Dragon Hunting is not a Holiday

Sir Egan rode a sturdy destrier, not unlike Roderic's own, and was dressed in light armor, also not unlike Roderic's own. His dark hair was held back by a leather thong and his boots, while of fine quality, were appropriately work-scuffed. Still, there was something that bothered Roderic about Egan as they rode north from the king's city.

Perhaps it was the spectacles. They were a delicate contraption of silver and glass that sat on the end of Egan's nose and were perpetually in danger of falling off. Roderic was finding he had very strong opinions about them. Spectacles were for spindly old shopkeeps or scholars, not for men who would be functionally useless in battle once they inevitably fell and shattered, leaving any companion that man might have responsible for protecting him. Spectacles. Roderic was not impressed.

Egan seemed oblivious to Roderic's brooding thoughts and smiled as they rode. "This is lovely weather," he said with apparent satisfaction. "I've been cooped up in the castle too long. I'm not at all sorry for the chance to be out and about, even if it is on a wild goose chase." He grinned over at Roderic.

Roderic scowled. "What do you mean, 'wild goose chase?'"

Egan shrugged. "There hasn't been a dragon sighted anywhere near here in over a century, and there's no reason for that to have changed. Things have to be pretty drastic to get a creature like a dragon to alter its habits." Egan smiled again, glancing over at Roderic. "I'm not sorry for the chance to do a bit of hunting, though. Maybe we'll even have time for some fishing."

"You hunt?" Roderic cast another dubious glance at the spectacles.

Egan nodded. "Quite well, and there should be plenty chance for it."

"Well, I wouldn't get too excited over the prospect. Those farmers saw a dragon, and it's our duty to kill it."

Egan frowned lightly. "I'm telling you, it's not a dragon. The farmers may have seen something, but it definitely wasn't a giant, flying, fire-breathing lizard."

Roderic frowned back at him. "Seems like something that would be difficult to mistake to me."

"Well, they must have, because there is no dragon terrorizing the northern province."

"Why are you so sure about that?"

"Because! It makes no sense. I-- we would have heard something about it before now." Egan's expression matched Roderic's now.

"There is a dragon," said Roderic. "And I am going to kill it." And the bards could sing the tale of Sir Roderic and the Dragon. No one wanted to hear the tale of That Time Sir Egan Went Fishing.

"There is no dragon," insisted Egan.

"We'll see."