Page 20 of Henry & the Dragon
He slammed the blade into Neron’s chest, wincing when an unholy shriek escaped as bone and flesh parted under the sword’s force. It lasted but a moment, and when it was done, Neron lay dead at Henry’s feet.
He should feel guilty. Something. But no, he was relieved, because now his mother wouldn’t have to suffer Neron any longer. He sat by the body for a time, his mind racing. He’d intended on asking Kai to take him away from Innernook, but he wasn’t sure what happened to his love.
He snorted. His love. Could one truly be in love with a person after only a few days? The ache in Henry’s heart at the thought Kai could be dead told him it was indeed possible. He rose to his feet, then gave thought to burying the bodies, but knew the creatures of the wood would be attracted and take them for their own use.
Instead, Henry stumbled toward the trees, praying to a merciful god that he find Kai. The first thing he found was blood spilled on the soil. So much of it. Even more than Neron had spilled when Henry cleaved his chest. He continued deeper amongst the trees, and froze when he found clothes that had been stained red.
“No,” he whimpered as he clutched the bloodied garments to his chest. “Please, gods. Not Kai.”
After much searching, Henry didn’t found a body, but that meant nothing. Kai could have been taken by the creatures of the woods, or by the dragon itself. Then he had a thought. Could Kai still live? Would the dragon carry him off to his lair? It was foolish, but it gave Henry a glimmer of hope to think it might be true.
“I will find you, Kai. This do I vow.”
He made his way back to where he started and turned his eyes toward the sky. The sun would rise in a few hours. He needed to be elsewhere by that time. He would go west. Kai had said that was where he’d come from. If he was unable to find Kai, perhaps he might find his family, so that he could tell them…. So he could tell them Kai might be dead.
A soft nicker drew Henry’s attention, and he found a group of horses huddled not far from the woods. Unwilling to let them be eaten, he approached them, and took their ropes in his hand. He climbed on the biggest one, then headed west. If he came upon a town, he could sell three of the horses to give him money which he could use on the journey.
His heart ached, but Henry refused to give in to grief. Unless he found Kai’s body, he would hold out hope that Kai yet lived, and the two of them would be reunited. That had to be his true focus. His mother had been right. He did love Kai. It made little sense, but Henry was certain that Kai was to be his future. All he had to do was find him.
With a soft whistle, and a nudge to the sides of the beast he rode, Henry began the journey to find his love and to bring him home.
Chapter 7
Henry rode for many days, stopping only occasionally to allow the horses to partake of the cold river and to nibble the grasses. He wondered how his mother was faring, especially when news of Neron’s death would reach the village. She’d know it was him, of this Henry was certain. The few hours of sleep that he got each night were plagued with nightmares of Kai pleading for Henry to help him, but oddly not one dream about having killed a monster like Neron.
After another day, Henry came upon the town of Rorsha. It was much larger than Innernook, with two inns, three taverns, and an assortment of stores and shops. The first thing Henry did was visit the livery, where he offered to sell three horses to the stable master. The man turned a critical eye toward them, stroked a hand down their flanks, peered underneath at their stomachs, felt their legs, then stared into their eyes, and finally, checked their teeth. When he’d done to this to each horse, he’d offered Henry thirty gold! Henry had never had so much. He gladly accepted the offer, then asked about the inns.
“If you’re looking for a companion to spend time with, Vera’s will suit you.”
At first, Henry didn’t understand. “Why would I need a companion?”
The old man gave a toothless grin. “All young men need a woman to help with their…needs.”
Then Henry understood and his stomach churned at the thought He was only interested in Kai, and no one else would do. “Oh, no. I have no desire for companionship. I only wish to sleep for a time, then I will head out again.”
The livery man cocked his head, his gaze wandering up and down Henry’s body, much like he had with the horses. “Vera can procure boys for you, if that’s what you prefer.”
Never had Henry heard someone blatantly speak of men in such a manner.
“No, I wish no one.”
The man shrugged. “As you wish. Vera’s is still probably the better of the two inns. Although she does charge a few coppers more, you get a meal and a bath included.”
After the time spent on the road, Henry would be delighted to bathe. He tried to always be clean, unlike Neron, who had no problem fouling the air with his stench. To be fair, many of the people of Innernook rarely bathed. Henry believed one day it would lead to problems, so he always tried to keep himself as clean as possible.
After the livery man gave him directions, Henry made his way toward the inn, his limbs heavy with exhaustion. Still, he marveled at the town. People bustled to and fro, shopkeepers hawked their wares of everything from weapons to the enticing aromas of hearth baked breads, roasting meats, and savory desserts to shoppers who milled in the square. Henry stopped and browsed a few moments, then bought some turnips, apples, dried fruit, and a few other things he would need for a long journey. When he’d offered the young woman the coin, she’s frowned at him.
“We cannot make so much change,” she’d said, her eyes still wide.
Never in his life had Henry heard that. Then again, no one he knew had gold, so it wasn’t as though he couldn’t understand. Since he was unable to give her smaller coins, he bought more things, including a rucksack to carry supplies in, as well as blankets and bedding should he need to sleep outdoors. When he’d finished, the supplies the vendor had were empty, and shewas giddy. Henry was amazed to discover he was nowhere near a gold, and still he had food for several months. How much was it actually worth?
By the time he’d visited other vendors and reached a gold, he had so much he doubted even the horse could carry it, and there was nowhere he could store it. He was dragging the sack when he noticed a little girl, her hair matted, and her clothes threadbare, holding out a hand to shoppers, only to be rebuffed. He made his way to where she was, tears in her eyes.
“What’s wrong, little one?”
She jerked around and stared openmouthed. “Sir, do you have a coin? My mother is sick, and I need it to buy food.”
He smiled at her and patted the heavy satchel he was dragging behind him. “I have plenty of food. Shall we go see your mother?”
