Outcast (The Blue Dragon's Geas) Read Free Page A

spike had been in the small of his back most of the trip. Mesiande had padded it, but he had worried more than once that the korpen would rear up and impale him.
    Korpen had originally been slow moving pests that moved in herds and a nuisance to outlying farms. They were single-minded when hungry despite their slow moving methodical pace. In untamed areas, korpen were wild and yet still would let you walk right up to them as they ate. Taming them was easy if they knew that a source of food awaited them. Their massive heads had double horns that were oriented vertically. The upper horn curves forward from behind the head, whereas the lower emerges from the head itself. As a protection from predators such as dragons, their back’s spikes were almost impenetrable. It was useful to the miners as korpen were strong and a great amount of weight could be attached to each spike. Even as tall as he was, Alador could barely see over the back of one.
    The slope was steep. They slid their way back down to the beasts’ tie line. Once there, Mesiande readied the animal and then climbed up first and scooted back. He looked at her puzzled. “I...I thought you said a lady should always ride in front.”
    Mesiande grinned. “I felt you squirming all the way here. Besides, with that egg on your head, I don’t want you falling off and taking me with you.”
    Alador started to argue but then realized she was probably right. He was still terribly sleepy, and his head hurt enough that he planned to seek out the healer when they returned. He let her help him up onto the beast’s back, and when the rest were loaded, they fell into step. It would take a few hours to return to the small village nestled down by the water. While korpen were resilient and could cover any terrain, they were not a mount for speed. In addition to this, they did not go straight down a hill. So a slow switch back system was used to keep them moving forward. If you tried to point a korpen straight down, it would stop and not move at all. They had not made the second switch back before Alador faded back into unconsciousness.

Chapter Two
 
 
    It was two days before Alador was well enough to leave the healer’s hut. Fortunately, his smaller stone had paid for his care, and he had not been forced to once again beg for funds from his brother and the smithy. Many villagers had come to see Alador’s find, but the healer had not let them bother him. So it was no surprise as he stepped into the bright sunlight, blinking quickly to allow his eyes to adjust, that his vision caught half the village waiting outside to see this rumored bloodstone. He shifted uncomfortably as Potre came up and put a large fleshy arm around him. Always, he had been the one left on the outside of the circle, and now to have so many expectant gazes fall on him, Alador could not help but wish he had kept the stone a secret somehow. He was uncomfortable in front of so many people staring at him and the silence that settled as Potre grabbed ahold of him.
    Potre’s voice rang out loudly. “Come on lad, let them see it."  Potre acted as if they had ever been fast friends. Up till now, he had barely tolerated Alador’s presence.
    Alador nodded and knelt down, he carefully untied his mining sack and pulled the large stone out. He held it high up over his head for all those waiting to see. The gasps of pleasure and surprise were somehow gratifying. He brought it back down, and walked out into the midst of those gathered. Many of those who had so previously shunned him now patted him on the back, and more than one caressed the stone. Alador was overwhelmed by the attention, the comments, and the constant touching of those about him. It was as if he was the luck pole, and each one needed to touch him or the stone. Finally his oldest brother, Dorien, came to his rescue.
    “All right, I am taking him home. You all have seen enough. Alador just left the healer’s hut, give the poor boy some space."  Dorien