The Dragon Hunter

Chapter Thirteen

I  awoke to a snort. When I open my eyes I scrambled quickly away from the open mouth. Tobin shifted but stayed asleep. I shook the image of the dark hole from my mind as I waved my hand in the air to clean it from his stinky breath. I stood and went to the dresser to get out my clothes for the day. Brown leather pants with a white cotton shirt. I pulled out a black ribbon from the top drawer and tied my hair into a ponytail. Then I changed quickly and headed out to the barn to milk some cows so that we'd have fresh milk to make butter. I lugged the buckets into the kitchen and found Gavina brushing out her hair, I looked at her and smiled. She only nodded her head. I poured the milk into the turner and began to stir it around and around. Gavina finished pinning her hair and went into the kitchen. I heard her pounding something and I knew she was making bread. Which meant bread and jam today. My hands were tired from spinning, so I tied a bone to the village's dog and had him turn it for me. I made my way into the kitchen and stood by Gavina. She gave me a wooden spoon and a jar of berries. I put the berries in the bowl and began to mash them into jam. We worked silently until the shuffling of feet brought our heads up

"Morning Tobin."

"Morning Mal, Givana."

"Good morning Tobinson, go and set the table."

"Yes Ma'am." Tobin looked at me wide eyed. Gavina had never spoken to him as coldly as she had now. He hustled his booty and did as told. I finished mashing the berries and poured it into the jar then set it on the table. Then I pulled Tobin outside

"I guess she is still upset. She wouldn't even talk to me."

"Is she ever not going to be mad?"

"I'm not sure. I suppose we should just stay near the village today." I say with a shrug of my shoulders.

"Do you think she will let us go out into the field later today?"

"I don't know. But we better be on our best behavior today.'' We washed our hands, then I picked some flowers from the garden and put them in the middle of the table. Inside, the house began to smell like bread. I unhooked JuJu, the village dog and gave him his bone. Then I continued to turn the butter. Tobin came and drew up a chair next to me

"Why do you think my father left without telling me?"

"I don't know, I'm sorry he did. I did tell him he needn't go."

"It's alright."

Tobin?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever met a man named Tyson?"

"No, I-"

"Did you say the name Tyson?" Gavina asked as she set a plate down with bread.

"I did."

"What do you want to know?"

"Well, I was just curious, was he here before me? Like before I came to your village."

"I don't believe so. I believe he came just a few days after you" I frowned. "Why?"

"It's nothing. It's just that I've lived here so long and I've never met the man until now. He's said some peculiar things and I'm just trying to understand."

"I see. All I know from Byron, is that this Tyson person, works for the warriors, he also brings messages to the counsel. He's the best at killing a dragon and keeps to himself."

"So he doesn't work for Becken?" I ask. Gavina frowns

"No, he does not. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, everything is fine. I"m sure it's nothing." I reply smiling. Then I take the jug out of the turner and take it to the ice box. Afterwards I head back inside and we eat. Gavina is giving us the job of mucking out the village barn today as it hasn't been cleaned in a long time. Then she will find other things for us to do. Punishment for yesterday's shenanigans. With our bellies full, Tobin and I head out to the barn

"Hello Ms. Malvina."

"Hello Byron."

"I see you are up and around now. That is good."

"Yes, it is good. How are you?"

"Very well dear. Where are you two going?"

"The barn. Mother wants us to clean it."

"Ach that's mens work. Don't worry about it." Byron said sticking his fists on his hips.

"We want to though." Tobin said eagerly. I nodded my head. Byron looked at us as if we were mad. We weren't about to tell him we were doing it as punishment.

"You actually want to clean it?"

"Yes sir." Tobin said as he pushed me forward.

"Well okay. Make sure you get some fresh air every now and then." Then with a whistle on his lips he strode off.

"No, we don't want to clean. Why does everyone assume we want to?" Tobin grumbled as he kicked a rock.

"It won't be too bad." I told him as we arrived at the doors. We rolled them open and the stench that hit our noses was enough to make you pass out. We covered our noses.

"I thought you said it wasn't going to be bad." I waved a hand at him and stuck my tongue out.

"Let's get this done." We held our breath and grabbed the rakes. We filled wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow with the old hay and poo. Now done, we rested in the shade with apples.

"I don't think we're ever going to get the stench out of our clothes and skin."

"We will. Gavina will make sure we do."

"Do you think dragons poop?" Tobin asked as he bit into the apple with a crunch.

"I don't know. I would assume so since every animal and human poops."

"So, when are you going to teach me to shoot my arrows more?"

"Maybe tomorrow. If Gavina does not have any tasks for us to do tomorrow."

"Shall we get back? I'm sure Gavina has something else for us to do."

"I suppose." We left our apples and made our way back to the hut. And sure enough, Gavina had us peeling beans. A painstaking job that needs good motor control. We peeled beans until the sun began to go down. Byron suddenly came running

"Malvina. Get your bow. Dragons have broken through the border." I dashed inside and grabbed my bow and dagger. As I headed out, I heard Gavina pleading with Byron

"Byron she can not fight. She is still healing."

"But we need her. We've got five warriors dead, two  injured. I'm afraid Beckon isn't doing well on his own."

"What happened to my father. I thought he left town."

Not now Tobinson." Gavina thundered.

"Let's go Byron." I said quickly

"We'll be careful."

"Wait Byron, I'm not going without Tobin."

"He is not a fighter nor hunter."

"No, but he has trained. He's not good. But I think he can help." I stayed rooted in place. Shrieks began to fill the air.

"Fine fine." I lifted Tobin to his feet who looked surprised. I shoved my extra bow into his hand and then we ran towards the border, scared of what we would find there.