Dragon's Landing

Chap 1

10 years later

“Nefer…i I’m sorry. We had to do this. Forgive us.” The room burst into flames and a guttural growl penetrated her ears. Ash could see two familiar figures behind the flames. She reached out to them. “Don’t leave me….” Ash jolted awake, drenched in sweat. “That dream again.” Ash clutched her shirt as she sat up. The hut was empty. It had been empty since Jorn died. It had been two years since he had been crushed by a tree. He had seemed so invincible but met an unfair end. He told her to live happily. Now all she wanted to do was find answers. Two years of preparation have finally led her to starting on her journey today. Jorn had once talked of a small town to the north. That would be her destination for now. Luckily Jorn had taught her how to read and write.

“I can’t think about unnecessary things today.” The dream still haunted her, but she got up to grab the rest of her supplies. She grabbed her small leather bag and headed for the door. She paused a moment to say her goodbyes then headed for the river. As she walked through the trees she wrapped her hair up with a leather strip. The wind picked up and caused the trees to rustle around her. She headed for the river so she could follow it north. Draygev. That is the name of the town right? Well, I suppose I know when I get there. For a day she swallowed the river north, only stopping to periodically eat. 

Tall logs with sharpened tops stood in a neat row surrounding the town. The door that led into the town was a metal cage. This would be her first time seeing people in years. “Well, it is now or never.” She sighed then walked up the gate. A hagrid-looking man came up to the gate. He had greasy brown hair and a large nose followed by a sunken face. “What do you want here?” He looked her up and down. “Just lodging and some food for a day.” After scanning her over again he nodded to a group of men who pulled the gate upward, allowing her to come in. “Welcome to Dragel.” The man sneered at her before letting her on her way. There were a few buildings each with overhanging signs with symbols. She found one with a crudely drawn cot on it. Upon entering she was greeted with the luscious smell of cooking meat and a busty black-haired girl behind a counter. “How can I help you today?” She leaned over the counter seemingly guessing Ash’s worth. “I just need a bed, a simple meal, and a map.” The girl nodded then led Ash over to a table. A small meal of potatoes and rabbit meat was placed in front of her. “That’ll be 5 Kor for it all.” Ash pulled the 5 bronze pieces from her bag and placed them in the girl’s hand. “The room down the hall and to the left is yours.” Ash nodded and proceeded to start eating. A creepy feeling came upon as she sat there eating. A sensation that she should leave entered her whole body. Something was wrong about this town. Ash stood up to collect her map after eating and left for her room. She could hear whispers from down the hallway, something about how they got a fresh one. Ash was filled with a sense of dread. 

Silently, Ash stuffed her map in her bag and slunk out of her room. She followed a side corridor to what she guessed was a kitchen. A large fire was in the corner of the room and there were many pots and pans on a counter. She saw the rabbit corpse hanging by the fire. Ash found a back door and quietly went outside. Once outside sudden laughter made her turn toward another building. She crept up to the building, making sure to hide in the shadows. “I wonder how this one will taste. Will she taste as ashy as her hair? I’m dying to know. Do you know how long it has been since we had a woman for dinner? Too many greasy men. When are we going to get her?” Horrified, Ash felt her hand clamp over her mouth. She recognized the voice inside as the woman from the inn. Finding a small hole she peered inside to see a human corpse upon an old hook. Parts of him had been chopped off. The black-haired woman was sitting against a crate and two or three others stood in front of her. “Wait for the drug we put in her food to activate then we will enjoy a glorious feast.” Ash had to turn away and prevent herself from vomiting. These people are sick. Good thing such things don’t work on me. After eating a poisonous mushroom on accident she found that plants and drugs don’t have any effect on her. Pressing her back against the building she began to weigh her options. There was only one exit and entrance. She’d have to jump over the wall if she wanted to escape. “Well we’ve waited long enough let us go check on our guest.” A maniacal laugh erupted from behind her. Quickly, she moved behind another building. She looked around and saw a ladder that led to the upper platform. Footsteps behind her alerted her that the cannibals were headed toward the inn. After waiting a few moments she sprinted over to the ladder and began scrambling up it. She turned in time to hear a shrill scream. They must know I’m not in the room. Time to go for it. She trotted up to the wall and looked over it. It was high enough that she’d probably hurt something, but not high enough she would die. With one last look back she hurled over the wall.