Free The Dragon Hunter and the Mage by V. R. Cardoso

me.” Aric paused. “He doesn’t like you either.”
    Doric laughed again. The laughter of a condemned man.
    “I bet your mother hates that rule.”
    “Yeah. We used to sleep in the same room, besides mum’s. But when I turned ten, the Emperor sent me away to the servant’s wing and forbade Fadan from seeing me.”
    “I see,” Doric said with a nod.
    There was an awkward silence and Aric shifted his weight uncomfortably.
    Doric felt like an idiot. He couldn’t waste their time together, he had to say something.
    “What about lessons? Do you have lessons?”
    Stupid question….
    “Yes,” Aric replied. “I have lessons about everything. I share Fadan’s tutors. Except weapons. The Emperor doesn’t let me learn how to fight.”
    “Oh, I almost forgot!” Doric said. “I brought you something.” He smiled and walked to a chest.
    The Captain unsheathed half of his sword.
    “Easy…” Doric told him. He removed a small packet and a large parcel from the chest and showed it to the Captain.
    “Half your time is up,” the Captain said after deciding the objects were harmless. Then sheathed his sword again.
    Doric knelt in front of his son with the two packages in his hands.
    “This is for you.” He untied the parcel and revealed a magnificent cuirass. “It’s made of Dragon scales and reinforced with Glowstone. You won’t find any Mage to enchant the Glowstone shards anymore, but still, no sword or spear can go through armor like this. It’s rarer and more valuable than a barrel of Runium.” He smiled, proudly. “But it’s not illegal, don’t worry.”
    Aric’s eyes were glistening. The scales were dark, and each one was the size of Aric’s palm. Beneath them, where they overlapped each other, shone the teal hue of the Glowstone shards, as if an ice storm was brewing inside.
    “It has been in the family for decades,” Doric said. “Do you like it?”
    “Very much,” Aric replied without taking his eyes from the gift. “But, I can’t have any weapons training….”
    Doric shrugged. “It’s armor. It works just the same with or without training.” He indicated the Captain watching them from the door. “Do you think Legionaries would carry so much of it if it was hard to use?”
    Aric laughed. The Captain ignored them.
    “Tell me,” Doric said, “do you usually see your mother?”
    Aric told him, yes.
    “Then please, give this to her.” He handed the small packet to his son. “The Emperor has nothing to worry about.” This time, he was addressing the Captain. “It’s not a gift. It’s something that used to belong to the Empress.”
    Aric peeked inside. It was a small silver necklace with a very thin, oblong jewel that was almost as long as a finger.
    “Tell her I still don’t remember asking her to take it off. She will understand.”
    The Captain gave one step into the room. “Time is almost up. Say your goodbyes.”
    Doric exhaled loudly.
    Already?
    “Do you want to ask any questions?” he asked Aric. “Is there anything you would like to know?”
    “Do we have a house?”
    Doric was not expecting that.
    “Y e‒ …Yes. We have a house in Fausta. It’s like a farm, but with a palace. It’s big and… and we have lots of animals. Horses, for example.”
    The Captain grabbed the hourglass. “Time is up. Let’s go.”
    “Can I go live with you one day?” Aric asked.
    Doric felt tears growing in his eyes.
    “I’ll be sixteen next year. Maybe the Emperor will let me.”
    The Captain’s steel gauntlet closed around Aric’s arm.
    “Yes, maybe he will.”
    “Goodbye, dad.”
    “Goodbye, son.”
    The door slammed shut, just in time so Aric couldn’t see a tear run down his father’s face.
     

    Only when the door opened did Doric realize he had heard someone knocking.
    “Is everything alright, my Lord?” the Sergeant asked.
    “He doesn’t remember our home…” Doric said, staring at the floor.
    The Sergeant had a little trouble answering. “ I‒ It must be