I Alone Breed Dragons

Chapter 54: Aftermath Of Barans death

I vaulted from the rails into the air. The arrows whistled past me, missing their mark.

I soared upward, banking and wheeling mid-air, evading the endless hail of arrows loosed at me.

Leaving Kingston behind, I streaked toward the walls. Their arrows soon dropped harmlessly short. The guards pursued on foot and horseback, hounding me.

I glanced back. Guard horses thundered along the road in pursuit.

Sigh.

I removed the emerald turnic, spun, and hurled it downward, then rocketed upward until I vanished from their sight, high above the clouds, drifting effortlessly.

With them still pursuing, I melted into the night, arrowing straight back to Farmhills.

Tomorrow I would wait for news of Baran to spread.

---

The next day, the sun poured through the curtains into my room.

I lay sprawled on my bed, the blanket twisted between us. Quinette nestled at my side, her arms coiled around me, her hair wild and disheveled around her horns. She slumbered peacefully, eyes shut and features serene.

I eased her arms away carefully, without disturbing her, then rolled out of bed.

Leaving the room, the house lay hushed. No sounds of activity came from the kitchen, nor from my sister seated in the living room.

But murmurs drifted from outside. People had clustered.

I opened the door. My mom and sister stood conversing with the neighbors. As I stepped out, they turned toward me.

The neighbor smiled. Gifts filled their hands.

"We still want to thank you for yesterday. Without you, the village wouldn’t have been saved."

I offered a warm smile.

"It’s no problem."

"Here, accept our gift."

The gifts were wrapped and decorated. I accepted them with a courteous grin, but reading my mom’s expression, I could tell that wasn’t the conversation before I appeared.

"What’s the problem? You all seem worried."

"Well, news reached us from a message." The old woman hesitated, then summoned the resolve to speak.

"Well, Baran is dead. He was assassinated yesterday in his house in Kingston."

Their faces sobered.

I shared a look with my mom. She knew it was my work. My sister sighed.

"Oh, may his soul rest in peace," I said.

"Amen," they echoed in agreement.

"Now that he’s dead, who’s going to become village chief?" I asked in a measured voice.

"We haven’t come together to decide, but I believe you’ll also be suited for the position. Even if you’re a bit too young, you used your magic to protect our people. Your father was also someone of great reputation, who truly aided this village in hard times. So it wouldn’t do any harm if you take the horns as our village head."

I swept my gaze across their faces. Hope shone in their eyes.

Everything I had planned was aligning perfectly. Even if the will hadn’t arrived yet, with them ready to accept me as head chief, once the will surfaced it would seal my claim swiftly.

"If the village comes together and picks me, I would readily embrace it—to work for my people."

After receiving their thanks once more, they dispersed to their homes.

I returned inside with the gifts clutched in my hand.

"Walter."

My mom stood before the door with her arms crossed. She didn’t frown, but her face showed weary lines.

She hooked my arm, drawing me into the house and closing the door behind us.

"What’s all this I’m hearing about yesterday? You can use magic?"

I walked to the living room, dropped the gifts on the table, and sank into the chair.

"Sorry, ma’am. It completely escaped me to inform you."

"What magic can you use?" May asked, perched at the edge of the chair beside me, swinging her legs idly.

"A lot, but I have an affinity for ice, and I’m working on shadow."

"That’s impressive."

"Walter." Mom lowered her voice to a whisper. She moved closer to the chair and scanned the door warily for prying ears.

"Did you kill Baran? And don’t lie to me."

"Why would I lie to you? Yes, I did kill Baran."

Mom caught her breath sharply, then sighed.

"I thought it was a joke yesterday. I should’ve known you don’t joke about such matters." She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Well, he deserved it," May said.

"Hope no one glimpsed your face."

"Someone did. It won’t be a problem. That witness won’t speak. All that’s left is for the will to arrive and the plan will be sealed."

My mom sighed and relented, heading to the kitchen.

"Don’t get yourself into trouble."

"I’ll try my best."

After our conversation, I grabbed a coat, shrugged it on, tucked a knife into the pocket, and headed out directly for Randall.

I had promised to grant him magic. It was long overdue that I launched my dragon point in magic transfer.

Stepping out this time felt markedly different. The streets brimmed with warmer welcomes. People waved—those I knew and those I didn’t. Their faces brightened upon seeing me.

Even after Baran’s death, not everyone mourned him. Some cast their eyes downward, but not all. It was a transformed sight.

Some distance farther into the village, I arrived at a ranch with a drove of cows and goat pens behind a fence. A metal plate bore Randall’s father’s name.

I lifted my gaze to the sign. Back then I had once dreaded Randall’s father. I couldn’t even enter their compound because of his massive frame and scowling features. He had intimidated me at the time.

I curled a lip. Good times.

Then I crossed into the compound. Randall perched on the fence, chewing a stalk of wheat. He saw me nearing.

"Look who decided to show up." He hopped off the fence. "You disappeared yesterday after your dragon wife arrived. Where the hell did you go?"

"I had something to take care of."

"Family issues?"

"Not that. Remember what I told you yesterday?"

Randall rubbed the back of his head. "Well, you told me a lot of things. Which one?"

I drew the knife from my pocket, slicing the sharp edge across my palm and coaxing blood to grant him magic.