"The Dragon Child- beginning- 2" by Tricia L. Martin

 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Droger was a name that had travelled as far as Khelan’s ears.  He was a tracker with a specialty; he tracked mystical beasts in the forest of Arden for anyone willing and able to pay the right price. They made handsome trophies and only the wealthiest lords were able to afford his services.  It was for this peculiar gift that Khelan sought his services.  Droger was well familiarized with the Arden and its inhabitants.  If anyone would be able to find a unicorn it would be him.

            They met with him in a small, dark and smokey inn in a town bordering the forest.  Khelan with Dahl sat across from Droger at a wooden table in the back corner of the room.  A small lamp provided a minimal glow for them to see by. 

            Droger was not a handsome man by any means.  His body was large and stocky and his face was broad and bearded. On the left side beginning between his eyebrows and tracing down to his ear was a wide and gnarled scar which told of a terrible battle he must have been lucky to survive.  Where his eye should have been was a twisted mess of skin closed up with scar tissue. The eye he had left darted about the room nervously, never resting on one place very long.

            “What is it that I can do fer ya?” Droger asked anxiously, taking a healthy chug of ale through his rotted teeth.   

            “I need you to find something for me,” Khelan began calmly and quietly.  “Something very spectacular.” The big man chuckled and his body shook with the humor.

            “Ya’ve come t’ the right man!” he remarked.  “But I need to be knowin’ what it is ya want me t’ find.”  He raised his tankard up to his mouth again.

            “A unicorn,” the wizard answered cooly.  Droger nearly choked as he swallowed the amber liquid.

            “What do ya want with a unicorn?” he asked suspiciously, his tone of voice changing drastically from humored to grim.

            “Let’s just say it’s a matter of a very fine trophy.”  Dahl answered before Khelan could.  His father glanced over at him, but said nothing to show he had disapproved of the remark.

            “Indeed,” Droger said thoughtfully, watching the two exchange looks.  “That won’t come cheap.  Not at all.”

            Anticipating the need to see the glint of gold Khelan produced a small leather sack that jingled musically as it was tossed onto the table.  The other looked at it for a moment and then laughed outloud.

            “D’ya think that will buy yer trophy?” he chuckled heartily. 

            “Consider it a down payment. The rest will be payable upon delivery, and you won’t be disappointed.”  Dahl spoke like a true business man and for a moment Khelan felt a small twinge of pride in his son.

            Droger was silent and he snatched up the pouch and tucked it inside his ratty brown vest.

            “Very well, ya want a unicorn. I’ll get ya one.”

            “The black one,” Khelan specified more seriously than before.  He expected to hear another outburst of laughter, but none came. Instead the filthy, scarred man leaned forward and spoke in a much lower voice.

            “He cannot be killed.” He explained.

            “Then why do I need you?” Khelan stiffened irritably.   

            “I have hunted in that forest for over ten years. I have seen dozens of unicorns, and I have killed my fair share.  Never in my time there have I seen the black one.  Never except once.”  He gestured to the grotesque scar that was gashed across his face.  “He gave me a small little somethin’ t’ remember him by.” 

            Dahl winced nervously as the imagination of what must have happened to result in such a mark crossed his mind momentarily.

            “I want him.” The wizard insisted once again.  “I need a unicorn of any sort, but I want him.  For him I will pay most handsomely.” Droger shook his head and took another swig of ale.

            “T’ain’t no matter of money with him.  Yer could be offerin’ all the gold in the kingdom, and it won’t make him no more catchable.  I’ll get yer unicorn.  I make no promises that it’ll be black!”