Chapter 10
The next day was market day, and Keira sat at the table, her regular smile missing as a cloud of dejection settled over her. Her mother had been aloof that morning, and the merchants at the other tables were pointedly ignoring her, looking away when she smiled and waved in greeting.
It hadn’t taken long for the villagers to hear that Keira had been returned, unharmed, by the dragon. At first they were incredulous, but as she continued to insist that the dragon was not to be feared, and was, in fact, a good dragon, her neighbors’ incredulity turned to anger, and then to downright hostility. It seemed that Aaron was right about changing people’s beliefs, she thought dejectedly.
Anna was sitting at the table with Keira, determined to be a friendly face for her sister through the long day. Keira was surprised at Anna’s unexpected loyalty. When she commented on it, Anna had raised her eyebrows. “You’re my sister! I’m the only one who can be mean to you,” she’d said. Keira smiled, grateful to have someone at her side.
The sounds of the market grew louder as merchants called out to potential shoppers, but Keira just stared at the hands in her lap. A shadow fell over the table, but she kept her eyes averted, unwilling to read the hostility in yet another person’s expression, as she listened to her sister’s voice of admonishment.
“Have you come to gloat over my sister, like everyone else, milord?” Anna hissed.
Keira brought her head up in astonishment, meeting the golden brown eyes that gazed at her in question. “Keira? What’s happened?” Aaron asked softly.
Keira opened her mouth to answer, but Anna was quicker. “You mean you haven’t heard?” Anna snorted. “Keira was taken by the dragon yesterday – it rescued her from Edmund, but he’s saying he tried to save her from the dragon. Of course, no-one believes Edmund did anything wrong, and they’re saying that Keira is siding with the dragon over her own friends and neighbors!”
“Keira, is this true?” Aaron asked. She nodded, and his voice grew harder. “What about your parents, what do they say?”
“My mother doesn’t believe me,” Keira said.
“She believes Edmund instead,” Anna chimed in angrily. “She’s telling everyone that somehow the dragon has affected Keira’s mind. Everyone knows that dragons are man-eating monsters, so why would a dragon return a maid unharmed? And of course, there are no other witnesses to verify Keira’s story.”
Aaron watched Keira as Anna spoke, his eyes narrowing in fury as he heard her answer. His fists clenched at his sides as his eyes started to blaze with open flames, while gold shimmered just below the surface of his skin.
“Aaron,” Keira said softly, shaking her head.
He glared at her for a moment, but then his expression softened as a long stream of hot air escaped his lips. He turned to Anna, a hard smile on his face.
“On the contrary,” he said, “I can provide testimony to the occurrences of yesterday. I was walking near a small lake yesterday morning when I heard voices close by. I recognized Edmund’s straight away. A girl screamed, begging him to stop what he was doing.” His voice rose as he spoke, his words carrying through the market as they were quickly relayed from one merchant to another. “It was Keira, and I ran towards the sounds, but before I reached the scene, the dragon swooped down and grabbed her. It was clear from Keira’s pleading that Edmund’s intentions were not honorable.”
“Why should we believe you, a stranger in our village?” asked one of the merchants who had edged closer to hear Aaron’s words.
“The fact that I am a stranger to these parts makes me an impartial observer,” rejoined Aaron tightly. The group of people around the wood carver’s stall was growing, and some of the listeners shuffled as they considered Aaron’s response.
“Edmund was probably just having some harmless fun and got carried away,” said another merchant.
Aaron shook his head. “Are you so anxious to think badly of the dragon that you’re prepared to overlook what Keira endured at Edmund’s hands?”
Another voice piped up. “We should give Edmund the chance to answer these charges before we pass any judgment. I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding.”
Cries of “yes” ran through the crowd, but before matters went any further the reeve pushed his way through the gathering, his white reeve stick clenched tightly in his fist. He glared at Keira for a moment before turning towards the throng. He waited in silence as those gathered turned their attention to him.
“You, Daniel Draper,” he said, pointing at one of the merchants near the front of the crowd, “what’s going on here?”
Daniel Draper glanced around nervously and cleared his throat. “Um, Reeve Hobbes, this man here,” he said, waving in Aaron’s direction, “says he heard Keira screaming in distress just before the dragon snatched her yesterday.”
The reeve turned to Aaron with a frown. “Is this true?”
“It is,” Aaron said, his expression like steel.
The reeve turned back to Daniel. “Pray, continue.”
“We thought that Edmund should have an opportunity to defend himself.”
The reeve stared at the merchant, his eyes narrowed in consideration, then looked out over the crowd with a nod. “Indeed, he should. We’ll have a meeting at the town hall this evening at sundown. You,” he said, turning back to Aaron, “will be present to give your version of events, I’m sure?”
Aaron met his gaze and inclined his head. “Of course.”
The two men glared at each other for a moment before the reeve turned back to the crowd.
“Everyone, clear out and get back to work.”
Keira and Anna had been quiet as the events unfolded before them, but as the crowd slowly dispersed, Keira rose and leaned towards Aaron.
“What are you doing?” she demanded softly.
Aaron met her glare with eyebrows raised. “Just telling them the truth, my sweet.”
“You’re making enemies,” she said, dropping her voice lower. “You will have the whole village against you.”
Aaron leaned his hands against the table, bringing his face close to hers.
“I really don’t care what this village thinks of me,” he said, his voice hard and low, “but I do care what they think of you, and I’m not going to sit back and let them spread lies about you.” His voice softened as he looked into her eyes. “Do you really think I’d stand back and let them make these accusations against you, and not do anything about it? Do you not understand what I feel for you?”
His eyes started to brighten as he looked at her, and Keira caught her breath, her own expression softening in response.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“The pleasure is all mine.”
“Ahem.” The sound of Anna clearing her throat made Keira jump. “Mother’s headed this way.”
Keira returned her gaze to Aaron, still leaning on the table, and his eyes held hers for another moment before he pushed himself to his full height and took a slow step back.
When Mother appeared a moment later, she glanced between her daughters before turning to Aaron.
“I heard there was some sort of commotion, daughter,” she said, addressing Keira, but continuing to watch the man before her.
Keira remained silent, and Anna answered. “Yes, Mother. Milord Drake had some information about Keira’s abduction yesterday. It seems he heard Keira screaming just before the dragon snatched her.”
“Is this true?” asked Mother, her eyes never shifting from Aaron. He met her gaze steadily.
“Yes, it is true,” he said. “I heard her begging Edmund to stop what he was doing, just before the dragon rescued her.”
“You’re a stranger in these parts,” Mother said. “For all we know you’re in league with the dragon. They are not kind and sweet, but rather, cruel monsters that feast on humans.” Her eyes narrowed. “Edmund’s mother was my closest friend before she died, and I’ve watched her boys grow up. You expect me to belie
ve that he would knowingly hurt Keira, but that is impossible.” Mother placed her hands on her hips. “I don’t know what your purpose is in spreading these lies, but I do know that dragons are wicked beasts, while Edmund is a good man.”
Aaron’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What about your daughter, Madam Carver?” he said. “Is she not a good woman? Should she not merit more of your concern than that worthless boy?”
“How dare you?” Mother said. “Do not presume to question my relationship with my daughter. You! A stranger! Now, unless you have business here, I suggest you leave.”
“You’ll not get rid of me that easily, Madam Carver. I’ll leave now, because I can see that this is distressing your daughter, but I won’t go far.”
He glanced at Keira as he said these words. Her features were pale and her hands trembled, but she held herself erect as her parent finished her rant. The tightness around his eyes softened as he looked at her, his eyes becoming more golden.
“Keira,” he said softly. He gazed at for a moment before he turned and walked away.
“That man is infatuated with you, Keira, so it’s clear he cannot be trusted,” Mother said.
Keira watched him retreat and knew he had heard Mother’s words when his shoulders stiffened and his hands curled into fists. He paused for a moment before continuing on his way, and Keira breathed a sigh of relief, glad that further confrontation was avoided, even if it was to be only a temporary respite.