I'm not at all pleased with what I'm writing (especially this part...it's so boring to me) so please tell me if it sounds good. And I hope it isn't too long. Any critism will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
“Well, there you are Max. Two months pay of work,” Leratta said, placing the money into Max’s money pouch.
“Thank-you Leratta,” replied Max gratefully.
“I suppose you’re going to leave us now?” the older woman inquired.
Max looked from Leratta’s sad face and then over to Edwurd’s. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to leave. They were so kind to her and she felt like she owed them a lot.
“I think…I’ll think about it,” she finally answered.
Leratta sighed with relief. She enjoyed Max’s company and she was so helpful around the tavern. “Well take as long as you want thinking about this,” she advised.
Max smiled. “There’s just one thing Leratta,” she said. “I miss my dog.”
Leratta frowned. “That’s right. You had told me you had one. Well, where is he?” she questioned.
“He’s been at Crystal Valley since I’ve been here and I miss him dearly,” Max responded.
“Well you go and get him. Bring him back and he can stay here in the tavern.”
“You’ll let him stay? He is half wolf.”
“Of course. This place could use a dog. Your Jo and our Puss aren’t enough. Though Cackle keeps the place lively enough.”
“Thank-you! Can I get him today? I should be back by nightfall,” Max said.
“Go on. Just be careful,” Leratta replied. “Oh and Max, try and come back. Bye.”
“Bye Leratta.” Max grabbed her cloak and ran out the door. She rushed toward the stable and almost ran into Madam Manency. She stopped short.
“I’m terribly sorry,” she murmured.
“It’s alright Maxenne. Why don’t you come to my house for some tea? It won’t take long as I can tell you have somewhere to go,” the witch reassured.
The woman began walking to her shop to her house without for Max’s reply. Max sighed and followed her. She hated when people did that.
“I really don’t have time Madam Manency,” Max told her as she jogged after her.
The witch turned around. “Yes you do dear. But I won’t keep you long so you can come in. Crystal Valley is a few hours away,” she replied.
“Okay.”
Max followed Madam Manency into the dim low roofed. Madam Manency behind her counter. She poured Max some tea and then herself. As they drank their tea in silence, Max grew uncomfortable. She tried to come up with a conversation but nothing came to mind.
Madam Manency put her cup down and looked at Max. “Let me tell you your future,” she said.
Max’s eyes widened. “H-How much would that cost?” she inquired.
“Who said anything about the cost? My treat, now let me clear these things away.” Madam Manency quickly cleared the glasses away and came back with a purple velvet bag. She dumped its contents on the counter. Max looked at them and noticed they were bones.
“They are bones from a unicorn. Now, tsk, tsk. There is death in your future. A few. You’ll embark on adventures of all sorts. Sadness awaits you and happiness. Oh dear!” Madam Manency paused as she studied the bones.
“What?” asked Max, with a panicked voice.
“This is a very difficult reading but I’ve seen it before. Something about a dangerous enemy and a friend. Ah, you’ll have many great friends when you move. They all will be loyal to you. But betrayal is clear here from someone you thought you could always trust. This is nearer than you think.”
“It doesn’t say who?”
Madam Manency shook her head. “Ah, now that’s a good sign. There is love in your future. True love. Someone you could put you life into his hands and you know you’ll be safe. There is another…you two will be very close,” she explained.
Max was thoughtful. She had an odd future ahead of her. Madam Manency grabbed the bones and tossed them into the bag. “The goddesses can be cruel child. Learn that now. Fate will intertwine your life with another’s death. Beware the sycamore tree at your future home.”
“A sycamore tree?” Max stared at the witch with confusion. “How do you mean?”
By now the witch had a far away look in her eyes. “The bell tower is haunted. The water mill is a trap. Stay clear of the captain for he is the Bringer of Death. Fear, dear child, is the key to survival.”
Max scrutinized the witch with wide eyes. The older woman was scaring her with her words. “Please ma’am. Stop. The Bringer of Death isn’t real. He’s a myth.”
“The Bringer of Death will shroud darkness over a valley. It shall remain deserted until he is stopped. To convert a shape seek out The Quagmire.” Madam Manency coughed and blinked her eyes. Seeing Max’s horrified face she said, “Dear child, whatever is the matter?”
“You-you…The Bringer of Death?” Max sputtered in shock and fear.
Madam Manency nodded. “Yes, fearful sort isn’t he? Keep well away from him, but it may be difficult for you. Also, hold on to your friends. The Bringer of Death will bring great harm to them.” She blinked again as the far away look came into her eyes. “You best go. Crystal Valley is a ways away.”
Max nodded. “Thank-you.” She stood up and quickly left the shop. She ran to the stable and threw open the door. She hastened down the alley to Epona’s stall. The mare whinnied a greeting and continued to eat her hay. “Girl, we have a long ride ahead of us so we best get going.”
Max led the mare out of the stall and saddled her up. She led the mare out of the stable and mounted her, adjusting her skirts. With a small nudge to the ribs, Epona broke into a trot. She crossed the town square, down the main street and out of the castle. Max waved to the guard, who waved back, and headed down the path.
Max looked around for Cackle. She would need him to help her find Crystal Valley. As soon as she was about to halt Epona, Cackle came soaring up. He landed lightly onto her shoulder and chirped. She heard a meow and looked down. Jo looked back up at her.
“May I come too?” he inquired.
“Why not?” Max leaned in the saddle and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. She stuck him in the saddlebag. “Which way Cackle?”
Cackle chattered and flapped his wings, his left one hitting Max on the head.
“Ouch! Left up ahead? There will be a tree with a huge growth on it? Okay,” Max replied. “Yes I know, I have to believe it’s there. But I’ve been up and down this path a million times…yea, yea. Believe it’s there.”
Max had to smile. She wouldn’t mind seeing Jack again. Or his handsome Piyer friend. Nor would she toss away the opportunity to meet another large dragon.
Suddenly there was a gap ahead to the left. Max hurried Epona and found a path leading east. Her smile widened. She had found it. She did believe.
“Yes! We did it!” she cried happily. Max urged Epona into a slow lope and the mare obeyed. Max couldn’t wait to get to Crystal Valley.
Max just couldn’t believe it. She had actually done it. Nobody else in her village would have been able to find this path. They didn’t like dragonriders or their mounts. Strange folk? They acted like they were alien to the world and yet the dragons protected them. Pathetic.
Cackle chirped his agreement. He didn’t understand why nobody liked him. He was cute, adorable and very smart. He always cleaned himself. Max laughed at her dragons’ complaints. But she had to agree with him.
Epona slowed down to a walk as they reached a curve. But as soon as she turned it, a huge hill loomed before them. Max knew the oversized hill marked the border between Duniden and Murcia. Murcia didn’t have any hills, only little sloped.
The horse neighed and tossed her head. Max had a feeling she missed the hills. The mare, after all, was born in Duniden. That’s where Max’s father had bought her at the age of five, the same age as Max when she arrived in Lords Cove. The only reason they had moved to that horrid town was because of Havi. Max also missed the hills. That was one thing she could remember from her childhood. She just got this feeling in her stomach when she went up and down hills.
Epona jumped into a gallop and bolted up the hill. As soon as Epona got to the top of the hill, Max pulled her to a halt.
They could see the vast forest of the Far Up. Max saw many more hills up ahead, but not further down the path as it curved to the right. In the distance she could see the mountains with their snowy caps. She then got an idea.
Max turned and began rooting around in her saddlebags. She found what she was looking for and pulled out an old telescope. She put it to her eye and peered through it. She gasped and brought it down.
“Jo! Cackle!” She breathed. “Crystal Valley is bigger and beautifuler than we thought it was. I see the top to an enormous house, the dragon caves in the mountains and some dragons on the ledges. Oh I can’t wait! You want to see? Oh, you’re a cat.”
“Well, I can see when we get there, won’t I? It’ll be a surprised to me as much as it will be to you,” Jo answered back, peeking out of the bag.
Max laughed and returned the telescope to the saddlebag. She nudged Epona in the ribs and the mare climbed down the hill. She hit the bottom and broke into a swift canter, her long blackish grey tail streaming behind her.
They travelled along the road at a walk or a lope. Everyone was looking around with excitement. Cackle was racing about attempting to catch the magick specks.
Almost three hours later, Epona loped happily down the road. She took a sharp turn to her left and stopped. Max sat open mouthed at what was before her. Jo clambered onto the pommel of the saddle and stared about.
It was Crystal Valley: Home of the Dragons. The place everyone heard stories about. The sacred spot where dragons and their riders lived peacefully. Max was there. A creek with a handsome little stone bridge across it flowed into the huge forest from the lake. A huge thatched roofed hall stood in front of a gigantic hill. Beside the hall on either side was houses with the same thatched roofs. A lovely hip-roofed barn was in behind some corrals. A three sided stable was just beside it and below the large dragon caves. A chocolate brown dragon swam in the vast lake. A huge black poplar stood alone on the south side of the lake. Trees were every where. Flowers were abundant. The mountains surrounding the valley shone like crystals, along with the lake. A hill led up to the lake, as the place was also gently rolling. A dirt path led to the hall. Around ten cows grazed along the side of the lake with some horses and other farm critters.
Max sighed. She was so excited and couldn’t wait. She heard branches snap beside her and she turned quickly in the saddle. She eyed the bush suspiciously. The bush rustled and she heard giggling. The young woman let a smile slip. Suddenly a little brunette jumped out of the bush. Epona jumped at the sudden and unexpected movements.
“She found it! She found it! She believed in us!” she cried, her arms in the air.
A red-haired girl followed her out. Her hair was more orange than anything. “Yes, whoever she is Pepper,” she stated.
“You don’t know who she is? How could you not? Toledos Nienna, where have you been? Don’t you pay attention? Or are you always busy drooling over Charlie to notice anything he and Jack say?” Pepper teased.
Nienna’s eyes flashed angrily and turned redder than Pepper’s dress. She shoved the little girl who was laughing uncontrollably. “I do not drool over Charlie!” she yelled.
“Yes you do! You’re always staring at him and when he talks to you, you turn red and twirl your hair and giggle,” Pepper chortled.
Max let a laugh slip. Charlie sure was a good looking man but Nienna was young and merely had a crush on him which would go away as time went on. Nienna looked first at Max and then back to Pepper, growling.
“He is too old for me!” She screeched.
“By what? Like three years? He’s only eighteen. You’re what, fifteen?” Pepper reminded.
“Shut-up!” screamed Nienna, stomping her foot. “You’re only nine so you don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Pepper sank to the ground with helpless laughter. Tears came to her eyes and she fell to her back. Nienna clench her fists and turned a deep red. Pepper pounded the ground and the air was filled with her soft mirth.
“Pepper stop! We have a visitor, we should welcome her properly,” Nienna said, cooling herself down.
Pepper jumped to her feet, but still shook with laughter. She sighed and curtsied to Max, following Nienna’s lead.
“Welcome lady, to Crystal Valley, Home of the Dragons,” the older girl said.
“And their riders,” Pepper added. Nienna hit her.
“Thank-you for such a proper greeting,” Max laughed. “I’m Maxenne Sulon. But Max is preferred.”
“Oh!” Nienna exclaimed. “I’m Nienna Winters.”
“And I’m Pepper Werth,” the little girl piped up.
“It’s so very nice to meet you two. You’re very pleasant,” Max said. “And entertaining.”
“Same here,” Pepper chirped. “And it’s very difficult to get on Nienna’s good side but the only way to be entertained is to be on her bad side.”
Nienna went to shake the little girl when they heard men’s voices. “Oh dear!” she cried.
“What?” Pepper and Max asked together.
“Charlie’s coming! I got to…I got to go back to the Hall! Before he finds out we followed him out here!” Nienna blabbered as she began to panic.
Pepper roared with laughter as Nienna raced over the bridge to the Hall. Max watched the younger girl with amusement.
“I didn’t think they’d be back so soon,” Pepper said as she watched the trees. Laughter came floating out followed by complaints and curses. “They went for a walk around the lake.”
Her words were no sooner through her lips when three men stepped out of the forest, laughing.
“Charlie!” Pepper squealed. She ran to them and jumped onto Charlie, throwing her arms around his neck. “Nienna was here. She heard you coming and made a beeline for the Hall.”
“Really? Am I-I really that l-loud of a w-walker Peppy?” Charlie asked, smiling.
“Well no. We just heard you three talking. Oh and Max is here. She believed in us and she found us,” Pepper replied, pointing at Max
All three men immediately looked up. Max knew all three of them. Jack in the middle, Aunidan on the right and Charlie on the left with Pepper in his arms.
Charlie bent and set Pepper on the ground. But before he could straiten, the little girl leaped on his back. Max dismounted and stood shyly by the mare. Jack walked forwards but stopped, a huge smile on his face.
“This is a pleasant surprise,” he remarked.
“Isn’t it? I thought I should come here to get Malto,” Max replied, studying the three dragonriders.
“Oh!” Pepper wrapped her left arm around Charlie’s neck. “So he’s your puppy? He’s a really nice dog.”
“Pepper! You’re ch-choking me!” Charlie exclaimed with a cough. “Let go-go. I-I ain’t gonna dr-drop yea.”
Pepper loosened her grip. “You have a cat? And a dragon too?” she inquired, watching Cackle and Jo seat themselves on Epona’s saddle.
Max smiled and nodded. “Pepper, you talk too much,” Aunidan pointed out with a wink in the girl’s direction. Pepper stuck her tongue out at him.
“I…we’re glad you came. Eneyla said she really wanted to see you again,” Jack said.
Charlie whispered something to Aunidan who snickered. Jack cast them an annoyed look but otherwise ignored the snickers.
“Come, Eneyla is watching Ranth,” Aunidan laughed. “It’s nice to see you again Max. At a good time.” Max nodded in response.
“Charlie, put me down!” Pepper ordered.
“No, I-I think I’m going t-to keep y-you up th-there,” Charlie answered. Pepper pinched his ear. “Ow! Okay, okay. Jeez ch-child, you sure are m-mean f-for an nine y-year old.” He lowered himself and the little girl jumped off.
“I know. You gotta be to mean to live in this world,” Pepper responded. Max looked at the little girl with surprise. Pepper looked at Max. “Well it is true. Haven’t you noticed?”
“I-I guess. But I was told fear was the key to survival now days,” Max answered.
“From whom?” Aunidan inquired, looking expectantly at Max.
Max shrugged. “Madam Manency.” She couldn’t help but shudder at the memory of the witch’s words.
“Oh.” Aunidan grimaced and shook his head. “She read my fortune last year…I honestly don’t know if it’s normal for a person’s eyes to go out of focus and they start babbling about stuff that’s just down right frightening.”
Max had to laugh. “That’s exactly what she did to me! Hell, she was going on about the Bringer of Death and something about…” Max trailed off as she saw a tall, wide sycamore tree standing by itself with many flowers around it. “Is that a sycamore tree?”
Charlie nodded with a smile. “Beaut’ eh? I-I love th-that tree. I-I think sh-she’s about…a h-hundred or-or-or-or-or older,” he responded. “Damn! H-How many t-times did I-I say or?”
Pepper burst into a fit of giggles. “Five! And you keep saying I twice,” she chortled. Charlie gave her a put out look. Max had to grin but Madam Manency’s words were renewed in her mind at the sight of the old tree.
“Well, enough about death and Charlie’s stutter…I suppose you wish to see that pain in the ass of yours?” Aundian inquired with a sly smile.
“Who?”
Aunidan put two finger’s to his lips and blew. As soon as he whistled, a large, familiar black dog came loping over from the direction of the barn. Max gave out a gasp of surprise.
“Malto!” She dropped to her knees and the large dog knocked her backwards onto her back. She laughed and shoved Malto off of her chest as he began to give her a series of kisses. “Yes, I’ve missed you too. But I suppose that is what you get for running away.”
“Aunidan and Pepper took a liken to him,” Jack reported with a laugh. He scratched behind Malto’s ears. “I think the only person I’ve seen who didn’t like this dog was Thidon.”
Max giggled at the memory of her dog pouting the day her and Jack watched the well. Jack gave her a smile and she returned it.
Charlie rolled his eyes. “I’m t-terribly s-sorry to interrupt you’re…wh-whatever b-but I-I believe we w-were going to-to-to-to…to s-see Enelya,” he said with frustration.
“Ah! Of course Charles. Do lead the way,” Jack said with a gesture. The latter rolled his eyes with more exasperation than last time and marched towards the young woman sitting atop the hill.
“Only b-because sh-she’s watching my dr-dragon!” he called back. “And th-the name is-is Charlie!”
“Of course Charles. How could it slip m-my m-mind?” Jack teased. Max followed beside Jack as they followed. “He doesn’t take the teasing to heart.”
“I noticed. It must be quite frustrating to have a stutter,” Max replied feeling sympathy for the brown rider.
Jack shrugged. “He takes it fine. You’d think he’d be used to it. He’s had it for thirteen years,” he said. “Got it when he was five. Back then he didn’t take the teasing to well. Oh well, we…well I didn’t mean anything b-by the teasing.”
Max smiled. “Well, I suppose. If you all were only five or six.”
“Hey Eneyla! Look who is here to visit us!” called Aunidan. The young woman sitting at the shore turned around. She spotted Max and bounced to her feet. Soon she was embracing Max tightly.
“I’ve really wanted to see you again Max. I heard about that fight in the tavern and everything,” she said, with laughter in her voice.
Max smiled. “It’s really nice to see you again Enelya,” she replied. “And that fight was great. I really enjoyed myself…after these two dragonriders rescued me from Lenny.”
“What fight in the tavern? What tavern? When did this happen? Why wasn’t I told?” Pepper demanded. “You guys keeping secrets from me?”
“Nothing Pepper. It’s grown up stuff. Not for little ears like yours,” Eneyla answered, giving a small, gentle tug on the little girls’ ear.
Pepper swatted her hand away from her ear. She crossed her arms, stuck out her bottom lip and began to pout. Charlie chuckled and tapped her nose with a finger.
“N-no pouting now Peppy. Everyone kn-knows a-a-a-a pouty l-lip gets c-cow poop on-on it,” he teased.
Pepper immediately stuck her lip in. “You wouldn’t stick cow poo on me,” she responded.
“I wouldn’t?” Charlie looked puzzled. “Well, go-go-go f-find some and we’ll f-find out.”
Pepper squealed. “And then what?”
Charlie frowned in thought. “He’s going to twist your nose into five different knots,” Jack piped up.
Pepper smiled. “And then?”
“Chuck you into the lake,” Eneyla added.
“Then?”
“Feed you to a Saber Toothed Cat,” Max said.
“O-oh. That sounds like fun. And then?”
“Tickle you till your breathless with laughter if you don’t stop talking,” Aundian joshed.
“Oh Aunidan! Blah, blah, blah!” Pepper said, dancing around in a circle. “I’m talking. Talking forever. And I ain’t going to stop talking till I get my punishments.”
Charlie quickly grabbed her and began to tickle her. Pepper screamed with laughter. “Okay! Okay! I’ll stop! I can’t breath!” She giggled. Charlie let her go, his face a little red. But not as red as Pepper’s. “Wow. That was fun!”
Aunidan rolled his eyes. “Honestly Pepper, you’re a sucker for punishment.”
The little girl shrugged. “I love the punishments from you dragonriders. They’re soo fun!”
“Charles!” Shouted a woman’s voice.
Charlie jumped in surprise and looked over his shoulder. Everyone else looked to the source of the voice. A tall woman with silver hair came marching across the path and up the hill towards them.
“Charles! I’m going to beat you till you’re black and blue. Don’t you dare take off again! I will not be happy with you,” she roared.
Charlie cringed and took a hesitant step back. “Now wh-what d-did I-I do Z-Zena?” he called. But to his friends he gave an annoyed look. “I think I broke something. But the last time I was in the Hall was three hours ago.”
“Again? That’s, what? The twentieth thing this week?” Eneyla gasped.
Jack and Aunidan burst out laughing. “Actually, Eneyla, it’s th-th-the fifth th-thing br-broke,” Charlie pointed out.
The woman breezed passed the others and stood in front of Charlie. “You boy! You broke my mothers vase!” she snapped.
Charlie looked confused. “Which one Zena?” he asked innocently.
“The only one you hadn’t touched. I think there is only five left,” Zena said cooly.
“O-oh! Th-that ugly blu-bluish purple th-thing?”
“Yes.” Came the dull reply.
“I-I didn’t br-break that one. I-I br-broke th-that white one with th-the blue fl-flowers. I-I was-was…um…t-t-testing out J-Joster’s sl-slingshot and th-the rock accidentally hit-hit your v-v-vase. Th-that purple th-thing was st-still st-standing when I-I-I left th-the Hall,” Charlie answered. “Sorry.”
“My white vase with the blue flowers?” Zena gasped. “The one that’s been passed down from generation to generation in my family?”
“I-I th-thought they were all-all p-passed d-down fr-from g-generation to-to-to generation?”
Zena clenched her jaw in frustration. She looked accusingly at the others as they muffled their laughter. “Don’t encourage him! He’s worse than a damn dog.” Charlie frowned at her words and looked down, the hurt plain on his face. “I didn’t mean it Charles. But who broke my purple vase?”
“Zena! Don’t yell at Charlie!” called another voice. They all turned and saw a blonde haired woman run up the hill, her long hair flowing behind her.
“I already did,” Zena said lamely.
“Oh. Well, I…um… broke your purple vase. I was playing with Joster’s slingshot and hit the vase. Everyone knows I don’t have good aim at anything,” the woman explained. “I went to get the broom but you found it before I could clean it up.”
Everyone burst into fits of laughter at the story. Everyone except Zena, who was thoroughly mad, and the young woman, who was thoroughly confused.
“Did I say something funny?” she inquired.
“That stupid, damned slingshot has got to go. Charles, you must be lying because the same incident can’t happen twice in one day,” Zena stated.
“Fine. But it was an-an-an accident. I-I-I released th-the rock on-on p-purpose. I-I was aiming f-f-for th-that pot on-on-on the w-wall,” responded Charlie.
“How could you miss that pot? It belonged to a Turnim!” Zena exclaimed.
“Who said anyth-thing about m-missing ?” Charlie chuckled. “I-I h-hit the damned th-thing.” The mixture of everyone’s laughter, except Zena’s, filled the air once again.
“Then how the hell did my vase get broken?”
“It-it-it hit the pot, came f-firing b-back at-at-at me, I-I ducked. And behind m-me was S-Sophia with another p-pot. She p-put her p-pot up. The rock bounced off h-her pot and h-hit your v-vase,” Charlie clarified.
“Bouncing bloody rocks around the Hall?” Zena asked, throwing her arms into the air.
“Um…th-they weren’t bloody Z-Zena,” Charlie pointed out. Zena gave him a stern look. “I-I just th-thought I’d p-point it-it-it out to-to-to-to you.”
“You said to four times!” cackled Pepper. Cackle chirruped and landed on Max’s head.
Max let out a laugh. “And Cackle says you said it three times,” she said.
Charlie gave the lesser dragon a teasing sneer. “I’d l-like to-to hear you sp-speak with a-a-a-a st-stutter little one,” he replied.
“And whose this?” Zena turned to Max. Cackle jumped into the air with a squawk and raced around their heads. “Stop that!”
Cackle landed onto Jack’s head and buried his head into the dragonrider’s shaggy hair. “Aw, Zena. You scared the poor little guy.” Jack reached up and pried the small dragon out of his hair. “This is Maxenne Rulon and her dragon Cackle. Max, this is Zena Bogart.”
Max held a laugh in gave a small curtsy. “Pleased to meet your acquaintance Zena,” she said.
Zena merely nodded her head. “Same here. Now, are you visiting?” she inquired.
“Yes ma’am. I came here to retrieve my dog who ran away two months ago. I’m terribly sorry for causing you any grief,” Max said, rubbing Malto behind the ears.
Zena gave the young woman a small smile. “It’s okay. I’m just glad he is going back home where he belongs,” she said. Jack shifted uncomfortably. “Now, I must return to the Hall to make sure that slingshot is disposed of.” She turned on her heal and strolled back off to the Hall.
“I just don’t get this. Two vases broken in one day. I think that’s a new record,” the blond woman laughed.
“No, I think Charlie’s broken three in a day before,” Aunidan responded, rubbing the stubble on his chin.
Charlie shrugged as if he didn’t care for the broken vases. “Um…I-I do believe S-Saria’s th-the only one h-here wh-who hasn’t met M-M-Max,” he declared.
“Oh!” Saria turned to study Max. “I’ve heard about all the things you’ve done and have done with these dragonriders. Like the bar fight and Aunidan’s and Charlie’s misfortunate accidents.”
“I highly doubt Charlie’s little tree incident was an accident,” Jack teased.
Charlie huffed and turned his head to study the dragon in the lake. Pepper crossed her arms. “There’s that bar fight again. What happened?” she demanded.
“Nothing Pep,” Eneyla responded. “Saria this is Maxenne Rulon. Max this is Saria Redleaf.”
“Pleasure,” Saria laughed, airily. Max nodded her agreement. The group chatted with each other for ten minutes before an awkward silence settled over them.
“W-Well now th-th-that we all-all know each other…” Charlie said breaking the silence. He clasped his hands together and looked over to the lake. “Oi R-R-Ranth! Come h-here pl-please. We have a-a-a visitor.”
The brown dragon swam over to the shore and leaped from the sparkling waters. Her wet scales glimmered, the sun reflecting off the water. She plodded over to them and shook herself, grumbling.
“Thanks Ranth!” yelled Eneyla, shielding herself with an arm. “You couldn’t do that over there?”
“Sh-sh-she says you’re welcome and hi.” Charlie grinned. “And M-M-Max, sh-she also th-thanks you f-f-for helping us out a f-f-few months ago. You d-didn’t tell me t-to tell her at-at th-the tavern s-s-s-o don’t get mad at-at me. No R-Ranth, th-that isn’t th-the point.”
The others burst into laughter as the two bickered with each other. “You’re welcome Ranth, but I really didn’t do anything.” Max reached up and scratched Ranth’s eye ridges.
Ranth nodded her head and sniffed Max. She blew into her face and swished her tail. The dragon the raised her head and bugled loudly. Everyone covered their ears and watched the dragon fly up to a cave in the mountain side to sun herself.
“What was all that about?” A bewildered Max asked, turning to look at the dragons’ rider.
“She likes you,” Charlie responded with a shrug. “Sh-she says th-there aren’t really any b-bad bones in-in-in you. Only a-a-a bit. And th-thanks again for h-helping h-her…us out of our l-little pl-plight in-in-in-in the f-forest. Thought it…” He scrunched his face up with annoyance and raised a clenched fist at his sunning dragon. Ranth roared loudly at him and turned around on her ledge.
“Say it was your fault?” Max inquired, fighting down her blush from Ranth’s words.
“Ya.”
“Oh! Look there’s Robin,” Eneyla exclaimed. She turned to Max and hugged her. “It was really nice seeing you again but I gotta go.” She then turned and ran off down the hill to a man on a dapple grey horse.
“Robin? What’s so great about Robin?” Pepper asked. She seemed to voice Charlie’s disgusted look.
“S-so, you quit your j-job at-at th-th-th Cat and Ch-Cheese?” He inquired.
“Not yet. I’m thinking about it. I really want to go to Duniden, on the other side of the mountains there.” Max gestured to the towering snow-caps. “But Leratta has been so kind to me. Almost like a…um…proper mother.”
“I see.” He turned his gaze to the mountains. The smell of pine trees wafted up. Max looked around but spotted only spruce and poplar.
“It’s you!” she gasped.
Charlie’s confused look turned to one of understanding. However, Pepper, Jack, Aunidan and Saria bore confused expressions.
“Would you like to include us in this?” Jack inquired innocently.
“Him.” Max pointed at Charlie. “He smells of pine trees.”
“That’s been you Charlie?” questioned Aunidan.
They all turned questionably to the Piyer. He raised a curious eyebrow at their looks. “Well yea. It-It-It is m-my r-r-race after all. That did not clue in?”
“I honestly didn’t think of it,” admitted Max, sheepishly.
Pepper pushed past the others to peer up at Charlie. “I always smell pine trees. But I always thought it was just from the Forest.”
“When I’m near Charlie I smell them,” piped up Saria.
“Yea, when aren’t you near Charlie?” Pepper joshed. Saria lightly blushed while the others, except Charlie, snickered.
“Hey n-now. Th-that isn’t n-nice Peppy. S-Saria and I-I-I are fr-friends just as-as-as much as you and I-I-I are,” Charlie scolded. “Anyways, it’s b-because my f-f-family and I-I-I are P-Piyers. It’s our r-r-race.” He looked back up to the mountains.
“Well, why are we so quiet? Nothing else to say?” Jo trotted up, a small shrew in his mouth. He set it down and glanced up at the people.
“Oh, we just figured out it was Charlie who smelt of pine trees,” answered Max.
“And that hadn’t clued in at Avalon that day we took fish into town?” Jo inquired. “You know, the day you almost strangled me?”
Max giggled. “I didn’t almost strangle you. I told you, you shouldn’t go around asking people about their race,” she corrected. “But no, it didn’t clue in.”
Charlie looked back at his friends. “The cat did surprise me by what he said. I didn’t think talking cats were so smart.”
“I’m a Dwight thank-you very much. You know, a shape-shifter?”
“Didn’t anyone tell you that shape-shifters have troubles changing back into themselves if they turn into cats?” Aundian asked.
“No. Thanks for the information,” Jo snapped, sarcastically. “Besides, it’s only the amateur shape-shifters.”
“Like you?” Jack chuckled.
Jo ignored his comment. “Besides, you can only be half Piyer because you have dark eyes. And green.”
Charlie frowned at the thought. “B-but my parents w-were b-both P-Piyers.”
“Whatever.” The Dwight shrugged and began to eat his shrew.
“That’s gross. You’re human and you’re eating a rodent?” Saria cried. She looked like she was about to barf.
“When you’re a cat, it makes no difference,” Jo answered through a mouthful of shrew.
“But does that mean you lick yourself like a cat too?” Pepper inquired. Jack, Charlie, Aunidan and Max all snorted with laughter. Saria merely giggled but was slowly walking backwards.
Jo blinked his eyes and swallowed his mouthful. “Actually, I try and not to act too much like a cat,” he responded. Bones began to crunch more and he was making awful slurping noises.
“I have to get out of here before I barf,” Saria gagged. She turned and began to jog off.
“S-Saria wait for me!” Charlie called. The young woman paused midstride and waited for him. Pepper scurried after them.
“She has a weak stomach,” Jack chuckled.
“It’s a good thing I don’t,” Max said, looking down at Jo. “Or else someone would have been kicked out long ago.” Jo shrugged again and continued crunching the shrew. Aunidan raised his eyebrows at Jack and strolled away in the direction of the barn.
“Did you come here to get Malto only?” Jack questioned, quietly.
Max looked away from him. “Yes I did. I told Leratta that I would be back tonight with him. But I might quit soon so…” she trailed off.
“You going to Duniden when you quit?”
“Yes. But I’m not sure what to do when I’m there. I haven’t planned that far ahead.”
“Why don’t you come live here? There is lots of mice for me, lots of room for Malto, dragons to keep Cackle straight and well behaved. Also horses for Epona and friends for you,” Jo said, licking his paws. “And it’s in Duniden.”
“What?” Max inquired, startled by the suggestion.
“That’s a good idea,” Jack said. “Until you find out what you’re going to do. Zena won’t mind. She likes help. We can do our best so she doesn’t make you a cook.”
“But I…I don’t know. I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll have to pay board for Epona and such,” Max responded.
“Nonsense,” Jack scoffed. “Besides, you’ll fit right in with everyone here. They’re all friendly. Marth and Ranth like you, along with Aunidan and Eneyla. And Pepper already.”
“I’m not sure.” She was getting worried. She wasn’t quite sure if she should live there. What would her mother say?
“But why? Is it because of the stories you hear about us? You made it here, so you must believe,” Jack pressed.
“I don’t think I belong here is all. Everyone’s been here forever.”
“Come on Max. If you change your mind, we are always here.” He turned from her and began walking away. He stopped and looked back at her. “Besides, not many of us have lived here for more than seven years. Charlie’s father was a knight in Zephi. I lived in Bordertown and Zephi. Robin is just visiting. Eneyla is an orphan from Zephi. Saria’s an orphan from Phene. Aunidan was born in Zephi and moved here. Just thought you’d might want to hear that.” He turned and continued to walk away.
Max looked down at her boots feeling guilty. She saw the disappointment on his face and felt terrible inside. She wanted to live here, but didn’t. She didn’t want to admit it but she was scared.
“Jack! Jack wait!” she called. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “I’m sorry I said all that. I think I’ll take you up on that offer. But I think I’ll talk to Zena about this.”
A huge smile broke out on Jack’s face and his blue eyes lit up with joy. “Come right this way. Your horse should be fine there,” he said.
