Dragon's Breath

Chapter Fifteen

Flavius

With a huff I throw the newly gathered firewood to the floor of my shop. Stretching my arms I dip my hands into the water barrel in the corner of the room I splash the icy liquid over my arms and face. The dirt and grime of the outdoors wash away along with the water.

Every day for the past few days I've been meeting with a dragon in the woods, but today she was not there. Something important must have come up. Sometimes I can't believe that I had the chance to meet such a creature, so beautiful and intelligent. Before I met her, I thought I would be afraid of such a beast just as others are. Most men, whether they admit it or not are. And yet I found that I am not afraid of her. Not at all. Instead, I find myself wanting to know more about her. Though we've spent quite some time together much to my disappointment her name is still unknown to me. That has been weighing on my mind for quite some time now. What could her name be?

Her promise to visit the city brings hope that I could somehow breach the walls she’s built around herself.

Drying my face and hands I put on gloves and pull the sword I've been working on from the furnace. Quickly grabbing my hammer, I begin to beat the sword.

An order was put in the other day by one of the kings commanding officers to make swords for the new knights that will be joining shortly. Once I finish beating the sword I dunk it into a tub of cold water, steam rises from the water barrel. I pull the now cool blade from the water and hang it up with the other swords that need to be sharpened.

I hear the back door slam open and heavy footsteps follow behind. I glance at my friend as he strides in. He rinses his face and hands, and pulls on a pair of gloves, running a hand down his bald head to his neck with a heavy sigh.

"Morning Neron,” I greet.

With a deep chuckle, he replies, "Good morning to you. You've come early, what's the occasion? Not meeting up with your lady friend today?" He teases.

I pause at his words, I have no idea why he thinks I've been meeting up with a woman. Could you consider a dragon a woman? If the stories are anything to go by then she should have a human form. It’s said that when a dragon takes on a human form their beauty is unparalleled. Would she be like the beauties from the story’s?

"I have no idea what lady friend you are referring too," I mumble in reply.

He comes up and slaps me on the back with his large bear-like hands and laughs.

"You've been leaving early in the morning, only to show back up again just before noon, always with an awestruck look on your face. Only a woman could cause that kind of look, Flavius,” Neron says.

A dragon could cause that awestruck look as well. Lightly shoving him away in a playful manner I rub the back of my head then scratch my chin.

"I wouldn't exactly call her a woman...it's hard to explain,” I say.

"So! You admit it's a girl,” Neron grins.

Oh if only he knew, how am I supposed to tell him that my supposed lady friend is really a thirty-foot dragon. I have found myself in quite a predicament. Without waiting for my response he continues to question me.

"So why are you not with her today?" He asks.

What he has said so far is indeed true, ever since my fateful meeting with the dragon I've gone to meet her every morning. Though today I did not see her waiting by the lake like usual, so much to my disappointment I came back here.

"I simply did not go to see her this morning,” I respond.

Neron smirks mischievously, "So.." he drawls, "In other words you mean she's blown you off today?"

I scowl at his words, not finding them the least bit funny.

"I was not blown off. Now, if you would get back to work, there's a lot to be done. I do not need you pestering me any longer with your nonsense,” I huff trying to shooing him away.

"Alright alright, I'll leave you be. For now, that is,” he yells retreating from me.

I pull another sword from the furnace continuing to work. The heat from the still burning furnace is becoming almost unbearable now that the sun is fully risen, giving warmth to everything around. To lessen my discomfort I roll my sleeves and unbutton my shirt, this should do for now.

The city is now in full swing and filled with life, the once empty quiet streets are roaring with people. The peaceful silence of morning has now been disrupted, my ears are filled with the gossips of ladies the laughter of children and the constant inconsistent thumping of carriages. My nose burns with the smell of perfume fixing with the ashy scent of my shop. I try to drown out the city by focusing on the beating of my hammer when suddenly Neron's voice rings out disturbing my momentary peace.

"Flavius you have a customer,” he pauses, "And a lady by the looks of it!"

"Hello, Flavius,” a soft voice calls out caressing my ears.

When those words reach my ears I stop. Her voice since the first time I heard it was like music to me, full of elegance and grace. I turn to face her my eyes wide with shock as I take in the tall woman clad in red standing before me. In a composed manner she continues to speak.

"I am here to buy a sword,” she says.

I simply stare at her for a moment trying to comprehend what I am seeing. I know that Dragons have the ability to turn human but I never thought I'd get the chance to see her like this so soon. Why didn’t she tell me she was planning to visit the city today?

She strides into my shop shifting her head around.

"Since you failed to tell me that you’re the best blacksmith in the city. I came to see if the rumors were true myself," She comments.

Before I can respond a young man comes running into the shop.

He's hunched over gasping for breath, "Your highness princess Eleonora, could you please refrain from running off? I fear if I lose sight of you I may not be able to track you down,” the boy pants out.

So her name is Eleonora. That name is just as elegant as the woman who owns it. Lightly laughing Eleonora turns to face the boy.

"Come now Daniel I wasn't running off, I was simply excited,” she chimes.

Clearing my throat to catch their attention I say, "You're here about a sword?"

She turns towards me, her face still shielded by her cloak.

"Yes, I am in current need of a durable sword, money isn't a problem,” she tells me.

"I'm a little hurt dragon, I thought you may have come to say hello like you promised? Least you could do is give me a proper greeting and pull down that hood of yours,” I joke.

As the words leave my mouth I glance at Neron. I can see the wheels turning in his head as a mischievous smirk plays on his face. Knowing Neron, whatever he's planning in his head cannot be good. I love the man but he tends to be a trouble maker.

Laughing she replies, "Now that little human is something I cannot do. It would ruin the mystery."

"Really now," Neron answers for me with a raised brow. I watch as he walks closer to her lifting the sword I was working on in his hand, he twirls it then goes to knock her hood off.

Just as the sword touches the hood her hand bolts out gripping the blade in an attempt to stop him, but to no avail as the hood still falls back revealing her face. I stare with wide eyes taking in her unnatural beauty. Her long silky black hair is pulled back into two French braids that hang down to the middle of her back. Her deep violet eyes that are like a sunset merely a prelude to the dawn, yet their majesty fills my mind with the most beautiful of dreams. Those stunning eyes are framed by long dark lashes. I could lose myself in her eyes, but instead, my gaze travels down the bridge of her short straight nose and high defined cheekbones down to her plump rosy-colored lips.

My thoughts are interrupted by Eleonora's voice cutting through the silence.

"It's not very gentlemanly of you to point a sword at a lady,” she snaps.

Her eyes are dark and full of contained anger as she says this releasing the blade of the sword from her grasp, pushing it to the side causing him to drop it. It falls to the ground with a loud clank. I watch as she wipes her bloody palm on her pants. Noticing the cut on her palm I rush over to her pushing Neron aside.

"Your hand?" I question grabbing her hand and examining it for injury, only to find that there was no cut only a little blood. Smiling she takes her hand from mine and slowly begins to walk closer to me causing me to subconsciously walk back.

I continue to walk further away from her until my back suddenly hits the large stone table containing my anvil. She gets right up on me our bodies are but a breath away.

She leans in closer until I feel her lips lightly brush my ear causing me to shiver she says, "I am flattered, but do not be concerned for me little human, I heal quite fast."

Her breath tickles my ear and I feel my face suddenly flush with an unfamiliar heat. I am stuck frozen, completely at her mercy before I finally regain some sense.

I lean forward, placing my hands on her shoulders I flip our positions so she is now the one that is being trapped. Her eyes are wide with shock betraying her cool demeanor, but ultimately her face melts back into a warm smirk. I can once again envision her face as the face of the thirty-foot creature I converse within the woods, her smirk playing onto a sharp-toothed snout, her violet eyes ablaze with an unexpected flicker of fire.

I begin to lean in closer to her when I am stopped by the loud sound of Neron clearing his throat. I release Eleonora, jumping back as if she has burned me. Neron looks at me with gleaming eyes and a sly smirk then turns to face Eleonora.

"As much as I enjoyed watching you two flirt I believe the little lady said she was here for a sword?" Neron asks.

"Yes I am,” she says with a sneer.

Neron gives a light laugh.

"You sure you can handle it? Swords aren’t toys,” he says messing with her.

Eleonora tsks, tilting her head up with a face full of arrogance. Picking up the sword Neron dropped she twirls it around then throws it towards Neron barely missing his face. The force behind her throw is strong enough that the sword gets stuck in the wooden wall behind Neron.

Neron's eyes go wide for a moment but then his bellowing laughter fills the room.

"I see you don't need me telling you how to handle your weapons,” he laughs.

Eleonora smiles at Neron her arms crossed over her chest.

"Now, what I came here for. I need a steel broadsword,” she begins to tell Neron.

I tune out most of what Eleonora says to Neron as I go and pluck the sword out of my shop wall. Digging the sword out I study the deep mark that has been left behind. Must she have thrown it so hard? Setting the sword on the anvil I turn towards Eleonora and the others.

"Flavius!" Neron says in an excited voice, "I've just finished telling lady Eleonora and Daniel that you know where commander Bratz lives and that you're willing to show them the way,” Neron tells me.

Since when did I agree to do that? Since he’s already agreed for me I might as well go. This will be a good opportunity to spend a little more time with Eleonora.

"Oh yes, of course, follow me," I say motioning them to follow me.

“Neron since I’m leaving I expect you to finish up in my stead,” I say with a sinister smile.

“What why can’t you finish it later,” he points out.

“It would be better if you just did it, after all, I don’t know how long I’m going to be out,” I tell him.

“Fine, just go,” he sighs shooing me away with a childish pout.

Walking out of my shop I begin to show them the way.

"So, what do you want with the commander?" I inquire.

Walking up next to me Eleonora replies, "About eight summers ago some soldiers working under the commander were killed in my hordes lands so-"

Eleonora is cut off by her companion's hostile voice.

"Please excuse my impudence, but I do believe you should refrain from telling the blacksmith too much,” he bites.

"Nonsense Daniel I trust him,” Eleonora assures Daniel.

Daniel nods prudently but does not reply. The fact that she trust me fills me with a deep sense of satisfaction.

"In short, it was the commander's men that may have killed my older brother,” she pauses as if to reflect. Then continues, her voice full of malice, "And I want to know who was behind it."

"Well, I do hope you find what you're looking for,” I say.

"As do I,” she says.

We go quiet and continue on down the street. Both men and women glance at us as we walk past them. I am inexplicably put off by it, but I can understand why. Eleonora is the type of girl that women love to hate. There is a steadiness to her as if all the storms in the world were but a whispering breeze in comparison. She is kind and clever, perhaps that's what draws me to her. It is as if she were born to be a queen, there is nothing princess about her, just fierce independence and a protectiveness too. Her muscle definition is perfect, as she walks with the confidence of a woman decades older. She isn't just flawless in her bone structure, her skin is like silk over glass and she radiates an intelligent beauty.

By the time we reach the commander's home we've walked nearly halfway through the city.

"That there is the commanders home," I say, pointing to a small, solitary cottage.

We're within feet of the home when Eleonora stops stiffly, sniffing the air as if she smelt something repugnant. She bolts to the front door, shoving it open. I chase after her.

"What's wrong?" I ask panicked.

The doors hanging open, and she's facing away from it with a hand covering her nose and mouth. Her violet eyes are cast down in disgust.

"When we came closer to the house I smelt blood, a lot of blood." She says pointing to the inside of the house.

Peering into the house I see the whole place in shambles, a profuse amount of blood is splattered on the floor and walls, a man's hand lying limp on the floor through the threshold of the hut.