Morning found Bartholomew well rested. He said good bye to Shadow and made his way down the mountain and to the Castle Angels’ Keep. As he walked, he felt a nervous energy building inside. He had waited so long for this moment to happen and now that he could physically see it in front of him, his stomach was in knots. What if all that he knew was wrong? What if the little conversation he had with Kirey were just the ramblings of an old man like Yerik? What if this whole quest was nothing but searching for a bone in a graveyard? What if this Carl person will not be able to help him?
Each step brought Bartholomew closer and closer to the tavern where he would soon learn some of the answers…or so he thought. The village was already starting to wake up. He walked past the blacksmith’s. That was strange! At first glance, it looked like two women were working the fire and anvil. That seemed a strange job for females but he shrugged his shoulders. Who was HE to say what was normal anymore…he had a dragon! He walked further down and around a corner and there, on the side of a building, hung a sign that read, “Diova Gruss Tavern”. He stopped abruptly and so did his heart. He was here. Bartholomew took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then he put one foot in front of the other, walked to the building, and opened the door.
Purpose
The sun was so bright that when he first opened the door to the tavern, he was blinded and couldn’t see the darkened inside. He sensed that everyone turned and looked at him. As Bartholomew let the door close behind him, his eyes became accustomed to the dim interior so that he could make out those patrons scattered about the tables. There was a serving girl standing next to a table, laughing at something the man had said. There was a colorful bird along the back which looked iridescent in the sunlight from the window. There was a young man, probably about his age, standing behind the counter. There were two gentlemen sitting at a table finishing their meal. He had the feeling that his arrival caused all conversations to end abruptly.
Bartholomew nodded his head in a single greeting to everyone at the Diova Gruss. He was not surprised that conversation quit the minute he arrived. He was a stranger in their midst. Trying not to let it affect him, he walked up to the young man at the counter. “Hello, there. I was wondering if there was a man named Carl here? I believe he is one of the owners.”
Earnest looked up from what he was doing and he said, pointing to the table with the two men who were finishing their meal, “Yeah, he’s over there. You looking for work? We don’t have any openings at the moment.”
“No, I was told to come here and see him. Thank you.” Bartholomew approached the table. He still didn’t know which man was Carl. One of them looked to be in his 50’s, slender build with strong, capable hands that showed he was not afraid of work. His face was kind and when he smiled it reached his eyes. His hair was graying and not overly long. The other man looked to be older, maybe in his 70’s with white bushy eyebrows and longish white hair. He was sitting there smoking a pipe that looked vaguely familiar in shape. He had seen one like it recently. It looked exactly like the one Kirey was smoking in Morridin. He gave a little shake of his head trying to erase the memory and approached the table.
“Excuse me, gentlemen, but I was sent here to talk to a man named Carl. Would one of you be him?”
Carl looked up at Bartholomew and said, “Hello, Butch. Why don’t you sit down with us?”
Holding the bowl of the pipe in his hand, the older man pointed the tip at Bartholomew and asked, “So, boy, you hungry?” He made a slight wave and a nod to Earnest without waiting for Bartholomew’s answer.
Bartholomew didn’t know what to say first. First, his father’s name was Butch although that was a nickname that he had back in Dragon Mountain that a few older people used. But why would this man call him by that name? Second, the older man greeted him just like Kirey did yesterday, even to the same jester with his pipe. And, third, he looked very familiar! He said the first thing that came to mind, “Sorry, my name is Bartholomew.”
Carl looked hard at him and after a few seconds said, “Nope. You look like Butch to me. Come, join us. I am Carl and this here is Zigaroth.”
Bartholomew walked around the table to one of the vacant chairs. As he sat down, he looked more closely at Zigaroth. Zigaroth just sat quietly, smoking his pipe, the bowl in his hand. He took it out of his mouth and again used it to point at Bartholomew and stated, “Yes, I agree with Carl. You are the spitting image of Butch. So much easier to say than Bartholomew, too.”
“As you wish, sir. That is my father’s name and the villagers often called me by that name too.” Butch’s smile included both men. “However, my business is with Carl.”
“Well,” Zigaroth replied again emphasizing with his pipe, “Actually, your business is with both of us, Butch.”
Earnest brought some food and placed the plate in front of Butch. “Here’s the lunch special. The bread and pastries are Carl’s pride and joy so make sure to tell him you like it!” Butch was hungrier than he thought he would be so started eating almost immediately. By the empty plates in front of the two men, they had already eaten and he didn’t need to wait for permission. None of the men talked but let Butch fill his belly.
Carl watched him eat and waited until he had a few bites remaining. Then he looked Butch in the eye and stated, “So, Zigaroth tells me that you brought Shadow with you. After you finish up here, I want you to take us to him.”
Butch’s heart stopped, the last forkful poised half-way to his mouth! His face turned white as the fork fell from nerveless fingers and clinked against the pewter plate! He felt panic well up inside him and at the same time, his heart started racing again!
Zigaroth looked at Carl and said, “I think we better go. This is not the place for this conversation. Come, boy, follow us.” With that, he rose from his chair and started walking, not once looking back to see if Carl or Butch were following him.
The three men left the tavern retracing the steps that Bartholomew, or Butch, had just walked. Zigaroth was leading the way as if he knew just where Shadow could be found. Butch was not sure what to think anymore. Zigaroth looked so familiar and, if he didn’t know any better, would have said that they had met before today. Carl had a familiarity about him that he could not place, either. It wasn’t just in looks but in his mannerisms, the way he was walking and carrying himself. They reminded Bartholomew of his father in Dragon Mountain. He thought that by coming to the Castle Angels, he was going to find answers to the questions he had about dragon riding and the big war. Now, Butch was finding himself with even MORE questions that needed answers! He felt himself in quite a confused state and it was a very unsettling feeling which he didn’t like.
Zigaroth took them right to the cave where Shadow had been left. As Shadow came out and went over to Butch, Butch took off his glove and put his hand to Shadow’s head. Then the strangest thing occurred while they stood connected. It was a familiar sound accompanied by air movement. Both Butch and Shadow looked up towards the sky. Descending from the sky from higher up the mountain was a gold dragon. The gold dragon landed, walked up to Carl, and greeted her with his hand placed between her eyes.
Butch was speechless; his eyes big and his mouth wide open.
Carl turned and looked at Butch and simply said, “We are going riding. Mount and follow us.”
Both men mounted their dragons and were taken up, around, and over Tonathium Mountain with Carl and Baroness taking the lead. Butch and Shadow followed the older pair. It was quiet riding through the sky together, the only sound being the flapping of the wings of two dragons. The sun would be setting in a few hours but Butch wasn’t paying attention. He wasn’t really thinking anything other than, maybe, just maybe, he would get some answers to his questions. After all these years of hiding Shadow, worrying over all the “what ifs”, he might have found someone he could talk to, relate to. And with that realization, his heart soared even as Shadow soared with Baroness. Butch did not pay attention to where they went or how long they rode together, just that it was two men with their two dragons.
Butch realized the ride was over when he saw Zigaroth standing exactly where they had left him. Both men landed their dragons, touched their hands, and turned to walk towards Zigaroth. Carl was the first to speak.
“Zigaroth, we must get to the inn immediately and sound the alarm. I spotted an army approaching from the south and it is of good size. We must send the Call to Arms to the Angels. The army is almost upon us so we do not have time for any delay.”
Then Carl looked at Butch, “Butch, we are about to be engaged in battle. Tell no one of what just happened with the dragons. We will talk soon. However, we must act swiftly and have no time to waste.”
All three men, walked swiftly back to the Keep. Carl rang the alarm as the sun set.
created originally 1 June 2011
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