Sir Thomas and the Golden Dragon

Chapter Two: Signs of a Man

Many years have passed since that fateful night and Thomas has grown into a fine, handsome young man. Now at the young age of nineteen Thomas can rival any man in looks alone. From the eight-year-old meager boy grew a six-foot giant of a man with arms the size of keg barrels a stomach as flat and smooth as stone, his back as strong to haul twice as much as any horse and three times as long and legs powerful enough to cut down trees with a single kick. “Oh boy what a long day” Thomas says as he drinks and washes in the river. “I can’t wait to get back home and eat.” Thomas picks up a giant boar and proceeds to a log cabin near him. This is the home he built for himself. With a roaring fire in front and openings to let the air in Thomas’s cabin could rival a king in luxury with a giant bed made from feathers of all kinds of fouls to the bear skin blankets he lays with and big sacks of straw for pillows he sleeps very well any time of the year.

Over the years Thomas has built a name for himself in trade offering rare goods for reasonable prices. His most precious possession is a sword he traded for the hide of a lion and the skull of a mountain ram. This sword had no jewels nor gold, but the blade was so sharp it could cut down a row of trees in one swoop. In Thomas’s hands this was used for cutting, skinning and several other uses. Thomas, like his father, was also well off though not rich and to this day he still curses the golden dragon for his misfortunes, and he curses any other beliefs of wealth and grandeur. “Tonight, I will feast. Tomorrow I will sell the rest in town and buy new leather and materials and fix the damned leak in my roof.” As night approached Thomas sat by the fire outside, no fire was ever under any circumstance allowed in his home.

If it got too cold he would hunt game and make thicker clothes and sleep in them. As he slept he dreamt again of the golden dragon. This had been the same dream since the incident when he was a boy. However, this time it was different this time it was not a golden dragon that visited him but a young woman whose face was as flawless as the snow and her eyes sparked in the sunlight like pure diamonds she was fair and had a figure that could make any man her slave even a king. Thomas doesn't know this woman and asks, “miss are you lost, do you need some help?” The woman replies, “I am looking for you, Sir Thomas Melview right?” “My lady I am Thomas Melview but do not confuse me with those armor curds of so-called knights, I am not now nor will ever be anything more than a farmer.” The woman replies, “I am Narvaria, I am what you know and that which you sought, I have not sought you” at this moment the beautiful woman opens her hands and a bright light shines into Thomas’s eyes blinding him. As he awakens he looks around and realizes it is the morning of the next day.

“The clouds look dark today” says Thomas. “I hope it doesn't rain while I'm at the market.” Thomas grabs his wares and begins to walk to town. The town market is not far from Thomas’s home though no one would know that considering he stays deep in the forest. As he walks he ponders the woman in his dream ‘who are you and why do I see you all the time, not that I am complaining’ he thinks. As he walks for what seems like an hour or so he hears the loud sounds of people in the distance.

The market is finally close, he shouts and breaks into a run to the busy streets of Mordan village. This is where his father would go to trade his goods and that’s where Thomas is now. As he approaches the old shop he thinks of his father a small tear rolls down his cheek. ‘I’ll make you proud father’ he thinks. As he puts away the wares and opens the shop for business a dagger suddenly goes flying straight at his head. The sharp blade barely missing Thomas makes a loud smack against the wooden beam in front of him. “Your aim is still off I see” as Thomas takes the dagger and throws it in the direction of the shop owner next to him. Gerum yelps and ducks for safety as the dagger clangs against some armor right by his head. "My old friend your aim is as sharp as my blades as always it is good to see you brother” Gerum exclaims laughing.

Gerum was drifter so no one really knew where he came from or how long he had been in Mordan but after the fire Gerum was there to help Thomas get back on his feet. Gerum was a weapon and armor maker and a fine one at that for his wares were valued worldwide. “How are you today brother?” Gerum asks Thomas “I’m ok brother just haven’t been sleeping well lately.” “Nightmares of the fire?” Gerum asked “not so much its mainly of a woman” Thomas explained “oh really" Gerum gave Thomas a funny look “a beautiful lady for my big strong brother eh.”

Gerum is not a big man no one really knows how old he is, he says he’s older than time but looks like a young man. Gerum is short only coming up to Thomas’s chest in height and frail almost to the bone. With pointy ears and a long spear shaped nose he jokes it became flattened when it got wedged between two breast plates and stayed that way. His eyes were always red claiming it was from the sought and dust of the shop. He has a wheezy voice but overall has been Thomas’s one true friend ever since the fire. “What are you selling today brother” Thomas asked, “well come see for yourself ” Gerum said “I’ve got new armor and a few new weapons for sale but what about you what did you bring from your forest abode?” “I’ve brought this” Thomas whips out a pair of clothes made of lion’s pelt and a very rare pair of boar’s pelt shoes.

When it came to business both Thomas and Gerum were the best of the best even though they could sell anywhere in the kingdom they chose to stay close to home so people from the poor locals to rich nobleman of nearby kingdoms would flock to buy their items. The two men were business rivals and business partners while Gerum’s weapons and armor were the best of the best Thomas’s pelts and clothes matched the quality point for point in every category. The day started as usual for Thomas busy, busy, busy “how much for the lamb shirt and deer pants?” one customer shouted “three gold coins” Thomas shouted back. “What about the bull hide boots and cowhide pants?” Another customer shouts, “five gold coins” Thomas shouts back. The day was long, and the street was bustling with the roar of eager customers.

Finally, after a whole day of dealing, haggling, and selling, the sun was starting to set over the town. Thomas after selling the very last of his wares finally closed the shop around the same time as Gerum. “How did you fair today brother?” Thomas asked him “oh my back I swear brother if I had one more customer I might have collapsed from exhaustion.” “How did your fortune fair?” Gerum asked Thomas. “Fifty thousand gold coins enough to last throughout the winter and then some, yourself?” “I got forty-eight thousand not too bad but as you said enough and then some it’s been a great day for profit for the both of us.”

“I agree, tell you what let’s go to Raven Tavern and drink our pain away my treat” says Thomas. “You read my mind, brother, and who knows maybe I’ll find a lady as beautiful as the one you speak of all the time.” "I think you need to wash up before we go your jet black, greasy long hair is all grey from the ash you look like an old troll.” “Oh, yea you think your funny well you smell like a dead animal and are covered in fur you should sell yourself for a price.” The two laughed hysterically while picking on each other for about another hour as they rested from the day. “You're right though” Thomas said, “come let’s wash by my river and we will come back to drink.” “Sounds good to me brother.”

In the setting sun the cool water of the river felt like a bath for kings. “Ah this is amazing! Nothing is better than a cool bath after a long hot day eh brother” Gerum says. But Thomas does not respond “Thomas, Thomas, THOMAS!” Gerum shouts “what” replies Thomas “are you feeling ok its like you’re under a spell” Gerum asks. “Oh, yea I’m fine I just can’t stop thinking about the woman” Thomas says. “Well, if you love her so much find her and marry her” Gerum explains. “You don’t understand” Thomas says, “I want to kill her.” “What?! kill her why?” “because Gerum this woman is supposed to be the golden dragon my father praised so highly and where was she when he was killed? Nowhere! I want to find and kill her I blame her for my father’s death.”

Anger swelled up in Thomas’s heart so much so it was as if the water around him was starting to boil. “Easy brother I was merely making a suggestion there is no reason to get all angry at someone who doesn't exist.” “You're right Gerum I shouldn't worry over a dream woman. I almost lost my head thank you brother.” “Anytime. Now let’s get out of this water before we both fall asleep and freeze to death.” Thomas agrees and they both go back to Thomas’s home to change.

“Here brother I have something for you, you made me this sword a year ago and now I have something for you it’s a full set.” Gerum was amazed for Thomas had pulled out a shirt made of the finest silk as if it were spun by the silkworms themselves he also gifted two gauntlets made of horse hide and incrusted with jewels the pants were lions pelt, stylish, durable and like wearing a cloud. And finally boots made from a Tamarian bull soft as fur but harder than metal Gerum paused at the sight of the clothes he began to cry for no one had ever gifted him with such magnificent clothes. “Brother I cannot take this it is too much.” “Please I insist” said Thomas “ok on one condition, you let me fashion your new armor I promise it will be the finest in the whole kingdom” Thomas agreed “let’s skip the tavern tonight and drink here” said Gerum “I won't complain” they spent the entire night drinking.