Little Black Book Challange

A Dragons Debt

By. Angel Smith

There was a legend that ran through these lands. The legend said that if a warrior, mighty in soul and compassionate at heart fought for the knowledge of the universe, and bested the Beast, he would break the chains of bondage that had been placed on humans from the monster that lived in the mountain tops. The Dragon. Rumored to control the mountains where the trees ended-.

Catherpee closed his book suddenly, small and black, it was bound by Moleskine. A gift his father had given him when he was a child, now it was full of articles and inscriptions of how to make money fast. Catherpee, a brutish man round around the gut, but unnoticed by the massive shoulders at his disposal, he was huge. He had 9 medals for outstanding service in the king's army, however one lapse in judgment turned him into a fast cash artist.

He was entering the city, the city rumored to be in bondage by a monstrous beast. He removed himself from the carriage and stood on the street, bewildered.

“This is insane,” He muttered, “how is this happening?”

The city was thriving, there was not a morsel of bondage or misery. People were yelling on the streets, the vendors were cooking, sewing, or haggling.

“What is this?” Catherpee launched himself at the first town's person he saw, grabbing a boy of maybe 17 or 18 by the scruff of his shirt he pulled him close “do you not fear the dragon? Who is said to hold you under bondage?” The boy, breaking himself free “Get off me old man! Don’t talk about stupid stuff the beast is old and weak, he can’t do anything. Besides we all want him dead, he’s no threat.” As the boy spoke his chest rose, you could see he was proud of what he was saying. Why? A person could never know, it’s not like the boy caused old age to attack the dragon.

Catherpee adjusted himself, “Sorry, I was in shock. If you townspeople want the dragon dead so bad why haven’t you done it already?” The boy was still standing tall when Catherpee started his question but by the end, the light behind his eyes began to dim. “They tried…” the boy said somberly, “the dragon is old, and he is weak, but he’s still too strong to kill. No one has been able to figure out how to do it. But there is an award going on right now. That’s why the town is so busy! We want to get rid of the claw of the beast entirely! Whoever can slay the beast will receive an award of $2000.” the boy was examining Catherpee, he was sizing him up, calculating the odds.

“$2000, isn’t a lot considering the beast is presumably unbeatable.” Catherpee inquired.

“Yes,” said the boy, “but, it’s not only $2000, but it is also a title as dragon slayer, and it’s rumored that there is a pile of riches up there. Riches that will never have to be taxed by the king as they would technically be a tip of sorts.”

Catherpee started to frown. How many people had already fought this beast? For how long? There were so many questions he wanted to ask but he held his tongue. “What’s your name boy?” he said at last

“It’s June.”

“Okay June, can you take me to whoever is in charge? I would like to go to this dragon.”

June led Catherpee to the center of town where a small farmhouse-type building resided, it was run down, and all the wood was peeling but it was packed with people yelling and trying to sign up for a chance at this beast.

June pulled Catherpee to the side, “not that way, if you go in through the front door you’ll never get a chance, we’re going to go in through the back.” June led them around through some bushes until they found a window and crawled through.

“By Jonah’s Beard! June? What are you doing falling into my office? you know you’re not allowed in here!” a small round man sat at a desk that was designed for a much larger fellow, he was writing what appeared to be names in a notebook.

“Mayor, please just look at this man, I think he might be the one.”

The man newly identified as the mayor paused and looked at Catherpee. “Do you know how to fight?” he inquired.

“Yes, I was a soldier once.”

“Do you have anything to show for it?”

“Yes,” Catherpee pointed to the medals that were hiding underneath the cloak he wrapped himself in.

The Mayor inspected him for a few moments then said “be off with you two quickly, there is a horse and a small armada of soldiers ready to leave to slay the dragon this hour, make haste and go with them, I want that beast destroyed!” With that 6 soldiers burst into the room and guided Catherpee and June to the armory, and out the door to the mountain that homed the beast.

It all happened so fast, this was not why Catherpee had come but he must see the Red Dragon of legend.

They climbed 3 days and slept at night. On the 3rd day, they spotted the cave that the dragon rested in.

“Tomorrow we strike,” one of the soldiers said. Around the armada, a small “Aye.” could be heard as everyone acknowledged the command of the officer in charge, and started to settle for the night. They knew that their biggest advantage was being stealthy, brute force would never work against the beast.

Although young, June kept up easily and was never caught complaining, he always stayed near the back of the party, when it finally occurred to Catherpee, “you’re not supposed to be here are you?”, June looked terrified “Oh relax, what is it? I won't tell.” Catherpee said patting June’s shoulder.

June looked around and in a hushed tone he said “I’m too young, the mayor has a rule that only those 18 and older can go.”

Catherpee looked at June then looked at the ground and sighed, “Children want to grow up so fast.”.

Everyone set up for the night, and dinner was served. A watch list was made and the soldiers gradually went off their separate ways to sleep. Catherpee’s shift was in the middle of the night. He had done that intentionally, he wanted to make sure everyone was asleep. That time in the night came and he switched with one of the other soldiers to start his watch. He sat there for about 20 minutes, then made his move.

He skidded around the rocks and hid in a bush, no one moved. Everyone was asleep and he could go. He turned his direction to the cave that homed the dragon and slowly, with the softest steps he could muster he crept to the cave and came face to face with a red fire-breathing beast.

“You come with no weapon? Do you mock me?” The voice was hissy, it created no sound, and was only heard in the mind of Catherpee. “I’m not here to fight, nor do I intend to mock you.” He whispered it. Strong and low, a response to words that never existed.

Shocked! The Dragon recoiled, its beady eyes studied Catherpee, smoke raised from its nostrils, “You understood me?” The dragons face unmoving and yet the question still appeared in Catherpee’s mind, as clear as day, but no sound was uttered.

“Yes, my ancestors were of the great dragon clans. They were the fire priests.” Catherpee answered, his words strong. The dragon let out a puff of smoke, a small hiss followed. It eyed Catherpee with great interest.

“I see, so you want your revenge.” The dragons consumed the fire priests a millennium ago over a small dispute that ended with the priests being right, but by the time they found out the truth, it was too late. The Dragons had already done away with the priests and all they had left was to mourn the error of their rash judgment.

“No, I came simply to see the beast that did away with my heritage. To see the monster that is supposedly so evil the ground melts beneath it. A creature of legend, that is said to be able to light an entire city aflame within minutes. A creature that my ancestors stood beside for years, protecting, and educating each other, as companions. I wanted to see the creature that is secretly gentle in nature but fast in reaction. I simply came to stand beside a dragon as my forefathers did before me.” Catherpee seemed to grow larger as he spoke, or the dragon diminished in size, but they seemed to be staring eye to eye.

“You do not wish to kill me? You’re the only one I would allow to do it, to take my life. It would be an honor to repay our debts.” Catherpee only heard the dragon's voice, not even the rocks could hear the depth of their ancient bellows.

“No. Also, I came to tell you, your enemies plot against you. They have camped just past that mound of rocks and will try to attack tomorrow.”

The Dragon let out a low growl, it vibrated off the rocks until everything shook. Catherpee could barely keep his footing, and then the dragon stopped.

“They will never stop,” it started to uncoil itself revealing just how magnificent of a monster it was, “I shall grant you the award they all crave. Whatever the award I shall increase it 10 fold, and please I beg, you do it. You are the only one, and they will never stop. No more useless loss. There! Grab that spear, put it here, and do this and..”

The dragon directed Catherpee, each step of the way. Explaining over and over how it had to be him, the dragon didn’t want to have to defend its home, it knew it would always win against the humans.

Just as fast had the thought been formed in the dragons' mind, the deed was done. Catherpee looked at the spear in his hands and the dragon that lay lifeless. Had he done that? He didn’t remember. Almost like a spirit possessed him, and made his conscience sleep for the deed to be fulfilled.

The sun was rising above the rocks to the East as Catherpee made his way back to camp. The Camp awoke to find the Dragon slain, and Catherpee covered in tears. He wept the whole journey back, paying his respects to the life of the Great Red Dragon.

The town began to call Catherpee The Mightiest Warrior, they believed that Catherpee, so full of passion, had sprung upon the beast during the night and bested it in combat.

The town gave Catherpee the prize of $2000 in a brown leather bag, he took it and left.

On the carriage that carried Catherpee out of the city, he took a peek inside his bag, where the prize money was stored. Inside he found $20,000. Unsure how, or if this is what the dragon meant, he held it close. Investing it in dragon rehabilitation programs and creating an educational program for people to understand dragons so that they can be migrated back into society as intelligent beings.

Although some would say Catherpee must have been the hero of legend, he would dispute it, explaining that the hero was the dragon itself. No mere man could have done it. As the years went on the story became a fable, and people forgot about the existence of Dragons.

Although if you’re ever on a mountainside and the earth starts to tremble enough to make you fall, be careful, you might have stumbled into a dragon's lair, and very few leave those alive.