Asher was woken by Zephyria once more, but far more pleasantly. She had lifted her wing up and simply let the dawn light hit is face, and the shift from sudden darkness was all it took. Asher sat up and rubbed his eyes blearily. "Good morning, Zephyria." Zephyria gave him a welcoming purr in response. "Thank you for not dropping me again. And.. Sleeping under your wing was truly pleasant." Zephyria gave an even more pleased purr in response. "I am glad to hear it, Asher. You remained dry then? I had worried the water would sleep from below but trusted your mobile den would keep you dry." Asher laughed in response. "I told you its a bedroll Zeph, tough water proof outer layer and a bit of warmth in the middle. Mine's really bare bones to keep me dry." Zephyria gave him an amused look, got up, and padded over to the river.
Asher took his time to eat some of his rations, before calling out to Zephyria. "Say, Zephyria? How often do you need to eat? I would have thought that a dragon would need to eat often due to their size, but I haven't seen you eat since we re-united. Its been two days, assuming you ate before we met." Zephyria thought about it before responding. "It depends on what I do, and how injured I am. Yesterday was a lot of flying, but not much else. I will need to hunt today so long as I remain uninjured and unstressed." Asher nodded and finished his morning routine, including a small wash in the river.
Asher confronted Zephyria about their next steps. "Zephyria, I think I should go back into ironwood and try to sell this book on soul magic. Its probably worthless to almost everyone, but I know someone who trades with Nobles." Asher scowled. "The nobles have a nasty habit of buying illegal or dangerous things in order to brag at private parties. I hate to contribute to that, but we're I'm out of money at this point and still need travel supplies and food." Zephyria gave him a curious look saying, "I don't particularly care what the mortals do with the book. So long as you get what you need, of course." Asher looked grateful at that. Asher followed up with "Then if you can fly me closer to ironwood I'll visit the city again while you go hunting, then we meet where you dropped me off and plan our next steps towards your quest?" Zephyria gave him a nod and rumble of affirmation and held her horn down for him to grab. Swinging up, the pair took off closer to the city.
Asher landed with a grunt, the harsh drop off Zephyria's back harsh on his knees. He turned back and affirmed, "Its still close to dawn, shall we meet here at noon?" Zephyria responded, "That will be plenty time for me to catch a deer and rest, I shall await your return little one." Asher felt a little warm at the nickname she had given him, and nodded. "Then I'll be off, see you then." Turning towards the city he marched through the dawn light towards the city gates.
As Asher made the lonely march towards the city he thought, I wish the commoners weren't taught that dragons are mindless greedy monsters. Zeph would probably be claustrophobic in the city with her size but I'd at least like to fly closer to the gates. You don't realize how tedious a long walk can be till you've flown in a day what would have taken weeks to travel. Asher snapped out of his internal whining as he approached the city gates, they had already been opened by the guard and he was allowed in without issue. Asher took in the city of Ironwood, the place he had called home for the past few years. Stone walls half a dozen feet thick and taller than they had any right being surrounded a bustling city. I came here because Ironwood was one of the largest city states in the region and my family has some influence here. But with all that I've had to suffer from them I can't bring myself to be sad to be leaving. I don't have any friends, no family that would accept me, just some old sympathetic contacts who deal with me out of pity in secret.
Asher marched down the main city roads, winding across the cobblestones roads and poorly maintained alleys until he got within the central district where the local nobility resided. The roads shifted to smooth and patterned brick roads and the alleys were clean and empty. There were a significant number of guards throughout the entire city, which was odd to Asher. Normally the guard force isn't this active. Did something happen? Internal or external threat?
As Asher approached the old merchant's building and confidently walked inside the cluttered and messy building. "Are you in, Mr. Brooks? It's Asher again." Asher paused, and upon not hearing a response he walked in further. Navigating the maze of seemingly random items in the front of the store, Asher found Mr. Brooks sound asleep behind the counter. He gently shook the older man's should, and spoke softly as to not scare him. "Mr. Brooks. I'm in need of your services, if you are well enough to trade." The older man woke with an absurdly loud yawn, speaking in a somewhat nasally voice "My boy! Asher, my boy. Its so good to see you again! I hadn't expected to see you for weeks, or months! Twice so soon! You must have gotten something very interesting indeed." The old man rose, speaking quickly and not giving Asher room to talk. "Come now my boy, we'll trade in the- You know the drill, just come along now!" The older man waddled past stacks of junk and into the back of the building, Asher sighed and followed him into the dimly lit rear of the building.
As Asher slipped into the darkest corner of the most dimply lit hallway, Mr. Brooks opened a hidden door and walked inside. Within was a magically lit room, furnished with fine chairs, a gently crackling fireplace, and soft velvet carpets. I know Mr. Brooks trades in illicit goods, but I never understood the point of this secrecy. The nobles here own and fund the guard, he could have illegal drugs or forbidden tomes in his front window and nobody would do anything about it! The eccentricity of the rich I suppose. Asher spoke up "Mr. Brooks I acqui-" "None of that my boy! I told you, just call me Andrew." "Mr. Brooks, I'll call you Andrew the day you start calling me Asher." Andrew Brooks scowled at Asher, "Bah! Fine. You're more of a son to me than that useless wretch you call father could ever clai-" Asher snapped angrily "Mr. Brooks that is enough. I did not come here to discuss my family." Mr. Brooks looks ashamed at that. "I'm sorry, my boy. You know how strongly I feel about some things, I let my mouth get ahead of me. Your parents disowning you for being a little.. 'different'.. Disgraceful." Asher simply sighed, he knew the older man simply cared deeply about this so he let him get his feelings out.
The older man spoke, "Asher, my boy. Before we barter I gathered some more information about what you asked me about last time. I bumped shoulders with the duke and learned something curious." Asher lifted an eyebrow for Brooks to continue. "The Heroes you inquired about, I don't know how you knew ahead of everyone else but their support mage is indeed absent. Rumors are spreading behind closed doors about why, but none hold any water. I won't ask how you knew, just know that they don't seem to have replaced the mage yet. That's all I know." Asher looked surprised at this and thought, I didn't think the heroes were still close enough for information to spread about here. Might be best for us to leave for now, then. Zephyria would get killed if they hunted her in earnest.
The old man interrupted Asher's thoughts by continuing, "I also heard a rumor, one that's obviously false given your stood here in front of me but given the nature of it I thought you should know." Asher looked confused and gave Brooks a gesture to continue. "There's a rumor of a dragon. A small blue one if you can believe it. This one is supposedly smart and manipulative. Rumor is it saved a few adventures and mercenaries on a job in order to get info from them and threatened them into doing its bidding for a time." The old man looked concerned and spoke more softly, "I know you've been spending much time out in the wilds lately, my boy. Just be safe, alright? Rumors of dragons are always suspect, but its better to be safe than be dragon food." Asher looked at the old man with barely disguised consternation, seeing this the old man assured him. "I know, I know. If its real then those Heroes will probably kill it like they did the other one, it should be safe again soon." Asher felt a pit drop in his stomach, It's not a maybe anymore. As soon as I get back with Zephyria we're leaving. She'll understand, she might be.. I don't know the word to describe her. Uncompromising? Foolish, maybe. But she's not stupid, she won't stay to fight them yet.
Asher finally spoke up, "Thank you.. Andrew. I'm touched by your concern. And you spoke the truth earlier, at least partially. You've been.. the closest I have to fami- A true friend, in Ironwood. You've been kind to me over the years, so you should know I plan to leave Ironwood. Likely permanently. I may return, but I have business elsewhere that I must follow. The dragon will not be a threat to me and I will.." Asher wanted to say he would miss the kooky old man but couldn't get it out. ".. I will be safe on my travels." Mr. Brooks walked up and embraced the younger man, giving him a firm hug and a few hearty slaps on the back. He spoke somewhat softly, "I know better to pry into the business of the youth, I'm sure your on a worthy adventure. I may broker information but word of you leaving will never leave this room." Asher hugged the man back, slightly misty eyed. I didn't think I'd miss the weird pushy old man, but now that I'm planning to leave.. it hurts.
Asher broke the hug and as they both sat back down Mr. Brooks addressed the elephant in the room. "So, my boy, you have something to sell? Must be curious if you brought it to me." Asher reached into his travel back and brought out the soul magic journal and told Brooks about the tower in the fog, and how he left the crystal in place to protect the cats. "As for the book itself, its mostly nonsense as far as I can tell. However, I sketched the crystal itself and the runes on it as best I could." Brooks listened to Asher with rapt attention and then gently took the forbidden journal on soul magic. There were several long minutes of silence as Brooks skimmed the pages.
The old man spoke cautiously, "I don't know about this one, my boy." Asher looked concerned but Brooks continued on. "This sort of thing would sell, but not for much. Soul magic is illegal enough that not even nobles will flaunt it around unlike a random cursed artifact. That narrows buyers to practitioners of soul magic." Brooks gave Asher a stern look, "What I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room, understood?" Asher gave him a nervous nod, "Yes, sir." Brooks relaxed a little bit and continued, "Good man, my boy. There is a soul magic cult in Ironwood. Cult is a strong word. They're researching soul magic to learn how to heal the maladies of the soul. They're revolutionaries, healers of an entirely new kind. They would buy this, but they would need the location of the crystal to study it. I know you mentioned protecting the cats, and that they were hostile to outsiders. Chances are they would need to fight their way through the cats and steal the crystal to make any progress."
Brooks sighed and dragged his hand across his face, then continued in a softer tone. "There's something your not telling me about how you found this place, or how you got past the cats without being killed. There's nothing like what you described within a few days travel of Ironwood or else I would already know about it. Which means its either extremely hidden or far away. Your a good man, Asher. But you couldn't find something like this alone in the few days we've been apart. So I have to ask.. what is it your not telling me, my boy?"
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Asher thought frantically, I knew the old man was clever, but damn I didn't think I was that obvious! I really thought I'd be able to just sell it and move on.. What in the void do I tell him? I can trust him, right? Asher paused for a long moment before speaking with a tremor in his voice he couldn't conceal. "What can you give me for the book without me telling you? And what can you give me if I do tell you?" Brooks looked at him calculatingly, saying, "I can give you a few silver for the book alone. A gold if you can tell me where it is. I know its low but the cult is generally poor, even giving you a gold is selling it at a loss."
Asher cat back in the fancy chair and studied the old man he'd known for years. He's the closest I've ever gotten to family that- that- Fuck. I need the money, especially if we're going to Ironwood for good. I want to protect the cats, but I need to protect myself more. I'll just have to hope that the cult won't hurt those giant fog cats. Asher mirrored the old man by sitting forward in a slouch and dragged his hand across his face. "I'm leaving anyways, so I suppose it just doesn't matter if people know." Brooks looked curious with a hint of concern. "You spoke of that dragon earlier. The small blue one." At this, Brooks gasped and looked truly nervous now. "Her name is Zephyria. I'm.. I'm joining her on a quest of hers. I won't share what, but its important to her and I want to help." Brooks cut in. "Asher. My boy.. You can't. Dragons they're.." Asher cut him off in turn. "I'm well aware of what dragons are. I won't claim Zephyria's different somehow, she's a dragon through and through. But I've made up my mind. When I said I was leaving, I intend to fly away upon her back. She's the one who discovered it originally, she was curious about the tower and asked me to investigate it. The tower is upon a mountain with a flat summit half a days flight south east if ironwood, I'm not sure how far on foot. Zephyria is fast."
Brooks looked shocked, then contemplative. "That is.. shocking news my boy. But.. I trust your judgment. If you deem this dragon's journey important then I know better than try to stop you. I'll give you a gold for your journey in exchange for the book and what you've told me. Just, be safe my boy. Don't end up dragon food." Asher nodded, "A gold is enough for now, we can provide our basic needs on the go. And, to be truthful, I've never felt safer than when alongside her. When our team was rescued by her, everyone else was terrified or disgusted by her, but I was stunned. I was drawn to her by some force I can't explain. Do you.. Do you know what might cause something like that?" Brooks looked contemplative for a moment, then said, "I have heard of something similar, but I know little. What do you know of the Warlock orders down south?" Asher looked confused at the seemingly sudden topic change, but humored him anyways. "Not much, Mr. Brooks. I know that they form pacts with magical creatures and that somehow allows them to become mages. I also know they are far more prevalent south and act as some kind of peace keeping force? Other than that, little. Northern humans don't often cross into the beast-kin territories."
Brooks nodded, "Your mostly right, my boy. They have replaced the paladin orders of old. They aren't peace keepers but rather monster hunters and protectors. Something between an adventurer and a city guard. The name warlock is misleading, they don't trade in demonic pacts and actively hunt down such things. I bring them up, my boy, because I heard a rumor once that some of them have an odd affinity for the intelligent magical beasts. Supposedly are drawn to them in strange ways. That's all I know, but if you and your dragon are fleeing the city then I would suggest going south into the beast kin cities, speak to some of the warlocks and find out more. They may be able to help. At worst, it gets you away from here."
Asher stood up one last time and shook Brook's hand before the old man pulled him into another embrace. Brooks reached into a nearby coffer and handed Asher a hundred silvers, equivalent to a gold. He spoke then "Be safe, Asher my boy. I will miss you, and I pray to the old gods you return healthy and hale." Asher responded, "Thank you, Andrew. I will miss you as well." He took a breath, "Goodbye, and thank you for all you've done for me. Try to make sure the cats are well, alright? I would hate to have sold their lives for a gold." Brooks gave a tense and forced laugh, "I will, my boy. I will. Now be off, you have a trip to prepare for." Asher left the hidden room, navigated through the maze of clutter and junk, and entered the daylight once more. They had talked for so long the sun had risen to late morning and the city was far more alive and busy. He set off towards the markets back in the poorer districts to gather supplies and plan a trip south.
Asher was sat on the edge of the adventurers guild's market adjusting his travel bag and making sure everything fit. Looking up it was nearly noon by now. I doubt Zephyria will mind waiting a bit, she's implied shes a few hundred years old right? An hour or two shouldn't annoy her too bad. As he adjusted his spare knife and his canteen to make sure neither would rattle annoyingly as he moved, someone walked up to him and said spoke to him with a sense of urgency. "Asher? Asher you need to follow me." Asher looked up and saw Daniel. Daniel? From that job where I met Zephyria? By the void I totally forgot he wanted to talk to me and probably has my money. Asher looked up at him with a bright smile, "Daniel! Its good to see you, but what's going on? Is something wrong?" Daniel looked at him with a mix of happiness and worry and spoke as he grabbed his hand and pulling him up and away. "Not here, at my place." Daniel looked around constantly, actively avoiding guards and pulled him into the nearby residential district. As they entered what Asher figured was Daniel's home only then did Daniel start to relax.
Looking around Asher saw it was a fairly small single room home, common for adventurers who didn't need much when they were so often gone. Daniel sat down at a lone table with a pair of chairs and gestured for Asher to sit. There was a long moment of silence where Daniel just gazed at Asher with an expression he couldn't place. Breaking the silence, Asher asked, "What's going on, Daniel? What has you so worried?" Daniel asked him a question in response. "What happened with that dragon, Asher? After we parted ways." Asher was confused, but he trusted the man so he responded mostly honestly. "I ended up spending the night in the wilderness with her. The next day she flew me to the city and I spent some time asking various nobles about the Heroes like I promised. When I returned to her in the evening I spent another night with her in the wilderness. Yesterday, we explored some ruins together and found some interesting things. I was in the city today to sell what we found, if all is well then she's waiting on me right now. She's rather quite fun to be around once you get used to her. Does that answer your question, Daniel?" Daniel looked at Asher concerned and bit his lip. "Asher. The Adventurers guild is buzzing with rumors of dragon that has kidnapped you. Some are even saying she's controlling your mind to make you do her bidding." Asher let out an awkward half laugh at the absurdity of that. "No! No. I'm joining her of my own free will. Like I said, she's quite enjoyable company and there's nothing like flying on a dragon's back."
Daniel sat back and chewed on his lip some more. "Its hard to believe you've ridden a dragon. But you don't.. Like her, do you? That is to say how you might like a woman?" Asher looked at Daniel like he was crazy "What? No of course not! She's a dragon! And.. and. and.." Asher trailed off. Daniel grabbed his hand from across the table and gave him an encouraging gesture. "And I've never liked a woman before. Alright? She wouldn't be able to seduce me even if we were both dragons." Daniel looked taken aback for a moment before reach out and taking both of his hands softly. Daniel looked Asher in the eyes and spoke softly, "And.. what about men?" Asher noticed just how soft Daniel's hands were before he pulled his arms away and spoke with a raised voice "No!" he winced at his tone and spoke more softly. "No. I mean. I don't know. My family forbid that kind of thing harshly. We were all supposed to produce strong heirs to strengthen the Sunsvegard house. I try not to think about it."
Daniel looked at Asher with sympathy, and grabbed his hands again. "Asher, please. Look at me." Asher looked at Daniel's soft expression with embarrassment and shame in his own eyes. "Its okay. I don't like women like that either." Asher let out a tiny gasp, but didn't pull away. Daniel continued speaking softly. "I'll be honest. I originally wanted to ask you out. You're handsome, resilient, charismatic, and you handled both Derick's bullying and that dragon with such grace it left me awestruck. But you said you were going back to the dragon today, right?" Asher stammered with a furious blush on his face "I. You were going to- I- mean. I-" Daniel spoke softly, "Asher, the dragon." Asher got a hold of himself. "Yes. Yes I was going to go back to Zephyria. I planned to fly south with her to the beast-kin territories to help her get away from the Heroes and to try to learn something from their warlocks for myself. I got word they may start to hunt her, and she isn't strong enough to survive them yet." Daniel squeezed Asher's hands and spoke affectionately. "Your the kind of man to see someone in need, and rush to help them. I admire that about you. If you think her cause is important then I trust you. Go to her and go south. Keep each other safe and grow strong." Daniel squeezed Asher's hands once more before breaking contact with him. He reached into a pouch and passed Asher eight silvers. "Derick has been whipping up the rumors to justify keeping your share of the coin from our contract. The best I got out of him was your share being distributed equally among the 'survivors'. I'm sorry."
Asher swallowed hard, already missing the warmth of the other man's hands. "Thank you, Daniel. It's more than most would have bothered with." They both stood as Asher readied his gear to leave and make his trek back to Zephyria. Daniel gave Asher a warm smile and walked close, "Before you go, Asher?" "Yes, Daniel?" Daniel leaned forward and gave Asher a small kiss on the cheek before whispering in his ear. "You said you didn't think about this sort of thing. On your travels with Zephyria, give it some thought. Alright? The Sunsvegards don't decide who you love, they lost that right when they kicked you out." Asher blushed and stammered out, "I'll try." Daniel gave him a pat on the back. "Good man. Then go out to your dragon, she needs someone to warn her she's being hunted and you've got a trip south to finish preparing for." Asher gave him one last searching look, his own feelings a muddled confusing mess. Finally he spoke, "Thank you, Daniel." Daniel gave him a small smile and a nod and Asher left the other mans home.
Asher walked the cobbled streets of Ironwood for what seemed like the last time. The days events left him confused and conflicted in so many ways. Andrew Brooks, I'll miss the old man. I hadn't ever truly thought about how much he did for me in Ironwood. He truly did try to step in and be someone I could rely on when the Sunsvegard clan ostracized me for not being a good enough mage. I was barely an adult then. I'll have to return, make sure he's doing well.
Asher passed out the city gates and continued on towards the meeting spot with Zephyria, still lost in thought. Daniel. I don't even know what to think about Daniel. I'm still clinging to the idea that if I can just unlock my fire magic they'll let me back in. But its been years now, should I start to just ignore some of their rules? No. No I can't. Not yet, not until I've exhausted my options. These warlocks might know some way to unlock my fire conjuration, and if that happens then I'll have to go back. And if I go back I can't think about that sort of thing with Daniel. I'll need to have heirs, eventually.
As Asher sat down at the meeting point with Zephyria, he was slightly worried to find her still not there waiting for him. He looked at the sun and it was early afternoon, well past their meeting time. She's probably fine, Dragons live forever I can't really expect her to be good about being on time by a mortal schedule. I don't mind waiting, it gives me some more time to think. Think, and make something to eat.
Asher sat down and started a small fire, setting down a traveler's pan he took the fresh meat he had bought earlier and started to cook it while lost deep in thought.
Soon enough, Zephyria landed next to him with an entire bloody deer leg in her maw. She gently placed it next to him and said the last thing he expected. "Would you be willing to cook this for me, little one? I'd like to try the little plants you put on your food." Asher let out a laugh, and knew all would be well as long as he had this odd dragon by his side.
