Thomas Grey

Once the group reached Moon Rock, they made camp outside the walls. The walls towered into the sky, and where some of the most unique walls in the world. Made of a hard white wood, the walls themselves were a mass of strong white vines, and logs. Tom had heard that the wood did not burn, not even if a dragon breathed on it. Tom didn’t know if that was true, but he knew that the walls had to be good for something.

Though they had wished to be the only ones on the road at this time, they were not fortunate enough for that. Once Lont, and he had secured a spot outside the city, he had to tell of three other traveling groups, to ensure they could stay. Once the other armed members of the group arrived, men had been reluctant to approach.

An invaluable resource in Tom’s opinion, many villages did not have a mercenary group that resided within them. Tom was currently seated on the back of a wagon, listening to Gil prattle on about wanted to go into the city that night. Gil had brought the issue to Lain, once he had returned from paying the tax for camping outside the city to the guards at, he gate.

Tom looked back at the expanse of twisting white vines, and trees they called a wall, there were no perches to look out over the walls he noted. When Tom, and Will had first seen the city, some years back when John took them on their first job, they had been thoroughly amazed. Now Tom was used to the city besides, in the books all dragons had magical castles.

Tom had been to this city with his brother, hundreds of times before, John often found work with the royal family. While the city was beautiful, with the bright white walls, and the polished stone castle, Tom had never noticed anything magic about it. Though where the white wood came from had always been a mystery, and it was said that the wall itself was continuously growing, slowly rising higher, and higher.

Moon rock was famous for their gardens as well, once inside the city you could find every kind of plant in the world. Gardens were rampant on the castle itself as well, making the garden look like it belonged to the forest itself. The castle itself had many different types of flowers, with hanging gardens, and vines with red flowers. The most amazing sight of them all was the moon rock that could be seen even over the high walls.

The blue oval stretched longways to the sky, and on a full moon it would shine bright illuminating the city. Tom, and Will had seen I last time it changed, it was as if the sun was shining white, and one could see just as well as the brightest day. Though it was no full moon tonight, and even though one could see the white stone, it did not shine like it had that night.

When Tom looked away from the giant cloudy oval that reached high above the white walls, he found Gil was still prattling on. Tom rolled his eyes, produced a stick of dried meat from his satchel, and began to slowly eat it. More to have something to do, rather than out of hunger once he finished his jerky and had grown tired of Gil’s complaints to his village friends. Tom hopped off the cart, and walked into camp, a quick whistle had Black following him close behind.

Tom briefly thought about going into the vast forests that surrounded the walls of the giant city, but he had been in there all day earlier scouting for the traveling villagers. Supposing his brother might have some idea of how to turn the bores of travel around, he set out to find Will. Already suspecting he knew where Will was, he headed for John’s wagon.

Sure enough, Tom found Will seated in front of the fire alone, drinking from a cup, Tom nodded to him, though he had a scowl on his face. The men had set up their tents around a fire, the wagons structured behind them like barricades against the trees. A glance told Tom he had a sleeping bag in Wills tent, his brother returned his nod.

Though it wasn’t completely dark out, they often started fires earlier in the night, to smoke as much meet as they could. Lont had brought down a deer, and Tom could see the strips on meat hanging above the small flame.

“Seems like you could use some company, and a drink” Tom said giving his brother an unreturned smile, Will only grunted. “Well, whatever is wrong with you, get over it, I need company” Tom said sitting next to his brooding brother. Will produced a flask from his fur cloak, he handed it to his brother who took a swig, found it to be ice cold water, so cold he almost coughed. If Will saw his blunder, he had the grace to not say anything.

“Figured you would have Elaine keep you some company” Will said simply, he spoke in the northern tongue, as he so often did these days. Once when Tom had asked him why he preferred the mountain language, he had merely said “It fits somehow”, but could not explain further. Tom assumed it was excitement about knowing another language, something that was common in the traders in Phelia.

Tom didn’t mind the language, and John had beaten it into them, weirdly enough, Will had learned it before Tom had. A rare thing for Will to pick any kind of language studies up before him, maybe that had a part in why William loved the language, or maybe it was to be closer to John, something Will was often striving for.

Either way, Tom responded in the same language, keeping his thoughts on the subject to his self. “I would prefer her over you any day” he replied with a theatrical sigh, “yet it seems Mary has her busy at work,” Tom said over dramatically.

William grunted, a noise that Tom repeated in an overly mocking way, Will shot him a venomous look which made Tom laugh. It was rare for Will to be angry, however when he did find his anger it was slow to leave him. Often, he would find something to practice swinging his sword at, Will had his own ways for dealing with emotions, he always had.

Tom had found however, that sometimes Will took himself too serious in times of anger and needed to be prodded out of his anger. Though Tom pitied the first poor fool other than himself, and John who tried prodding the man out of his anger.

Will glared at him for a second, and sighed, his anger seemingly dissipating, “Laura, and Lant are heading into the city tonight, seems I will be on guard duty both this day and the entirety of tomorrow” Will said. Though he did seem disappointed there was not long any heat in his voice, Tom stopped smiling, and looked thoughtfully at the sky.

“You’ve been to Moon Rock twice as much as those two, why would they keep you here” Tom said curiously. Will nodded in agreement with his brothers’ words, “That’s what I said, but John insists I stay here” Will said with a scowl.

Tom, grinned feeling as though he had just completed a riddle, “Laura, and Lant don’t have as much experience, going by themselves will be good for them” Tom said to his brother who thought on his words. “Besides you are our best fighter, it makes sense for you to guard the village” Tom added hoping that the stroking of his brother’s ego would help him be in a better mood.

It seemed to work, Will cracked a grin, “you might be right about them needing experience” he said a trace of pride creeping into his voice. “Yet I’m not sure I can be considered the best, if John were younger than I, he would no doubt best me” Will said, causing Tom to snort.

Yet before Tom could argue the matter, John, Lain, exited the tent, quickly followed by Laura, and Lant. John looked at Tom, and nodded to the boy, “glad you’re here” the older man said in the common tongue. “I want you to accompany these two into the city, show them to the merchants guild” John ordered, Tom nodded but tried to keep impassive about doing so.

Tom was happy to have something to do, but didn’t want Will to be bothered, if will was bothered he didn’t show it. “Deliver this to the guards at the palace gates as well” John said handing him a sealed envelope, the seat was a wax bat.

Curiosity bloomed up in his chest, but he ignored the desire to read the note, and instead took the envelope, and put it in his brown satchel. “Leave your dog, and for gods sake belt your damn sword on” John finished harshly, Tom would have been embarrassed but Laura, and Lant already had left. “Meet those too on the camp border when you’re ready” Lain said in a kinder than Johns.

“Will, meet me at the start of the forest over there, I want to follow up on a hunch” John said in the northern tongue to Will. Who seemed delighted to have something to do, the older man walked off into the night, Tom, and Will clasped hands, then Tom walked to his horse to retrieve his short sword.

Once Tom had his sword strapped to his waist, he made his way to where he saw Lant, and Laura waiting. Tom hated wearing his sword, with John’s training he wasn’t too horrible with it, maybe even better than average. Though he preferred a bow, and it would be weird to bring a bow, and a full quiver of arrows with him through the city.

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Laura, and Lant nodded their greetings, and the three headed off, it was a short walk to the gates of the city. All throughout the field along the walls of the city, there were lights from campfires, some as far as the tree line, and some close to the gate. None however were close enough to block travelers into the gates, the guards would have none of that.

Guarding the gate, and holding spears, were two guards in chain mail, with a white crescent moon on their helms. After a few curt questions the guards stood aside and allowed the three into the city, Tom, and the other two were not close by any means. So, it was unsurprising when they spoke to each other rather than include him into their conversation.

If one was being honest, Tom preferred it that way, these two had been here a few times, but rarely enough to where they were still amazed by the simplest things of the city. The city was still busy, but most people had left for taverns seeking the warmth of a fireplace, and the welcoming sound of music.

There was little time for the large black-haired pair to take In the sights however, and once Tom showed them to the merchant’s guild. A large building with more windows than was necessary, Tom took his leave, and headed for the gates of the castle.

Large bronze gates barred travelers from entering the castle grounds, where the royal black dragons resided, and finding a guard was little trouble for Tom. Once the man saw the mark of The Lost, who were well respected, he gave the man a nod, and handed the envelope to another man. Tom took his leave after that, and by then night had set in, and the streets were even more deserted, save for the occasional roaming city watch, or a drunken fool trying to find his way to his house. While John had wanted everything done before dark, he had not ordered him to return immediately after the tasks were finished.

Tom found a tavern, The Drunken Frog, which they often traveled to when they visited the city for mercenary work. The room was warm, and crowded, a man played a lute in the corner, and some people even danced. Tom found a empty place on the bar to lean against, and ordered a strong ale, he paid with some of the money he had in his satchel.

The man to his right, who looked to be a young noble, though he wore no house symbols, maybe the son of a rich merchant. The man looked to be the same age as Tom, with black eyes, and short brown hair, he merely glanced at Tom before turning to talk to a serving girl. The woman must have liked what he said, because she shot the man a suggestive smile, before leaving to refill someone’s drink.

It took only a second for his ale to be brought to him, and he took a big gulp of the drink, it was stronger than he was used to back in the village. Though not bad at all, John would get furious at him for getting drunk on his own, he always insisted that two always traveled together to taverns. A smart idea, and Tom saw the wisdom in it, but he had been traveling all day, and felt he deserved a tankard of ale.

Tom finished his mug quicker than he thought he would, and ordered another, he hadn’t drank anything other than that sip of water from Will. Yet he forced himself to drink the next mug slower, already feeling dizzy from the first.

“Where do you come from friend” said rich man to his left, the ale made him for talkative. “South of here, just north of Feos, names Tom, you?” Tom said with a smile at the man. The man answered him, but his eyes were on a serving girl who rushed past him. “Damien, and I’m from here” he said smiling at the girl, and winking, Tom saw the girl blush.

The man to their left spoke up, “from Feos?” he asked his voice was gruff, when Tom turned to look at him, he found he looked like a toad. The man had a wide nose, and a sneering grin, and also had stubble, and a thick set of loose neck skin. All of that was accompanied by a thick head of greasy blonde hair, the man smelled of ale, and was clearly drunk.

“Aye” Tom said, as he finished his ale, when had he drank all of it, he thought he had just ordered it. “No matter” Tom thought to himself as he ordered another one, this ale was strong, and he decided he liked it quite a bit. “Running from them Gold Dragons I bet” The frog like man said, he sneered as he said it.

It was the man too his right who answered, “seems to be a lot of men these days, I can’t say I blame them” he said moving to face the pair. The man snorted, “then yer a coward, should those damn Gold Dragons come here I’d face them, rather than run” he said sneering at the two of them.

Tom noticed men around them had stopped, and started to look at the argument, more than likely interested in talk about the gold dragons. The other man, Damien smiled at the man however, “aye with your girth, you’d make a better barricade, than soldier” he said raising his glass in mock cheer.

The men who had been paying attention to the commotion all laughed, it took Tom a second to realize he was laughing as well. The mans face grew red, and Tom took another drink of his ale, when he did so the man spoke again. “Weak words coming from a pair of whelps, do you even know how to use that sword boy” said the drunkard, Tom flashed a smile. “I could show you if you’d like, slice me a few pieces of bacon” this caused more laughter, and the man to grow even angrier.

The man threw a fist at the man’s head, drunk as he was barely moved backwards toppling his chair over. It was Damien who struck back, laughing all the while he punched the man in the nose, sending him falling into the man behind him. That sparked a brawl which encompassed a majority of the bar, Tom could barely see, before he was attempting to dodge with little room to move.

A fist hit him in the nose, and that sparked him to anger, he struck the attacker, in the head with a blow, followed by another. The frog like man ran at him as well, Damien occupied fighting someone else, Tom dodged his first strike, a wild thrust with his left fist. Bringing his elbow up to the man’s throat, the man gagged, and Tom kicked the back of his knees.

Damien himself surprisingly had knocked out three men, though his face also had color from being hit. The city guard arrived quickly after that, breaking up the smaller fights that had started closer to the door.

Tom, and Damien shared a panicked look, before turning towards the back hoping to find a back door. The guard however had already thought of that, and were rushing in through the back, both men were in chains before either of them had a chance to run. “Damnit, John’s going to kill me” Tom thought to himself, as the guards lead them out of the tavern, and into the holding cells, located to the side of the castle.

Tom looked in the mirror provided in the tiny cell that he shared with Damien, his face was a mass of blood. Already healed thanks to his relic, it was clear to anyone that he had been in a fight recently. Damien looked better than him, and coloring on his face had cleared by now, and they both seemed to be sobering quickly.

“You a noble?” Tom asked when the silence became unsettling to him, Damien tilted his head. “What makes you say that” he asked looking at himself with a frown. “Nice clothes, and good speech, usually are telltale signs” Tom said giving him a smile.

“Ah then are you yourself a noble, a Feosian noble perhaps?” Damien asked raising an eyebrow, Tom noticed he hadn’t answered his question. “No, not a noble, well educated though” Tom said with a nod, then waited, Damien seemed to know what he was waiting for.

“Is it that obvious, I was going for a merchant” Damien said with an exasperated expression. Tom chuckled at that, "Never met a noble that young merchant who can afford golden cuff’s,” the man looked in surprise at his sleeves.

“Damn” The man said, which brought laughter from Tom, “what of you?” Damien asked him. “Sorry?” Tom replied slightly confused, “well you said you were well educated, and you had a sword, what’s your story” Damien said getting over his earlier frustration quickly.

“My village is fleeing the Gold Dragons army, and we are well armed for the journey” Tom said simply, shrugging his shoulders. “Ah yes you mentioned the Gold Dragon army, though that doesn’t explain why villagers would be so well armed,” Damien narrowed his eyes in thought.

“Well, our village is more like the base for a mercenary group, The Lost” Tom said, watching as the mans eyes lit up. “Oh, I see, you guys do work for the royal family,” Damien said with a satisfied smile, as if happy to finally learn a secret.

Tom nodded with a smile of his own, he felt pride well up in his chest at the recognition. “Aye, we are passing through, heading further north, trying to get our people away from the war” Tom said. Damien nodded, still smiling “I see” was all he said.

“Aye, all I hope is I can leave in the morning, hopefully with out my father finding out about this” Tom said, allowing a bit of his worry to show. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, as a matter of fact, I believe we should be out soon” Damien said looking out the bars of the cell as if waiting for something.

When Tom asked what the other man was talking about, he got no answer, so they waited in silence. Not ten minutes had passed however when a small man with a large nose, black eyes, and hair like Damien’s came to their cell followed by guards.

“Ah, there you are, sure took you long enough” Damien said, hopping to his feet from the cot he had been laying on. Tom also scrambled to his feet from his place on the floor, the man had short brown hair, and wore the symbol of the Black Dragon Royal Family on his shirt.

Tom gave a bow, and was surprised when Damien did not as well, “oh stand up Tom, this is my older brother Malcolm Dark” Damien said smiling at him. Tom straightened, and felt his eyes widen with shock when he realized what Damien’s meant.

Damien was a Black Dragon, and a royal prince, Tom’s surprise must have shown on his face because the man named Malcolm gave a chuckle. “Not only did you get this man arrested, but you also did not even tell him he was in royal company” Malcolm said with mock scorn in his voice.

“Seems I am once again cleaning my brothers mess,” Malcolm then said to Tom, who stumbled over his words for a second. “It its fine, my prince” Tom said almost bowing again, Damien laughed at him this time. “Well then its your lucky day it seems, give this man back his weapon, and show him to the gate” Malcolm said.

When the guard started to hand Tom his short sword, Malcolm stopped him when he noticed the Pommel of the sword. “A member of The Lost” the prince said, with a look of respect, “here for work?” he asked almost looking hopeful.

Tom despite himself chuckled, though nervously, “afraid not, we head north,” he said. Malcolm smiled regretfully, “a shame we could have used you, well then if you change your mind speak to the guards at the gate, Damien come on” Malcolm said already turning to leave the prison.

“Will is not going to believe this,” Tom thought to himself.