Dragon's Future--Chapter 13 d

Upon entering the mercantile, they noticed a large crowd had gathered.  Several farmers with steads outside of the village canyon were there along with several villagers.

"I say, I saw dragon fire," one farmer was stating.  "It was turquoise and icy blue.  I also saw small spurts of a blue the color of the blue flowers in the canyons."

"Dragons don't fight each other," another stated.  "Even if they did, they stay away from our areas."

"I don't care what you want to believe," the first farmer answered, "but I saw what I saw."

Someone turned and saw Kyn.  "Hey," he called, "let's ask a rider.  Here's one.  He'll tell us that dragons don't fight dragons."

The whole crowd turned on the three newcomers.  The third person who had recognized Kyn as a rider, called, "Kyn, welcome home.  This farmer has a tale that sounds outrageous.  Tell us honestly, Kyn.  Do dragons fight each other?"

Kyn paused.  The moment he saw the conversation going this way, he had called to Ruskya but Ruskya was too far away.  He called Wylen to see if he could help, but the little dragon didn't know.  Kyn took a deep breath and drew on the courage that Ruskya had implanted during the battle.

"Byran, if you would have asked me that question last week, I would have said of course not.  Unfortunately, there is a dragon—a turquoise dragon—that is no good.  He attacked one of our dragons yesterday.  Several more of our dragons came to her aid.  That would be what this farmer saw."

The room erupted in an uproar.  Everyone trying to talk at once.  Farmers afraid for their crops, villagers afraid more children would be taken.  Kyn let the noise continue for a while, looked at Carryl and then decided to do some damage control.

"Quiet!" he called in a voice neither Carryl or Meredyth would have believed was his own.  It was full of power and authority.  They had heard it in older riders, but not in Kyn.

The pop of wood in the stove made someone jump; otherwise, it was silent.  

Kyn held the silence for a heartbeat longer, then said, "This turquoise dragon is not one of ours.  The riders of the colony are getting prepared to fight.  I do not know if the turquoise dragon has more where he came from or not.  I do know the rider is the same one that Kyle was in here talking about a while ago.  Have any of you seen Kyle since?"

Negative murmurs filled the room.  "We haven't seen him since that day," Byran said.

"He left with the rider.  He thinks there is a dragon waiting for him.  If there is, then there may be more dragons coming, but hear me, I said MAY be dragons.  I do not know.  I do know that the riders and dragons of Three Span Canyon will protect Woolpren.  That is our sworn duty.  Never before have we had to do so, but we will.  This I swear upon my dragon."

Carryl stepped forward, "And I," she added.

Meredyth also put in her word, "I will speak for my children.  My twins will protect the villagers.  I would suggest that all farmers come into the village.  It is winter and there are no crops.  Animals can be moved.  There are several box canyons which can be used as corrals.  Bring your animals and your families.  There are more rooms in the upper levels.  Come and be safe here.  I will send word to my twins and more dragon riders will come and talk with us about what we should do.  Is that agreeable?"

Those standing around stunned seemed to regain speech capabilities.  They all started to talk at once.  The first farmer came up to Carryl.

"What about your father?  Will he come in?"

Carryl paused and hid a shudder, "I cannot speak for him as you well know, Davyd.  If you go speak to him, he may, but he is stubborn.  He would not allow me to leave for an apprenticeship; so who knows if he will leave for his own safety."

Davyd looked at her, "It is still that way between you two?"

She nodded but said nothing.

"I had hoped you had been able to mend things.  Your father is a hard man but not a bad man.  I believe there is a good heart below it all that was crushed when your brother died."

Again Carryl only nodded.  The thought of Conyr was not what she needed right now.

"Would you go with me?  Perchance your voice may help him hear reason."

Carryl considered, "If I go, your chances of reason may be thrown out the door.  He doesn't want to see me."

"There you are wrong, child.  He has asked about you recently."

Carryl sighed.  "Then yes, I will go, but I doubt it will do any good."

The farmer placed his hand on Carryl's shoulder, "You are a good daughter.  I don't quite understand how you can vouch for the riders, but you are in the company of Kyn and Meredyth.  Say, didn't you go out with Meredyth's boy and Kyle to meet this rider?"

Again a sigh escaped her, "Davyd, I did, but I did not join up with the turquoise rider.  He was cruel like my father—no worse than my father.  Meredyth's boy as you call him, offered me a healers position with the riders.  I have been there ever since.  I am learning to heal the dragons when they need it."  She paused wondering how much to say, but decided it would be good to tell this farmer how badly Wyn was hurt.  "I saw the dragon that was attacked unawares by the turquoise dragon," she shuddered.  "The rider was dead before I could do anything.  The dragon had burns and slashes all over her.  The worse part was her grief for her dead rider.  They will need a healer in this fight.  I do not know exactly what all it is about, but I do know the turquoise rider is looking for an herb.  He thinks he can find it around here.  I have never heard of the herb before."

"Then it must be rare indeed," Davyd said.  "This rider must be terrible and what you have seen has changed you.  Meet me at the mouth of Blalock Canyon at mid-day.  We will go see your father."

"I will do what I can.  I have responsibilities to Kyn."

"Leave him with his father for the afternoon."

"I will see," was all the commitment that Carryl would give.

Davyd nodded and walked off.

Carryl looked around the room and noticed most had dispersed.  Kyn was talking to the one called Byran.  

Carryl walked over and overheard Kyn say, "If you help us fight, you don't have to worry about the riders.  There are no extra dragons right now.  Your kids are safe."

"How can I be sure of that, Kyn?"  the man wanted to know.

"Byran, have I ever lied to you before?" Kyn waited for the man to acknowledge the question with a shake of his head.  "Then trust me now.  There are no plans for a procession this next winter—not for another two at least.  By then, the methods may be changed.  There is talk among the riders to change things.  I was not chosen by normal methods," Kyn noticed Carryl and added, "neither was she.  Change comes slowly to dragons, but with this attack, some things will change quickly for the good.  I believe the processions will be one of them."

"I hope you are right," the man said with a sigh.  "Until then, we have our families to protect.  Will the turquoise dragon come here?"

"I don't know," Kyn replied.  "Kyle knows about the village and that riders were villagers at one time.  He may try to come here.  I don't see what advantages it would give him though.  I still agree with lady Meredyth that everyone should come here.  The dragon fire can't eat through the rock walls.  The canyon itself is narrow and easily defended."

"Then I will do as you say, and get my family together.  My older children have made families of their own and are out on farms.  I will go warn them to come home.  We still have room above the abode where they can all stay.  Good day, rider."

"Good day, Byran."