Welcome back, Gentle Readers. When we left off last time, June and Ember had concluded a chat with ‘Grumpy’ Grayson and were walking away down the dusty little road. We resume the story at that exact place and time. – The Scrivener

THE VILLAGE (the conclusion)

When the two had walked a little down the dusty lane, June said, “He’s not so bad when you get to know him. If you turn around, I bet he’s watching you walking away.”

“What?” Ember stole a quick look at where they’d been. Grumpy, who was leaning on his rake, watching them go, suddenly began raking furiously.

“Eh! He was!”

June laughed. “Told you!”

“Why?”

“You walk sexy.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have… a sway in your walk. Look, remember the time you showed some of us your real shape? When you walked, you didn’t just stomp straight ahead like I imagined, you had a curvy sort of side-to-side motion.” June made an exaggerated sinuous movement. “A little like a snake when it goes. Some of that extra motion is in your human walk, too.”

“I never noticed.”

“You wouldn’t. It’s natural to you. I want to learn how to walk like that one day.” June’s tone turned more serious. “Listen… don’t ever let on that I said he was watching. Grumpy’s my friend. He doesn’t have many because everyone thinks he’s strange. But that’s why I like him. If you don’t mind me saying so… you’re strange in a nice way, too.”

“Well, I am a shape-shifting dragon.”

“Um hmm. And he’s a fierce old creature, too. I think you’ll both become friends.”

In the weeks that passed after June’s formal introduction, little happened and Ember, on June’s advice, stayed out of Grumpy’s way. That was so, until two horsemen, strangers, rode up as Grumpy was finishing mending a fence. One was well-dressed. The other appeared to be his squire or some kind of servant. As they paused in the road, the dapper one spoke out, “Good day to you, sir!”

Grumpy gave them a quick look. He saw right away that they were unlike any of the rare travelers seen on the road. Too well-off. Nor were they any of the familiar merchants, peddlers, tinkers and toolmakers who infrequently came down the road with business among the villagers. “An’ you,” he replied in a flat tone, as he drove in the last handmade nail.

“Perhaps I may have a moment of your time?”

Grumpy answered curtly, “The day’s short. I’ve too much to do already.”

The response carried a tone of menace. “Then I must be less pleasant. I come from the Prince’s Counsel on official business. Your time may be compelled, if you insist.”

Grumpy sighed with resignation and turned to the rider. “What d’you want of me?”

The rider turned pleasant again. “Information only. My mission for the Prince is to seek out… shall we say, talents. There is a war counsel. My Prince bids me scour the land for whatever may give him an upper hand. Without such, I confess, he cannot move forward. I’m to enlist, wherever found, magicians or artisans with skills unlike those possessed by our enemies-to-be.”

“Seeker, look about you. If we had witches or magicians or makers-of-wonders, would we be so poor as this? Or would we also be riding fine horses and making war upon our neighbors? What think you?”

The rider seemed genuinely offended. “Peace, man. It is my duty to ask in all the villages and towns. Even yours.”

“And so you have done your duty, Seeker. There is no man or woman here with power to raise the Prince even higher. Ask of those who live among splendors for the source of their fortunes. Your time and service to the Prince are wasted among poor villagers.”

“I do my duty as commanded!”

“Aye, and so you must. As I must be about my own responsibilities. Oxenford lies along this road and may hold more like what you seek. Luck to you.”

“Fair harvest and mild winter to you.”

The riders proceeded lazily along the road, and after a few minutes, Grumpy put his tools in their wooden carry-box and went to his barn where he ascended a ladder to the rooftop. Up there, he crawled about looking for spots that may need patching. It had been a long four days since he had fixed them already. But from this vantage point he could watch warily to be sure the strangers kept moving along, through the village and until far past the village and out of sight.

Two days later, Ember interrupted Grumpy as he was painting a side of barn. This time she did not come with June, who was by now nearly always as close as Ember’s shadow. “June told me about strangers who came asking questions. She said you told her how you sent them away. Whatever you said was convincing. They didn’t even stop to talk to anyone else.”

“Nosy outsiders. Didn’t like the smell of them. Why does it matter to you if I shooed away folk who have no business or welcome here?”

“You shielded me. I wasn’t sure of you before. I beg forgiveness for that. I’m in your debt.”

“Nah. Not so. You’re a neighbor. We watch out for each other.”

“Truly, was that all it was?”

“In these parts, that’s enough, but…” Grumpy stared at her for a long minute, then put down his brush and slowly wiped his hands on an old rag. “How good are dragons at keeping secrets?”

“I live with them in me and they die with me.”

“Hmmmm…” He drew a long breath and let it pass out slowly, as one sometimes does while making a decision. “I suspected as much. Listen, then. As a young man I… sowed some wild oats, as they say, with a young lass whom I loved dearly but whose parents disapproved. To my shame… she died in childbirth. I never loved another women after.”

“I’m sorry, but how…”

“Hold. On. …In time, that girl married and had a daughter of her own. That girl is June, who escorts you about.”

“She doesn’t know?”

“No. I do what I can for her but as you see I’ve little. But you… if you will look after her, give her a chance to do well in her life, then we’re square. Whatever you do for her, you’ve done for me. Deal?”

“Grumpy… I like June immensely and I would’ve done that for her anyway. But… I see your desire in this. And I know you won’t be dissuaded so… yes, a deal.”

“Thank you, dragon.”

“Grumpy… you’ve stood up for me against outsiders. Now, you’ve shared this secret. Aren’t I past being just a beast to you?”

“You are. I called you dragon just now for respect, for that is what you are. Not a beast.”

“If you would honor me, just call me Ember. It’s my name.”

“How does a dragon come by such a name? Surely, it’s not in your own language or clans.”

“Ah… the first human who was ever kind to me… the first human I was ever kind to… he gave me this name.”

“….The old man who came here with you.”

“Yes. He was a man of arms before we met, and to me, he is still a knight. My Knight.”

“Hmmm… you have some kind of feelings for him, I think.”

“… Maybe.”

“A little advice then. Tell him, friend Ember, before it’s too late.”

~~~~~~

 It has dawned upon your Scrivener that scarce Likes & no Comments may be signs this story isn’t very good & isn’t actually being read. Therefore, it’s requested Readers leave some sign of having really read this episode. Do you find this series entertaining, or is it less-than-satisfying, or is it an utter & execrable bomb? Life is too short to spend it filling pages left unread. Thank you.