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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Tigra21 on 2025-05-12 18:48:36+00:00.

Well Tom had certainly had an interesting chat with their latest two arrivals. They truly were the adventurous sort. The Indiana Jones duo of this world. One upside to all the crazy stories they had to share was that his own didn’t seem quite so unbelievable anymore by comparison.

Now he just had to convince Rachuck that all was well, a task more or less on par with convincing a hypochondriac that the cough they have was in fact not life threatening. 

“And they seem to have believed you?” Rachuck questioned, evidently skeptical. Tom could see why. Everyone agreed the old story they had come up with for his origins was a bit out there, but it beat the truth.

“So far yeah, apparently they haven’t actually bothered with going that far north yet. And I know from Joelina’s dreams that even whites have limits on how far they can go.”

“What are you on about? Far north?”

“Remember Lord Joakim? The old story we spun for visitors?”

“Oh please don’t tell me you recounted that to them.”

“Relaaax. Gave them the whole spiel just like we practiced way back, in case of any guests.”

“This is a disaster waiting to happen. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if half the people here don’t remember a word of that lie. The moment she starts asking questions-”

“Oh yeah and I didn’t tell them about the Inquisition either. They don’t seem too keen on that lot, something about running away from them when a certain someone tried to press them into working for them.”

“And who is this certain someone?”

“Weeeell…”

“Oh please don’t tell me it is someone we know.”

“Yeah I think they are sorta, slightly… on Joelina’s wanted list. Or at least the list of things she would love for Christmas. But they haven’t really done anything wrong, so it’s not like they are actually wanted by the Inquisition. I bet you it’s got to do with that trip to the north. Good news, I’m getting fewer and fewer of those visions. Bad news, I ain’t got the ending yet.”

“I would think that you no longer getting visions of the Inquisition’s private matters counts as a very good thing indeed. But you do realize what will happen the moment archivist Paulin wakes up, yes?”

“Relax, I’m sure they will be gone long before then. They got a trade route and stuff to do after all. I bought a few things and claimed a favor for some food, oh and they did agree to the whole helping with a hunt or two thing. So that’s all sorted out.”

“I suppose that is a bright side yes, and it is not as if we must explain in detail how we acquired raw meats in the middle of winter. Though I fear Dakota may be a little… displeased. Nunuk as well for that matter.”

“Why? It’s fresh food. We could also just say a trader brought it. Not technically lying.”

“No, but highly unlikely. And the hunts for the year have concluded. We are not supposed to be doing any more hunting. Though it is not a situation I remember us being in ever before.”

“Better to ask forgiveness than permission then. Besides Nik and Elsa will be doing the hunting so technically it isn’t even us doing it.”

“Are you not planning on taking part?”

“I mean… maybe, we’ll see. That’s the tiniest dragon I ever saw. I’m not even sure he’ll take a second rider. Though she could fly herself I suppose. You okay with them taking me off like that?”

“Very good point,” Rachuck replied thoughtfully, Tom rather wishing he could take the words back in his mouth. “They could hold you for ransom, or abduct you. That would be a disaster.”

“Come on man, they are a pair of adventurous kids. Not mercs. Hell they won’t even take mercenary work, they made that very clear when I started talking favors. Young and dumb that’s all.”

“Yes, they do seem very young to be out this far, but it is far from unheard of. It has bit them though, the dragons young age and small size would be far better suited for delivering messages than goods. Their meager selection betrays that fact, least of all while having to carry her some of the way as well.”

“Welp, he ain’t leaving her that’s for sure. They are cursed to each other, part of why she can stand the cold. Though I ain’t got a clue how that might work.”

“Yes, you said so already. Very well, let them stay in the greeting hall for now. We shall share some of our provisions as promised, though try not to be too generous. I doubt they will be able to earn back what they are given.”

“Come now man, cut them some slack, it’s just a pair of kids who fucked up a bit. I’m sure they’ll learn in the future, and it sounds quite handy to have a debt or two with a white dragon. Even if he’s young enough Arch could carry him around. Oh that reminds me, gotta get some frost powder out of him.”

“Best of luck. I shall tend to the sleeping. Keep an eye on them, we do not want to risk any surprises.”

“Yeah yeah, brighten up old man, it’ll be fine. Maybe she’s a better sparring partner than me, who knows?”

“Okay, spit it out, where is she?”

“I uhm… I like, totally don’t know,” Nik tried, the dragon about as convincing a liar as Kiran with cookie crumbs around his snout. 

He had retreated almost all the way up into a dark dingy corner of the greeting hall under questioning, flickering lantern light making deep dark shadows behind the bright white dragon. 

“I ain’t buying that for a second. Where is she and why are those tarps not covered in a dusting of snow anymore?” Tom questioned, a little more firmly gesturing towards where Jarix’s press had been hidden away and covered for the winter.

“I told you man, I had a great nap and then she wasn’t here anymore.”

“She cannot go very far from you without it being a problem, you said so yourself. How far can she go?”

“Gee, I mean if I like, try and feel it in my gut you know, I’d say like… Definitely inside this keep somewhere, for sure…”

Tom just stared at the dragon doing his best to seem unimpressed. He doubted it would help though. From what he had learned of the two of them, there was no way in hell Nik would betray his accomplice and appealing to authority would do more harm than gain.

“So you come in here, I stick my neck out for you and this is how you repay me? By going through my stuff.”

“To be fair it’s sus as fuck,” the dragon finally admitted. 

“So you have been going through our things then? Is that why you are here? To spy on us? Or looking for a little blackmail?”

“Dude, no no no. I ain’t down for anything like that. She’s just… I mean come on what even is that thing?” He gestured at the covered up press. “Can’t leave something like that for us. We gotta know more now.”

“Well get her back here, before Rachuck finds her. He’ll have a fucking fit if he catches her snooping around.”

“I mean, she’s just doing a little exploring, it’s what we do man.”

‘At least we’re getting somewhere now.’

“Well you are exploring some stuff that belongs to someone who’s still kicking, not a dead abandoned ruin. Get her up here and maybe, just maybe I’ll answer some questions. And if she sticks her head in the wrong thing around here she’s going home in a sack.”

“You’re gonna kill her just for having a rummage around? Duude!” the dragon replied with horror.

“No, but if she decides to mess around with a bomb, it sure as hell will.”

“Oh…. Ahr shit.”

“Indeed, among other things. So where did she go?”

“I uhm. I mean that way,” Nik finally yielded. “Towards the main gate leading outside.”

“And how in the fuck did she manage that? We didn’t open the gate.”

“Oh uhm, I just lifted it a little. Shoulder push, you know? She’s very good at getting through slippy spots.”

“And then what? The windows are barricaded. And she ain’t getting through the doors below. Not to mention the damn storm.”

“She is a very good climber, oh and she has a crowbar,” Nik replied, as if that explained away everything.

“Of course she does. Rachuck is gonna lose his shit I swear. Right, don’t call her just yet. MAYBE, maybe we can still get away with this. God fucking dammit.”

It wasn’t so much that Tom was afraid Rachuck might kick out their new guests, though he very well might. He just didn’t want his face rubbed in the fact their new guests managed to stay in line for no more than a couple hours. 

Besides, it was certainly what he would have done if given the chance. Heading back through the doors to the main hall and making sure to shut and bar the door behind him, he made his way down. He hurried at first then slowed to a sneak, rubber boot soles giving him an edge few dragonettes could hope for. 

It did not take very long before he heard the whir of either the lathe or mill turning on and he quickened his pace towards the workshop. As he made it to the door the machine once more fell silent, accompanied by a female cursing under her breath. Weighing his options Tom elected to put his ear to the door for now. To his knowledge there wasn’t anything inside more dangerous than the mill and lathe, and hopefully one thing coming alive would keep her from pressing any more buttons.

There was silence for a moment, as she likely listened for any approaching footsteps. Tom as well kept an ear out for the clack clack of Rachuck’s clawed and armored feet. But none came.

“Pheew, I don’t think they heard that. Right then, what is this thing?” It came from inside, Tom listening intently. “It spins… and it… I don’t know does something. Does it print runes maybe? Naaah, there isn’t any magic on it at all. Aside from that thing whatever it is… hmmmm. I wonder if-”

Fearing she might be about to ...

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