Oskar had pulled the short stick again. In truth, he didn’t mind the night shifts. Few visitors meant the night was quiet, and all he really had to do was watch out for wolves. The local packs in the area hadn’t been seen near the village in weeks. Truly, it was an easy shift. As long as no one got too drunk, Oskar could sit up at the top of the gate and daydream to his heart’s content.

He couldn’t let the other guards know he liked it, though. The second they found out, he’d never see the light of day again.

After he’d met with Manuel and Enzo at the bar, he headed out to take up his post. The night air was crisp, and quickly becoming chilly. Winter is right around the corner. The sea breeze might keep things here warmer for longer, but it can never hold back the winter forever.

Just as he was getting settled in, Oskar noticed the mercenaries all leaving the village together. They seemed like they were looking for something, but couldn’t quite tell where it was. Oskar was about to call out to them when someone figured out where they needed to go. The group formed up and headed out in the direction of the forest.

Guess they got a lead on the dragon. Definitely not a job I would want, but the sooner they’re done and out of here, the better.

Oskar watched the men disappear into the forest before returning to his chair. He’d snuck a book out with him under his coat, and had just enough light from the torches behind him to read. It was a raunchy novel, the kind of thing people never admitted to reading. Oskar had borrowed it from Lia; the woman was always a good source of lewd literature. She was always willing to share too, as long as you returned her books and never mentioned where you got them.

Just as he was settling in, an explosion echoed from the direction the mercenaries ran through the forest. Shortly after, another louder bang echoed off the mountains around the village. Good God, I hope they actually kill that thing.

Oskar stood and put the book down. Several townspeople had exited their homes and were looking around the streets, wondering what happened. A few minutes passed, and people began to return to their evenings when the dragon announced itself. The fearsome roar boomed throughout the area, freezing everyone where they stood. Several terrified people turned toward Oskar on the wall.

What the hell am I supposed to say to them!? I’m just as scared as you people.

“Just stay calm everyone,” Oskar tried, holding his hands out in front of him. “The mercenaries left town a little while ago to engage the dragon. I’m sure those bangs earlier were a planned attack to hit the beast while it slept.”

The townspeople unenthusiastically nodded along with his story. No one went back home. Slowly, everyone in town congregated in the street, watching off in the direction of the western mountains.

The tense minutes felt like hours. Oskar knew there was nothing he could do, and that he was as clueless as the rest about the fight but he felt he needed to do something. He climbed down from the wall, and began making conversation with the people.

“I spoke with Clive, their leader, just yesterday,” said Oskar. “The man seemed well versed in hunting and was doing extensive research into the habits of the dragon.”

“Yeah, I heard he took the team out to check on the area of the fight with the wolves the other day,” replied Manuel, noticing his friend trying to ease the tension. “I’m sure he picked up some useful information.”

The townspeople began to nod their heads and started to open up more. Hushed conversations grew into more of a group discussion. Oskar felt the unease begin to lift. He looked at his friend and nodded his thanks.

The dragon let loose another roar, this one different from the rest. Where the previous roars had instilled fear, this one seemed…joyous? Oskar didn’t like the feeling. Something went wrong if the beast is happy. He climbed back up the wall and scanned the skies in time to see the vast red behemoth shoot past the village, bellowing and spiraling through the air.

“Take cover!” Oskar shouted, and the townspeople bolted back into their homes. Oskar himself ducked behind the wall and kept his eyes on the dragon. It made no move for the town, not even glancing in their direction.

Instead, it flew northeast into the deeper mountains of the Spine. He watched until it was out of sight, then spent the rest of the night watching that direction for any signs of movement.

As the sun rose, Oskar hadn’t moved from his spot on the wall. The beast never returned to his sight, but he was terrified that the first moment he looked away, it would be back to burn them all. Wearily, he informed his captain, Gunnar, of the events of the night. His job done, Oskar collapsed into his bed in the barracks.

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

The morning after the attack, Tobias was worried. He’d heard the roars of the dragon, and had watched from behind the shop. The huge red dragon soaring through the sky brought back painful memories, and he ducked back inside. Nothing good ever comes from those damn beasts.

The mercenaries were surely dead, there was no question in Tobias’s mind about that. What else could have her so jubilant? He just hoped that Enzo had escaped the fight.

He’d slept poorly that night, worried about the decisions he’d made. Was it right to send those mercenaries to their deaths? Exhaustion threatened to ruin the day, but he lit the furnace and prepared to work on the tongs for Enzo anyway.

Was my insistence with the boy the right thing to do? I started that fight last night. He pounded away at the frame for a mold, then filled it with sand.

Did the boy even survive? He took apart his own tongs and laid each piece in the sand, packing it in tight. He then filled the furnace with the tungsten he’d acquired back in Baybreach and watched it slowly build up in temperature. Eventually, the metal began to melt.

As he poured the metal into the mold, he considered the consequences of his actions. No. The boy will survive, he’s got the strength of will to make it through something like that. I made the right call. That dragon would have killed him eventually. I’ll keep a sharp eye out for him, and lead the search myself if he doesn’t turn up.

Nodding to himself, Tobias made his mind up. I will teach that boy like he is my own son. I’ve taken that path from him, his life with that dragon is now over. It’s my responsibility to provide him with another option.

He broke open the mold. Inside, sat two dull silver halves of a pair of tongs. Tobias carefully aligned the two arms of the tool and bored at hole through them. He selected a small nail, and filed it into the correct shape, then inserted the pin through the hole. Satisfied with his work, Tobias set the tool on the workbench and stepped back from the furnace.

I will give that boy the life I never could have.