5

Lira was packed and ready to go, one of her horses saddled and the other two tied behind, one with gear packed across its back and one unsaddled. She walked quietly over to where her guest was camped, reaching out to rub the nose of his horse as he slept. She took a moment to admire his peacefully sleeping face before nudging his leg with her foot gently.

He woke slowly, long lashes fluttering open to reveal those bright green eyes. She smiled wryly as he focused on her. “Wake up, sleepyhead, it’s time to head out.”

“So early?” Adyn stretched, and while he was distracted she took another moment to admire the flexing muscles. Then he sat up and swung lazily to his feet, smoothing out the wrinkles in his tunic and loose breeches. He began to gather the handful of items left out from the night before.

Adyn’s mind was still trying to catch up. He wasn’t much of a morning person, and her bright, tidy countenance didn’t help any. He waited for her to look away thoughtfully to skim his gaze across her trim figure and neat but worn clothing. The formidable Dragon Knight wore plain brown trousers and a pale tan tunic cinched in tight at her slim waistline with a black leather scabbard. The pommel of the sword in the scabbard was equally worn, but well cared for. He didn’t doubt for a moment that she knew how to use the weapon.

She shrugged and turned those eerie violet eyes on him. “Dragons are early risers.”

He nodded as he tied his saddlebags closed. “Is your dragon joining us for the journey?”

He knew he’d made a mistake as soon as the words left his mouth. She suddenly froze; and every indication of openness and ease disappeared from her stature. Her voice dripped frost as she stared off into space. “I’m afraid not, it’ll just be you and I.”

Adyn shrugged, not sure what it was about his question that had upset her. “Okay. Well… I just need a few moments to freshen up and change, and then I’ll be ready to go.” He grabbed the clothing he’d set aside and disappeared into the trees.

It took him a short time to relieve his bladder and change into the fresh outfit. He’d braided his hair the night before, so he simply shook it loose and bent near a handy stream to rinse his mouth out before heading back into the little clearing. Lira was mounted on the saddled horse, and she ignored him completely until he was on his horse and ready to go. He turned his mount’s head towards the trail, and finally she seemed to wake up. “This way, actually.”

Adyn frowned as she rode off in a different direction. He nudged his mount and caught up shortly, pulling up beside her. “I thought there was only one way into your valley.”

Lira smiled, but it didn’t reach her violet eyes. “You were told that so that I would have plenty of warning before you reached my valley. The dragons don’t let anything pass their attention up here. As soon as you passed Rylarr Farm, they knew you were here. There’s an easier route, and we’ll be into Gedon by nightfall.”

He laughed suddenly, and she met his gaze full on, startled. “Three days it took me to get here! That’s ripe!”

She shrugged uncomfortably. “I wasn’t exactly consulted on the matter. I’m all right with it. They’re just worried about my safety. After all, I’m it. I’m the last Dragon Knight.”

Adyn heard the bitterness in her voice, but was afraid to ask after his earlier blunder. He simply nodded and pulled his horse back to drop behind the pack horse as she led the way down a steep trail, away from the peace of her valley.

Neither rider made any attempt to speak as they traveled the overgrown trail, and it seemed like no time at all before they were approaching the farm from a different direction. There was a second tunnel with brush carefully grown before it, and Wil was waiting as they exited. “Lira! So good to see you.”

Lira cast him the ghost of a smile as she slid from her horse to embrace the older man briefly. “Wil. It’s good to see you as well.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you came through the other day. I was at market.”

She waved a hand towards him. “Don’t fret over it, Wil. I don’t expect you to be here every moment of every day. I thought I would leave the horses with you, and there are supplies enough to share. I won’t be using them, and besides I need some new blankets soon. I brought Marta some of the wool she likes so much.”

Wil was beaming happily as she untied the reins of the two extra mounts and passed them over. She glanced towards Adyn. “How long will our ride be, Adyn of Dakar?”

“Three weeks there. We’ll meet my men at arms at the inn between Gedon and Prin, and then it’s just a matter of distance.”

Wil nodded. “Then we’ll see you when we see you.” He caught her arm firmly, turning her attention to him. “Be careful, DK.”

She nodded soberly in return, then turned to swing back into her saddle. “I’ll see you in a few months, then, Wil. The Valley should be fine until then. The Dragons will keep watch.”

He stepped away and they turned their horses to the long dirt road, heading for Gedon before darkness fell.

Adyn allowed the ride to pass for a candlemark in silence before he cleared his throat to catch her attention. “Wil called you DK?”

She shook her head. “It’s short for Dragon Knight, of course. It’s a… an honorific of sorts. I tried to stop them, but…”

He chuckled softly. “I understand, trust me I do. People need to have someone to put on a pedestal; it may as well be you.”

Lira turned a startled gaze on him, and he chuckled again. “My brother earned his own title in boyhood. He was exploring, after slipping the leash of the guards who followed him everywhere. He managed to disturb a wild boar, and it chased him back into the arms of the very guards he’d escaped. He was known all through childhood as the Pig Prince. The funniest part of the whole thing was that the name was used with great respect.”

Adyn enjoyed the very faint smile that crossed her lips and flitted briefly through her eyes before she turned her face away and closed him out again. He shrugged and allowed the rest of the afternoon to pass in silence, each of them wrapped in their own private thoughts.