Chapter 2

Feast of Beran

“”

The following day came, and the streets of Beran were busy with all the plans for the feast. This celebration had begun many years before, when Marden had first taken the job as the dragon keeper. Many other villages across Ravelle had gotten word of the “Dragon” feast at Beran over the years. Some had even started one for their village’s boys as well. It was already well into the morning, and there were still many things to be done before sundown, and the beginning of the feast. Traditionally, the feast would end at the stroke of midnight as Marden left the village for Bodiford, riding into the night. Usually the boys to go that year would follow behind on the following morning, with a sendoff of cheers, sighs and a few wails and cries.

Over the years, many parents had come to accept the fate of the dragon sacrifice. In fact, for many years no one from the entire region of Silar had been taken. It had only been in the last “choosing” five years before had Jacob Bale been sacrificed to the dragon, breaking forty years of selections from all of Silar—much less the village of Beran. Though there had been much grief over the town at that time, there seemed now to be an unspoken relief among the village. Surely the dragon would not; could not choose from the same region—even the same village again. And, after all, there were only the two boys from Beran this year. Many seemed to be taking comfort in those thoughts, though they still only spoke about it in whispers and hushed conversations.

However, with only two boys—Gemni and Argon, Marden thought that it would be more sensible to travel together. After what had happened the day before, he was even more concerned for the boys’ safety on the road alone. Not to mention that it would give him some company on the journey to Bodiford. Marden had decided to visit with both of the boys’ parents early that morning. He met Argon’s father Tristan Bale on the road early that morning. Marden stopped and spoke to him about the idea of his son traveling together with him to Bodiford. Tristan looked over Marden, cautiously, examining him closely.

No doubt he hates me for Jacob’s sake, Marden thought.

Then Tristan had simply grunted and nodded his head, passing Marden on the road. That was the most Marden could have hoped for from Tristan. He was a man who had gone from being social, enjoyable, lively—to the shell of the man he was now, a bit of a recluse. He farmed and occasionally did some trading in town, but the family had kept mostly to themselves for he past five years. Marden considered asking Tristan about attending the feast, but thought better of it and continued on.

Marden ventured to the Sarton’s house next, with some of his promised medicinal herbs for Gemni’s wounds. His mother, Valeyn, met him as he approached the gate. She was carrying a large white cloth in her hand. As she got closer, Marden saw that she was holding Gemni’s dragon tunic.

“Marden,” she began, “I want to thank you for protecting my Gemni yesterday.”

“Yes, Yes.” Marden shuffled about. “Is the boy all right? I brought these herbs for him, to help with his wounds.”

“I think he will be all right. These will help.” She hung Gemni’s tunic across the gate and took the herbs from Marden’s hands.

“Valeyn, I want to ask you if it would be all right for Gemni to travel alongside me tonight to Bodiford. With what happened yesterday, and what with only the two boys this year… “ He paused, searching her face for a response. She only stared back, distant in her eyes, seeming to look right through him.

“I have already spoken to Tristan—“

“What did he say?” Valeyn seemed startled back into the conversation.

“He agreed. They will be safer traveling alongside me.”

“Yes, yes, all right. I suppose that would be best.” She picked and twisted at the herbs Marden had given her. After a long pause, she spoke again. “He is our only child, Marden. Take care of him, please.”

“Yes, of course, Valeyn. I will watch over them as best I can.”

“May I show you something?” Valeyn stooped and put down the herbs at her feet and reached over for the tunic she had been holding. “I hope this will be alright. I sewed something special here.”

Valeyn turned the tunic over, showing Marden the back of the garment. At first, Marden could not see anything. Then, as she pointed to it, he saw what she was speaking about. Just above the right shoulder was a small symbol, about the size of a coin. It was stitched with the same white thread, and was raised just slightly off the surface of the cloth. Marden peered closer to make it out. It was a small cross. Below the cross, on either side, were the initials G S—for Gemni Sarton. Two circles were sewn around the cross and letters.

“I put this on there to protect him. I hope it’s all right.”

“Of course.” Marden sensed her pain.

“It’s just a silly belief on my part, I suppose. Its just…” she paused. Tears began to well in her eyes. “Marden,…promise me you will bring Gemni home.”

“Valeyn, I—“

“Just promise me.”

Marden paused, then spoke. “I cannot say. I don’t know what will happen.” He turned his eyes away from her as she began to sob. He started again.

“I will do what I can for them. I will help them the best that I can. Who is to say? I will hope with you that Gemni will be coming back to you in a few days. But what you ask is more than even I know.” He paused a moment, then changed the subject. “Will you be at the feast tonight?”

“Yes, we will all be there.” Valeyn looked up, brightening. “I still have a lot to do before then, though.” She put the tunic over her arm and bent down to pick the herbs back up.

“Yes, I do as well.” Marden turned to make his way back to the village.

“Thank you for coming by Marden.”

“Yes, Yes. Give Gemni those herbs. I will see you tonight, then.”

As he left, he regretted not being able to tell Valeyn more of what he knew. With all that Marden knew and all he was, he wanted to promise her, telling her what she wanted to hear. Everything in Marden’s heart told him that Gemni would be returning home to his family, that the dragon would not choose him. He desperately wanted to reassure her of her son’s return. He wanted to promise Tristan Bale as well, and all the other mothers and fathers who had made the same pleas to him. It tore at his heart, wanting to make those promises to them, to reassure them that their sons would return home. It was a curse he carried since Seth had appointed him to this position of Dragon Keeper. But the choosing of the dragon was still a mystery even to him. He still thought back to the sacrifice of his own brother, and was still mystified. He knew the secrets, all that Seth had told him. He knew more than any others would ever know. But what Valeyn asked for… that was something only the dragon knew. He thought again of the circled cross that was stitched on to Gemni’s tunic. He hoped, like his mother, that it would protect Gemni and bring him back to her.