Sir Thomas and the Golden Dragon

Chapter Nine: Water Goddess

Two days have passed, and the men sleep soundly on the third day they awaken stiff and hungry. As they stretch they notice the corpse of Tremous is gone and only the bones remain. “What happened to the corpse?” Thomas asked as Gerum rose up. “What do you mean?” he asked and looked at the pile of bones “I don’t know maybe wolves or jackals; any manner of creatures could have eaten the meat” Gerum replies.

‘Yes but down to the bones? only a dragon could eat such meat in a short amount of time’ Thomas thought to himself then replies, “I’m going to skin that dragon alive not even a troll’s corpse should be desecrated in such a manner trust me Gerum I will avenge all who have been hurt by that dragon friend or foe.” “Well, that’s a good thought brother but we should really be going if we stay here any longer we may become food for the dragon next” Gerum replies. “Your right brother lets go.”

The two began to climb the mountain while following a trail they came across a small lake and meadow. “This looks like a great spot to rest” Gerum announces with excitement. “Yes we have been climbing this mountain for three full days and nights we need food and rest” Thomas answers. “I am afraid the best meat we can find is a mountain goat or lion here” Gerum explains. “Sounds good to me I can cook anything and if we can milk a goat we can take some time to make cheese we’re in no rush after all” Thomas explains in excitement.

“Ok we’re off on a food hunt. First one back with the most does not have to cook is it a deal Thomas?” “Yes deal brother lets go.” The two took off in opposite directions along the mountain. As Gerum traveled he found berries, roots, rabbits, squirrels, and other small game. Thomas found three goats and some herbs. As Thomas was heading back he noticed what he thought was a hallucination. Just in a small clearing was a woman.

Thomas saw her back; he rubbed his eyes and she disappeared ‘I must be losing my mind’ Thomas thought. They both arrived at the camp at the same time “I WIN” they both shout, in Gerum’s defense he claimed, “I have caught and gathered the most, so I do not have to cook.” Thomas laughed “that was not the deal I caught the biggest, so I do not have to cook.” “Ok” Gerum replies, “I have another bet to wager.” “I’m listening” says Thomas with great interest “we each get a stone and the one who can skip it across the lake the farthest wins, deal?” Thomas laughs, “deal.” ‘With my new strength this will be easy Thomas thinks while smiling.

They each grab a stone and prepare to throw. Gerum starts “ready 3, 2, 1, GO” and they both throw.

Thomas’s rock flies all the way across and through the trees Gerum's skips along the water and halfway through falls in with a splash “YYYEEEAAAAA I WIN” yells Gerum. . “No, you did not” Thomas retorts “I threw mine the farthest, so I won.” “Yes you did” Gerum laughs “but remember the rule the one who SKIPS the rock the farthest wins, so I won brother.”

In anger Thomas slams his hands on the ground and cracks it in half. “Fine I will cook” Thomas says in defeat “no brother we both will let’s make a real feast because look what I have found” Gerum pulls out some wild berries and roots. “Can that be” Thomas looks “makon roots and lock berries those make the finest wine in the kingdom” Thomas explains with a large smile. “Alright I’ll cook the food you make the wine then we will eat and drink until we can’t stand straight.” “HA ZAH” the two shout as they begin to make their feast they made meat of all kinds, sheep’s milk, golden wine and fresh vegetables it truly was a feast fit for a king. They ate and drank and laughed until they were stumbling like wild children.

Just then Thomas looked at the lake and saw the back of the same woman again but when he closed his eyes and opened them this time she was still there but facing Thomas. She was tall and slim with long blonde hair down to her knee’s, eyes like sapphires that glowed in the moonlight and the body of a goddess with curves like an hourglass. “Hey, you!” Thomas shouts to the woman “who are you?” Gerum turns and sees the woman and shouts “hey lady come to the feast we have food and wine fit for a beauty like yourself” just before falling over in a drunken mess. The lady does not reply but rather seems to dissolve into the water ‘who was that woman’ Thomas thought ‘I must see her again’ as he drinks down another gulp of wine and falls over just like Gerum and they pass out drunk.

The next morning Gerum and Thomas awoke to find all of their provisions and equipment were gone. With their heads aching and their bodies limp from the late night of drinking the two try to piece together their foggy night. “What happened?” Gerum asks Thomas “I don’t know I was hoping you would tell me” Thomas answered. “Where is all of our stuff?” Gerum asked in a daze this question makes Thomas sober up quickly and regain his senses. “I don’t know it was all stolen but by who?” Thomas thinks to himself for a while recalling the memory of the previous night when suddenly “I GOT IT! It was that woman!” he shouts.

“What woman?” Gerum replies confused and looking at Thomas in a crazy manner “there are no women on this mountain except for Narvaria at least that’s what I have heard” Gerum explains in detail. Thomas tells Gerum of the beautiful woman as he remembers her in detail. As Gerum ponders his words he can only say one thing about this mystery woman. “It must be Hexia the water goddess” Thomas stares waiting for some type of explanation.

“Theres not a lot known about her except she’s powerful it’s rumored she has the ability to change her form at will and has the power to charm any man or woman with an uncontrollable lust. This lust power makes the victim go mad to the point of killing others for her biding. Legend also says that the one who is marked as her victim will see glimpses of her at first then meet her and speak to her then finally fall under her spell.” Thomas listened to every word with intent and caution however, he did not believe such a being existed, so he asked, “ok what happens to those who become her victims?” “She will use them as either bodyguards or worse she will drown them and absorb their body through the water that she controls. That would explain this lake we must have walked into her domain on accident” Gerum says with a gloomy sigh. “It also seems like she has chosen her victim” Gerum says looking at Thomas.