How to Slay a Dragon - Bill Allen [99]
“What about Agni?” Greg asked.
“He’s doing well,” Nathan told him. He winked. “I have a few skills as a healer.”
Once again Greg knew there was more Nathan was not telling him, but he didn’t care. He was just happy to be alive.
The soldiers were so excited it would have been impossible for even Ryder to mobilize them that day. Greg revealed little of the details of his encounter with the dragon, so Bart made up his own version of events and quickly put them to song. He played the new ballad endlessly, while the others sang and danced throughout the entire day and long into the night. Not a single soldier slept. The celebration went on and on till morning, louder and more festive than ever before.
With no chance to sleep, Greg decided to go back and correct the last entry in his journal. He might not be able to tell anyone what really happened in Ruuan’s lair, but at least he could record the events on paper, even if the pages would never be seen.
But his journal was not under his tunic where it belonged. He retrieved the eternal torch from Lucky’s pack and scoured the area thoroughly. Still no luck. The last he remembered having it was in this very same spot, a few hours earlier, when he was sure he would never return from the lair. So much had happened since then. He could have dropped it anywhere. Well, if it was inside the spire, that’s exactly where it would stay. Nothing could ever convince him to step foot inside that tunnel again.
Although for most of the men sleep never came, morning eventually did, and in spite of their lack of rest, the five hundred soldiers broke camp in record time and were soon ready to hit the trail.
Greg stood next to Ryder at the head of the ranks. “You want to do the honors, Greghart?” Ryder asked him.
“You do it, Captain. I don’t think the prophecy said anything about me leading them home again.”
“Very well,” Ryder said smiling. “MOOOOVVE HOUT!” he commanded, and as one the five hundred soldiers of the Army of the Crown took up the march.
The trip back over the Smoky Mountains and through the Weird Weald to the edge of the kingdom was a lot harder now that Greg had to walk the entire way, but he didn’t mind. He didn’t even need to worry about monsters. With all the soldiers making noise, any monsters that may have crossed their path were wise enough to do so quickly and well in advance of the army’s approach.
The celebration that had begun back at the ridge beside the Infinite Spire never really ended, which just made Greg feel more and more guilty about fooling all these people into thinking he was some sort of hero. He debated sharing his feelings with Nathan, but didn’t know how the man would react to the news. Once, during their evening meal, Greg plopped down next to Nathan and decided to risk a test.
“Ryder’s men sure are happy about this whole dragon business,” he mentioned between bites.
“And well they should be,” Nathan said. “It’s not every day a prophecy is fulfilled.”
“No,” said Greg. “Truer words were never spoken.” If Nathan thought the comment odd he said nothing about it. “Nathan, what do you think these men would do if they found out the prophecy was wrong? What if I’d been killed in Ruuan’s lair . . . or something?”
“Well, luckily you weren’t, now, were you?” Nathan said, smiling.
Greg remained quiet a long while before he thought to try a new approach. “You know I don’t feel much like a hero.”
“True heroes seldom do.”
“But—”
“Yes, Greg?”
Greg glanced at Nathan to judge his reaction. “I just don’t think these men ought to be treating me like I’m anyone special. I really didn’t do that much.”
“Nonsense. You risked your life going into that lair. You handled Ruuan, you brought the princess out safely, and you even fulfilled your promise to the witch without losing the amulets you promised to return to King Peter and Mrs. Greatheart.”
Greg studied Nathan harder. He’d