blogwithvalor

I’m going to be busy today at a music festival and figured it was a good day for another old short story. This one was made on May 5th of 2021. So pretty close to the last old short story. Although I’m not as in love with this one as the last old short I posted, it’s still nice to look back on because I did it with my wife. I do love dragons though and you can see that I threw them in there because of it. It also fit one of the 5 topics well.

Anyways, enjoy.

…

5 Topics: Wind, Religious, Winter, Fantasy, Water

The wind combs through the valley and over the frozen lake Osisus overlooked. It was winter in Sherapova but the ice is not yet completely frozen over. Going back to his small camp his wife Ophells hands him a warm beverage.

“We must head west to avoid the lake. There’s a small town we can stay in tonight and we can leave the next day.” Osisus has already decided on a course of action before even consulting Ophells. The inconvenience is just that, a minor setback but it will not stop them.

“I have already packed everything but if we are going into town we need to hide our precious cargo.” Ophells gestures to the five tightly sealed cannisters on the floor.

“These heathens have never heard of the Water of the Gods, I wouldn’t expect them to know the sanctioned power we carry.”

Ophells picks up each cannister, quietly taking in the significance of each as she places them in the bottom of their wooden trunk. She piles their clothes and blankets neatly on top before closing the lid.

Osisus had already taken down the tent and loaded it into their small cart. He carefully lifts the trunk and places it in the back of their small cart, while Ophells fills a bowl with rum and gives it to the baby dragon that pulls their cart.

Their baby dragon was starting to get too old to pull carts as its wings were beginning to show. A full-grown dragon can fly and shoot fire. Their temperament is also too wild to do even the simplest tasks. But baby dragons last a good 10 years before growing into adults and Ophells and Osisus had this one for around 7. It was supposedly 1 when they bought it, but given the current maturity they realized it must have been closer to 3.

Ophells and Osisus knew that they would soon have to sell it to a breeder or mage, depending on the sex that presented itself. If the wings were gold then it was a male and if the wings were crimson then it was a female. The males were numerous and breeders had little use for them. Each breeder only needed 1 male per farm. Ophells didn’t like thinking about what the mages do to the males, but most of the potions and magic the mages used required dragon parts.

The cart was packed and Ophells grabs the empty bowl. She jumps into the seat next to Osisus and they make way for the small town.

The containers concealing the Water of the Gods must be sealed air tight. If their dragon Hasne came into contact with the water or even inhaled its vapors they would begin the process of becoming a changling. With only a glass of spiritual water, a dragon would no longer be a normal dragon but a creature with the ability to walk amongst men in mans skin. The Water of the Gods are prophesized to be the Cloak God’s gift to her followers to give them dominion over the unfaithful.

Hasne pulls the cart into the small town. Though small, it has all the amenities two travelers could want. There is a bar with beds and stables to rest the night and an updated bulletin board with news sent via eagles from the various kingdoms, mage castles, and knight outposts. Osisus always makes sure to read the bulletin board first when entering a town. It is a routine that Ophells never quite understands. She has read the information and never saw any relevance in their lives.

However, with the Water of the Gods sitting secretly in the back of her cart, she believes knowing more about the comings and goings of those that might seek to interrupt their sacred mission is best.

“Osi dear, is there any news about the Water?” Ophells asks.

“Nothing explicit. Looks like the Kingdom of Traskby is threatening Gengi again. The mages are talking about a new field of magic and trying to recruit. And apparently Neffle, the town blacksmith, just got a new furnace and is forging broadswords and large armor pieces now,” Osisus smirks at Ophells.

“You can have a broadsword when you prove that you know how to use the blade you already carry everywhere.”

Osisus grunts as he motions Hasne towards the bar, where they plan to stay the night and use his sword, teehe. After procuring a room upstairs they unsaddle Hasne and unpack what they will need for the evening. The bar is just like the many others they have passed through on their journey to Sherapova’s capitol city Sherni. There will be other Cloak counterparts waiting for them to distribute the Water of the Gods and begin the ultimate reckoning.

Hasne is stollen.