The village remained deathly quiet the morning after the monsters had their great fight. Few missed the initial howling that had hushed the inn that night, but none missed the dragon’s triumphant roar.

Clive hated it. He’d been put in charge of their raiding party, some eight other men and his son, Darren. Those two bitches claimed this would be just a show of force. Tour through the woods. Make some mountain village bumpkins happy and take all their gold. We weren’t supposed to find anything.

He cursed at his plate, the eggs and potatoes doing nothing to brighten his mood. Now we have an actual, god-forsaken dragon to hunt. My damn luck we’ll actually find it and have to fight the damn thing.

He looked over the men sitting at the table around him. The inn was eerily quiet for the late morning crowd that filled the room. Any conversations were hushed, and few patrons looked up from their plates. His own men sat orderly around the table, eating in silence. Never had this much discipline in their whole lives, he thought. I’m gonna have to shake things up or they’re all gonna freeze and piss their pants if we find that monster.

Clive looked outside. Rain still showered down from the heavens, and the dark clouds overhead showed no signs of clearing up. More bad omens, this trip is cursed. He looked at his son. The boy was only allowed to tag along because this was supposed to be an easy trip. Show him the ropes, maybe get him his first blood. Definitely not face down a dragon. Clive stood at the head of the table and cleared his throat.

“Alright men, listen up,” he began, speaking louder than necessary in the quiet inn. Everyone in the room was sure to hear him, and that might turn out to be a helpful thing. “While this storm lingers, investigate the town. Talk to the shopkeepers and the villagers. Find out everything you can about this area and ask everyone about that damn dragon. Everything will be useful information, we need to be prepared before we set out on this hunt.”

At first, the men didn’t respond. They’re already scared shitless, Clive thought, and was about to let loose a stream of curses to get the men moving, when Darren stood from the table.

“I’ll start off with that old smith that brought us here. He seemed like he might know something,” called out the boy, startling the rest of the crew from their stupor.

“I’ll go with him boss,” called one man, a large crossbow strapped to his back. “Make sure he don’t get into trouble.”

“Alright then, pair up and investigate the town,” said Clive, seeing the men warm to the idea of working with others over braving the village alone. Cowards, he thought, but I wouldn’t be in charge if I couldn’t get these idiots to move. “Meet back here tonight with whatever information you can gather.”

The men paired up and set about the town. Rain smeared across the windows, as Clive watched from their room on the second floor of the inn. Have some words with those bitches when we get back. I’m taking the full cut of this job, and anyone who survives can take a split of the loot we find. Fuck them sending us to our deaths.

===========================================

The rain finally let up as night fell on the village. Businesses had opened for the day, but, between the events of the night before and the rain, things remained quiet. The sound of hammering on iron rang true through the rain, but all other sounds were absent. Even the guards, though at full attention initially, had retreated into their barracks when the sun fell.

Clive sat at the head of the table in the inn, and waited for their reports. At least they actually did the job this time, he thought, remembering the last job he’d been put in charge of. Maybe this scare will stick and give them a bit of respect.

The first pair of men to report stood. Darren was with them, and the two men pushed the boy forward to report for them.

“We went to the smith’s shop but he didn’t want to talk. We waited for a while, but all he did was hammer away on his metal,” began the boy, dejected. The trip was clearly turning into a dud for him.

“I did notice something while we were there though, boss,” cut in one of the guards. “Man has some incredible pieces on display there. Stuff better than what I’ve seen in the capital. Had a full kite shield made up with real nice designs and a chestplate that matched. That old man is either the best smith I ever seen, or he robbed somebody. Worth some good gold.”

Clive nodded and the group sat again. “Who’s next?”

Another pair stood. “We went around and talked with the shops around here. Ran into the same thing, though the shepherd wouldn’t shut up about it when we talked,” reported one of the pair. “Said he had a dragon swoop down and snatch one of his cows a week back. Huge red thing. Seemed like he was the village nut though, nobody else saw anything like that.”

“Matches up with the scale they brought to the governor that started this whole mess though,” replied Clive, starting to put the pieces together. “Anything else?”

Two more came forward. “We talked with the guard, and spent some time with a guy, Oskar was his name. Said some kid came in from the woods a few days back carrying that scale. Apparently he found it in a cave along the western coast, almost as far south as the mountains go,” reported the pair.

“Sounds like a secondary lead. We’ll check out the site of the fight tomorrow and see what we can learn,” replied Clive, nodding his head as he spoke. “Anybody else?”

None of the others stood, so Clive was about to put the matter to rest, when Darren popped up again.

“I did see something else dad. I mean, boss,” the boy stammered, as all eyes turned to him. “That general store lady has a real nice bow. Dark wood, almost black and a glinty string on it. She wouldn’t let me touch it, said it was worth more than I’d make in my whole life.”

Clive frowned. “Alright, anything else?”

No responses this time and Darren sat back down, proud that he’d contributed on his own.

“Eat, and get ready to leave tomorrow morning,” said Clive to the crew. “Plan for a day trip tomorrow, we’re heading to the north. With some luck, we’ll find the big bastard bleeding out after that fight last night and head home with a dragon head in hand.”

The men cheered and pounded their fists on the table. Darren grinned and pounded along with them. The rest of the night was a return to normalcy for the crew. The men shouted and drank, and taught Darren how to gamble. Clive sat in a corner and reviewed what he’d learned.

No mountain village has a smith that good, there’s no money in it for him here. No mountain village has an Ebonwood bow stashed away either. A kingly weapon like that only exists in legends and throne rooms. No mountain village this far south has a dragon rampaging through the wilds. There’s more going on here they aren’t telling us. I’m gonna find out what.

“Boy,” Clive called out to his son. “Come here.”

Darren pouted and left the game he was about to lose. “Yes father?”

Clive pulled the boy close. “Tomorrow morning, you run back to Baybreach,” he whispered in his son’s ear. “You tell Auntie Ana we found that bow and that smith here, and a couple other nice things. Tell her to plan a stop up here on her trip, it’ll be worthwhile.”

Clive smiled a secretive smile. “There’s a silver coin in it for you if you make it back before we do tomorrow,” he said, and his son grinned. “But don’t tell nobody else, okay? It's just for Auntie Ana to know about.” The boy nodded excitedly and hopped back to his seat with the crew.

They’re gonna pay for this damn trip, Clive thought as he tipped back his mug of mead. I’ll make that bitch come here herself and collect my loot.