The Last Dragon Rider (Book 1 of Rider Series)

Chapter 3

I watched them until they were out of sight before starting to finish up my business. Time was running by me, and I was anxious to get out of the gates and into the Forbidden Forest before my "friends" were switched from their posts.

"Hello, Marini," someone said from behind me, causing me to turn around, quickly, and place my hand into my basket. A male, someone that I cared about, smiled amused, causing me to relax. He noticed my hand in the basket and raised an eyebrow before looking back up at me. "Dagger?" he asked, softly, causing me to nod. He shook his head and chuckled. "Only you," he teased.

I smiled at the older male and walked past him and into the building that I was sure he had exited from. Sparrow's Mill was the name of it, and it was as musty as it sounded, but it was a good bar for those that didn't have that much money. "Well, you were the one that trained me," I said, over my shoulder, causing the older male to snort. "It's your fault, Jonah." I shook my head and tsked. "I was such a good girl before I met you. I have no idea what had happened."

The male, Jonah, snorted, and walked to my side. He patted my shoulder before making his way upfront. His brown hair was tied on the back of his head with the braid that I had made for him from a deer. He shrugged his shoulder and smirked down at me, causing me to roll my eyes. "Is not," he said, teasingly. He pushed open the beaded curtain and waited for me to step through. "And you were never a good girl."

I bit back a retort looked around the musky room to see that most of the men that I had met during my eighteen years were mostly here. I nodded to those that gave me a friendly nod but didn't make any conversation with them because it wasn't a part of my "job". "What is with the meeting?" I asked, following Jonah again to one of the "private" rooms.

Jonah sat down and moved a hand through his hair. Conflict filled his eyes, and I could tell that he was hiding something from me. "Just checking up on you," he said, causing me to raise an eyebrow. "That was some show. I thought you were going to drop your basket and punch her."

I shrugged, not really surprised that he had seen the whole thing with the princess. I set the heavy basket down on the floor beside the chair before sitting down in that chair. My hands were placed in my lap, and I sat the way that my mother had taught me as a "proper" lady. "I was about to," I replied, honestly, "but, then my secret would be out if I dropped the basket."

Jonah leaned forward and looked at my basket with interest. He knew that I had different items in my basket, most of them illegal for a "female" to carry. "What you got in there now?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Anything for me?" Excitement filled his voice because I did sometimes have something for him. Unfortunately, today was not his day, so he pouted when I shook my head no.

I smirked and moved the flowers and blankets to show him multiple weapons as well as the stuff I had used to help Martha fix her leaky roof. "Sheamus needed some blades sharpened and tested," I said, causing him to nod. "I will do that when I am out."

Jonah nodded his head and leaned back in his seat. He raised an eyebrow and studied me, causing me to feel somewhat uncomfortable. He had this look about him that said he knew something that I didn't, and he wished what he knew wasn't true. "Are you going to get me my rabbits?" he asked, causing me to nod.

I placed the blankets and flowers back over the weapons because I knew that if I didn't do then, then I would probably forget. "Don't I always?" I asked, causing him to chuckle and nod his head. "And, don't worry, I will be careful. I know what will happen if I don't." I hid a shudder because I knew that if I was caught killing the "King's" deers or rabbits, then I was better off dead. I knew that I would not be able to survive a cell block because the outdoors called me.

It was against the orders of the king for people to stay outside of the wall and in the Forbidden Forest at night. The reason being was because of the poachers that hunted the deer and rabbits, but I knew that there was something bigger out there that they didn't want anyone to find out.

I, however, didn't listen to the rules of staying inside the kingdom some night. It wasn't my fault to be disobeying orders, but in some ways, I was the only person that could feed the multitudes of poor people that the king had forgotten.

Jonah nodded his head, again, his face grave. "Be careful out there tonight," he said, causing me to nod. "There are some things..." He shook his head and sighed, licking his lips. "There are some things..." He cleared his throat, a pained look on his face.

I nodded my head and placed my hand on his, stopping him from talking. "I know," I said, even though I didn't. I didn't know what else was out there, and I couldn't help but wonder if it would harm me in the process.

I was grateful for Jonah because he was the one that helped me become the female that I was today. I was like his child, and he made sure to keep an eye on me and my family that was missing a male figure.

"So, how are your siblings?" he asked, changing the subject. He nodded when I shrugged, understanding that it meant they were the same as the last time we had met. "Your mother?"

"Tired," I replied, feeling sorry for her. "I am trying to take some of her load off of her but..." I shook my head and grimaced because it was really hard to do it.

"She is like you and is pretty stubborn," Jonah said, chuckling. He nodded his head and leaned back in his seat, scratching his beard. "Have you been helping her?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"To some extent," I replied. I glanced at the old clock that was in the room and pursed my lips when I saw the time. "I am sorry for cutting this meeting short, but I have to go." I stood up and ruffled my skirt out. "I still have to bring flowers to other females and then go home to put the stuff for this evening in my basket."

Jonah nodded his head and stood. He opened the door for me and bowed to me as if I was some respected person. "It is always a pleasure, Marini," he said, causing me to roll my eyes and curtsied. "Don't be a stranger."

I smiled and nodded my head. "I won't," I promised and left. I couldn't help but smirk because I did leave one of my flowers on the floor without his knowledge.

He did need to have some light in that dreary room after all...