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June 29 - June 29, 2018
Keira shook her head in amusement – a mere door wouldn’t stop a dragon!
Why is she amused? Like, people are dying??
The only questionable thing this dragon had done, however, was to take a few head of cattle and a couple of sheep. And since the dragon always left some form of payment for the animal taken – a small bag of gold or a few precious stones – the villagers didn’t complain too loudly, despite their fears of a grisly death. After all, the payments always exceeded the worth of the animal. But the villagers remained convinced that it was just a matter of time before the dragon set the village alight and snatched the village girls.
Well, at least she/he’s thoughtful.
the scales of the dragon caught the late afternoon light and threw a thousand rainbows against the sky.
Pretty dragon.
but before Keira turned away, it twisted its long neck and looked at her. Keira pulled her arm out of Anna’s as she met the dragon’s golden gaze, then watched as it turned its enormous body in a slow, fluid motion and lazily flew towards the mountains.
Why isn’t she scared?? She made eye contact with a DRAGON?? Me and her are very different.
“Too young? She’s sixteen, Mother. Old enough to be married. I started working at the stall when I was twelve.” “Now Keira!” her mother responded sharply. “Don’t be impertinent. I’ve said that Anna is too young, and that is the end of the discussion.”
Sounds familiar...😂😂
Keira guessed that he was about thirty years of age. At twenty-two, Keira was already considered an old maid,
That’s some age gap. It is quite strange that’s she’s not married yet though.
“You’re shopping for bowls?” She looked at him speculatively. “Why?” “To eat from, of course,” he responded with an innocent smile.
Duh. 😂🤦♀️😭😂
“Wooden plates and bowls?” she asked again, her suspicions not yet allayed. Her father’s craftsmanship was fine, but she knew that it wasn’t wood that usually graced the tables of the wealthy. “Yes.”
Gosh dang girl. Let him buy some bowls. Haggle free service.
“Do you always interrogate your customers like this?” he asked with an amused smile. “One would be inclined to think you don’t want anyone to buy your wares.”
I agree with him. Like, let him buy the bowls
The stranger laughed lightly. “I hate to disappoint you, but I haven’t seen any half-gnawed bones around Storbrook. I have heard about this dragon, though.”
Foreshadowing??? Laughing lightly??? He knows something!
“How many beautiful damsels have been snatched up by this dreadful monster?”
Such a flirt.
“You don’t fear the beast?” he asked in surprise, straightening to his full height.
The two of them are not very good at subtle behavior.
“As for this dragon, I rather like it!”
You’re insane.
“Keira,” she said, “I’ll help this gentleman while you go home and have your meal.”
Please do before your daughter becomes a meal for a dragon.
She’d heard tales of a large city, where hundreds of people lived, and where anything could be bought for a price. Keira’s mind wandered back to the stranger at the market. Perhaps he’d lived in the big city. How strange to leave that behind for a remote and mysterious castle in the middle of the mountains! Especially if the dragon really did live in caves nearby.
Yes. How strange. FORESHADOWING
Keira supposed that the reaction of the villagers wasn’t really surprising. Eighty years may have passed since a dragon had last inhabited the Northern Mountains, but when it died, it had left behind a village frightened and scarred.
How strange that they don’t want to be dinner for a dragon...
Keira nodded. What the man did was his own concern.
Finally. Let him buy his platter
“I’ve never been to the city,” she said, “so I don’t know how people act there. I prefer to be myself and speak my mind.”
He told you how they act..at least she thinks for herself!
Aaron laughed. “Yes, I already know that much. I didn’t intend an insult – you’re like a refreshing breath of air.”
He’s so sweet.
“You aren’t becoming too friendly, I hope. He looks like a dangerous man.” He pulled away before Keira had a chance to respond, his gaze moving past her shoulder.
How??? He’s rich and tan and polite? Is that dangerous? I think someone is jealous.
“You’re right, of course, it is a frightfully hot day, but I couldn’t possibly leave Keira to manage all on her own. Mistakes can happen so easily.” Keira took a deep breath and turned away.
Mom saves the day!
From the corner of her eye, Keira saw Edmund stop to exchange a few words with Sarah Draper, then wave at Gwyneth Jones across the way. They laughed and giggled, pleased at the attention.
Such a flirt.
Mother waved her hand. “Anna’s young. Let her have her fun. I’m happy to stay and make sure everything runs smoothly.” Keira smiled tightly as she reached beneath the table to place Aaron’s coins in the strongbox.
...spoilt rotten
when fairies and brownies
What are brownies I wonder
“Although, if this dragon has a penchant for beautiful damsels, I’m sure you’re at the top of his list.”
Mhhhmmmm
There was no sign of the dragon, however, and she turned her gaze back to Aaron, startled to see him watching her with an unfathomable expression. The expression quickly smoothed away, and he gave a light laugh.
You’re about to disappear girl
“I think you should take great care in future to hide away whenever that foul monster comes near, otherwise you could well be its first victim.”
MHMMM
“What do you think its lair looks like?” Aaron continued in a low voice. “Is it dark and malodorous? Perhaps there are bones from its victims lying everywhere. And the walls are probably black from the hellish fire that emanates from the beast with every breath. And we mustn’t forget the gold! I imagine that there are treasures piled everywhere, because everyone knows that dragons hoard wealth.”
HAHAHA. Girl, watch out
“Sweet Keira, do you honestly think I should risk my life hunting for a dragon and its lair? You might think the dragon is harmless, but I’d prefer not to become the fiend’s next meal.
At least he’s sane. 😂😂
Something flashed in Aaron’s eyes, but it was gone in a moment.
Girl, run 🏃♀️
“Well, it must be rather lonely. Imagine living all by yourself in the mountains with no-one to keep you company. And every time you come near a village in an effort to make friends, everyone runs away, screaming in fright!”
She says that now until she’s dinner 🥘
Keira grinned in response. “With a bouquet of burning branches, of course.” She glanced around to see that they had reached the other end of the village.
So romantic
“I look forward to our next encounter, beautiful damsel.” He dropped her fingers and turned away, leaving Keira staring after him in bemusement.
Girrrllllllll
“Don’t say that. Who would tell us about the faeries if you weren’t here?”
This is cute
She took a sip, and puckered her mouth. “Dreadful stuff,” she said. She placed her cup on the table and turned to look at Keira. “Now, my dear, when are you getting married?”
Ahh grandma knows all
“If not Edmund, then who? Widower Brown? He’s expressed a desire to take you to wife many times over the last five years. He doesn’t have Reeve Hobbes’ fortune, but he does have some money.”
...nobody. She’s a strong independent woman who don’t need no man.
That wasn’t her only complaint about Edmund. At the annual harvest festival the previous year, he’d grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into the shadows of the churchyard. He’d stroked her face, then grabbed her chin when she tried to pull away. He’d kissed her then, forcing her lips apart with his tongue, and when she resisted, he slapped her across the face. “You’ll be more obedient when you’re my wife,” he’d snarled, before turning and stalking away.
Wait, what? Yeah. Don’t marry him.
“Starving at the side of the road would be far less tolerable. If not Edmund, settle on another man and secure your future.”
Nah, it’d be more tolerable.
Lately the possibility of taking holy orders had become more appealing. As a bride of Christ, she would not be a burden to her parents, and her life would have some purpose and direction. She’d never felt the calling, but perhaps, she reflected, she had not been listening? And a life of prayer and contemplation was infinitely more attractive than the idea of marrying Edmund.
Yessss. You have choices.
“Don’t forget you’re intended for me, Keira,” he said. “I’ll not have you make a fool of me.”
Rolling my eyes.
Edmund smiled. “Ah, Keira, you really think I’ll give you the freedom to do what you want? I’ll bind you to the bed, and after I’ve had my fill of you, I’ll leave you to sleep on the floor. You’ll be no more trouble than a snappy mutt that can be flung outside when he grows too tiresome.” He leaned closer, his nose only inches from hers.
Can you, idk, NOT.
The call of the church was suddenly thundering in her ears, pounding with each beat of her heart.
SAME.
“It’s just a cat,” Matthew muttered, staring at the ground as he stirred the dust with a grubby toe.
Psychopath
“He was torturing a cat, Edmund,” Keira snapped through clenched teeth. “He deserves to be whipped.” “Don’t be ridiculous,” Edmund said. “You’re the one who should be whipped for interfering where you had no business. They were just having a bit of fun.”
Why is he alive?
Beside him stood Aaron, his eyes blazing.
A-aron to the rescue!
“Keira is mine,” Edmund snarled as he pushed himself up from the ground.
Says who?? You? 😂😂
If he’d managed to land that blow, he would not have walked out of this alley alive,” he added darkly, turning his face away.
Do the world a favor and do it anyway tbh
the dragon smacked them with its tail as it sailed past them, sending them soaring
Can all potential rapists have this fate?
“Don’t be afraid, Keira,” it said. “Unlike those craven curs, I’m not going to harm you, or eat you for breakfast. I would have liked to make a meal of those boys, though,” it added darkly, its jaw clenching with fury as it said the words.
Same
Aaron – hadn’t he said that he would rescue her if she was captured by the dragon?
Girrrllll. Aaron is the dragon. I’m betting on it. If I’m wrong, I’d be severely surprised.
