How the Dragon Was Brought Into this World by pd lyons part 4

 

 Returning to the Edge

 

He found her. Once more she stood on the edge of the dusty road. Nonchalant she accepted his offer. A horse to ride. Water to drink. When he asked about the village her answers inspired him to this time bring the caravan around to avoid it. He had no interest in Lord’s men or any type of rebellion.

 

Now each one will seek only their own interest even at one another’s expense. They’ll believe it is the only way to mark success.

Ah said the man the village will become a town, someday a city?

Yes, said the woman

And your daughter? She stays there.

No, said the woman, she is gone.

The man understood what she meant.  Felt it was not his place to ask or to offer more than the invitation and the horse both of which she’d already accepted. You’ll go back to the edge?

Yes, said the woman

The place we first met.

Yes, said the woman.

Occasionally the boy rode up to them approaching the man to deliver some messages receive instruction and then race back to the main group.

 

We are nomads not vagabonds. we do not believe in chaos, said the man, we will stop always at the same sites always before dark.

I remember said the woman.

Of course, said the man.

 

After that he did not mention things to her directly but rather spoke softly out loud as if he rode alone –

Ah look the rain comes.

Ah I am so glad we are stopping soon. My bones ache.

So glad the next stop is by a river. Everyone will be happy for a bath.

 

Grateful for these soft soothing no answers expected tones eventually she spoke to him, You keep the boy busy.

He is my son.

He seems true said the woman, as they watched the boy race the red horse once more out to them.

True as sacred steel said the man. Then as if inspired by his own seriousness added – much like myself, lady. and laughed.

And the woman nodded him a reward of her own straight slight smile. Which he could not help but notice with one of his own.

After this their company relaxed, more like it was before yet still their words even less than that.

 

He Sent the Boy Back

 

There is where you will go?  He pointed

Yes, said the woman

Wait said the man. He motioned to the boy. Go with a message for the caravan to rest. So now I can ride with you. To the edge he explained. For the horse he said…  Unless you want to keep him?

No, she said, you can have him back… At the edge! Pushed her horse into a gallop. Together they raced the distance.

 

 Dismounting she stood between the horses, held the reigns up to him. Once more didn’t she feel long dormant tendrils of her heart? Once more did they not seek to twine with love his own? Looking up she said in a question she already knew the answer to, Perhaps we will sometime meet again?

Yes, that may very well be Lady.  Reaching down he took the reins, manoeuvred carefully and once clear of her pushed again into a gallop. And the woman watched as the son likewise raced out, wheeled around to join his father, returning side by side to the caravan

 

How the Dragon Was Brought Into this World by pd Lyons Part 3

 

 

 Battle

She was not there for the battle. She did not stay to see how the arrogance of the lord’s men lead them like perfection into the trap of her daughters making How, a lone archer stood high upon the watch tower raised the bow launched the fire brand a signal to the anxious well hid well trained finest archers to emerge from camouflage and hidden tree lines to turn the tide pinning their enemies between themselves and the stockade wall.

Neither did she see the price such victory, such singular courage – exposed above the fray the signal archer upon whom all hope rode – fell an iron arrowhead from one of the lords own had found their slender throat

 

Aftermath

 The people wondered how the woman could not be here?

She’d not hear the speeches, see the spectacle, the funerals and the grand rite performed for the hero of it all. How the master’s son wept so true that his love could not be doubted.

 

And the messengers, the lords own men came relinquishing all claims, withdrew and never came again. Invested rather, money and resources into the design of armour chain and plate which would be impervious to any archer’s missile. He disbanded his archers retrained them as infantry and cavalry or simply let them go. Kept only those he’d need for test firing on the new armour.

To the Widows and Orphans of the Village

But those who became widows and those who became orphans had nothing but gratitude towards the woman. She had made legal arrangements to leave her goods, and workshops all that was contained within those structures to benefit them. From sales of what goods there were in stock and a means to make their own.

For years this continued shelter and income for all widows and orphans. Many saved from certain destitution. It seemed that always near the time of anniversary some new storage of the woman’s stock would be discovered. Theses always fetched the highest price as no one would ever rival the original quality of the woman.

It went on like this until eventually the elders of the village deemed the goings on to be much too akin to magic in nature and not at all in keeping with the modern ethics. So, the haven was closed, and its beneficiaries dispersed. The buildings sold to one of the more industrious of the citizens who did offer to rehire some workers at the reduced more proper rate.

How The Dragon Was Brought Into This world part two by pd lyons

 

He was the son of the Archery Master. She was the daughter whose mother was the weaving woman.

The village typical for its time and place was made up of a cluster of buildings variously constructed from stone, stucco, rough wood, and slates. Those behind a stockade were made up with similar materials with one gateway large enough for small carts to pass through.

 

 As anyone could remember it was smallish yet prosperous. The Lord had rewarded one of their own with exclusive contract to oversee the making of all archery equipment and the training of archers. By this right the entire village prospered. and all allowed to train in the archers art.  The Master Archer through heroic actions regarding protection of the lord’s own body had earned this honour and after him it would be passed on to his only son.

 

Because of her near magical skill at making the woman had almost instantly found employment. Her work with common things alone such as clothing, garments scarfs, ropes etc would have been enough. But her ability to create the strongest neatest tightest target buts for the archers training. as well as that, no finer bow strings were to be had.  This not only gained her employment but a fine housing for her and her daughter, and her workshop kept at least a dozen or so well employed.

 

It was in this way that the woman was engaged and her daughter able to learn the ways of the bow and the son of the master got to meet the fascinating girl with silver eyes and steady aim.

He thought she was wonderful. He thought she was perfect. And when she acted towards him as one not familiar with the ways of courting – he thought she was too good form him. And so, decided to impress her.

 

For her part she was quite taken with hum. From the start they were friends. From the start she felt closer to him than to anyone else, including her elusive mother. Learning to shoot with him was a joy. Competing in the same archery class was a joy. The fact that even when she surpassed his skill he was never irked, her own joy of winning seemed to make him happy as well – warmed her.

 

But in his mind, there was this need to impress her to win her. So, he began to act more manly to the outer world. He began to speak politically hoping to excel in the eyes of others and therefor herself. He spoke to those who’d listen about their being dependent on the lord when in fact the lord depended on them. Where else would the lord get his archers? We make their weapons we train their teachers – no other village can do that. His lordship should appreciate us more. And how much more did the young cockerel puff and preen once he had her admirations? She thought him heroic. She thought him a protector of the people.

 

His father’s opposition was dismissed an outdated position of an old man. Soon many in the village agreed with the son’s point of view. And so, the older man faded, and the younger man blazed such was the way of it.

 

 The Emissary

 

 The next time the lord’s emissary and his escort came to pick up the scheduled goods he was met unlike before, outside the closed gates by the young master with his now betrothed by his side along and  a delegation of villages men equipped in archers battle gear. They informed the emissary that the fees for the prescribed goods would be increased. When the emissary told them that the lord who had favoured the village by allowing the privilege of this monopoly would feel betrayed, he was rebuffed by the young master,

 

 The emissary tried to reason; We have long had this equitable relation does your father agree with these actions?

My father is no longer master he is faded with the years. I now speak for all as you can see (the men nodded in agreement.) We will no longer be taken advantage of.

The emissary tried again, Young man listen to me know I speak to you as not lords’ man but as one who has been friend to your father and this village for years. Please reconsider. We could reason with the lord for next time. I will request you an audience. The lord would  listen – but he will not take kindly to broken contracts.

 The young man did not hear reason only bristled at such words.

The emissary was a bit saddened but mostly annoyed – he would have to tell the lord why he came back empty handed. He scanned their faces for perhaps one among them who’d see reason. You woman do you not see merit in my reasoning? Men are quick to risk what others in the end must pay for.

 Himself no man of minor experience could not help but shudder when she glared her silver blue eyes upon him, This man is the man I love. These men and this village are my family and my home. I will always be loyal to them and their way.

Weary with this whole fool’s business yet ever the diplomatic. He stressed in his most even tone. I will indeed faithfully carry your message to the lord. Unfortunately, I do not have funds to recompense you at the new rate so I am afraid we will do no commerce today.

So, the emissary mounted his horse rode back to his own camp. Where he informed the captain of the guard, they were to strike camp and leave as early as possible.

The captain pressed as to why?  When one of the escorts informed him as to the insolence of the new young master and the village. Well… the captain felt the indignation rise in him to the point of invincibility. Send a messenger. Give them until morning to comply or else we’ll take what is our lord’s by right.

 

 

 

 

from the prose How the Dragon Was Brought Into the World a work in progress part one,by PD Lyons

 

 

I Fire

Will it hurt? Asked the Birch Tree

Will it hurt? Asked the birch tree

Yes. Said the woman shimmering rainbow. But it will be quick

So, saying she reached one of the youngest branches snapped it off

Ahh. Was what the birch tree said

 

Carefully the woman peeled back some of the tender bark. Then holding the leafy end dipped it into the pure silver pond of the woodland. Swirling it slowly, as deeply as she could; 3 times one way 3 times the other. When she pulled it out there was a length red and ribbon-like dangling from the branch’s end.

The woman stood, careful not to let the ribbon touch the ground, began to twirl it so that it wound itself around the branch. Not until it was complete and wrapped all around did she squat to place it on the ground. By then the leaves had become fine hairs, the stem a body of arms and legs resembling for the world a sleeping human infant.

Amazing Said the birch tree

Yes. Said the woman. She is.

How could you do that?

I don’t know said the woman, it’s just a thing I can do.

You have power. Said the birch tree.

Yes. Said the woman. But without you and the woodland pond, what would my power be?

The woman then leaned in, blowing breath across the little body until the child stirred, opened her silver blue eyes, and laughed.

 

Must you go Said the birch tree

Yes, said the woman. You know we must.

I only know sadness said the birch tree.

Yes, said the woman. Well you know I will be back.

And the daughter?

Even I don’t know that said the woman, But… she might.

Ahh said the birch tree. You will go to the human place?

Yes, said the woman. She must be raised among them.

But you look less like them than she does.

Yes, said the woman, But…

She drew herself up slowly and as she did shimmering rainbow woman became no more, and human skin woman had become.

Ah said the birch tree. And the child?

She will always have hair the faint colour of your leaves, skin slight marks like your bark and she will never lose those eyes of the silver pond of the woodland – not even by my power.

Will that go well for her among them? Asked the birch tree.

Yes, said the woman. And no.

 

Is that really you, my sister?

 

Must you go my sister?

Will you take the child sister?

Voices asking questions of what they already knew.

 The woman did not bother to answer. They did not need or expect her to.

On her way the woman moved steadily through their colours through their times. Learning the way of her human skin. Carefully watching the child’s changes as well through the accelerating time. Shifting. Changing.  Changing. Shifting.

By the time they made the edge the daughter seemed a grown girl; no more infant and the woman fit well and proper into her human skin as if she were the girl’s mother.

Will we wait here? Asked the girl.

Yes, said the woman

Long?

Not very. said the woman.

The Caravan

The woman’s strength and bearing won the respect of the caravan leader. For miles they rode side by side, the quiet pace of the pack animals afforded them hours of speaking time.

He told her of the lands he’d travelled. Some of which even she had never been to or heard of. He told her how he loved the way of this life. Like living in a different time, a different rate of time. A steady ebb and flow. A caravan time so outside the time of settlements.

She laughed with him at this waxing of poetics. But she agreed with him. Knew exactly what he meant. And saying to him in a question that, which she knew for sure, maybe there are many realms of time. Maybe like currents in deep water, or layers of clouds crossing blue sky?

Maybe as many as colours as in the light? He answered.

Their voices trailing into an established ease of mutual silence.

She enjoyed their time together.  The easy rhythm of the horses. The uncontrived rhythm of their speech and silence stirred long dormant tendrils of her heart which a twining with those of his own.  Sternly, she drew them back. This was not why she had come. This was not her purpose.

Meanwhile the child, ran free among the animals and the men of the team. Eagar, enthusiastic attentive fearless among the horses.  Beasts of burden, half savage mastiff hounds. She learned quick the languages of men Their stories, their names, their sweethearts, their wives, their families. Their longing to return. A dozen different names for home.

They felt not bothered but flattered by her inquisitiveness. Took pride in telling her about themselves and their work. She was genuine. her willingness to help whether to hold the tent stakes fearlessly steady or to sing to them evening songs in the language of their origin – Appreciated, easily favoured eventually each of them fell a little bit in love with her. They gave her a name of their own. In the language common of traders, it meant, beloved daughter of the caravan.