The Dragon's Master

Another New Beginning

Jeascqui's eyes adjusted to the light. He stared up at the light blue sky, the bedding that he lay on moved and shook. Jeascqui was silent, confused. He couldn't escape, but he didn't die... He should rejoice that he lived, but now he lived in captivity.

He sat up and scanned his surroundings, he was on a cart alongside some food and containers. Across him was a cage led by horses, similar to the one he had been in the day before. His brain ached as he recalled the series of unfortunate events that led him to the present.

In the cage across him there were people, they looked poor, but they weren't from Jeascqui's village, he wasn't sure how to feel but a sense of relief filled his body. He turned around, the cart he was on was led by a man with familiar long black hair.

 the mercenary before him exuded such a strong aura, Jeascqui shivered.

"Ah, you're awake?" The mercenary, without turning around addressed Jeascqui. Jeascqui didn't know how to answer him so he nodded, despite the fact that the mercenary couldn't actually see him. "I know you must be confused. In fact, you must be terrified, but I've taken a liking to you, boy... You understand what that means, right?"

Jeascqui shook his head and meekly replied, "no".

"It means your safe now. You may hate it here, and you may want to kill yourself because of the things you're yet to see... But you're safe now. You're under my wing, my guidance... No one will hurt you."

Jeascqui was conflicted, he felt both reassured and worried. The mercenary mentioned that he might want to kill himself, what a terrible thought, it reminded him of his past life. What could possibly be so gruelling that he wouldn't be able to bear it, what could it be that would cause him to want to end his life yet again? Would he then have to view another life through the same black and white lenses, just waiting for an end? No, this time he had guidance, perhaps a future way out... Or, perhaps, another loving, father figure. Something that Jeascqui still so badly sought after.

It was a beautiful day which contrasted the recent events, but nonetheless Jeascqui enjoyed the small bubble of peace he had just been granted. He looked across at the hostages. He winced with sympathy.

'Perhaps look the other way' he thought to himself. 'I suppose, if I can't see it.. It won't hurt me'

Jeascqui reclined on the cart, he was beginning to feel to comfortable until he heard some shouting in the distance. He peeked over the edge of the cart, the mercenaries that were up ahead were slowing down and unloading their items from the mule's and horses. Some mercenaries made their way through the group to help unload, Jeascqui instinctively ducked below the frame of the cart. He felt like a fugitive.

"It's alright, kid. I told you before, with me, you're safe." The long-haired, dependable mercenary dismounted off his horse and lifted Jeascqui off the cart. "Let's head to the camping site." Jeascqui followed close behind.

Jeascqui noticed a clearing, the mercenary stopped before reaching it, "what's you're name kid?" Jeascqui could barely respond, he felt so nervous. "Well, I can't keep calling you 'kid' now can I?"

"Jeascqui.."

The mercenary knitted his eyebrows. "Jzhea.. She.. Qwee? Jazqueen? Jacuan?" The mercenary laughed, "What sort of a name is that? You're parents didn't love you much, huh?" The mercenary wiped tears from his face after enjoying a hearty laugh. Jeascqui would have felt offended had he been the body's original owner. "Jaq, we're going with Jaq." Jeascqui was taken aback by the mercenary's assertive tone, he had liked the name Jeascqui, he thought it made him more entwined with the fantasy novel that he was in.

'Perhaps that name should have died along with the original character.' Regardless of his thoughts, Jeascqui stayed silent and accepted the change.

When they reached the clearing Jeascqui could feel an instant change in pressure. The mercenaries gave Jeascqui dirty looks, tension between Jeascqui's new guardian and the rest of the mercenary crew could be felt increasing. Jeascqui hid away behind the long-haired mercenary.

"Yon, you brought another brat, I see.... We don't house orphans, 'last straw Yon', I warned you before." A large beefy man pushed threw the crowd of thugs. Jeascqui looked at the man, he was huge, bald, and very fearsome. His arms had scars all over them, then it dawned on Jeascqui, this man was the mercenary that initially locked him up. The mercenary glared at Jeascqui, "you're taking care of this one alone, no more liberties"

The  long-haired mercenary, who Jeascqui now assumed was called Yon, replied to the scary looking mercenary, who was now returning back to the crowd. "Come on Bur, you know, this entire team would fall apart without me". The buff man grunted without looking back then continued to help the mercenaries set-up the campsite.

Jaq looked up at Yon. "Don't worry about him, Jaq. You'll be fine if you become strong like me!" Yon and Jaq stared at each other, "well, not exactly like me, you're a pipsqueak, you'll never reach my level." There was an unspoken awkwardness between them, Jaq didn't know why. Yon sighed and reluctantly tapped Jaq's head in an attempt to be rid of the awkwardness. Yon's attempt failed, so, without warning, he left Jaq and began to help out with the campsite.

Jaq stared at the busy mercenaries, hurrying to set their campsite up so they could rest, a lot of the people around him seemed young, perhaps their early twenties. Jaq felt out of place and scared, he glanced at the cage of hostages every so often, what if someone threw him back in the cage? He looked into the crowd for Yon, he couldn't see the long black scruffy hair. Would Yon even save him a second time if he was caught? Did Yon even save him to begin with, or did he just abduct him from the initial a*******n? Jeascqui grimaced at the gravity of his situation.

"Hey kid! If you have time to stare around being idle, grab this and set up tents". A small group called out to Jaq and threw him a bunch of supplies. The supplies were heavy and contained concealed metal bars that hit Jaq when they landed in his fumbling arms. "Set up some tents!" The group laughed devilishly, they reminded Jaq of his previous life and how some school mates would treat others. He suspected that this group didn't believe that Jaq was capable of setting up tents. Of course, if Jaq was the five year old boy that stood before them, he would have been hopeless, but Jaq actually knew how to set up a tent from his multiple school excursions which required him to do so. Jaq felt like he was finally putting his basic school's education to good use.

A short time passed and Jaq set up three tents in good enough areas. Getting started was, needless to say, nerve-wracking for Jaq, he constantly was shadowed by the idea that one wrong move may cost him his life, surrounded by barbarians, but Jaq completed his task, three times over at that! Then, reappeared in front of the group of boys.

The boys were surprised, but Jaq sensed no hint of gratitude from their faces, rather he sensed disgust.