The Dragon' Son (25 page)

Keegan looked at Walneff and asked, “And leave you two?”

Walneff nodded his head and said, “We will be fine. The sooner Saul is given a dry bed and an attending healer, the better.”

Keegan nodded, “I understand.” He checked his money pouch on his belt then looked back at Walneff. “Once I have found a place, I will ride back to lead you to it.”

Walneff held up a hand in protest. “No. A messenger will be sent.”

Keegan shook his head, “A messenger will cost extra money.”

Walneff lowered his hand, “A messenger will be sent at no extra cost.”

Keegan rolled his eyes and said, “We shall see.” He pulled the blanket from Ardor’s neck and stuffed it into one of the saddlebags. “I will be prompt,” he promised.

“Ride safely,” Walneff replied.

Keegan nodded and urged Ardor forward. The golden horse picked up his feet and moved into a quick trot before breaking into a smooth lope, leaving the other two horses and riders behind.

Keegan had lost track of time as Ardor loped across the soaked turf that ran alongside the muddy road, but he brought the golden steed to an abrupt halt when they topped a hill. He stared across the rolling landscape breathlessly. “Elinralis,” he sighed with awe.

The city shone like a jewel in the midst of the massive green landscape of rolling hills and sporadic clumps of trees. Its walls were tall, strong, and made of pure white stone that reflected the sunlight. Shimmering silver banners flew from the white towers that rose above the walls. The city strategically sat on the largest hill, and a stream-fed moat surrounded it, making it a great challenge for any opposing force.

Pharrgon had once told Keegan that the city Elinralis was built by a glorious and ancient people who had lived and ruled all of the great lands long, long ago. The capitol city, Richem, in the south country, Gilidar, also had the same story as Elinralis.

However, the legends did the sight of the cities little justice. Though he had seen it before, the awe that Keegan felt when looking at Elinralis was no less from the first time he had seen it some years ago. It made him feel as though he had stepped back in time to when the city had first been built and was occupied by the ancients.

Keegan sighed and lowered his eyes, patting Ardor’s neck. “Let’s go. We need to hurry.”

With that, Ardor began to trot down the hill. When they reached the bottom of the hill, a sudden loud pop and the scream of a child put both Keegan and Ardor on alert.

“Whoa! Whoa! Stop! Somebody help me, please!” the desperate plea of a girl rang around the hills.

Ardor climbed the next hill where Keegan spotted the source of the commotion. A brown horse stampeded over a nearby hill and bolted for a group of trees with both tail and head raised high, obviously badly frightened. A young girl clung to its neck, holding on for dear life.

Keegan hissed, and Ardor shot off after the runaway. The brown horse approached the trees then shied and veered away from them sharply, nearly throwing the girl from his back.

“Help!” the girl screamed, trying to right herself in the saddle of the fleeing animal.

Keegan leaned forward and willed Ardor to charge full speed after the brown horse. Ardor snorted and surged forward, gaining to a flying speed, racing across the ground, turning the world into a blur. Keegan blinked out the water that had rushed to his eye, just in time to see that Ardor was pulling up next to the runaway horse.

Keegan reached out and grabbed the reins of the brown horse then steadily began to slow the frightened beast, speaking soft and calm words to it. They slowed to a trot and finally a walk before halting altogether. He patted the sweating brown horse then looked back at the young girl who still had her head buried in her horse’s mane. Her shoulders heaved up and down in time with her heavy breathing and even shuddered with possible sobs.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now,” Keegan said gently. “Are you all right?”

The girl’s shoulders stopped moving, but her face remained hidden for a moment before she sat up and looked at Keegan with shocking bright blue eyes. She looked to be about twelve or so, had long golden hair, pale skin, and a delicate face. Fear was clearly written across her face as she stared at Keegan, but the fearful expression slowly gave way to a pretty smile that brightened her whole face.

“Oh! I thank you, sir. I am all right, though I was very scared that Galen would not stop,“ she said as she stroked the brown horse’s neck with a quivering hand. “I could not make him stop when he spooked. A horse has never run away with me like that, so you may well imagine how frightened I was.”

Keegan nodded his head. “Yes. I can imagine. But it is all over now,” he said reassuringly.

The girl smiled again and began to straighten the front of her fine, brown dress.

“Do you live in the city?” Keegan inquired. The girl nodded her head and fumbled nervously with a string on her sleeve.

“Would you like me to take you home?” Keegan asked after a moment of observing her anxiety.

The girl looked up. “Oh, yes! If you would please. That would be a great kindness to me. I think that I am far too shaken to make it on my own,” she answered.

“Where do you live?” Keegan asked with a kind smile.

“I live in the city on the far north and west side.... Oh, well, I will direct you there. My mind is far too muddled right now to be able to tell my tongue how to speak out the directions,” she giggled shakily.

“Very well,” Keegan gripped the brown gelding’s reigns tightly and urged Ardor to walk on.

Ardor curled his neck and began to prance proudly while the brown gelding followed alongside.

“Well, your steed is a lovely horse!” the girl giggled. “And he seems to know it as well!”

Keegan chuckled, “Yes. Ardor knows all too well how lovely he is.”

“I have never seen a horse as pretty as yours. Ardor is his name? Lovely name. I have seen one golden horse before, but it was a dull yellow color, not at all a shiny, true gold, like Ardor. If I didn’t know better, I would say that Ardor was made of pure gold and jewels,” the girl marveled. “His coat just sparkles in the sunlight! And his mane is the purest white I have ever seen on a horse.” She shifted her position in her saddle and patted her horse. “May I know your name, kind sir?” she asked.

“My name is Keegan,” Keegan replied with a nod of his head.

The girl abruptly sat up straight, but then just as quickly settled back into a more comfortable position. “Keegan...” she repeated slowly. “What a fine name. I am glad to know it!” she said kindly. “It becomes you well.”

Keegan smiled at her but said nothing, not really knowing what to make of her last comment. He wondered if her sudden burst of conversation was normal for her or if it was a result of nervousness.

“I am Annaka,” she said with a bright twinkle in her eye.

Keegan nodded. “Yours is also a lovely name, Annaka,” he said. “You said that you live on the far north and west side of the city?”

Annaka nodded her head in reply.

Keegan raised his eyebrows, “That is a very rich side of the city.”

“Oh, yes. And do not worry. My family will reward you well for rescuing me,” Annaka said in a reassuring tone of voice.

Keegan looked at her and said, “I would not be interested in money, but if your family could provide a place for me and my two friends to stay, I would be grateful.”

Annaka smiled brightly, “Oh, yes, yes! My family can arrange that very easily!” she looked around, and her smile faded. “Where are your two friends?” she asked.

“They are still traveling the road to the city. I left them behind so I could prepare a place for us to stay,” he replied.

“Why did they not come on with you? It would seem to me that it would be better to stay in a group and find lodgings together,” Annaka noted.

Keegan sighed. “We would have done so, but one of my friends is very, very ill,” he explained.

“Oh, no! I am sorry to hear this, but do not worry!” Annaka said brightly. “My family will also arrange for a healer to attend your friend. It is the least we can do for all that you have done for us.”

Keegan laughed. “I only stopped a runaway horse and am escorting you home. Any gentleman would have done the same,” he said.

Annaka ducked her head slightly, “Oh, well, yes. Of course. But my family will show their gratitude, nonetheless. I can guarantee it.”

Keegan nodded, his brows knitting as a question came to his mind. “Were you riding all by yourself? Did you have no escort?” he asked in curiosity.

“Oh, no, I had an escort with me. My family says that it is not fitting for a young lady to go riding alone!” She squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. “My escort’s horse went into a panic just before my poor horse did. When my horse bolted, I lost sight of him. I do hope the poor man is all right. He seemed rather upset and nervous right before the whole incident happened.”

Suspicion sprung up in Keegan’s mind, but he pushed the thought aside, determining not to get involved. “I’m sure he’ll be all right,” Keegan replied.

They rode on in silence, but as they approached the gate, Keegan began to grow more somber. Entering through city gates had always made him nervous. He had to fight the desire to reach up with his left hand and rub his right shoulder where the Wovlen tattoo was forever imprinted on his skin.

The large gate had white flags trimmed in gold hanging on either side of it, and under each flag there was a sentry in armor with weapons at their sides. The two relaxing sentries looked up at the sound of the horses coming. They looked at Keegan dismissively, but when their eyes shifted to Annaka they instantly stood to their feet and looked back at Keegan with hard expressions, one grasping his sword hilt and the other taking up his lance defensively.

Keegan steeled himself for an onslaught of questioning. City gates bothered him, but suspicious sentries bothered him even more. Both the sentries glanced back at Annaka, and their faces softened and puzzled expressions came over their faces. Keegan glanced back at Annaka to see her quickly lower her hand from her face and put on a pathetically innocent expression.

“Don’t worry. They won’t bite too hard,” she reassured.

Keegan knit his brows in suspicion and turned back to face the sentries. The sentries relaxed and wiped the puzzled expressions from their faces, but they still ordered Keegan to halt as the horses stepped onto the drawbridge.

“What is your business?” the older sentry asked in a firm tone of voice.

Keegan cleared his throat. “I am taking this girl home. Her horse bolted with her, and she has lost her escort,” he replied in a calm and firm tone of voice.

Annaka nodded her head in agreement, “Oh, yes, something frightened my horse badly, and I lost control of him, then this man saved me and was politely taking me home, and he has friends that are coming, and they need a place to stay, and…” Annaka slowed down and narrowed her eyes at the sentries, “And, I was hoping to help him find a place to stay.” Her tone of voice was soft but very pointed. She stared rigidly at the two guards for a moment then quickly relaxed and sat up straight. “So now, would you gentlemen please be so kind as to stop asking questions and allow us to pass through?” she asked with a tired sigh.

The lead sentry chuckled. “At least the lass did not lose her tongue along with her runaway horse,” he said as he stepped out of the way. “You may continue.”

Keegan nodded to the two sentries and urged Ardor forward. They slowly passed under the great arch of the gate and emerged from its shadow into the stone streets of the busy city. People bustled to and fro, trying to finish the day’s errands, calling to each other from across the street, having conversations at the outdoor taverns, and arguing prices with traveling vendors.

Most of the people on the street seemed to know Annaka and would call out and bow to her, wishing her well. Some folks stared up at Keegan curiously, but their curious expressions would usually turn into smiles at the sight of Annaka. She soaked the attention in. She smiled and waved at the children and gave kind compliments to all those who passed by.

It occurred to Keegan as he observed the attention given Annaka that there was probably few people in this city who would not be overjoyed to do Annaka’s every bidding and cater to her every whim. Everyone knew who she was, and they all seemed to adore her. She must be the daughter of someone very important. He hoped that he was not getting into a mess by helping her. If she was the daughter of some diplomat, he dreaded to think where that could lead, especially as he thought back on Annaka’s insistence that her family would reward him for his service.