A Bronze Rising: The Gate
Tobias isn't as threatening without a dragon at his back
Tobias approached the front gate following the wall to his left. He felt foolish tramping through the forest undergrowth in his father's war regalia. How many people had his father killed while wearing this? 'None,' Tobias chided himself, 'It's a ceremonial uniform. He never wore it into battle.' He pushed a branch out of the way from his face. Even with the dragon far behind, he still felt as if it were breathing on the back of his neck. He rubbed his palms together; they still felt slick, as if the blood of the dragon had left some residue on them. However, no amount of rubbing would clean them. Tobias lifted the back of his hand to his forehead. Did he feel warm? Was he feverish? The young man hoped he wasn't poisoned.
Tobias stopped walking and forced himself to take a few deep breaths. He closed his eyes and leaned against the trunk of a tree. The last few days had been more exciting than the rest of his life put together. Despite his youth, he felt as if his nerves were becoming frayed. What was he doing? He was planning on marching to the front of the gate and just asking to be let in? What sort of plan was that? Tobias wondered why he was even listening to that crazy, ungrateful dragon who just expected him to do everything he commanded out of hand.
...But he knew why, deep down. Because the dragon was offering him something that his father and the pumpkin farm never could. Tobias was willing to sacrifice everything to escape the path that had been set for him by his father, no matter how nebulous and uncertain the reward happened to be. Tobias forced himself not to think of his father as he pushed his way through the last of the branches. He didn't want to face the gateman in tears.
"...And where did you say you lived, there lad?" asked the solitary gateman.
It was the second time that he had asked the question and Tobias gritted his teeth, biting back a smart remark. "That's doesn't matter. I have an urgent message for Sir Ronald. I need to see him."
The tall man leaned down a bit to be more level with Tobias. He grinned conspiratorially, "Hey now... Why don't you just tell me that message and I'll make sure ol' Sir Ronald hears it in full." The Gateman obviously thought that this "messenger" was some village brat trying to play a practical joke. Such behavior was usually overlooked amongst the youth, expected and sometimes encouraged in fact; at least among the males. Tobias didn't know if there was anything he could say that would convince the man that he was not playing a joke. The dragon's plan had failed.
It was clearly a flawed plan from the start if the dragon expected that an ill-fitting uniform from the last great war would be enough to get him past the gate. Still, Tobias felt that somehow the failure rested on his shoulders as well for not performing to expectation. Another man, perhaps, one smarter and taller than he would have managed to get past the very first obstacle. Tobias groaned. "Sir, don't make me do something that I'll regret." He said, pleading with the Gateman with his eyes.
The Gateman took a wary look to the decorative sword at Tobias' side. Casually, he rested a hand on his own sword hilt, unadorned and all business, and peered off into the forest behind the young man. "Joke's over. I think it's time you call your buddies and go home, young'in"
Tobias stared at the ground. "I can't do that." He gave the signal.
* * *
I had been waiting in the woods for the shrill whistle longer than I had been expecting. How much time did Tobias intend to spend yammering with the humans guarding the gate? I was eager to make my appearance at last. Of course I didn't expect Tobias to get past the gate without some prompting of the guards. However, I was uncertain that my existence remained unknown. I may have been spotted at some point since my arrival and certainly I had not been very cautious in my flights today. If it were the case that rumors had reached the estate already, a sudden "messanger" emerging from the woods would likely be given some credit, or at least ushered in hastily for questioning.
It seemed that the leadership of the human community remained ignorant, however. I stretched my wings, breaking branches above me. I flexed the large flight muscles stretching down my rib cage, attaching my wings to the support of my breast bone. I was ready for my debut.
Flapping my way forward low over the tree tops, I burst forward over the fields of the estate, roaring my claim of the area. Beasts and humans alike scattered, running for shelter. Spying a slow moving old mare, I angled myself down, landing hard and snapping the horse's back in the process. I let my tail drag in the dirt and walked heavily, leaving footprints for all to see. I lifted the dead horse and savagely bit off its head, letting the blood go where it would across the ground. I roared again, loud enough to shatter three windows in the wall facing me. I did not stay to meet an armed human response party, instead lifting off, carrying the treat of the plump mare with me. I thought that the men at the gate would be more interested in what Tobias had to say now.
I flew a fair distance, eating the delicious horse on the way. The humans would need to take horses to find me in a reasonable time, but Tobias knew where we had arranged to meet. It was better than remaining close and encouraging an attack rather than parley. On a rocky hill, I found a shelf of stone protruding from the treeless prominent. I was tired of breaking my way through branches anyway. Settling down, I had my fill of horse, but was left wanting. Those herds of flesh-beasts danced through my thoughts as I waited. Especially the big, fat slow moving ones with the black and white hides. I licked my chops; there would be a future for beef and dairy farmers in this province. I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of the forest. I knew it was going to be a long wait this time. I would soon find out if Tobias would be a capable enough servant to keep around.