In the years that followed, the Legender offered no explanation of how he had survived, though many inquired. Some guessed he had visited a witch or a wizard who had enchanted the items from his previous adventures. Others proposed that the act of sacrificing his life to save his kingdom activated the powers of his talismans.
All that can be confirmed is that the Dragon fell that day, and the Legender walked away. Witnesses swear that the Legender received a fatal blow and inexplicably burst into flames before achieving victory. Tales spread that he had risen from death like a phoenix and bellowed like a yeti. Stories spoke of Kula Bakar paralyzed by a gorgon’s quill and then slain like a vampire, wood improbably penetrating metal.
As always with the Legender, the tales grew over time. Storytellers claimed the leader of the Rambling Horde really was the avatar of a powerful dragon, and they attributed his previous successes to supernatural abilities. Bards sang of a king in Selona who could not die, and of a bloodline armed with mighty talismans.
The Legender gained a new title in the aftermath of his successful defense of Selona—Dragon Slayer. After the Rambling Horde withdrew from Selona, no mortal country attacked the kingdom again. Konrad kept the sword of the Dragon and passed his other talismans to his two daughters and two sons, who also gained renown as Dragon Slayers. The Legender and his four children were summoned to help as dragons became more aggressive in subsequent years.
Over time, the kingdom of Selona gained prominence in the magical community, and the generations who came after Konrad became known as the Fair Folk. Though the Legender did not remain their king, neither was his death recorded. Ever since, as you well know, when dragons have united to plague the world, five legendary Dragon Slayers have stood against them.
Hermo proved invaluable on the road. He knew ahead of time when a troop of bulky giants with tusks like boars approached from the other direction. Seth, Hermo, and Reggie got off the road into a stand of trees before the giants were in sight, and they watched from safe cover as the giants marched past.
Shortly after they got going again, Hermo sensed the presence of three ogres hiding off the road to ambush travelers and led Seth in a circuitous route before rejoining the road beyond their sight. Later in the day, the hermit troll hurried them to take cover before a giant driving a vast wagon pulled by a dragon rolled into view. Seth could hardly believe the sight of a dragon harnessed like a draft horse.
The road crossed prairies and low hills, sometimes meandering into forests. Mountains remained distantly visible in one direction or another. Many of the trees were without leaves, and dry, dead grasses covered most fields, with very few blossoms.
As the sun plunged toward the horizon, the day became cold and the breeze grew into gusts of wind that hurled gritty dust at them. “Why is it so cold?” Seth asked. “Isn’t it July?”
“Southern hemisphere,” Calvin said from his pocket. “It’s winter down here.”
The wind strips away some of my mass, Reggie said. But dirt is easily replaced.
“Me no like cold,” Hermo said, stomping his feet and rubbing his hands together. “Me no like wind.”
“Me no like it either,” Seth said. “Especially with night coming and no place to sleep.”
“Always places,” Hermo said. “Have to find them.”
“We don’t have blankets or tents,” Seth said. “Or very warm clothes. Can you find us shelter for the night?”
“Easy,” Hermo said. “I lead. You follow.”
I don’t like how he talks to you, Reggie communicated to Seth.
Seth looked at the humanoid figure of dirt. Considering how dingy Reggie appeared as he shambled along the road, with no face and little grace in his movements, it remained a surprise to perceive coherent words from him. “It’s just his way,” Seth said.
Before long, Hermo guided them off the road. While crossing a sloping field, Hermo paused, picked up a rock, subtly licked it, then tossed it aside. With daylight fading, they crested a low rise, and a large farmhouse came into view. Beside the house, Seth saw a barn, a big wagon, a well, an outhouse, and a simple windmill.
Hermo pointed at the barn. “Shelter.”
“Looks like somebody lives here,” Seth said. “By the scale of things, somebody big.”
Hermo shook his head. “Nobody home. Shutters closed. No horsey for cart. No fires. No lights.”
“It’s abandoned?” Seth asked. Hermo was right that the little compound seemed still. The farmhouse had two chimneys and a stovepipe. With the temperature dropping and the wind rising, wouldn’t someone light a fire against the chill if there were people inside? Wouldn’t they be cooking dinner? Wouldn’t a lamp be lit to brighten a room as twilight faded?
“Empty,” Hermo assured him. He started down the gentle slope to the farmhouse.
A gust of wind stripped away enough warmth to make Seth’s teeth chatter, and he followed. He could run from a giant. Freezing to death might be harder to dodge.
Seth stepped quietly as he entered the barnyard. The owner could be asleep inside. Maybe he didn’t get cold. Maybe he preferred his meat raw. Maybe he could see in the dark. Seth looked around tensely, half expecting a door to fly open or a dog to start barking. But the little farm remained quiet.
Hermo led them to a large door on the side of the barn. Judging from the dimensions of the door, Seth estimated the farmer was at least twice his height. Hermo laid a palm against the door and bowed his head. “Door locked. I find way in.”
Seth focused on the dark power inside of himself, then reached out mentally to locate the lock inside the door. With a small exertion of power, he disengaged the lock.
At the sound, Hermo leaped away as if he had been shocked, falling
