Page 19 of Fire and Fate
They push past us, hurrying toward their own horses, clearly eager to put as much distance between themselves and the dragons as possible. I watch them go, noting the genuine fear in their body language. These are not people exaggerating for effect. They believe what they are saying.
Kaia's hand finds mine, her determination moving through our bond. If anything, their warnings have only strengthened her resolve. She wants to see these dragons for herself, wants to understand what they truly are beyond the stories and propaganda.
We enter the tavern, the atmosphere morphing from the sunny ambiance outside to a space thick with smoke and conversation. The area is crowded with locals and travelers, all gathered around rough wooden tables with mugs of ale or cider. The barkeep, a sturdy woman with graying hair and sharp eyes, nods at us in acknowledgment but does not interrupt her current conversation with a customer.
We find a table in the corner, somewhat removed from the main flow of traffic, and settle in to listen. It is not difficult to catch fragments of conversation as everyone here seems eager to share their dragon stories.
"My cousin swears she saw one land in a field just outside town. Said it was the most beautiful thing she ever witnessed, all orange and red and white scales catching the sunlight."
"Beautiful? They are deadly! Remember what happened to that hunting party last month?"
"That hunting party was trying to kill one and take its head. Of course, the dragon fought back. That is self-defense, not an unprovoked attack."
"Either way, you do not want to get too close. They are powerful beyond imagination. One breath of fire can reduce a man to ash."
I listen carefully, trying to separate fact from fiction, truth from exaggeration. The stories are wildly contradictory. Some describe dragons as mindless beasts that destroy everything in their path. Others speak of them with almost reverent respect, as intelligent beings who simply want to be left alone. Some claim the dragons hoard treasure and magic. Others insist that is just legend, that dragons are no wealthier than any other shifter group.
The one consistent thread through all the stories is power. Everyone agrees that dragons are formidable, dangerous if provoked, and capable of destruction on a scale that few other creatures can match.
Kaia leans close so she can speak quietly without being overheard. "They make it sound like the dragons are burning everything to the ground. But look around, Sol. This town exists. These people exist. If the dragons were really pillaging and destroying everything, how would anyone survive out here?"
An excellent point. I look around the tavern with fresh eyes, studying the people gathered here. They are not cowering in fear. They are not preparing for war or evacuation. They are living their lives, going about their business, treating dragon sightings as something notable but not catastrophic. Yes, there is caution in how they speak about the creatures. Yes, there is respect born of knowing that dragons could destroy them if they chose to. But there is not the kind of existential terror that Valorian propaganda would have us believe should exist this close to dragon territory.
It is the first moment I find myself wondering if we have it all wrong. What if the dragons are not the monsters King Frederik has painted them to be? What if they are simply defending themselves against wave after wave of Alphas coming to claim their heads as trophies? What if the real monster in this storyis the greedy king sending warriors to their deaths in pursuit of power and riches that may not even exist?
The thought unsettles me. If we are wrong about the dragons, then what are we doing out here? What are we really going to find once we go further? And what magic is truly calling my princess?
Before I can voice these concerns, the tavern door bursts open and three rough-looking men swagger in. Bandits, my instincts scream immediately. They have that particular energy about them, predatory and entitled, scanning the room for easy marks. Their eyes land on Kaia, and I see their minds churning, sizing her up against the risks. A young woman, small and alone except for one companion. They think we will be easy prey.
They are very, very wrong.
The leader approaches our table, a sneer on his scarred face. "Well, what do we have here? Two pretty things all alone in a dangerous place. That doesn’t seem very smart."
I stand slowly, placing myself between him and Kaia. "We are just passing through. We do not want any trouble."
"Oh, we are not trouble." His grin widens, showing missing teeth. "We are just friendly locals offering to help protect you. For a small fee, of course. Everything you have got should cover it."
I feel Kaia stand behind me, her hand already moving, most likely to rest on the hilt of her dagger at her side. Through our bond, I sense her assessing the situation, her building confidence flowing toward me.
"We decline your offer," I say flatly. "Leave us alone."
The man's face darkens. "That was not a request."
He reaches for me, everything happening quickly after that.
I grab his wrist and twist, using his own momentum to send him stumbling past me. Kaia moves at the same moment, her dagger flashing out to press against the throat of the secondbandit who had been trying to circle around behind us. The third one makes the mistake of drawing a knife, and I kick it out of his hand before driving my elbow into his face. He goes down hard, blood streaming from his broken nose.
The leader recovers and lunges at me with a roar of rage. I dodge to the side, Kaia there, her leg sweeping out to catch his ankles and send him crashing to the floor. We move together like we have been fighting side by side for years rather than days, each anticipating the other's movements, covering gaps, and creating opportunities for the other.
It’s beautiful in its own way, this dance we’ve somehow entered into. I protect her back while she strikes at openings I create. She reads my body language and adjusts her position accordingly. Kaia told me several times over the last few days that I do not have to protect her, that she can help, and that her training will prove useful.
I’m still wary that we’ll meet the wrong person and I’ll have to step in between her and another threat but she is proving that she is every bit the warrior a princess should be.
The fight is over in less than a minute. All three bandits are on the floor, groaning in pain or unconscious. The tavern has gone silent, everyone staring at us with wide eyes. I realize belatedly that we may have just drawn far more attention than we wanted.
The barkeep breaks the silence with a low whistle. "Well, that was impressive. You two have training."
"Some," I admit cautiously, dragging Kaia behind me. She places her head against my back, her warm breath hitting my skin through the fabric.
