye on them. After following them into one of the village inns, they started asking around about my father. Once told about his death, they regrouped and began talking quietly among themselves. I bought myself a drink and trying not to look suspicious, attempted to get close, hoping to overhear some of their conversation. This accomplished nothing as conversation became general, or so quiet that I was unable to clearly hear what they were saying.

Nursing my drink, I noticed a few of them going upstairs to rooms they had rented for the night while the other part of the group headed back outside. Finishing my drink, I casually strolled to the door intending to give them a slight head start before following them again. Heading in the general direction I thought they had gone, I was unable to see them. Moving cautiously, I began looking for them in between buildings and alley ways. Nothing.

Feeling frustrated, I decided to go back to the inn where they were staying. Suddenly, as I turned to go back, the man I thought to be their leader stepped out in front of me while the others surrounded me.

“Why are you following us?” he demanded. “Why are you asking about Galen?” I countered. “You started following us before we asked any questions about him. So, again, why are you following us?” he asked impatiently. Knowing the truth was always easiest I replied, “I am part of the Guard. There’s something different about you and your people.” I heard a snort which sounded like disbelief from one of the men, but ignored it, and continued. “I needed to find out if you were a danger to the people in my village.” “We mean no harm to anyone here. We were simply planning on paying a visit to talk with an old comrade. I knew Galen several years ago.” he stated. “We were about to look for his wife, or any of his family members to give our condolences. We also need to speak with them about an important matter.” “Losing him was a great loss for our village. There will never be anyone like him.” I stated sadly. “I might be able to make arrangements for you to meet with his family,” I offered, “but with all this recent unrest, I would be unwilling to take you to them or their home without their permission.” “Understood.” He said abruptly. “I can ask them to meet with you tomorrow morning at the inn if that’s convenient.” I said politely. “Shall we say at 9 bells?” Glancing at his men, he replied, “We don’t have a lot of time to finish our business here, so that will have to do.” he stated somewhat rudely. Annoyed, but determined not to show it, I gave a brief bow of my head, said “Blessings to you,” a common saying of our village, and left.