Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns: An Epic Fantasy Dragon Novel (Dragonia Empire Book 1)
Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns – Chapter 11

A small breeze brushed across the back of Devarius’s neck, sending chills down his spine. A ribbon of unsettled nerves wrapped around him, leaving him unsure. Devarius’s skin pricked as though he were being watched. He shook off the feeling. Dusk approached as they neared the lake. They took a break as they said their farewells.

Devarius walked over to Aquila to embrace her. He kissed her forehead and stroked her hair. She trembled underneath his touch.

“Keep everyone safe,” he whispered.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Aquila asked as she peered at Dasyra from the corner of her eye.

“I have to do something.”

She nodded. “Be careful.”

His lips quirked into a smile. “Always.”

Devarius joined Paedyn and Dasyra. He kept his focus forward, not wanting to turn around to look at those he left behind. A shiver traveled along his body, and he hoped he would see them again.

He welcomed the silence of their walk through the fresh early morning, but as he’d suspected, it didn’t last for long.

“So, we’re traveling to Trevium for supplies?” Dasyra asked.

“Yes,” Devarius replied.

“Then, where are we going?” she asked.

“Then …” Devarius sighed. “We’ll meet up with the others and continue our journey.”

“At the lake?”

“Where else would they go?”

“Are we still traveling to Laeraed?”

“Why would we travel there if that’s where they think we’re going now?” He glared at her.

“Look … I’m sorry.” She felt the wounds on her forearms with her fingertips. “I was afraid he’d slice me to pieces, then cut my head off like he did the old man’s. Then, what if he went to somebody else—what if he targeted the children next?” She sighed. “I’ve never been tortured before.”

Devarius gritted his teeth. “It’s in the past.”

“I’m surprised you let me come with you.”

Devarius raised an eyebrow. “Let you come? Paedyn and I decided to come to the city to gather supplies for everyone.” He studied her with clenched eyes. “You insisted you needed to come with us. You insisted that without your help, we would spend all our coins with barely anything to show for it.”

“He has a point,” Paedyn said. “You were rather insistent that two men were too incompetent to gather supplies for the needs of thirty people.”

“I didn’t say it like that,” she pouted.

“You implied it,” Devarius stated flatly.

“Everyone agreed with me. I am the daughter of a merchant. I know the cost of supplies.”

“Everyone?” Paedyn questioned.

“Well, many …”

“Look, it’s over,” Devarius said. “Let’s make the best of it. There are many people who are depending on us.”

“How exactly are we going to get inside the city?” Dasyra asked. “Don’t you think they’ll be looking for us there?”

“Yes, they will.”

“So, what is the plan?”

“We sneak in.”

“How are we going to sneak in through the gate?”

Devarius raised an eyebrow. “We never said we were going in the front.”

“Is there another entrance?”

“No,” Devarius said.

“Then how—”

“Just follow us. Paedyn and I have done this before.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” she huffed.

He shrugged.

“So, if we’re not going to Laeraed, where are we going?”

“We know nothing about the Resistance. All we know is, if we do nothing, the Dragonia Empire will continue to massacre thousands of people. We were traveling to Laeraed because it’s a straight path south along the river, which makes for easy traveling. We had planned to stop at every village and city along the way, hoping to replace out more information about where we should actually travel. Since they will be looking for us in Laeraed, east seems to be a logical course.”

“East? Where to?” Dasyra asked.

“Sephreal isn’t too far away. We can start there and see where the road takes us. It may be best if we all just lay low there for a while, until the dragonriders give up their search.”

“Will they give up?” she asked.

“I don’t know.”

Devarius motioned for her to be silent, and hoped she would heed his warning. Months of travel with the party had taught him one thing … Dasyra didn’t know how to be quiet. They reached the eastern side of Trevium. Tall trees cluttered the outside of the wall. He motioned Paedyn to stay with Dasyra while he scouted the area.

He returned with a satisfied nod, then climbed a large pine tree with the aid of two solid daggers. When he reached high enough, he was thankful for the long shadows of twilight. He wore black clothing, which blended well with the tone of his skin, allowing him to melt into the darkness. However, when he peered across the other side of the wall, he noticed the nearest section of the city was nearly empty. He pulled the rope off his shoulder, tied it around a nub on the wall, and dropped it to the others below. Devarius dared not wait for them to climb up. He rolled over the wall and used his daggers against the seams of the stone wall to ease himself down.

When his feet touched the ground, he scanned the immediate area. Nothing but an empty alley surrounded him. One guard loitered nearby, whom Devarius rendered unconscious by stalking him from behind and knocking him on the back of the head with a loose stone. After securing him by tying his hands and feet, he returned to the gate. Paedyn was waiting for him, dusting off his arms.

“Where’s Dasyra?” Devarius whispered.

“Climbing isn’t exactly her forte.”

Devarius glanced up and saw a shaking Dasyra on the top of the wall, clinging to it like a wren on a swaying reed.

He inhaled loudly. After retrieving the two daggers from his belt, Devarius climbed back up the wall. When he reached the top, he grabbed Dasyra, tossed her over his shoulder, repositioned the rope to inside, grabbed ahold of it, and slid down. When his feet touched the ground, he set Dasyra down and yanked the rope loose.

“That’s why”—Dasyra panted—“you insisted I wear gloves like you.”

Devarius glared at her.

“Did you just pull that rope, and it came undone?”

Devarius blinked.

“What if it would have done that as we were climbing?”

“Let’s move,” Devarius said.

He nodded for them to follow him through an alley. Devarius made sure all of his daggers were hidden before he pulled the hood of his black cloak over his head. He stopped when the alley ended. Devarius could hear the commotion of feet pattering against the ground, and voices chatting to each other. He poked his head out. This part of the city was busy. Hundreds of people scurried about, some visiting merchant stands and others going into the shops. A few disinterested guards patrolled the area, more interested in chatting amongst themselves than inspecting anyone too closely. Men and women on the streets wore hooded cloaks as well, making it easy for them to blend in.

“Is everyone ready?” Devarius asked. “We should blend in well with the townspeople.”

Paedyn drew his hood over his head. “Ready.”

Dasyra scowled. “Must we wear the hood?”

“Do you really want to end up in a prison with the frisky guards of this city?” Devarius asked.

Dasyra secured her hood with a snarl.

Devarius strolled out into the commotion, doing his best to match the stride of those around him. Paedyn caught up with him, walking by his side. Dasyra stayed behind them slightly, her head constantly turning from side to side. Devarius gritted his teeth as he watched Dasyra from the corner of his eye. He hoped she wouldn’t give them away. She didn’t know how to act casual.

They stopped at a local merchant table with fresh bread and fruit. Devarius began browsing the wares. He selected a basket of mixed fruit and six loaves of bread.

The merchant woman smiled at him. “Ten silver.”

He reached for his coin purse when Dasyra put her hand on his arm. Devarius squinted at her.

“Six gold. What are you trying to pull on us? Unless you want to throw in a half dozen cakes as well.”

The merchant gritted her teeth. “Six silver.”

Devarius slipped six coins from the purse and handed them to the merchant. She studied each coin carefully, biting one of them, before nodding. Devarius haggled a paper bag from the woman to put the fruit and bread inside. He turned to continue searching the merchant tables.

“Thanks,” he whispered under his breath.

Dasyra smiled. “Don’t mention it.”

They stopped by a few more shops, buying dried meat and vegetables for the group. As they neared the end of their business, Devarius stopped. Paedyn and Dasyra crashed into him.

“What is it?” Paedyn asked.

“Is that the dragonrider who captured us?”

Paedyn glanced over Devarius’s shoulder. “Yes … I believe so. There’s someone with him.” He strained his eyes. “Another dragonrider?”

“Perhaps,” Devarius said. “Make sure they don’t see you.”

The three buried themselves in the crowd, hoping to get swallowed up so they wouldn’t be discovered.

“What’s the plan?” Paedyn asked.

“We still need to get cloth for blankets and clothes. We’re just going to have to be cautious and keep an eye on them.”

Paedyn and Dasyra nodded before glancing around nervously.

Devarius motioned for them to follow him as he crossed the road to the other side of the merchant square. They made their way toward the two dragonriders on the opposite side of the crowded street. With any luck, they’d be able to slip past them to the local apothecary and seamstress without notice before they departed the city. They made it around the two dragonriders without notice and into the small apothecary shop. Devarius shivered when he stepped inside. Paedyn let out a deep breath.

They perused the different spices and herbs in jars. Paedyn grabbed Devarius’s arm.

“Where is Dasyra?”

Devarius froze. He turned around, walked to the door of the apothecary shop, and glanced outside. Dasyra cast furtive glances back at them as she slowly approached the two dragonriders.

“She’s heading toward the dragonriders,” Devarius whispered.

“That didn’t take her long,” Paedyn said.

“I thought she’d be more stealthy about it, yes. Well, it seems we don’t have much time to finish our business. I’m glad we carried the bags instead of her.”

“May I help you?” an elderly woman asked from behind the counter.

“Yes, I’m sorry.” Devarius stepped over to her. “We need a few simple medicines, one for wounds and a few more for common illnesses. We’re going to be on the road for a while and want to be prepared.”

She smiled. “Very well.” She reached for a few containers.

“Do you have any medicine for the mind back there?” Paedyn asked.

She tilted her head. “Mind medicine? Does your mind need medicine?”

“Yes, quite ill, my mind is,” Paedyn responded. “Any pipe tobacco or pipe weed in one of those jars?”

“Ah, yes, but that does much more for you than settle the mind, dear one. For some people, it helps tremendously.”

“Oh, yes.” Paedyn smiled. “I know. I’m one of them.”

She shook her head, grabbed ten different small jars and placed them all in a bag.

Devarius peeked over his shoulder, making sure no dragonriders were about to burst through the door.

“How much?” he asked.

“Eight gold.”

He nodded, retrieved eight gold pieces from his purse, and laid them on the counter. “Thank you.”

Devarius and Paedyn spun around and headed out the door. Dasyra had just reached the dragonriders. Devarius grabbed Paedyn’s sleeve and dragged him around the corner into an alley.

“What next?” Paedyn asked.

“We replace our way out of here before those dragonriders replace us.”

“What about the cloth?”

“It’s too late. Dasyra didn’t give us enough time.”

“We should have had a talk with her about when the proper time to turn against us was.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Devarius said.

They traveled through the alleys at a fast pace. Devarius stopped abruptly, causing Paedyn to collide with him.

“What is it?”

“Exactly what we’re looking for. A woodworking shop.”

Paedyn grinned. “I told you my plan would work.”

Devarius raised his eyebrows. “We’ll see.”

They rushed to the shop. Careful to make sure no one saw them, Devarius slipped inside. A man in his late forties sat with his back to the door, carving a small wooden boat. Devarius quietly stepped behind him, slid his left arm over his neck, and pulled it back tight with his right hand pulling his left fist. The man kicked and tried to grunt, but no words came with Devarius blocking his air passage.

“I’m sorry,” Devarius whispered.

The man struggled for a few more minutes before he slumped in Devarius’s arms. He gently laid the unconscious man on the ground.

“Hey did you—” Paedyn paused, glancing to the man on the ground. “Is he?”

“He’s alive. Did you replace any boats?”

“Better. I found a wagon, horses, and eight canoes in the shed next to the shop.”

“Since when are we ever that lucky?” Devarius asked.

“Since never.” Paedyn grinned. “Hey … is that a toy boat?”

Devarius looked to the small wooden boat on the bench.

“Yes,” Devarius said.

“Can I have it?” Paedyn asked.

“What?”

“I’ve always wanted a toy boat.”

“No,” Devarius said.

“But … why?”

“He’s not finished with it. Now, come on, we have to get out of here.”

“Can we get one at the next village we stop at?”

“We’ll see,” Devarius said.

The pair packed the eight canoes they had found onto the wagon. Devarius loaded the wagon with their supplies and several bags of grain he found for the horses. He fed some to the horses as Paedyn prepared the wagon for their journey. Devarius covered their supplies with cloth to hide them from prying eyes. When they were ready to leave, Devarius paused, tiptoed back over to the workbench, looked at the unconscious man on the ground, and sighed. He unfastened his coin purse and looked inside. They only had twenty gold coins left. Devarius set the coin purse on the desk next to the toy boat and went back to the wagon. He knew it wasn’t enough to pay for the wagon or the canoes, and especially not the horses, but hopefully the man could see that they needed the supplies.

“Ready?” Paedyn raised his eyebrows.

Devarius climbed atop the wagon next to him, grabbing the reins of the horses. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Paedyn grinned. Devarius flicked the reins. The horses sped out of the rear of the wood shop and into the night. They studied their surroundings carefully as they made their way toward the main entrance of the city. Both suns had already set. The sky was dark, with only slivers of the orange and blue moons illuminated to the north and south. Devarius hoped if Dasyra had blabbed to the dragonriders, they’d be searching the rear of the village where they had slipped in. Usually, no one looked directly under their dragon’s belly for something.

When they reached the main streets of the city, the dragonriders were nowhere to be seen. Devarius let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding as they made their way to the entrance.

A guard halted them at the gate. “Awfully late to be heading out tonight, isn’t it?”

Paedyn grinned. “Supplies are needed north in Kaed.”

“It’s a dark and ominous night out there. Are you sure it wouldn’t be best to stay the night here in a warm bed and travel in the morning?”

“Best? Perhaps. But I’m eager to deliver these supplies. When I deliver the supplies promptly, the warm bed comes free.” He winked.

“Ah, I see. Well, safe travels then.”

Devarius flicked the reins again, and the horses sped out of Trevium. The men relaxed for a moment, allowing themselves a flutter of hope.

“All right. I’ll give you credit. Your plan worked.”

“I told you my plan was foolproof.”

Devarius laughed. “We’ll see. We’re still not safe yet.”