Ahren, who had orders directly from Lord Michon, shot to the Lady’s side. Off her mount in an instant, she was near Lady Kellina as the Captain and several guards placed themselves between the creature and the unconscious woman behind them.
Tambor, for his part, merely huffed in indignation.
“HAS THE FEMALE NOT SEEN A DRAGON BEFORE?” he asked solemnly.
Ahren stood, “Not that it matters, beast! This is the Lady Kellina, newly ordained as the Matriarch and ruler of this Shire by the order of Lord Michon of the Shire of the East.”
Tambor blinked, “MATRIARCH? BY THE ORDER OF LORD MICHON? THAT IS A DIFFERENT MATTER … HAD YOU TOLD ME THIS BEFORE, NONE OF THIS PERFORMANCE WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY!!”
Lady Kellina, having awakened from her fainting spell, got to her feet and started shooing away the well-meaning attendants, even Adelaide, who were hovering over her.” Enough, people! I only fainted, for heaven’s sake!”
She moved forward and faced the dragon standing before Her, “Now, who are You to block our path and forbid entrance to lands rightfully ordained to Me??”
The dragon, if it were possible, almost seemed to smile. Tambor liked her. A lot. She had spunk, and she would need it to reclaim this shire from ruin and neglect. Only a few still dwelled here … most had moved on and left only dust and cobwebs in their wake. Tambor bent down and brought his head level to where she stood, but this time she did not move, flinch, or faint. She met his gaze evenly and firmly. When he spoke this time, Tambor’s voice was softer.
“I AM GUARDIAN HERE, LADY. ORDAINED SO BY LORD MICHON WHEN I AND MY MATE, SCARBOROUGH, SETTLED AND MADE OUR NEST HERE. I HAVE BORNE THE TASK TO OVERSEE AND PROTECT THE SHIRE AND ADJOINING LANDS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A WORTHY RULER COULD BE FOUND. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE SO ORDAINED TO BE, AND I OFFER MY SERVICES TO YOU AS GUARDIAN, GUIDE, AND TEACHER FOR THE WORK THAT LIES BEFORE YOU AS RULER.”
The Lady nodded, “I see. Of course, you won’t mind if I verify your information with his lordship?”
Tambor nodded, “I WOULD EXPECT NOTHING LESS, LADY. AND NOW, MAY I ESCORT YOU AND YOUR ENTOURAGE INTO THE HEART OF YOUR NEW REALM?”
Lady Kellina nodded, “That will be acceptable, thank you. I am certain no harm will befall us with you and the guards to protect us.”
Tambor rose and looked at the guards, whose swords were still drawn and at the ready, “MIGHT I ASK THAT YOU HAVE THEM STAND DOWN, LADY? THEY LOOK LIKE THEY’D RATHER RUN ME THROUGH.”
The Lady turned and addressed Captain Payne, “Please have your guards stand down, Captain. There is no danger here. Apparently the dragon is an ally.”
The Captain eyed the huge creature with distrust, “But my Lady, surely ….”
She looked at her squarely, “I gave you an order, Captain. Will you obey, or do I need to replace you with someone who will?”
The Captain swallowed hard and shook her head, “No, my Lady, my apologies. I will obey at once!”
She nodded in approval as the guards slowly replaced their weapons at the Captain’s orders. Taking a moment to look around her, she was startled as she noticed that Tambor had fallen into step next to her, in a much more diminutive size.
“My Lord dragon, you’ve shrunk.”
He nodded, “I have the ability to take on other sizes and forms, Lady. All dragons do, as you should know.”
She looked at him quizzically, “Indeed? And how should I know that?”
Tambor looked at her and cocked his head slightly, “You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“That … well … let me ask this, do you know your parents?”
She nodded, “My mother raised me by herself … she spoke little of my father for he had to leave us while I was but a babe.” She fingered the pendant around her neck absently, “I do not remember him.”
“She believes him to be dead.” It was not a question, just a statement.
“She does not know. She told me that she has not felt his life force for some time.”
Tambor shook his head, “I can see you will need time to accept the truth of things, so let us let it rest for now. There is much work to be done on the morrow as we will reach the Castle by mid-day. May I suggest we make camp here in the nearby clearing? There is fresh water nearby, and I will stand guard.”
The Lady nodded and yawned, “Yes, I am quite weary. Very well,” she turned to Captain Payne and Ahren, “Captain, we will make camp here for the night. Lord Tambor has offered to guard us from harm, and reports there is fresh water nearby. Ahren, please go down the caravan and inform everyone that we are staying here for the night.”
Voices rang out as the Captain and Ahren, after a nod of respect, turned to go about their assignments. Lady Adelaide drafted two guards to set up the Lady’s tent under some nearby trees, and then two more to help her locate the kitchen supplies and food wagon.
“Are you well, Lady?” Tambor asked after a moment of intensely gazing at her.
“Yes,” she replied, “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“You fainted earlier. Not unusual for one with child, but I was just checking.”
The Lady blinked, her hand going to her abdomen quickly, “How did you know?”
The dragon turned to leave, but called over his shoulder as he left, “Dragons know everything, my Lady. What we cannot see or hear, we can sense and feel, even as others cannot.”
The Lady watched him go, puzzled and intrigued. She was determined to find out much more about Tambor as time permitted. She realized how tired she was and sought out a nearby log on which to rest while camp was set up. She smiled as she saw Adelaide approaching her with a basket and cask.
“This should hold you, my Lady, until I can have a proper supper prepared. I should have given you a lunch basket for the trip – I could have myself flogged for such an oversight!”
Kellina reached out and took the older woman’s hand, “Never, my dear friend, as long as you are in my service. Now, this will be fine, go about your duties, please.”
Nibbling on her bread and sipping the sweet wine from the cask, Kellina had the distinct feeling that she had the better end of this bargain. How would Michon ever manage without Adelaide? She smiled. She didn’t know and she didn’t care.
Adelaide, wonder that she was, pulled together a feast of biscuits, gravy, and a flock of roast ducks that were unlucky enough to be swimming in the nearby water. Several of the company contributed their own supplies, so there was quite a feast set out for the hungry travelers. Sated, Kellina watched and listened as the camp began to move toward bedding down, loathe though she was to leave the blazing fire before her. Voices were soft now, though earlier there had been much merriment and even singing. Torches here and there allowed servants to find their way back to their own tents, the voices of protesting children being hushed as their parents led them off to bed. She was glad she had insisted on families coming. She was deeply content at this moment, even not knowing what the morrow would bring. She looked up into the night sky, the twin moons casting a warm glow over the now ever quieter camp.
At last, she rose and headed for her tent, where Ahren stood quietly and pulled the tent open as the Lady approached.
“Thank you, Ahren. Now, if you will fetch a guard for the night to replace you, I want you to get some rest.”
Ahren nodded and bowed, “As you will, Milady, so I shall do.”
Kellina entered the tent to find it comfortably set up, even if somewhat sparse. She wondered idly if her mother had spent many nights in such tents on the way here from Cainnait … a place of which Kellina had only heard in stories while she was young. She took note that her trunk was open and a sleeping gown laid out, but decided that weariness indicated propriety must yield to necessity on this night. Removing only her riding coat and shoes, she crawled under the comforters and was soon fast asleep.
The night passed without incident, and following a light breakfast in the clear light of morning, camp was down in no time. They journeyed peacefully through most of the day, stopping for a brief lunch before continuing on. Once more, the procession came to an unexpected halt, albeit much gentler than the one yesterday. The Captain came to the Lady’s carriage.
“The dragon wishes to speak with you, my Lady.”
She nodded and exited her carriage, walking slowly to the front where Tambor stood waiting, still in his more diminutive size.
“Follow me, please,” he said.
“Of course,” she nodded, and followed him along the roadway to where a clearing stood off to the side, and walked with her to the edge. There, surrounded by fall foliage and standing by the small blue dragon, the Lady had her first view of the Shire and the Castle in the distance. It looked … forlorn … cold … and somewhat formidable. She swallowed hard. Whatever was her Lord thinking, sending her like this?
“Second thoughts.” Tambor asked, looking at her. Again, a statement, as if the dragon knew far more than he was letting on. Indeed, that he held a deeper understanding of human hearts than did their owners.
She shook her head firmly and looked back at him, “Not at all. It just needs a woman’s touch, is all.”
Tambor chuckled, “Probably several touches, my Lady, but I think you’re more than up to the challenge.”
She sighed in return, “Several touches … brooms, mops, and probably a crowbar or two … but yes, I think I am up to the challenge, and I had not realized there was so much distance from Shire of the East.”
“Two full days journey,” Tambor told her, “when the weather is with one. Longer in the winter storms. A lone rider can make it in but a day with a good steed and superior strength, but that is rare.”
She nodded, listening as she walked back toward her carriage with Tambor next to her. As she started to climb inside, his next words caught her off guard, “My Lady, would you like a tour? The others can follow …”
The Lady stopped in mid-step and turned to look at him, “A tour? How?”
Tambor smiled and slowly assumed his full height again, and dropping down to her. “Climb aboard,” he said.
“WHAT???”
“Just climb up on my neck, behind my head, and tuck your feet under the scales … you’ll be safe as in your mother’s arms.”
Kellina looked dubiously right and left before climbing up as he asked. She had to work to arrange her gown and riding coat accordingly, but soon enough she had settled behind his head as he had instructed. Ahren, who was nearby, protested, “My Lady, NO!! What are you doing? If anything happens to you, Lord Michon will have our heads!”
Tambor lifted himself up slowly, spreading his wings for liftoff, “AND HE’D HAVE ME FOR YULETIDE DINNER, SO MIND YOUR PLACE! NO HARM WILL COME TO HER, THIS I VOW. CONTINUE ONWARD AND MEET US AT THE CASTLE.”
Ahren nodded, reluctantly, and moved toward the front to let the Captain know, having the distinct feeling Payne would be no happier about this turn of events than she had been. Apparently fulfilling Lord Michon’s injunction to protect Lady Kellina would prove to be a full time endeavor. Meanwhile, the lady hooked her feet securely as Tambor had told her, grasped two outgrowths firmly at the back of his head, and called out, “Mighty Tambor, I am prepared!”
Tambor nodded, easing his way into the air slowly and evenly. The Lady gasped as the fullness of the Shire’s lands came into view, a simple village of shops and homes with the Castle at the forefront passed beneath them. She could see two rivers forge into one near the Castle, with one bridge leading into the castle grounds. It was evident even from here that there was much damage and decay. The Ketangular Mountains to the west rose high and jagged, and rolling hills rich with forests lay between the Shire and the mountains. She could see roads leading from the mountains in only two places, while footpaths meandered here and there through the hills. The two rivers forged a ragged path through the mountains and hillsides as evidenced by waterfalls crashing into still rougher waters below. With the mountains to the west and flanked by the rolling hills and two rivers, the Shire stood naturally protected by the lands around it.
Tambor flew carefully, allowing her to see everything around her, before heading toward the Castle, where he landed gently and dropped his head so she could dismount. She turned to him once she was on the ground and quickly kissed his snout before he rose back up.
“WHAT WAS THAT FOR?” he asked, somewhat startled by the impetuous move.
“For the ride,” she answered, “it is the most beautiful Shire in all of Kaia!! Thank you so much!”
“NO PROBLEM,” he replied, “NOW, IF YOU’LL GO INSIDE, I THINK I WILL WAIT OUT HERE FOR THE OTHERS TO ARRIVE.”
She nodded, walking over to the huge oak doors, one of which was off its hinges and leaning to the side. Inside, dust was everywhere, along with leaves blown in by the wind, a rodent or two or three dozen, and spider webs galore. She was certain there were spiders to go with them and gave an involuntary shudder. She hated spiders.
Meanwhile, Tambor stood waiting quietly outside. He raised a claw to gently rub the spot she had kissed. It tingled slightly. Humans were definitely strange, he thought quietly, continuing to rub his snout. And she didn’t even know the whole truth about herself … he shook his head … even with the pendant she wore around her neck. How much did her mother know, to give her such a gift? He looked off toward the mountains, knowing there would soon be need of a journey to find out. So much work to do …
Tags: dragon, dragon heart, dragons, fantasy