Chapter 1: The Land Without Dragons
Ali treaded water near an embankment on the Gilded River. Chewed up reeds tickled his feet on the floor of the Gild. If he held his breath, he could sink touch the bottom of the river’s muddy underbelly. He didn’t like the thought of it. Completely submerged where all the world’s little critters, crawlers and worms could crawl through his ears, ruin his thick umber hair, and if he opened his eyes...
He shuddered at the thought. Raised voices hit his ears. Judging from the beams of orange bled twilight reflecting on the water, they were early. Early enough to see faces.
Ali breathed. His helmet was along the embankment along with the rest of his armor. If he rushed, he could get it. He mastered this impulse. No. Now was not the time to be panicked. A wrong read by the traders who approached him could result in his corpse floating to the town by stream in a week’s time.
Three traders appeared in the horizon. One more than planned. Garbed in black. He heard their laughter as they saw him. They separated as they walked down their side of the embankment, one to the far left, one to the far right, and one dead center.
The man in center bellowed, “looks like we caught you a bit... unguarded.”
To be continued...
Ali treaded water near an embankment on the Gilded River. Chewed up reeds tickled his feet on the floor of the Gild. If he held his breath, he could sink touch the bottom of the river’s muddy underbelly. He didn’t like the thought of it. Completely submerged where all the world’s little critters, crawlers and worms could crawl through his ears, ruin his thick umber hair, and if he opened his eyes...
He shuddered at the thought. Raised voices hit his ears. Judging from the beams of orange bled twilight reflecting on the water, they were early. Early enough to see faces.
Ali breathed. His helmet was along the embankment along with the rest of his armor. If he rushed, he could get it. He mastered this impulse. No. Now was not the time to be panicked. A wrong read by the traders who approached him could result in his corpse floating to the town by stream in a week’s time.
Three traders appeared in the horizon. One more than planned. Garbed in black. He heard their laughter as they saw him. They separated as they walked down their side of the embankment, one to the far left, one to the far right, and one dead center.
The man in center bellowed, “looks like we caught you a bit... unguarded.”
To be continued...
