Dragonvein: Book One Part 4

"What were you doing there?" Ethan demanded.

"Trying to figure out where we are and what's happened since we left," Jonas replied.

"I think you just don't want to tell me the things I need to know."

Jonas' irritation flared. "And what is that exactly? What more do you imagine I can tell you? You already know that you're no longer on Earth. You know you can't get back. And you know that, should you be discovered, you'll be in grave danger. What else is there?"

Ethan was unmoved by his display. He'd seen quite a few angry officers, and a whole lot more even angrier sergeants. "First of all, I'd like to know who this Emperor is," he said.

There was a long pause before Jonas responded. He sighed heavily. "Once, all five kingdoms lived in relative peace. Not even the elves were much of a problem in those days."

Ethan raised an eyebrow at the mention of elves, but said nothing.

"That was until a dark power rose in the east, beyond the Shadow Lands," Jonas continued. "At first, people thought it was just some overly ambitious warlord or mage-the hubris of a lone fool who would be easily put down. Not even the Council of Volnar took the threat seriously." He lowered his head. "But they were all wrong. A man known as s.h.i.+nzan declared himself to be The Eternal Emperor and began to wage war on the rest of the civilized world. He swept over the land like a plague, destroying everything in his path. The war was lost in a matter of months."

Jonas' voice was faltering more with each word. "After the kingdoms were forced to swear fealty to s.h.i.+nzan, he declared all those who wielded magic to be enemies of the Empire. He began to hunt down and kill every mage in Lumnia. Only your mother and a few others managed to escape their homes in time. They were trying to reach the dwarves...hoping to save their children." Tears filled his eyes. "They didn't make it."

He wiped his face and cleared his throat. "Now you know who the Emperor is."

"So what should we do?" Ethan asked.

Jonas shook his head slowly. "I don't know. We are at present in Malacar. That much is certain. Miltino is a three-day journey to the north. I think we should head there. In my time it was a large enough city to lose yourself in should you desire to do so." He jingled his purse. "I also need a place to shed these coins. It's all the money I have, and they draw too much attention."

"You've mentioned my mother," said Ethan. "But what about my father?"

"He died fighting in the war," he replied coldly. "I wasn't there, so I don't know the details."

"What kind of man was he?"

"He was a great mage. And a kind man."

Ethan expected more. "That's it?" he said, after it became clear that Jonas had nothing further to add.

"What more is there? He was a n.o.ble lord and did not share much with the likes of me. I only know what I saw. And I saw that he treated his wife and you with love and tenderness."

"But what about my family? Is there anyone else?"

"How should I know?" Jonas snapped. "Most likely they're all dead. You come from a family of mages, and like I told you, the Emperor hunted them all down."

"Can you at least tell me my father's name?"

"His name was Praxis Dragonvein." Having said that, he stopped and turned back toward the house. "I'm tired. We can talk more tomorrow while we travel."

Ethan protested, but Jonas ignored him. It would obviously take time to get the full story out of the old man. His eyes swept over his surroundings. Lumnia. It was still overwhelming to think that he was no longer on Earth. And without Jonas, there was no hope of finding Markus, or getting home. He needed him...for now. And though Jonas was plainly hiding things from him, it was clear that he was also determined to keep his charge safe.

They returned to the house, and, with the fatigue of the day quickly setting in, went straight to bed. Ethan dreamed of the tiny dragon. But in his dream it became immense-fifty feet from nose to tail, and with a head the size of a truck. Its dagger-like teeth were more than sixteen inches long and gleaming white. Ma.s.sive wings spread wide as it let out an earsplitting roar.

Ethan woke, drenched in sweat, his heart banging away as if it were about to beat right out of his chest. The roar of the dragon was still echoing loudly in his head.

After a few moments he was able to control his breathing and calm himself. Although it was still dark, he could hear Cynthia already busy in the kitchen. Jonas was asleep beside him, undisturbed by Ethan's restless movements. He lay there for a short time longer and then decided to join Cynthia in the kitchen rather than stare vacantly into the darkness.

"Bad dreams, dear?" she asked. She was already pouring him a cup of hot liquid from a pot on the stove. It smelled like tea, but with a faint mint quality.

He accepted it gratefully and took a sip. It reminded him a bit of the mulled wine he'd tried last Christmas. "It's good," he said. "Thank you."

"I heard you moaning in your sleep. You know, my son has bad dreams from time to time, and it always makes him feel better to talk about it."

He shook his head and smiled. "It's nothing. I can't really remember what it was about."

Cynthia poured herself a cup and sat across from Ethan, regarding him for more than a minute before speaking. "My husband may be an ornery old goat, but he's not stupid. You two are in some sort of trouble. Am I right?"

Ethan didn't want to lie. Her features had the understanding and kindness of a loving mother. "Well...no, ma'am. Not trouble. That's not how I'd put it."

She scolded him with her eyes. "At least will you tell me if trouble is going to come visiting here once you're gone?"

"I don't see why it should," he replied. But the thought then struck him. It might very well. He would hate to see these people come to harm, especially after they had been so open and giving.

She sighed. "Well, it's too late to worry about that now, I suppose. But you watch out. That uncle of yours is up to something. And I'd bet a gold korona it's something a nice young boy like you shouldn't be mixed up in." She paused to take a sip of her drink. "Of course, you could stay here with us if you wanted to. Rodger may be a grump, but he could use the help. He says you did a good job yesterday. And Nate needs someone to keep him out of trouble."

"Thank you," said Ethan. "But I honestly can't. I have things I need to do, and Jonas is the only one who can help me." He could suddenly see a reflection of his adoptive mother in the woman's concerned gaze...before his father had died. Before she fell into despair. He desperately hoped he hadn't brought danger here.

"Then you must promise to be careful," she said. "And to visit us if ever you are nearby."

"I promise."

Just then, they heard the shuffling of feet and cracking of joints.

"I see you're keen to make an early start," said Jonas, entering the kitchen.

Ethan thought the man looked twenty years older than he had the day before.

"Well, the two of you aren't going anywhere until you've had some breakfast," said Cynthia. A sharp nod from her told them that there would be no debate over this.

"I would be grateful," said Jonas. "And these old bones need time to get moving anyway."

Soon, the scent of spices and bacon filled the house. Rodger and Nate joined them just as Cynthia was putting out the plates. Both men nodded a greeting and then plopped heavily into their chairs without a word.

"So, you're leaving?" Rodger said, once they were finished.

"Sadly so," replied Jonas. "I'm hoping to reach Al'Theona as soon as possible."

"Al'Theona? Then you're intending to cross elf country alone?"

"I'll try to find a caravan," explained Jonas.

Rodger gave a sarcastic chuckle. "Then you better find one with a lot of protection. The Empire doesn't do much to keep travelers safe in those parts."

"Are you sure you should be dragging your nephew along on such a dangerous journey?" added Cynthia.

"I'll be fine," said Ethan.

"I'm just saying, that's all," she countered with in an innocent smile. "I'm certain your uncle wouldn't want to put your life at risk."

"Leave off," snapped Rodger. "If the boy wants to go, it's not our affair. He's old enough to choose for himself."

"I promise to keep him as safe as I can," a.s.sured Jonas. He bowed. "I thank you again for your hospitality, but we must be off."

Reaching into his purse, he took out a silver dractori and flipped it to Rodger.

The farmer's eyes lit up and a grin even managed to peak out from the corners of his mouth.

Cynthia shot up and embraced Ethan. "Mind that you remember what I said."

"I will," he promised.

"Oh yes. I nearly forgot," she cried out, suddenly running from the kitchen. She returned a few seconds later with Ethan's military clothing and equipment. "Don't forget this. Odd things you have here, I must say."

Ethan took his belongings and bowed his head in the same way that he'd seen Jonas do. "Thank you," he said.

Nate offered to walk them to the road, but Jonas respectfully declined. After a final farewell, the pair headed out of the door and down the path leading away from the farmhouse.

The road, when they reached it, was unpaved and had deep grooves worn down on either side by years of travel. They turned north and walked along at a leisurely pace. From out of the thin forest surrounding them came the sound of birds greeting the new morning with song.

"You can't keep those things the woman gave you," Jonas said. "They will draw too much attention. Take anything personal and bury the rest."

Ethan scowled but obeyed. There wasn't much he couldn't do without. A picture of his parents was just about it. There were no letters because no one in his family ever knew he had joined the Army. Using his helmet to dig, he buried the rest of the gear as told.

After making sure the freshly disturbed ground was covered with leaves and twigs, Jonas gave a satisfied grunt and set off walking once again. Ethan thought this might be a good time to also dig a little in other ways.

"Tell me more about my family," he said, as casually as he could manage.

Jonas gave him a sideways glance. "There's not much I can add. As I said before, I was just a servant."

"Don't give me that. You got to know something, I'm sure of it."

"I've told you what you need to know," he shot back. "As for your family history...I don't know much. I didn't concern myself with such things."

Ethan abruptly stopped walking. "You're lying. If what you say is true, my mother entrusted you with protecting her only child. No one would just hand over their baby to a servant unless they had complete faith in them."

Jonas also stopped. He faced Ethan squarely, his expression blank and his eyes cold. "I was never meant to do this alone," he said. "Your mother's handmaiden was supposed to come with me."

"So what happened to her?"

"She died." He turned away and resumed walking. "And if we don't want to die too, we'll get as far away from here as possible."

Ethan watched Jonas for a moment and then chased after him. "Why? Do you think the Emperor knows we're here?"

"During the days when he hunted the mages, he had the ability to detect powerful magic," Jonas replied. "And the portal is very powerful magic. There is no reason to think he can't still do the same. Your mother found a way to mask her presence from him...but even that wasn't enough to save her in the end."

A sense of dread washed over Ethan. "Do you think they'll find out where we've been?"

Jonas nodded.

"So what will happen to...?"

"They'll likely be tortured and killed," he replied before Ethan could finish his question. "That's why I told them we were heading for Al'Theona. If they are interrogated, what they say will lead the Emperor's men away from where we are actually going."

Ethan was horrified. "You mean, you knew all the time that we were putting them in danger?"

"And just what should I have done?" he challenged. "Leave you unconscious in a field clothed in garb that would certainly get you noticed and possibly captured? Walk about blindly until we figured out where in the h.e.l.l we are? For all I knew, those people were our only chance of survival. And though I wish it were not so they are expendable. You are not."

Ethan fumed. He wanted to strike the old man, and could not bring himself to speak to him for the rest of the walk to Jaobin.

As they entered the town, Ethan was reminded of the westerns his father would occasionally take him to see at the cinema. Horses were tied to hitching posts in front of simple wooden buildings, and a stench of earth and dung permeated the air. The people were dressed much like himself in simple attire made for work rather than fas.h.i.+on. The horses were identical to the ones found on Earth, making him wonder exactly how they came to be in this world. He wanted to ask Jonas, but was still too angry to start a conversation. He probably wouldn't know anyway. That, or he wouldn't tell him.

Jonas led them down the main avenue and then right along a narrow side street. The ringing of a hammer chimed repeatedly, growing ever louder as they progressed.

They stopped in front of a mud brick building with large double doors. This seemed to be where the hammering was coming from. "Stay here," Jonas ordered. "I won't be very long." He pulled open one of the doors and squeezed inside.

Ethan did as told and waited. About ten minutes later, Jonas emerged with a satisfied look on his face. "I've purchased a wagon and two horses," he announced. "And..."

He took hold of Ethan's hand and placed three copper coins in his palm. "Don't spend this unless you have to. I have enough of the new money to get us a room for the night, plus a meal and a few provisions. But we'll need to wait until we arrive in Miltino before getting any more."

"We're staying the night?"

"No choice," Jonas explained. "The wagon I bought is being repaired and won't be ready until morning. For now, we should head to the inn. You can wait there while I buy the provisions."

"Shouldn't I go with you?"

Jonas shook his head. "I need you to keep your mouth shut and your ears open. I know enough to keep from drawing too much attention, but you know nothing of this world."

"I would if you told me about it," he countered.

Jonas sniffed, then pushed his way past and set off in the direction they had come. He eventually led Ethan to a rickety wooden building on the other end of town with a stable on the side and several horses tethered in front.

"Once I get our room, stay in the common area and listen carefully to anything you hear," he said. "If you're asked, tell people you are from Al'Theona. Make up a town. But do your best to change the subject."

Having issued these instructions, he opened the door and stepped inside. The inn's common area was far from s.p.a.cious, with room for just two long tables and a small bar. The few occupants looked up at the newcomers with only pa.s.sing interest before returning to their drinks. The smell of stale beer and unwashed men made Ethan's eyes water. He had thought some of the local pubs in England were bad...but this had them beat by a mile.

Jonas quickly located the innkeeper and had him show them to a room. They were taken through a door at the rear of the common area and down a couple of narrow corridors. When they arrived, Jonas pressed a coin into the innkeeper's hand. The man frowned. This was clearly not as much as he'd been hoping for, but after a long pause he eventually walked away muttering curses under his breath.

The room was bare aside from two cots shoved carelessly into the far corners. Not that such meager accommodations bothered Ethan. He'd slept in far worse since joining the Army. Jonas, on the other hand, looked highly displeased.

"To think I'm reduced to this," he complained.

His remark brought a smile to Ethan's lips that Jonas immediately picked up on.

"Stay inside the inn," he instructed sharply. With a sneer and a huff, he then strode rapidly away.