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DragonlustChapter XI: The Hermit
The Neverwood Forest is a treacherous place, filled with a wide variety of dangerous creatures. Few are those, even of the brave, who dare to enter. But it is said that there is one who walks unhindered in the shadows of the trees. This man, it is said can tame the creatures and bend them to his will. But then there are a lot of things said about that man and if you want the truth you had better ask him.
The forest was dark, the first rays of the morning failing to penetrate into the deep forest. The birds were out, singing their various songs in the stillness of the morning, as they fluttered from branch to branch under the canopy of the trees. One bird however was flying high in the air. Circling, swooping, eventually flying back to the clearing that he came from. The clearing itself was filled with runes. Partial towers and walls, fallen spires and broken staircases, the last remnants of an ancient fortress. The hawk circled the runes once more before finally coming to rest on his master's arm.
“What news Griffin?” the man said. Gib paid close attention as the hawk proceeded into a long series of croaks, caws, and head movements before finally flying off again.
“So there is trouble in the west.” Gib said to himself as he watched the bird disappear.
I wonder where Jackal is? he thought. Gib hadn’t seen the wolf yet today.
Perhaps he decided to go hunting before I woke up. Gib thought. This was not unusual. The wolf was more of a loner then the bird and the bear. Gib looked over at Grizzle. He was still sleeping, still snoring his snuffly bearish snores.
He’ll wake up with the light no doubt. Gib thought. But he was wrong. Already the bear had rolled over and in a moment he was up, shaking his shaggy head free of sleep. Gib wasn't off by much though. The sun was rising higher now and sunlight began to fill the clearing.
The forest was a large one, reaching far into both Classic LEGOland and Dragon Masters land. The clearing itself was almost on the border and the ruins were probably those of an old outpost. Of course no one patrolled the border there anymore. The Classic Emperor’s view was that if someone could make it though that forest alive the border-guard probably wouldn’t be able to stop him anyway. Of course the forest wasn’t as dangerous at all that but it was better that people thought so.
“Come on Grizzle.” said Gib. “We’ve got work to do.”
And the two of them headed west, into Dragon Masters country.
Gib and Grizzle made their way to the western edge of the forest, traveling by the quickest route they knew. There were roads in the Neverwood but these were much too dangerous for use. For one thing there were the tree-traps, which were various traps involving vegetation.
For example, there were roots that couldn’t be stepped on without with out toppling the tree down on top of you. Then there were the brambles that would strangle you as you tried to escape. Finally there were the pitfalls, narrow openings just large enough for a man to fall in and get stuck. These were cleverly covered up with twigs and leaves. But whether these tree-traps were some mischief of the trees, or the workings of some ancient forest guardian, Gib knew not. It was not unusual to find skeletons ensnared in these traps, though never any animal skeletons. They seemed to have a nose for the things and would always avoid them.
Gib remembered how Gart had first discovered the traps and had kept them both from peril many times. Gart always had been good at that. He could skip down the roads without one worry. But Gart was not with him now and he preferred not to think about it.
Gib himself had learned to recognize the traps eventually but this was only when he examined them closely. For this reason Gib never used the roads, preferring to travel along the streams and bear-paths.
Of course the forest's danger did not lie on the roads alone. There were dangerous bogs and places giant spiders dwelt. Gib however, always avoided these.
It was two hours to midday when they stopped. There were noises up ahead. Voices, chains and footsteps. Men footsteps and dragon footsteps.
They continued more quietly now, eventually coming upon a road crossing their path. The noises were coming closer now. Evidently the strangers were traveling down the path.
Gib and the bear took cover and watched as a strange procession came into view. In the front were two men, obviously Dragon Masters. A tall man with an eye patch seemed to be the leader. By his armor one could tell his high rank. The smaller one had a scar on his face and walked with his sword unsheathed, as though he expected to be ambushed any second. These two however were not as strange as the thing behind them.
It appeared to be a dragon, though one could hardly tell it. On its mouth was a muzzle. Gib didn’t know how it worked but its purpose was obvious.
No fire breath for this dragon. he thought.
Its tail, which drooped lifelessly, had had its spikes cut off and what had once been its wings were now only shreds. Upon its back it carried a large pack and had many scars and cuts in his scales. It had two collars on its neck, each with a chain leading to one of his captors. The collars especially caught Gib’s attention. He had seen them before on a dancing bear when he was a child. They were choke collars, collars that tightened if the chain was pulled and only could be un-tightened by a man. Still, disheveled as the dragon was, Gib still couldn't help but notice his size. It was one of the largest he had seen.
“Hold up for a moment.” the taller man said suddenly, “I think I’ve got a stone in my boot.”
“I don’t like it,” said the small knight, “I tell you I don’t like it.”
“Ah, quit your whining.” the first one said. “We’ll be out of these woods before you know it.”
“Says you. For all we know we may never get out and what about your brother? What if he’s still following us?”
“You let me worry about him. When we get out of these woods we’ll head strait to Crusader land and collect our reward. With that and the loot we stole we’ll be living like kings.”
“Well it’s enough for me that we’re out of dragon lands. I hate dragons. The sooner we get rid of this big lizard the better.”
Now the tall knight with the eye patch chuckled.
“Of course you would be born into a Dragon Masters family. How ironic.”
“What are you laughing for? That’s why you’re leaving too isn’t it?”
“Oh I don’t mind the dragons so much but I didn’t have much of a future there with my brother taking all the credit for my work. Luckily for us my brother, cursed be his name, is afraid of these woods and that is why I chose this route.”
“Yeah, well it’s a shame that his wings were shredded. We could have flown out.”
“What! I thought you hated dragons.”
“I do. But I am beginning to hate this forest more.”
“Well then, we best get a move on.” the taller man said standing up.
Just then the dragon raised it’s head.
It must smell us! thought Gib and he may have been right, but judging by the fiery look in the dragon’s eye he had more then just Gib on his mind.
Suddenly the dragon charged at the two knights, who both dove to a different side of the road in an attempt to pull the choke collars tight. The dragon was too quick for this, however, and grabbed each one of the chains with one of his scaly hands. Then, before anyone could think, the dragon spun quickly, throwing the men into the air.
The tall man with the eye patch flew right over Gib’s head and landed in the bushes behind. The smaller man had a better grip on his chain however and landed on the road. He had barely hit the road before the dragon started running, and run he did, dragging the Dragon Master right over a pitfall and then he was stopped short.
The small knight had managed to keep a hold of his sword though it all and this he had stabbed though a chain link and into the ground, thus bringing the dragon to a quick halt. Now the dragon lay there, gasping for air.
“Why you filthy little…”
The scarred knight was up again and he was furious. Cursing, he ran at the dragon. Gib had never been too fond of dragons but he couldn’t help feeling sorry as he watched the knight beat the dragon unmercifully with his sword.
Just then he was startled by a noise behind him. He whirled around just in time to block a sword blow with his staff. It was the leader.
“Hold, Marus. To me. We are ambushed.” he cried. Gib looked about franticly. Where was Grizzle? This wasn't the first time the bear had wandered off. Of course the animals weren’t Gib’s pets and could do what they liked. The bear must have wandered off while Gib wasn't paying attention.
Why did he have to go looking for berries now? Gib thought. The Dragon Master dealt another blow which was barely turned aside by Gib. He never had been much of a fighter and since he had been caught in his hiding place he already had the disadvantage of being down on his back. Still, his was made of ironwood and didn't break. Then there were two of them. The smaller man had come to help his partner and Gib knew that he couldn’t fight them both. He was done for.
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