The Cliche` Nightmare
an excerpt

Her heart raced as she ran from the searing heat. Her heart thumped in her throat as she thought “I’m knocking on death’s door with this one.”

Another blast of fire caught her attention, and caused a nearby tree to burst into flames, and she again, took flight. “Tinkral, one of these days, you will learn to let a sleeping dragon lie,” she thought as she again escaped a fiery end.

This pursuit was a fresh one, Tinkral was again trying to steal a dragon’s hoard, but unfortunately, stumbled on the lair of Usk'roth, a red fire-breather of historic proportions. Tinkral had no idea that the dragon had recently moved his home elsewhere, to protect his treasure from the invading humans, but this was her lot in life: to chase down the dragons and take their cache for whatever king had commissioned her services.

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Alarmed, Kamoku threw her head up, rolled her eyes back and snorted. “I know the one. He roasted the humans that had captured me. He saved my life and allowed me to be free again. I’m not sure how much help I’d be if I were to try, for he is protective of other non-humans such as horses.” She backed up two paces and pawed the ground with a forefoot.

‘I mean you no harm,” said Tinkral. “You can leave at any time, I will not force you into anything you do not wish. I am only asking for assistance in getting to the cave slightly faster. Time is always of the essence when dealing with dragons, and I’m running out of it. I will only ask you one more time to help us, before we leave on foot. I have no time for negotiation.” Frustrated, Tinkral couldn’t help but snap a little.

“After I leave you at the cave, I am free to go? You won’t force me to stay or burn me with hot metal?” she was starting to warm up to the idea a little bit.

“Yes, you will be free to go. Should you stay, I will see that you are not mistreated and are well taken care of. It is your choice, but please, make it now, for I have no time left.” Tinkral resorted to pleading. This horse, if properly cared for, would make a wonderful asset, but she wasn’t going to demand something from the horse that she didn’t want to freely give.

A bite of grass and another sip of water later, Kamoku agreed. “At least as far as the cave. My staying with your small and unusual party will be the result of how well you ride and how you treat me between now and then. A good rider is an asset to a moving horse, a bad rider will only slow things down.” She hoped the human had ridden before, and as an after thought she added “if you have spurs, take them off or I will not carry you.”

“I have no spurs,” admitted Tinkral, “I don’t like to harm any creature unless it tries to harm me first.” She cast a sideways glare at the gnome. “What is easiest for you when I mount?” she had no intentions of alarming the horse or further causing it pain.

“Over here, use this rock, stand on it, and I will get close enough for you to swing a leg over” Kamoku pointed her nose at a rock that appeared to be high enough for Tinkral to use as a mounting block. “The gnome, will it hurt me?” she asked.

“If he does, I will hurt him in return. He should be well behaved though.” She said while glancing at the gnome again.

“Put him on first, and make him sit in front of you, holding on to my mane. I move fast, and don’t want to lose either of you.” She snorted and stomped a foot again.

Within minutes, both Tinkral and Rayk were on the black mare, and she was crashing through the forest at break neck speed. “I don’t know where I’m going, so you’ll have to direct me. If you want me to move right, squeeze with your left leg, if you want me to move left, squeeze with your right, just tell me if you want me to slow down or go faster. Squeezing works fastest for directions though.” She said to Tinkral. She was already proving to have a good sense of balance, and wasn’t too heavy.

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“Shame on the King for leaving his treasure unprotected. It must be mating season for the dragons again.” She gave Tinkral a knowing look. “Here, have some pie.” She pushed a large slice across the table at Tinkral. “So tell me about you, dear. Where did you come from? How did you get to be a dragon hunter?”

Tinkral took a polite bite of her pie and started talking. “I normally don’t have an occasion to tell my story. I’m alone most of the time, with little human contact. This mission has been different though, with the gnome and the horse. I’m not used to having anything I can talk to, much less two companions.

“My father is a blacksmith and forged my sword for me. He taught me to fight and to joust, but that really didn’t seem appealing. My mother is a weaver, and makes some of the most fantastic clothes and rugs. I adore them both. I go see them whenever I can, but sometimes my missions take me to the far corners of the kingdom, and have me away from home for months at a time.” She paused for another bite of delicious pie.

“So you aren’t an orphan?” the woman asked, intrigued.

“Not by any stretch of the imagination! I was to marry a knight a few years ago, but he was killed in battle. I liked him well enough, and I’ve done my mourning, but life goes on for the living, you know.

“His mentor was the one that taught me the art of dragon hunting, when it was still a sport. I kept up with it, and after a while, got called upon more and more often to hunt them and retrieve treasure. It isn’t’ something that I ever saw myself really doing as a career, but things have a way of happening on their own, don’t they?” Tinkral said with a laugh and a smile.

“Yes, yes they do. I thought you would have a more horrific or sorrowful story. It seems as most anyone that ever does work like this would have an awful past, orphan, running away, being raised by other people, There are so many out there with those stories, and many of those wind up darkening my doorway. Your story is refreshing. Do you mind if I ask your name?”

Tinkral had to swallow her bite whole to avoid being rude and talking with her mouth full. “Tinkral, it is a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” She politely offered her hand for a handshake.

The old lady pulled her into a bear hug instead. “Oh the pleasure is all mine. Everyone in the village calls me Granny Fae; you’re welcome to call me that also, if you wish.”