The trip turned out to be very pleasant, even considering that Draco did not know how to ride. A saddled grey gelding was waiting for him in the stable. A powerful animal with a very gentle disposition. Given the boy's athletic abilities, jumping onto the horse's back was no problem, and he managed to sit properly quite easily. Although the dragon had to admit that he felt strange with such a massive body beneath him. He even caught himself clutching the grey's sides tightly, causing the horse to turn his head in disapproval and look at his rider reproachfully.
During the ride, the gelding followed step by step behind the silver-red bess ridden by Darius. It seemed that the horse quickly realised that its rider had no idea how to handle the reins and relied on the guidance of the war beast. Thanks to this, all the restless pulls and accidental squeezes were ignored.
The route of the trip was quite long. First, they circled the walls of the estate, during which the sergeant talked about safety considerations, changes and goals, but Draco wasn't listening. The dragon was more interested in the wild, forest wilderness that began almost within arm's reach. Not a well-kept park, but a real forest. Trees, bushes, masses of plants and animals, which watched the group of riders with equal interest from a safe distance.
Later, they took a narrow forest path to the clearing that one of the woodcutters had mentioned to the master earlier. Work was in full swing there. There were a lot of people milling around, some resting, others cutting or processing trees, and still others packing the hewn trunks onto carts. Another transport was leaving just as they arrived. Supervisor Firsk quickly approached the Earl, immediately listing what needed to be done, where and when, in order to improve work efficiency. However, the issue of distance from the manor house came up very often in all the arguments. The people, elves, vampires and representatives of other races working around bowed respectfully to Darius as they passed him. Draco looked around with curiosity, trying to see every nook and cranny, which also attracted the attention of the woodcutters. He noticed them watching him several times, but he didn't care and continued his observation. He figured out more or less what everyone was doing, but it remained a mystery to him why some trees were not being cut down but widely avoided. He decided he would have to read up on it. Interestingly, in addition to the loggers, he also noticed soldiers standing not far from the edge of the forest.
-Why is the logging site guarded?- he asked, standing next to the sergeant. The soldier looked at the dragon with surprise, as if he did not expect him to speak to him.
-Many things can come out of the forest.- The non-commissioned officer looked around as if something was about to appear.- Young master, you have nothing to worry about. We are on the outskirts, nothing much happens here. - He scratched his balding head. - It's worse if you venture deeper. Oh! You can find all sorts of things there. Oh yes, you can. - The man shuddered and quickly found the Earl with his eyes, who was still listening to the energetic supervisor.
-If it's not a secret, what can be found deep in the forest?- Draco was genuinely interested. If even the shallow part of the forest had to be protected, what could be hiding in its heart?
-It's no secret, young master.- The sergeant waved his hand around.- Wolves roam here, sometimes a bear comes. A few times we had to chase after gnomes, uhhh... Damned pests. They get where they shouldn't, attack animals, destroy everything they can reach.- The non-commissioned officer shook his head as if to dispel unpleasant memories.- Generally, these are the kinds of problems we encounter here. If you go deeper... That way, - he pointed somewhere deep into the forest. - About half a day's walk, you'll reach the Carh River. On the other side, the real wilderness begins. The trees there are bigger and grow more densely, the undergrowth is so thick that it's difficult to pass through. On top of that, that's where the leshys territory begins. - The soldier shuddered. - It's better not to mess with them unless you have a few good battle mages with you. And even then, it's better not to look for a reason to fight. Apart from the forest dwellers, there are lots of different creatures there: bieses, wilis, fauns, black hounds, goblins and xanes.
-Xanes?- While Draco had heard of the other creatures, he had never heard of this one before.
-Yeah... A rare creature and equally dangerous. It looks like a human when you look at it from a distance, but when you get closer, there is nothing human about it except its posture. Instead of hands, they have claws split at the elbow, thin as bones, and their heads have no faces, only a wide mouth full of fangs. They are so emaciated that you can see each rib separately. And all of this is covered with slimy fish scales. - The sergeant spat over his shoulder as if to ward off evil forces. - Hellishly fast and cunning. They're also great at climbing trees and can jump on their prey from high up. Nasty creatures.
-True, there's no point in getting close.- The dragon quickly agreed.
-Yes, there isn't. There are many other creatures living there or roaming around. You never know what you'll encounter. - He sighed, though it was hard to tell if it was out of relief or something else. - But if you insist on going further, you might encounter chort, zmiej, forest giants, ents, behemoths, and other horrors that people have never even dreamed of. - The soldier waved his hand, trying to dismiss the thought. - The heart of this forest has not yet been discovered. And maybe that's for the best, because no one knows what lurks there. On the other hand, if you go west, along the Carh to its source, you'll reach the mountains in two days. They are inaccessible, though many have tried to explore them. Even the dwarf miners failed. One of the reasons for this is what lives there. - To emphasise this, he pointed in the direction again. - If you're lucky, you'll only encounter griffins and wyverns, but if you're unlucky, you'll encounter a manticore or, worse, a basilisk. And that's just on the surface. Anyone who tried to enter the caves there was asking for trouble. Wendigos, ghouls, unclean spirits, and deeper down, rumour has it that even a demon has its lair there. There's no point in going there. - The sergeant shook his head. - Besides, that's where the enclave ends, so apart from death, there's not much to be found there. - The man gazed into the distance.
-And to the east?- The dragon asked, keenly interested. It seemed that Enpine really did have a lot to offer. In addition to profitable lands and residential areas, it was also full of dangers.
-To the east is our fortress. - The soldier refocused on the dragon. - And further on, there are farms, a town, and generally tamed land, long since wrested from the wild forest. But I know what you mean, young master. If you go straight east from here, the forest ends and the hills begin. You might find some small creatures, but they're not likely to be too dangerous. And if something from the depths of the forest gets in the way, that's what the fortress, the army and the mages are for. It's peaceful there. - He waved his hand dismissively. It was clear that he did not attach much importance to the dangers of leaving the forest. In contrast to his stories about the monsters inhabiting other areas, he now spoke with ease. - The problem is when you go with the Carh current. The river turns north, deepening into the forest, and then spreads out, forming swamps. It's treacherous terrain because, in addition to the quagmires, it's full of utopuses, koshcheis and mistborns. - He shuddered. - But you can also encounter a banshee. While people have managed to return from other places, no one has ever returned from the depths of the marshes. No one knows what lurks deeper there, and I sincerely hope I never find out.
-I agree.- Despite his fascination, Draco had read enough about monsters of all kinds to realise that fighting them, especially on their own turf, was no easy task. Fortunately, there weren't that many bloodthirsty beasts, or rather, they were reluctant to leave their enclaves. In many places, they had been gradually exterminated, and in others, they had been thinned out enough to pose no major threat.- It seems like there's a lot of them here.
-Yes, quite a lot.- The sergeant panted and wiped the sweat from his forehead.- But what's so surprising about that, young master? Once upon a time, the forest covered the whole of Enpine, and now all that's left is what wasn't worth clearing. Here is the Carh Forest, on the southern border of the enclave are the High Shore Woods, and far to the east is the Rasvien Wilderness. All the creatures of Enpine must have ended up in these three wildernesses. No wonder there are so many of them.
-Are you not afraid that something will cross the river?- The dragon looked around at the lumberjacks absorbed in their work and the soldiers moving slowly among the trees.
-We all come from here,- the sergeant smiled slightly.- From the surrounding villages, from the town. We have always lived in the shadow of the forest and we know very well what lurks in its depths. There is no point in despairing or getting upset, because what good will it do us? We know how to behave in the forest, what to watch out for. And if something really does come, there are soldiers. - He puffed out his chest proudly. - We're not stupid, and we know how to deal with monsters.
-Can you handle leshy too?- Draco looked at the sergeant with slight admiration.
-Young master, that's...- The sergeant was at a loss for words. -Not that I don't believe in my boys, but... I wouldn't send them to their deaths. You need battle mages for leshy, you'd have to send for them to the fortress. Luckily, you can take shelter in the manor, because the walls are covered with spells and won't give way easily.
-So, it's safe as long as you can take shelter.
-Well... In the forest, yes, but once you leave it, there's nothing to fear. Monsters rarely leave the shade of the trees. You'd have to provoke them yourself.
-Worth remembering. The boy nodded, accepting the undoubtedly valuable advice.
-It's time for us to go! - The dragon turned to see his master calling him. It seemed that he had freed himself from the supervisor Firsk. The time had come to leave clear-cutting site.
***************************************************************************************************
Nothing surprising happened for the rest of the journey. From the lumbering site, they travelled to the nearest village beyond the forest. The settlement lay on a hill some distance from the tree line. Everyday bustle continued among several cottages surrounded by palisades. Small children ran around the working adults, while the older ones watched over the sheep grazing on the nearby hills. The Earl's visit caused quite a stir and brought all the residents together. Darius spoke to the village elder, asking if everything was all right. At the same time, Draco tried not to stray too far from his master, pretending not to notice the curious glances directed at him by children and young people his age.
After this short visit, they rode around the surrounding fields until they reached the main road leading to the fortress. Then they turned back and headed for the estate along a forest path. All this time, what tired the dragon the most was the visit to the village, or perhaps the attention he received. The road between the trees seemed soothing. The silence and tranquillity were interrupted only by the footsteps of the mounts walking in single file. Draco gazed between the trees, looking for wild animals. When they passed a particularly impressive oak tree, the dragon focused on its crown in search of squirrels. A sudden gust of wind stirred the branches and the sun's rays blinded him slightly. The boy looked down sharply, blinking fiercely. Trying to get rid of the dark spots, he saw something that instantly froze him.
No further than an arm's length away, a pair of bulging eyes stared at the dragon. A triangular head with constantly moving mandibles tilted at a strange angle. Four stick-like limbs ending in two curved claws were raised above the head and attached to a thin, elongated body. The whole thing rested on two disproportionately short legs clinging tightly to the ground. The creature was covered with skin resembling bark covered with lichen.
Draco could only open his mouth when he saw the attacking creature. Fortunately, unlike his rider, the gelding reacted to the threat. The horse reared up violently, neighing loudly. Sharp claws cut through the air. The creature fell onto the path in front of the mount. The monster bent unnaturally, leaning on its two front claws and raising the others to attack. The creature took a breath, inflating the upper half of its torso almost threefold. The screech it let out was blood-curdling and deafening, but the dragon had no time to worry about that. The grey horse was so frightened that it began to dance on its hind legs, threatening to fall over. Draco tried with all his might to stay in the saddle. If he fell now, he would land between the horse's hooves and the monster's claws.
The gelding jerked, causing the dragon to raise his head. The monster's head recoiled, leaving a horseshoe-shaped mark in the middle. The creature's swing missed its target, and its stick-like claws cut the air wildly. The monster puffed up again and had to croak again, but Draco didn't notice. From the first yelp, he heard only a painful, vibrating whistle. The grey horse writhed in pain and began to roll onto its back. The dragon felt his stomach rise to his throat. He gave up trying to stay in the saddle and, trying not to be crushed, quickly swung his leg over the horse's back and bounced off its side. In mid-air, he folded his arms around his head.
The impact with the ground was painful. He somersaulted several times and crashed into an oak tree trunk, which knocked all the air out of his chest. Stunned, gasping for air, he opened his eyes. The road was lit up by several blinding flashes, so bright and violent that they were painful. The dragon squeezed his eyelids shut, seeing nothing. Despite the pain, he tried to open his eyes. Everything he saw was overexposed, and even so, he could see very little. It seemed to him that he was watching single, static images.
A grey horse lying on its back, kicking helplessly with its hooves, and a creature standing over it, fully upright. The creature had no head, but that did not prevent it from trying to attack the wounded horse.
A sergeant galloping at full speed, aiming his sword at the monster.
The monster, pierced through with a blade, waved its two claws, while the others flew towards the forest, torn away by a powerful force.
Bess stopped abruptly nearby, and the edge of a blue uniform appeared at the edge of his field of vision.
The Ed'heer uniform completely obscured the view and the worried face of one of the soldiers.
The images began to move again, and his eyes stopped hurting. However, all sounds were still disturbed by a piercing buzzing. Draco thought the soldier was saying something, trying to lift him up from the ground a little. Suddenly, Darius appeared in the dragon's field of vision. The master looked terrified. The mage grabbed the boy's face, trying to stabilise his head, and asked him something. Draco, irritated by the constant squeaking, tried to focus his gaze on his mentor's face. Seeing no reaction, the wizard raised one finger right in front of the dragon's face and began moving it from side to side. As soon as he noticed that his student was following his gaze, he said something and pointed to dragons mouth. Draco wanted to shake his head, but he couldn't move it.
Bleist turned to shout something while waving his hand urgently. One of the soldiers handed him a leather pouch. The dragon knew such pouches from experience, often using them to store excess healing potions. At least until Pirce started hunting them down. The master quickly opened it and began rummaging inside. He pulled out a vial and shook it, looking at it against the light. He showed the glass vessel to the dragon, then pointed to his ear. Draco didn't need an explanation. He nodded his head.
Darius uncorked the vial and tilted his pupil's head. The boy felt something sticky pour into his ear. After a moment, the same thing happened on the other side. The mage leaned his apprentice against a tree trunk and watched him with concern. The sergeant and four soldiers were milling around, checking the area, probably to make sure there were no more surprises lurking nearby. However, they remained within sight.
-Draco?- Bleist's voice was slightly distorted and unclear, but audible. The buzzing was slowly subsiding.
-Yes?- the boy managed to say. He didn't notice when he started breathing normally again.
-Phew, you can hear us.- Darius sat down opposite him with relief.
-So-so, - the dragon muttered. It seemed to him that he could hear everything as if from under water.
-It'll get better soon, - his master reassured him. - Tell me, are you in any pain?
-Other than my ears? It's easier to list what I can't feel.- Draco mustered a slight sarcasm.- Generally, my head, back and right leg.- He added, seeing the concern appearing on his master's face.- I think I fell on it.
Darius leaned over and placed his hands on the dragon's shoulder and forehead. Draco felt the familiar warmth that accompanied the magical examination. Bleist's face suddenly stiffened, and he quickly grabbed the leg indicated earlier. The reptile followed his master's gaze and almost whistled. The entire side of the thigh, from the hip almost to the knee, was torn open by a jagged wound. The blood was flowing calmly, which meant that the artery had not been severed.
-It'll need stitches,- the boy grimaced. He didn't like it, but he had gotten used to it. -Is there anything to disinfect it?- he asked, looking at the jagged wound.- A coagulating potion would also be useful, because it's bleeding too much.- He looked at his hand and tried to wipe it at least a little on his cloak. He reached for his thigh.
The master grabbed the dragon by the wrist. The mage stopped rummaging through the bag of medicines, and the soldiers who were trying to control their horses also stopped. The sergeant almost tripped while carrying another toolbox and three canteens.
-I know it's not the cleanest, but I'll wash the wound later.- The boy looked at his dusty hand with dissatisfaction.- I'd rather there be nothing left inside.
-Wait, maybe I'll find something for the pain.- Darius was as pale as a sheet.
-Maybe it will kick in in a moment. - The non-commissioned officer knelt down beside him, grimacing at the sight of the wound. - After a fight, you often don't feel anything.
-It's not that bad. - The reptile smiled crookedly. - Sometimes it was worse. At least now I won't have to stitch it up myself.
Bleist finally pulled out a transparent bottle with a slightly iridescent liquid.
-Don't move, Draco. - The master clumsily uncorked the container, and the smell of alchemically refined alcohol and some herbs spread around. - We're not far from the manor. We'll close the wound and get back as soon as possible so that a medic can take care of you.
-This is going to hurt, - muttered the sergeant, opening the flask. He also turned pale.
-As I said, it had been worse. - The dragon's hearing returned, leaving only a faint dullness. He didn't like what was happening, but he turned slightly and remained still. Bleist rinsed his hands.-I'll try to do it quickly.- Darius looked really concerned. He reached for the leg and first tore the trouser leg above and below to make it easier to access the wound. He immediately pulled out a few threads that must have been pulled inside by a claw. He gently grabbed the thigh and spread the torn edges of the injury. All the while, Bleist kept glancing at the dragon. Draco watched his next steps carefully, trying not to move. It helped that the sergeant was holding him tightly.
The master poured out the entire contents of the flask, trying to rinse out everything that could have gotten inside. However, the pain the dragon felt was acceptable, and he did not even wince. A lot of blood had already flowed out, which worried the reptile a little, but he did not even try to speak. Darius poured out the alcoholic decoction, causing Draco a wave of very unpleasant stinging. Then a coagulating mixture landed in the wound, causing sudden foaming. The blood stopped flowing.
-How are the horses?- shouted the sergeant, raising his head.
-They'll make it to the manor.- One of the soldiers came closer.
-In that case, let's hurry.- Darius took out a bandage.- The mixture will work for a quarter of an hour at most.