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DragonlustChapter II: Olgendale
“Shainya! Shaaaaainya!”
Shainya looked up from planting herbs and brushed the soil off her hands. Standing up, she jogged over to her cottage where her mother was standing, hands on hips.
“Shainya, there you are! I need you to take this to the marketplace right away, there is a trader there and we need the money. Try to get at least ten coins a loaf.”
Shainya's mother thrust three loaves of bread into her arms and shushed Shainya away.
Shainya hurried down toward the marketplace, her worn shoes slapping the dusty path. I hope we can get some more money this time. she thought, Maybe mother could then buy the medicine for Areon.
She had reached the market. The trader easy to spot, he wore garnish colors of green and gold and wore atop his head a hat with the widest brim she had ever seen. Shainya was about to approach him when suddenly the sky darkened. Shainya looked up to see two score dragons dive from the sky, spewing fire balls as they neared their prey. Olgendale was about to be wiped off the map.
Shainya threw herself to the ground as the fleet of war dragons dived low and spewed fired down upon the marketplace. Buildings were soon aflame and the smell of burning wood and flesh filled the air.
Crawling facedown, Shainya began to creep into the shadows when a large green dragon landed in front of her and peered at her evilly with beady eyes. Flame erupted from its mouth and Shainya screamed as her entire body was set on fire. Flailing wildly, she ran off in the direction of the village well, the flames licking at her flesh. Suddenly she was falling through darkness and she knew no more.
Pain exploded through Shainya’s body. Groaning, she lifted her head and tried to focus her eyes. After a minute she succeeded, she was in the well. She sat up slowly, crying out in pain. Sitting in foot deep water, she slowly examined her battered body. There were burns all over her body and one of her ankle felt sprained.
It could have been worse... she thought, I could be dead...
Shainya was in agony. She could barely keep her head above the murky water to keep herself from drowning; she was so tired. Hunger wracked her body and every time she moved pain shot through her. Shainya heard a sound. Sitting up, she tried to identify the noise. She could not be sure, but it sounded like the mournful tune of a stringed instrument. Excited, she pounded the side of the well with her fists and screamed at the top of her voice. The music stopped and she could hear footsteps coming near. The effort of making herself known was too much for her and she slipped into blackness.
Bacon....I haven't had bacon in years...
Shainya rolled over and opened her eyes. A fire crackled in front of her; bacon was sizzling in a pan, the smell enticing. Shainya reached out for the food but stopped, groaning, when pain lanced through her battered body. A hand gently forced her back down and a voice murmured, “Easy there, don't strain yourself...you’re lucky to be alive…”
Shainya looked up into ice-blue eyes. “Who...are you?” she croaked.
“My name is Dale,” was the reply.
Shainya looked blearily at him. “What...you...doing here?” she mumbled.
Dale returned to the fire and skewered the bacon with a knife. “I was wandering through this area when I saw smoke and fire. I found no one alive and I was about to leave when I heard your cries.”
Shainya blanched. No one left alive? She scrambled to her feet, swaying. Dale tried to push her back down saying, “Don’t, you’re not fit to…” but she pushed him aside.
“Go ‘way.” she murmured. She steadied herself and turned around, surveying the horror around her. Not a building was standing; everything was smoldering - both human and houses. Shainya eyes filled with tears, and she sankemule applejuice gratis back into darkness.
Later that night, Dale shook her awake. “Some one approaches…” he whispered.
Bjarn sagged in his saddle and the three horses whinnied nervously as they entered the burnt ruins of the small village of Olgendale. He wrinkled his nose as a whiff of charred human flesh reached his nostrils. Bjarn dismounted and tied the horses to a post. He readied his bow and stalked quietly in the growing dark, ready at a moment to flee or fight. He cocked his remaining ear and listened carefully.
What was that?
He could here rustling ahead of him. Was it friend or foe? Bjarn crept forward and then stopped. Two people were ahead of him, trying to not be seen. Bjarn stepped forward boldly and shouted.
“My name is Bjarn, and I am of the Forestmen. What has happened here and why are you hiding?”
The two figures shifted. One stood up and approached Bjarn slowly, raising a long, lop-sided object for protection. Bjarn loosened his bow and replaced the arrow.
“I mean no harm.” he assured.
The figure lowered it's weapon and straightened. “Then you are welcome, Bjarn of the Forestmen. I am Dale, a wanderer and bard.”
Bjarn shook the hand of Dale and nodded. “Who is your companion?”
Dale's eyes softened. “She is called Shainya, and she is the sole remaining resident of Olgendale. I fear she is wounded greatly, both in mind and body. I have no skill in the art of healing and have been unable to aid her. Might you help?”
“I, too, have little skill at healing, but I will see what I can do.”
Bjarn approached Shainya carefully. She was once again asleep, and was not aware of his presence. Bjarn quietly examined her while Dale concentrated on starting a fire.
I wish Reno was here... thought Bjarn, Dreadful burns, broken bones...this poor girl is a mess.
Bjarn straightened and walked over to Dale.
“Well?” Dale asked, “Can you help her?”
“I can set her broken bones and try to cool her fever, but there is nothing I can do about her many burns. We need to get her to a real healer, and fast.”
Bjarn and Dale quickly set up a crude sling on one of the horses Bjarn had and placed Shainya in it as carefully as possible. They got on to the other to horse and began to trot away from the remains of Olgendale.
“Do you know where to find a healer?”
“I know of one…” Bjarn said quietly.
Through the night Bjarn and Dale traveled, Shainya still sleeping deeply in the makeshift stretcher. Dawn broke over the hills to the east, but Bjarn and Dale did not notice. It was nearly noon before they reached another Crusader village, but not one person was to be seen. While Bjarn kept a low profile tending the horses, Dale entered the village on foot. Soon, he was back again, shaking his head.
“Everyone’s inside their houses, scared stiff. They’re all afraid the Dragon Masters will attack them after they learned the fate of Olgendale.”
Bjarn shrugged as he retied the ropes that held Shainya to the stretcher. “Then we’ll manage without supplies until we get to another town, there’s got to be a place somewhere in this megabloks Crusader land that don't have people who cower inside their tidy little houses.”
Dale stared at the old Forester awhile before saying, “Why are you doing this?”
Bjarn looked up, startled. “What?”
Dale continued, “Why are you helping us? We both just met only hours ago and know nothing about each other, yet you help Shainya and myself while risking your own safety.”
“I'm not risking anything.”
“Yes you are, I've heard of you. You are wanted all over the Crusaders land for stealing a ship from the port city of Farburg!”
Aaaaaahhh…the Shadow… Bjarn thought to himself, Well, it’s not been the first time I’ve been wanted for stealing by the Crusaders…
“Well?” Dale prompted, “Why are you helping us?”
Bjarn glared at the young bard. “I have my reasons. Now get on the horse, we must continue if we are to save your Shainya.”
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