Chapter 2

 

His would-be mate wasn’t just a potential partner but a warrior.

 

She was strong and courageous, having took on a dragon by herself. She was so much more than he had anticipated.

 

He had only thought that she may be a meek shy little thing like his mother had been before she became pregnant with him.

 

Most human women were terrified of male dragons.

 

Male dragons were known to be territorial when it came to their women and rough with them, wielding their strength against the weaker sex. Human women avoided dragon folk, sticking to their human villages where they could claim or be claimed by a human male.

 

This woman was different.

 

She stood her ground and fought to slay the creature that threatened the village.

 

The strength and agility she possessed was inhuman, a gift from birth to mark her as his mate. Human women were not born with the abilities that only dragons were capable of.

 

The strength it took to hold a sword the way she did to have a dragon gut itself wasn’t something a human had.

 

A pair of sage green eyes stared at him, sucking him in while the rest of the world fell away. She slightly lowered the blade of her sword as recognition flickered across her pale face.

 

“You. You were in the village square. You called me a boy.” She glared at him, taking a step back. Sheathing her sword she crossed her arms in annoyance.

 

Zarek smirked as he further stepped out from behind the tree, holding his hands up in a sign of I mean no harm.

 

“I did and I apologize. I’m sorry for following you, also.” He grimaced, his smirk dropping.

 

He felt like a stalker but she was who he had been looking for, one of the reasons why another kept his throne warm.

 

She also was walking the road leading North, the road leading to the heart of his territory.

 

The beauty he had dreamed of was standing before him. He hadn’t expected this to happen so soon.

 

She’s here. I can claim her as mine then reclaim my throne. Two birds with one stone. Done deal.

“Why are you following me?” She queried, her eyes taking in his body from head to toe.

 

He could see the calculations in her eyes trying to find the best way to beat him in a duel if he attacked her.

 

He had no such intentions.

 

“This road is big enough for the both of us. I’m on the way to the capitol of Crikeria, Criker.”

 

“Then why were you hiding behind a tree? Seems very suspicious to me.” Ginger hair cascaded down the left side of her chest as she cocked her head to the side.

 

“I was taking a piss. Can a man not relieve himself after no facilities to use for miles?” He swept his hands around the area for added emphasis.

 

Zarek actually had stopped for a piss but had crept closer to admire her features.

 

Something about gingers. They’re so feisty.

The ginger before him seemed to accept his explanation but kept her distance out of precaution.

 

He figured she was used to coming across men who had less than honest intentions on the road. Here, in the middle of nowhere, it was easy for thieves to do what they wanted. They were too far from a post for them to be caught in the act.

 

“Fair enough. Share the road if you like. I’m in a hurry to reach my destination so I would appreciate if you didn’t waste my time.” She huffed, turning on a heel back toward the road, retrieving her water skin from the boulder.

 

Zarek followed suit, keeping that distance between them despite his much longer strides.

 

I wonder why she’s headed to Criker.

They walked in silence for some time before she spoke.

 

“Freja is the name. You?” She peered up at him.

 

Her voice is that of a song bird. Wow.

“Zarek.” Freja’s name felt good on his tongue as he said he was glad to meet her.

 

Together they walked for a while more, their shoes crunching against the snow.

 

The forest to their right thinned as they approached a village. A horse-drawn cart passed them as they approached the gates, the middle aged driver nodding in a silent hello.

 

Crestwin was smaller than Zarek remembered. The last time he had been here was when he had flown in seeking out a human he needed to talk business with.

 

It was rectangular in shape with a row of shops leading to the village center where the Elder resided with his family, the wooden houses of the population beyond the Elder’s.

 

Among the shops were a Butcher, Tannery, Spice Trader, Blacksmith, and food stalls where farmers sold their crops.

 

 

 

Freja made her way to the Blacksmith, Zarek in tow.

 

She had spotted a beautiful dagger set upon one of the shelves where the Blacksmith had placed ready to sell items. The blade was slender but wide enough to be of use, the handle being carved bone with a jewel inlaid at the top. Lovely swirls has been carved into the bone, each coming together to form the shape of a simplistic dragon.

 

Ignoring the ache in her feet she almost ran to pick up the item before another did.

 

“Wow, this is fine craftsmanship. What do you want it for?” She asked the Smithy, the soot covered balding man behind the anvil.

 

The scruffy bald man scratched at his beard as he set his hammer down to approach her. His brown eyes squinted in thought, a hand on his chin and the other on his hip.

 

“Seventy coin.”

 

She didn’t like that. It was much more expensive than what she had in her coin purse.

 

Freja countered, “I’ll give you sixty coin, plus this dried jerky.” Opening her pack she pulled out a small bundle of dried beef, the bundle loosely wrapped in white linen and tied with twine.

 

Zarek leaned in a little to see what she offered the Smithy as she held it for the man to see.

 

She had hoped she could save it for the last leg of her trip before she slayed the King but it was the best bet she could think of to barter.

 

“Deal.” The Smithy shook her hand, taking the bundle and coins.

 

Freja and Zarek left the stall, resuming their pace down the path through the town.

 

“It’s lovely.” Zarek commented as she slid her new dagger into the sheath the Smithy has provided as a free gift for her patronage.

 

“Yes, it is. It’s exquisite. Much better shape than my other dagger I’d say.” She smiled up at him in agreement.

 

As an example, she withdrew her old ragged dragger, showing him the worn handle and dull blade.

 

“I lost my whetstone so I’ve had to let it go dull. I need a good blade for my task ahead.”

 

She put the old dagger in its sheath on her belt as Zarek slowed his steps to keep up with her quickening pace.

 

“Let’s go eat. I’m starved after walking so far.” Her stomach did flips as the hunger gnawed as her insides.

 

Zarek agreed, his stomach rumbling in response.

 

Together they headed to the tavern at the end of the shop row, a square building with smoke curling into the air from its chimney.