Dracon and the Edge of the World Read online

  He shied away from her, using his shoulder to shove her hands off his face.

  “It’s getting better.”

  “Venalina would have healed it completely.” he said glancing up at her, making her face change.

  “You’re alive, aren’t you? I did that, not Venalina.” She growled, “I am not her, and I don’t pretend to be!”

  “So, I am reminded every day we are still here!” Dracon stood up, “Why are we still here, Talila?” Dracon asked, “You’re a Vordalyn now, why can’t you just take us home? It’s been months, out here, in these strange lands, acting as mercenaries!”

  “Is that why you killed everyone tonight? Giving us no alternative but to leave?” She asked, he glanced at her surprised, “Yes, I know what you did, I know what your sword is capable of. Now we have to move on. Is that your intention?” Dracon chuckled.

  “Venalina used to pretend not to be able to do things, she would always have a task for me to complete, before suddenly finding the magic to do as I asked. I wonder what your task is that I must complete for your compliance?” Dracon asked.

  “So, this is some sort of test, to see if my magic can work your bidding. I am some witch you must bargain with for your children’s freedom as well? Some fairy tale horror? Your constant comparisons are unfair and growing tiresome.” Talila growled.

  “I want to know where we are, Talila, I want to go to those sister cities that the townspeople spoke of, the lands of spires, high into the sky. Maybe it’s someplace that knows of Qinkas, of Sumia? If you can’t take us home, maybe someone there can at least point to it for me?”

  “To what end? We can never go back?”

  “That’s not your decision! I want my vengeance! They did this to me! They killed my Venalina!”

  Talila stood up and grabbed him, burying her face in his chest, hugging him.

  “I know, I know,” She squeezed him tight, “I miss her too! But we are far from there, we cannot focus on that right now, we have to keep our eyes open on the here, and now. You will have your vengeance my love, my husband, we, will have our vengeance.” She pushed him back and looked up at him, grabbing his cheeks, “I am not as strong as she was, I cannot do what she could, it’s not for lack of desire, but ability. I wish in my heart I had her power. She was a Vordalyn Queen, Dracon. Maybe I do have the power within me? But you have to remember, she turned us into Vordalyn and then she left, she died, who is there to guide me? To teach me what is possible? Can you do it? Can you teach me how to be Vordalyn? Or maybe, Satana? I have been a girl all my life, I’ve never known anything of magic, and now, you expect me to be Venalina just because you desire it?” Dracon softened his angry stance.

  They looked at each other in silence, the longer she said nothing, the more uncomfortable Dracon became, staring into her eyes, knowing he was wrong for talking to her the way he did.

  “Come, you’re irritable, you need to eat. It will make you… less irksome to me.” Talila finally said, annoyed with how he spoke to her.

  Dracon nodded and they left the tent together. Satana had the fire on the verge of a roar.

  “Um’Vec, did you eat everything you came across in the kitchen, or did you save us something?” Dracon asked after clearing his throat.

  “I think he ate the cook, some of the staff.” Satana chuckled making Grik, who was still pawing through the coins of the open chests, laugh along with her.

  Um’Vec looked around the group then tossed a large bag across the campfire that landed at Dracon’s feet.

  “Um’Vec,” the bugbear spoke, getting their curious eyes on him, “eat,” he said, then arrowed his eyes at Talila, searching for the right words, “man.” he finished, Talila nodded at Um’Vec and smiled, signaling that he had indeed found the right words. He straightened, tall and proud, “Um’Vec, eat man!” He said again with what passed for a smile from his kind.

  “See,” Satana said, “I told you.” Grik erupted in laughter.

  “You’re teaching it to speak?” Grik asked Talila, who stuck her chin out and stood tall.

  “Very good, Um’Vec,” Talila praised the bugbear.

  She crouched to the bag at Dracon’s feet and opened it, a pungent smell stung her nose. Whatever Um’Vec grabbed, it did not smell like food.

  “Go sit down.” Talila urged Dracon, then reached in the bag and pulled out a loaf of bread she had to create magically.

  She did not want him to know that nothing in the bag was edible. She handed Dracon the bread and nodded again for him to go sit down. Talila dragged the bag back to the other side of the fire to take an inventory, near where Um’Vec was.

  “Um’Vec eat man.” The bugbear repeated as his mantra while he finished unpacking a horse.

  “There’s enough coin here to keep us fed for a month, we’ll need to find a town and stock up on provisions for the horses, now that we have them, but it should make us comfortable for at least that long?” Grik announced with a very wide smile.

  Talila helped Um’Vec unpack cooking utensils from one of the pack horses. Satana stood up and walked next to Dracon, shoulder to shoulder with him and whispered into his ear.

  “When are we going to kill that thing?” She asked.

  Dracon eyed Um’Vec as Talila talked to him in his own language. Talila was fond of Um’Vec, he could see that, it made him a bit jealous.

  “So long as she maintains control over it, we will tolerate it. We are too few to lessen our ranks, even for the likes of it. It may yet prove useful.” he said then moved next to the fire and sat.

  Satana did not care for Talila, or Um’Vec.

  “Is that Talila’s voice I hear?”

  Dracon ignored her comment.

  Talila looked into the bag of food gathered from the kitchen, it was all rotten food that Um’Vec took, probably what was set aside for the pigs. He didn’t know any better. She looked over at Um’Vec who looked back at her with pride.

  “What I gathered pleases you, mistress?”

  “You did well, Um’Vec.” Talila stood up and dragged the bag a few feet further from the rest of the group.

  Grik picked up one of the chests then walked it back over to the horses and their gear. He noticed Talila’s bag of food was rotten and she was trying not to let anyone else see it. He watched her take out a half-eaten apple, shaking her head in disappointment, then put it back in the bag and shook the bag, it glowed briefly. Talila opened the bag and smiled, breathing a sigh of relief. Grik watched her, then looked over at Um’Vec, knowing what she did, and why. She was protecting him. Satana was itching to kill him and Dracon was not entirely convinced of his worth. Talila alone kept him alive with her whispers in Dracon’s ear. Even though Dracon and Talila’s relationship was strained, he still catered to her desires.

  “Begging your pardon, Lady Talila,” Grik said speaking the evil tongue that the bugbear spoke, so that only Talila could understand what was said between them.

  Talila perked up, knowing immediately why he spoke the tongue.

  “You’re not doing it any favors,” He said, “Your pet, that is. If you’re going to teach it, then teach it, don’t stroke it gently and tell it every thing’s ok, when it’s not. He has to learn to find his place among us, same as anyone. I think the beast can handle a little criticism, my lady.” Grik gave her a nod then walked back to the fire.

  Talila looked down considering his words.

  “Talila,” Dracon called, “we’re hungry.” He said ripping a piece off the loaf Talila gave him, then handed the rest to Satana who did the same. Talila stepped out from behind the horses, dragging the bag.

  “She’ll make us a wonderful meal with the treats her pet gathered from the kitchen.” Grik said returning to the fire with Dracon, and Satana, who handed him the remainder of the bread, “It’s quite a bounty, Lord Dracon.”

  “Yes, he grabbed what was needed.” Talila said eyeing Grik, wondering what to make of the dwarf.

  She walked over to Dracon and Satana, hand
ing them each a small meat pie.

  “It’s still warm?” Satana asked, “How is it still warm?” Talila smiled and held up her hand, a flame flickered in her palm, then vanished. She turned to Grik and handed him a meat pie as well, “What was I thinking?” Satana chuckled, “And yet, you let me start the fire on my own.”

  “Hard work is good for the soul, so my father used to say.” Talila said.

  “Your father the pimp?” Satana asked, making Talila instantly cringe.

  “That’s enough!” Dracon said glaring at Satana.

  She held her hands up right away.

  “Sorry, but that’s what he was. That’s what all those men in Qinkas were. Whoring their own daughters out.”

  “Satana!” Dracon shouted.

  “It’s ok, Dracon, I have no illusions about where I come from. I know exactly what my father was. What our society was.” Talila looked at Dracon, then back to Satana, “Venalina saved us from that life, Satana,” Talila started around the fire, “and you, you throw it in my face every chance you get. Even knowing, as a woman, I had no choice but to comply, submit, to do otherwise meant death for a woman. You act as if I looked forward to growing up and being a toy for men’s pleasures,” She walked behind Satana and Dracon circling the group, “You talk to me as though I enjoyed a society, where I was no better than an owned pet, bartered and sold, to please men my father did business with.” She stopped back where she started, across the fire from Satana, “Your life has been so much different, hasn’t it? A life of choices. Never worrying if tonight is the night your father will open your door and let a man into your room while you slept, because he believes you are old enough, or enough coin was offered!” Talila started to grind her teeth staring at Satana with hate in her eyes.

  Dracon and Satana looked passed Talila at Um’Vec, who walked up behind her suddenly, dwarfing her. His face was a scowl. It was clear he was unhappy and looked ready to fight.

  “I stand ready, dark goddess!” Um’Vec growled over Talila, they could all see he was moved to action by Talila’s anger. Talila relaxed and turned to Um’Vec, putting a hand on his chest and looking up at him.

  “Thank you, Um’Vec, It’s ok, I’m ok.” She whispered.

  Of the group, Grik was the only one who could understand what was said between them.

  “So?” asked Satana, she looked at Grik, knowing he could understand them, “food?” she asked looking back at Talila and Um’Vec, “is there going to be more food?”

  Talila forced a smile.

  “Of course.” Talila turned away from the fire, returning to her task.

  Um’Vec assisted her, grabbing a stand with a hanging grill, then set it up over the fire for Talila to cook on.

  “Girl, you are made of some cold steel,” Grik chuckled shaking his head, “I don’t think I have the stones to taunt the two of them the way you do?” He looked over at Talila, “I say, if your pet managed to get some spirits, he’d have me thanks?” Grik asked giving Talila a wink.

  “He did grab a few bottles, let me see what they are.” Talila offered.

  Um’Vec followed Talila, glaring at Satana.

  “Tomorrow, we move on.” Dracon announced so everyone could hear him.

  “There’ll probably be two helpings of some chewy bugbear spit in your food,” Grik whispered to Satana with a low chuckle.

  “What did you have in mind?” Satana asked not even looking at Grik, or acknowledging his comment, instead she glared across the fire, watching Talila and Um’Vec rummage around in the darkness.

  She thought for sure Talila would make her something disgusting to eat just to get back at her and she watched Um’Vec to make sure what Grik said didn’t come true.

  “The people in that village spoke of towns to the east, mountains to the west and north.” Dracon said smirking at Grik’s comment.

  “And the south?” Satana asked, “Did they say anything about the south?”

  “Water.” Grik answered.

  “I would imagine there are more towns or villages on the water, than further inland, yeah?” Satana asked.

  “Yes, but they didn’t mention any.” Dracon said.

  “Maybe they’re like the Gyona, no one speaks of them?” Grik added, making Dracon chuckle.

  “We’re heading east.” Dracon said, again, making sure Talila and Um’Vec could hear him. “This incessant bickering has to stop, Satana. We are stuck here together. I don’t want you chasing anyone away.” Dracon said in a quieter voice.

  “Why not? He’s a bugbear, we should have killed him long ago, and she’s just a stupid little girl, acting-”

  “She’s my wife!” Dracon shouted, ending the conversation abruptly.

  Hearing Dracon chastise Satana made Talila smile to herself, while she and Um’Vec prepared to cook.

  “You there, by the fire,” A voice called from beyond the fires light, somewhere in the forest around them. Satana leapt to her feet, sword in hand, “May I approach? I’m a lost wanderer, I mean you no harm?”

  Um’Vec moved nearer to Talila, hovering over her protectively. Grik hurried around the fire, like Satana, he too was armed. Dracon stood slowly, less concerned than the others.

  “I only wish to warm myself by your fire, maybe regain my bearing?”

  “Come into the light where we can see you.” Dracon said at full volume to the darkness. Satana shot him a surprised look, then turned her attention back to where the voice came from.

  “You better not be brandishing steel!” Satana growled.

  They were all facing the same side of the fire. When the voice spoke again, it was behind them.

  “I am unarmed, save for a simple dagger on my belt, you have nothing to fear from me.” he said stepping into the light.

  The group spun around to face him; they were all startled by his sudden appearance behind them, when they were so sure his voice was coming from the other direction.

  “Thank you for your compassion.” He was a shorter man than Dracon, with delicate features.

  He looked very much like an elf. His hair was a white blonde he had tied behind him in a ponytail. He had no gear whatsoever, a simple dagger, with no sheath, shoved in his waist belt. Um’Vec stepped between Talila and the man across the camp, who still stood at the very edge of the fires light.

  “Um’Vec, eat man?” Um’Vec asked, taking another step toward the man, whose eyes went wide with fear at the sight of the bugbear and the question he posed.

  “No,” Dracon chuckled, “That was quite a trick. Making us believe you were there, instead of there.”

  “You can never be too careful in the woods, unsavory characters about. Not that you are such characters.” He said still staring at Um’Vec.

  Dracon sized the man up a moment, examining his ears, especially. They were pointed, like an elf, but less prominent.

  “Half-elf?” Dracon asked.

  After a moment of still staring at Um’Vec, the half-elf mustered the courage to look away from the beast, back at Dracon.

  “Yes,” Katlin said, “father.”

  “Father?” Satana asked, “That’s unusual?”

  “Yes, my father was raised by humans, so his predilections leaned in their direction.” The half-elf explained, “Is he going to stare at me like that, the whole time?” Katlin asked glancing at Um’Vec. He was tense, then suddenly relaxed, “Have you any food?”

  “You don’t have much, to be out here all alone?” Satana asked looking out in the darkness around them, “If you are alone?”

  He chuckled.

  “Oh, I am alone. I can assure you of that!” He walked over to the fire and put his hands out, warming them next to the cooking stand, “Utterly, and completely, alone. Seems I’m just in time to eat?”

  Dracon motioned for Satana to put away her sword.

  “What’s your name?” Dracon asked, returning to his seat.

  “I, am Katlin.”

  “You have nothing, no horse, no supplies, where did you
come from?” Satana asked.

  Katlin glanced over at Um’Vec who was drooling at the sight of the half-elf.

  “Can you put that away? I assure you I am not a threat, or tonight’s dinner?” Katlin asked of Um’Vec.

  Talila put her hand on Um’Vec’s forearm, urging him to relax. He looked down at her, then went back to what he was doing before Katlin’s arrival.

  “As to your question, I’m a traveler, a wanderer, going from town to town, seeking my fortune wherever coin, and lovely women, may be.” Katlin explained in a poetic phrasing, almost like he was about to burst into a song.

  “By the looks of you, fortune has yet to smile on you, boy?” Grik said, making Satana laugh.

  “Fortune, good sir dwarf, is the adventure, my rewards come and go, and as easily as they are found, they are spent.” Katlin smiled, “Do not be deceived by my simple clothes, for I am rich in life’s wonderous journey. Adventure knows no master, save for the kiss of a-”

  “You’re a thief.” Dracon said.

  “That is rude, and very presumptuous! I would march out of this camp in disgust, if I weren’t in dire need of your fire!” He said with the slightest hint of a smile, Talila put some meat on the cooking stand, it sizzled, drawing Katlin’s attention, bringing his hint of a smile to a full toothy grin. His stomach growled. “I say, is that beef?” He licked his lips, then looked back at Dracon and Satana, “Just because you two are very large, with very large swords, I would not presume to call you and your woman, mindless barbarians? You’re, not barbarians, are you? I meant no offense if you are, I only speak in jest. A metaphorical jest.”

  Satana laughed.

  “She is not his woman!” Talila growled.

  Katlin glanced over at her, then tilted his head.

  “I see, apologies, my lady.”

  “We could use a thief,” Satana whispered to Dracon, “we don’t know these lands, the circles he travels in would suit us here.”

  “Then, yes! I am a thief!” Katlin announced, hearing clearly what Satana said, “And I am very familiar with the lands you find yourselves in! And where might you be from?”