It took two days for Allison to make contact with the first of the two bands of people hiding away near the hills. Two days that pass with little to no excitement—two days she can be thankful for.

It looked to be a small caravan that couldn’t have had more than twenty people, tops. Their campsite was in the thick of the nearby trees—she would have missed them had she not see the golden ember of a fire from the distance.

As she approaches, a man in scavenger gear approaches slowly. She can tell he’s on edge just from noticing her.

“What’s your business?” He asked. “You a new Duscran? Might as well turn back if so.”

“I’m only trying to reach the dragon,” Allison said. “I’m simply looking for lay of the land so I can avoid any unnecessary trouble. I don’t have any issue with you...unless you create one, that is.”

The man looked as if he doesn’t understand. “You know, if the Duscrans sent you as a spy, they did a real poor job of vetting their talent...” He rubs his chin.

“All right,” Allison said, confusing the man even further. “There’s no point if you’re not going to listen. ‘Scuse me,” she brushes past him.

He backs up and held his hands out, “Woah now there. Just where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going to find someone who can tell me something useful.”

“Uh, I don’t think so,” he said.

She looked him up and down—he looked like he belongs tending to the campfire—not standing personal guard. “Oh?”

“Look, I’m not going to embarrass myself publicly by fighting—just not my thing.” He held his hands up, “But we’re just trying to make due here.”

“Someone must know something about the dragon. If you pulled your head clear from your rear you’d see what I’m trying to do is to your benefit as well.”

He thinks on this, and then begrudgingly, “You’ll want to find Uriander, but you’ll probably have to fight them for their respect.”

“Sounds kind of...tribal.”

“Well, we are a tribe.”

“Fair, I guess. Can you point this Uriander out?” Allison asked.

“I won’t need to,” the man said. “I’m going back to the fire. If the others ask, just at least tell them I tried to be stern,” he more than shrugs his shoulders.

“Noted,” Allison said, her edge fading.

Sure enough, Allison is able to find Uriander easily. They’re leaning against a tree and talking with someone she cannot see—they’re blocked entirely by Uriander’s body. It would be an understatement to say that they were the strongest looking person Allison has seen in a long while. As she got closer she saw that it was a red-haired woman they were speaking to. They had almost a full foot on the woman.

“...they won’t mind if you wait until seven. They may seem so, but that’s when you have to put your foot down.”

“You know anything about the hills that a traveler should know?

Uriander stopped, turned, and saw Allison. “Excuse me?”

“I’m in a hurry. I need to know if there’s anything I should prepare for.”

“Well, aren’t we a bit forward? I’m—”

“Unimportant,” Allison said.

“Traveler or what be you, if you can avoid the hills I’d recommend it,” Uriander said.

“Can’t do. Need to head there.”

“Why would you need to?”

“I’m looking for the dragon.”

Uriander doubles over in a hearty laugh. “You’re looking to off yourself then. There are cleaner ways. Besides, I—”

“I’m not looking to off myself,” Allison said.

“Would you quit it with interrupting me? I’m not telling you jack. Now fuck off,” Uriander finished.

“Your guard up there said you’d fight me tribal style.”

“You’re not worth the time or the effort.” They turn back to the woman.

Allison stood still, firm. “No.” She steps in front of them and stared him dead center.

“You must be out of your mind.”

Allison doesn’t respond with words. She only stared deeper.

Uriander looked from Allison to the woman and sighs. “Just make sure Ty stays calm, okay?”

“Yeah, of course, he’ll be fine,” she responds, and paces away, not letting Allison out of her sight.

“You see the problem with you calling out a duel is that I can just ignore it. Do you think we’re some pack of beasts who claw at the word duel?”

Allison grit her teeth, “You don’t want to deal with me, I get it. I don’t want to deal with you, either. But the moment I go into territory I am not familiar with I am on the disadvantage. I do not be at the disadvantage. You seem to be the number one suggestion round here who can help me. The sooner you do the sooner you can get back to...whatever it was you were doing.”

“Interesting offer…no. Good day. Fuck off.”

“All right, no. Go fuck yourself. Trying to help you guys out here but go ahead.” Allison turned, looking out of the corner of her eye. Three...two...one…

“What the fuck’s your problem?”

“Forget it. I’m only wasting time.”

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“You come in here and you try to strong-arm me into anything...who do you think you—”

“Un. Im. Portant.”

“That’s fucking it!” Uriander screams. “You want a fight? You really want a fight? You’ve fucking got one.”

“I don’t want a fight. I want a duel. Winner gets what they want.”

“And what could I possibly want with you?” Uriander asked.

Allison shrugs. “I’m not you. I don’t know. You know what I want, so choice is yours.”

Uriander slowed their breath and the red seeped away from their face. “You seriously looking to go for the dragon. Like, seriously?” Allison doesn’t reply. “Fine. We’ll duel. So long as you keep your word.”

“My word is one of the only things I have left.”

“Well then, I shall take you at your word. Come on,” Uriander cocks their head. “Let’s not make a mess here.”

She follows Uriander past the huts that served as makeshift housing. She could feel the eyes staring as they passed. She wishes it didn’t have to be such a public affair, but if this is what it would have to take…

Just outside of the gathering is an open field with prairie grass blowing in the wind. Uriander turned and faces Allison. “Whatever I want...huh. I’m sure I could find jobs for you I need doing,” they say.

“So bland,” Allison said, almost disappointed. “But I guess I have to respect the fact you left the obvious out.”

“Obvious? Well, I guess that’s telling for each of us, now, isn’t it?”

Allison didn’t know if she liked that response. Around them she saw the guard had gathered a crowd—he was taking payment for entry.

“Olsen’s always looking for ways to profit,” Uriander said. “He’s squirrely like that. Figured I’d let you know he’s been placing bets on the usual outcome.”

“Shame,” Allison said.

Uriander’s smile fades and they sigh. By then it feels like the entire camp had stopped what they were doing to watch the now highly advertised money match between the both of them. Allison could see the comparisons to a squirrel with Olsen now. His face was rather scrunched together when he laughed.

“Your move,” Uriander said. “Since you went through all this trouble. I’ll give you the chance to amuse me.”

Allison dashes forward without another moment to spare. In the time it took Uriander to finish talking she’s closed the distance between the both of them. Gripping at her armlet, the Lance of Longinus extends and meets just before Uriander’s throat.

“It was a mistake to let me to first,” Allison said, “but it would have been an even bigger one to try and rush me, so, I guess you made the right choice considering the circumstances.”

Uriander looked surprised for a moment and then smiled an earnest look. “You do have some tricks up your sleeve, now don’t you?”

“Literally, in this case,” Allison smirks. “Want to waste anymore time or is this about good for you?”

They laugh. “An amusing trick, I have to thank you for holding your end of the bargain. But a trick nonetheless.” They grab the end of the lance and begin tilting downward. Allison is lifted slowly off of the ground. “Huh, I wonder if you beefed up a little bit you’d be able to lift me from up there—maybe we could fly up that mountain ourselves?” They say, ripping the lance out of Allison’s grip like it were nothing.

She falls to the ground, catching herself hard.

“I’m sure you had something interesting planned with this, and given the chance maybe you would have been able to win. Hope there’s no hard feelings there.”

“None in the way you’re expecting,” Allison said. Then on cue the lance melts around their hands, binding like cuffs, and then hardens. Their eyes go wide and they offer a hearty laugh. “God damn it. You amuse me yet again. You really are determined to get what you want, aren’t you?”

“If you want to embarrass yourself further you can try to charge me, now that I’m unarmed,” Allison said.

“No, no. I know when I’m beat. Besides, I know to learn from my mistakes. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Allison smiled.

“Okay, okay,” Uriander said, to Olsen’s visible horror, “you win.”

Allison cocks her head and the lance melts away from their hands, and will a second the liquid steel flies back into her hand as the lance. The people around gather close with gaped mouths.

“Where’d you learn your tricks?”

“If I had time to storytell I’m sure I could tell you a lot of things, unfortunately I don’t, so I can’t.”

“Fair enough. All right then, let me come with you. That’d be better than some possibly outdated information out of these gums, right?”

“I prefer to walk alone,” Allison said. “I’d be more than happy with the terms of our initial agreement.”

“I’m changing the agreement. I’ll help you get where your going, but I’m checking it out too.” Uriander expects the change in Allison’s face, and counters before she can even begin. “You’re telling me that if I surprised you and came out on top, and say my desire was to tie you down and keep you from your goal you would have let me have that desire?”

“Why would you—”

“That’s not the point,” Uriander interrupts. “You would not have accepted those terms, yet you began the duel without knowing what I wanted because you were sure no matter what you would come out on top—whether you needed to make an escape or not.”

Allison bit her lip, “You’re sharp.”

“I don’t live this long by being dim,” Uriander shook their head. “So those are the terms now. Because apparently I have just as much freedom to decline.”

Allison took in a deep breath. “Fine. I’m not responsible for your safety, however, I don’t want your death on my hands.”

“You’re expecting a grand fight, aren’t you?”

“I’m expecting the path to be dangerous. Rumors from the village say this is real shit up there.”

“Well, danger’ll have to take a backseat because I intend to hear your story as we travel.”

“We’ll see what happens,” Allison said.

“I think I shall,” they turn to the crowd, “all right everybody, show’s over. Give your payouts and head on out,”

The crowd at large left happier than Olsen, it seems he was so certain in his bet that he took on the entire grounds. Allison stood, her back straight as an arrow. She brushes herself off from the dirt. “I’ll have to say, I half expected you to just run me out of town. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“You’re the first person in a long time here come looking for the dragon who I think is crazy enough to make something happen, but don’t tell anyone else I said that. Might give them hope and inspire them to come along.”

“That’d be even worse.”

“Not for the reasons you think,” Uriander winks.

Allison thought on this, and subconsciously agrees.

“Sounds like you’ve got a little one. You sure you’re ready to risk leaving them alone?” Allison asked.

“He’s four.” Uriander said. “I’ve been risking that every single day he’s alive. We’re not safe anywhere up here.”

“Because of the Duscrans?” Allison asked. “Come on, let’s walk and talk.”

Uriander smiled. They knew the implications, but shakes their head. “No, we’re going to need to eat, first. As much as I wish to hear your story, I know you probably haven’t eaten in...a day? Two maybe?”

Allison cringed. She finished the rest of her reserves the day before making contact with the band. Her plan was to catch and kill some big game for the travel ahead.

“There’s nothing for you to kill up there. I’m sure you know the dragon’s been around here for a month now? Anything bigger than a muskrat’s been gobbled up. A beast of that size needs to eat a lot.”

Allison didn’t reply.

“Come on, come with me. We’ve had a good harvest when the Duscrans ain’t been taking from our fields. I’ll tell you a bit of my story and I can probe your mind for yours. Then when we’re all set we can get going?”

Allison considered ditching the whole plan and going it alone, but knows deep down that what Uriander had said was true.

“Okay,” she said, with obvious effort. Uriander turned and began to walk away. Subconsciously she thought to the man bleeding, crawling back to town, and wondered if he would make it in time.