A tiny excerpt from Newling Traveler: Chance Herron avoided the prying eyes of the villagers, remaining in the cool green shade that he often associated with home. The clusters of thatched rooftops and long muddy avenues proclaimed the importance of the small town. It seemed a friendly enough place…if you were a human. Only a single spire of the castle called Androth could be easily seen through the leafy green of the forest that stretched to the mountainside. However, the dark presence could be felt even here. The tower stood as a visible beacon, representing the king’s strict control of the populace. Androth was not a place one visited…voluntarily. Noting the presence of soldiers in the village, Chance watched from a distance as several of the king’s men attempted to rescue a small furry animal from a tree to please a young woman who waited beneath. As the men climbed higher, so did the beast, staying just out of reach. He heard the guard captain explain that felines were unpredictable and easily frightened. The woman never took her gaze from the cat, moving her mouth convulsively, clearly fearing that the small animal might fall. He wanted to help. It would have been a simple thing to snatch the cat from the tangled limbs… Chance sighed. Everyone would see him. His presence near Androth would be difficult to explain. One of the soldiers shifted in the highest of the leafy extensions and the air vibrated with resounding snap. All of the people staring upward gave a collective gasp as the man tumbled downward…and Chance rushed to save him. A flash of red fur and scales announced his presence, and in an instant the plummeting soldier was within his massive claws. Placing the man gently on the ground, Chance looked up to see the cat balancing precariously on the end on a long branch. Almost as tall as the huge tree, the reptile dwarfed the scene. The humans reacted when he spoke in simple dragon tongue. “Are you coming down?” In response, the feline sprang lightly onto his scaly red forehead while the people scattered in every direction. Only the young woman remained in place, mesmerized by the giant predator. “Your pet…” Chance attempted to pronounce the words in the local dialect, but they sounded a bit like a snarl. He focused a huge orange eye on the cat’s human and examined her in detail. The clothes, the hair, the grooming…this girl was not a commoner. “Your cat, My Lady.” He bent low to allow the feline to glide smoothly down his huge snout and watched as it stretched and yawned nonchalantly by the woman’s feet. “You have done me a great service…dragon.” Her voice shook almost imperceptibly. “You have saved one of the king’s men and my little Poopsie. What is it you seek as a reward?” It was true that he had been reluctant to reveal his existence near the village, but the dragon had never considered the possibility of compensation. He tilted his massive head and brought one reptilian eye level to the woman’s face. “I have not thought of remuneration. However, what I would like is time with you…or at least give me your name. I am lonely.” He tried to smile, but long sharp teeth made his grin seem evil. To her credit, she did not run or even shiver. “I am called Serena. My father is lord of the deep words.” Her curtsey seemed strained. “You, sir dragon, are obviously a stranger in this province. What brings your kind here?” Reluctant to speak his purpose and give away his intentions, Chance stammered. “I…I…I am merely a tourist, My Lady. Even dragons are curious about the world.” His awkward response coaxed a grin from Serena. “As for a liaison with me…” She waved a hand pointing to the growing number of troops assembling behind him. “You had best find yourself another sort of girl to pass your time.”
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 21:59:22 +0000
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