The Last Usher of Hazelthorn

“There weren’t always dragons in the Valley,” the barman said. “Years ago, the way through the Valley was the safest way to Ravenwall. But it hasn’t been that way for years, and the Valley is a dangerous place. Don’t know why you bothered to come here, everyone knows the Valley is closed to travelers. You’d be better off taking Basmack Way or Seaside Pass.”

“The tolls were just raised on both those trade roads,” the merchant stated. “Unless things have changed, the roads through the valley don’t have any tolls. If I can’t make a profit, there is no point in even taking this cargo to Ravenwall. I might as well send these guards away now.”

“There are no tolls because no one here dares sit in the Valley and wait for death,” the barman said. “We avoid the Valley at all costs, because we value our lives.”

“It can’t be that dangerous,” the first guard stated. “Even the roads through Scorched Basin have trade roads, and the undead are everywhere. The last time I traveled through there with a caravan I fought off skeletons and ghouls at least three times a day.”

“And dragons can be reasoned with,” the second guard said. “I worked for a lord in Dogscar who had a dragon living on his land. As long as the dragon got his measure of gold and jewels each year, he didn’t bother the kingdom. Surely we can strike some sort of bargain with these dragons.”

A chuckle sounded from down the bar, and the group turned. A woman dressed in leather resumed drinking. “Sorry, I just couldn’t hold it back anymore,” she said to them.

“What was so funny about what I said?” the second guard asked.

“We should just post a sign to answer all these questions, Timmerman.”

“It wouldn’t matter Marguerite, no one ever believes us. At least this way I get to make a little profit.”

“Why is what Pidcock said so amusing?” the first guard asked.

“All of you foreigners think the same things, and it’s just amusing to me. I’m sure that taking a different road will cut into the obscene profits you think, but just pay the tolls. It’s better to be less rich than dead.”

“These aren’t dragons like you’ve dealt with before,” another patron of the tavern slurred. “Those dragons are ancient, majestic, and have rules. These monsters don’t work the same way. They don’t want gold, just blood.”

“Dragons that don’t take treasure? There is no way these creatures are dragons.”

“Oh they are dragons,” Marguerite replied. “Timmerman, another pint for myself and for these misguided men. Give them the good stuff you had me try last week. They shouldn’t leave our town without enjoying your house ale.”

“I’m starting to believe this whole dangerous Valley is a myth,” the merchant stated as the new steins were placed in front of his crew. “Have any of you actually seen these dragons?”

“We all have,” the drunk patron said loudly. “During the day, you can spot them roaming around the Valley. Not every day, but often enough. If you choose to go out there alone, we might get to watch them tear you apart.”

“They look a little different than the dragons up north, but they are still dragons,” Timmerman said. “They belch fire from their maws, they have scales that no normal weapon can penetrate, they have claws that can shred through chainmail, they can fly through the air.”

“Can all of you stop talking in pieces and just tell us what's going on?” the merchant asked. “All this mystery just makes me think you are trying to keep us away from some great secret that you refuse to share with outsiders.”

“It started about twenty three years ago,” Marguerite said. “Like Jayson said, the Valley was safe before that. It was never hospitable, but it was only the environment you had to watch out for. As long as everyone had enough water and a way to shelter during the peak of the day, it was just a long trudge through a desert wilderness. A few predators lived there and sometimes had to be dealt with, but nothing the average caravan guard couldn’t deal with. With all that experience with ghouls, you would have been fine.

“When we first heard the rumors of the dragons, no one believed it. This city has been here since the Founding, and we would know if a dragon decided to move its lair here. The Valley has plenty of large caverns that a dragon might want to use, but no dragon had ever made itself known. Just like you, we knew the decrees that dragons seem to always follow. We just kept sending people through the Valley to Ravenwall. When we finally got word from Ravenwall that no caravan had come from us in weeks, we started to take the rumors seriously."

"Only one man came back from the first party we sent out there," the drunk said. "He never spoke of what happened, and killed himself a few weeks later. The second group had a couple more survivors, who told everyone about the dragons. The details were scattered and hard to piece together, but we learned enough that we thought we knew what to expect. The next party was armed to slay the monsters. No one returned from that one, except a few dragons angry we attacked them. We managed to kill one, which has only made them hate us more."

“This has to be the most elaborate ploy to get us to fork over more money for an escort,” the merchant said. “There is no way these beasts are that dangerous.”

“Did you look at the city before coming into my tavern?” Timmerman asked. “We used to be a thriving metropolis, bursting with people wanting to live here. We barely exist now, and in a few years the rest of us will probably leave.”

“Why would you stay here if the dragons are so dangerous?” Pidcock asked.

“I invested everything in this place,” the barman replied. “I planned on retiring here once I got too old to run the tavern. Before the dragons, this place was always full. I can’t sell it to anyone, and I can’t afford to start over somewhere else yet. When I do leave, I’ll be penniless.”

“Some of us don’t have anywhere else to go,” the drunk said. “No family, no friends, no horse to get us there.”

“Are you telling me that all those rumors about people making it safely through the Valley were lies?”

“No, there are a few people here who are dumb enough to spend time learning about the dragons and the Valley,” the woman said. “They are known as Ushers, and for a fee one of them can attempt to escort you across the Valley to Ravenwall. It’s a bit cheaper than the tolls, but it’s also deadly. It’s been a few years since a group made it to the Ravenwall without losing anyone.”

“Okay then, where is an Usher we can hire to escort us?”

“Don’t take an Usher, just go a different way, pay the tolls and stay alive.”

“No, we’re taking the path through the Valley. There has to be someone here.”

The woman looked at the barman, who shrugged.

“Hill chose to stay in Ravenwall after his last one, if he made it there alive,” Timmerman responded to her. “Callthrop retired after one leg went lame on his last trip back. Claark is visiting family in Pretha, and she won’t be back for weeks if at all. Bedell is on death watch. There aren’t any others left”

“So you really don’t have any Users?” the merchant asked.

“We have one left,” the barman said, pointing at the woman.

“You are an Usher?” the first guard asked, incredulous.

“Why is that so hard to believe?”

“Because you keep telling us that we shouldn’t do this, even though we have said we’re willing to pay.”

“You aren’t listening to us when we say that this is dangerous. I lost four travelers from the last group. It’s been months since I’ve managed to take a group through the Valley without losing anyone. Regardless of my profession as an Usher, you should just take the loss and go the other route. You’ll still be alive long enough to make money on another trip.”

“How much is your fee?”

“You seriously aren’t going to listen when I say to leave and take a different road, are you?”

“No, this is the only option, and we are on a timetable. The time it would take to go a different way would destroy any profit this trip might generate.”

Marguerite didn’t answer, just took another drink.

“How did you get into this anyway?” the second guard asked.

“Both my parents were killed the first time the dragons attacked the city,” she said softly. “I was only five, but I’ll never forget it. They managed to hide me, but I saw the dragon slaughter them right in front of me. I made sure to stay hidden, too scared to come out in case the dragon was still there. I wasn’t found until a week after the attack. I didn’t speak for nearly a year after that. When I finally did speak, I asked a local warrior to train me so I could destroy them all. Each time I take someone out there, I kill a dragon. Eventually, I’ll kill them all and know that my parents' death has been avenged. Maybe then the nightmares will stop.”

The visitors stared at her in awe and with a bit of fear. A hardened woman like this might be perfect to take them, but it sounded like she was close to losing her mind in her quest.

The drunk suddenly started laughing behind them. “I’m sorry Marguerite” he said between laughs. “I tried to keep quiet but the look on their faces was too good.”

“You lasted long enough, and I think that story might be losing its touch. I’ll have to think of another one for the next lot,” Marguerite said brightly. “Jayson, Lynn’s next drink is on me.” She placed several coins on the counter and stood up. “Last chance to stay alive gentlemen.”

“So that story wasn’t true?” the first guard asked.

“Of course it wasn’t. No person would actually be sane enough to stay here after something like that.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

“It doesn’t matter why I’m doing this, nor will I tell you. Just because I don’t have some tragic soul-crushing reason doesn’t mean I’m not good at this. Not only am I probably the best guide, but I’m also your only option. Do you want me to take you through the Valley or not?”

“Yes, we do.”

She handed the merchant a slip of paper. “Be at the east gate tomorrow before sunrise with everything on the list. My fee is ten scales, to be paid in full before we leave. No half up front or any other payment plans. If you try anything else, then you’ll have to get there on your own.”

She walked out the door before they could object.

“Is she really that good?” the second guard asked.

“Marguerite is the best,” the barman said. “She has the lowest mortality rate out of any of the Ushers. If I was dumb enough to travel through the Valley, I’d pick her.”

“What is the real story of why she does this?”

The Timmerman shrugged. “No idea, but I wouldn’t tell you if I did. It shouldn’t matter why she does it, just know you’ll be in the best hands possible.”

The merchant finished reading the list. “We have some things to do if we’re going to be rested and ready before sunrise.”

“One is never ready for death,” Lynn said loudly.

“If death by these dragons is the worst outcome, we’ll be fine,” the first guard said. “We’ve both fought monsters before.”

“You think death is the worst thing?” the barman asked. “If those dragons get too close, you’d be better off falling on your sword than letting them get you. A quick death is the best option when it comes to the dragons. There are things far worse than death they will inflict on you. There is a chapel a few streets north of here. It’s rundown but still standing. I would make peace with whichever god you serve before tomorrow.”