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Red Ladies

It had been three days since Migus and Challick had left the children of Anash at the Fire River Tavern. Two Red Ladies were traveling with them as was ordered by the Council of Dragons.

Migus had seen Red Ladies all the time at the lair, but neither he nor Challick had ever spent much time with any of them. The two ladies never carried a pack or anything else except what they could carry under their robes. No matter the weather, they always kept their hoods over their heads. Yet whenever they needed something, they seemed to already have it.

Migus and Challick had expected to do some of their usual work when they traveled, like hunting fresh game for a good hot meal or spending time over dried sticks getting the fire started, but the ladies took care of that.

On that third evening the two men were sitting there a little bored watching the two ladies prepare a couple of rabbits. Challick’s curiosity grew strong, “Who are the Red Ladies?”

He asked this of Migus, but one of the red ladies answered, “To be a Red Lady is to live in secret.”

The other completed the statement, “To not be a Red Lady is not to ask.”

Migus laughed out loud as he saw the look on Challick’s face. Then with a smile, “I’ve heard the Red Ladies say that ever since I and my Tonnagell came to live at the lair and they always do it like that. One says one part and another says the other part.”

Challick liked hearing Migus laugh, even at his own expense. It reminded him of the days back when Migus was his guard and he was sneaking gold back to bribe the generals of the Dryads. He remembered well the first night he met Migus. It was also the first time that he ever saw Monorra. His heart had skipped a beat when she guided the children in to sit upon that rock at the far side of the clearing. Migus was standing morosely beside him hiding in the bushes by a large tree. Anash had asked them to meet there and watch before they left. That was also the first time that either of them had seen a duel between Anash and Avris. It had been fascinating to watch them.