“There weren’t always dragons in the Valley,” Brynhilda spoke up amidst the chatter of the youth gathered around her fire.
The old woman’s sudden interjection into their conversation surprised the youth. It wasn't odd for Brynhilda to be with them. The youth loved being at her house, especially when she makes a batch of her legendary honey crunch buns. Brynhilda loves having them around and enjoys listening to the youth talk about the events in their life and the latest drama from their schooling. Tonight, she had something to say.
“But Grandma, that’s not what they told us in history class. During the Great Expansion, a small colony of dragons and humans left Hallador, settling here for the fertile land.” Leila, Brynhilda’s granddaughter, responded to the statement.
“Well, my sweet intelligent Leila, schools have most of it right, although they don’t have the full story,” Brynhilda said. “Few know the genuine history of Eknor. It began as a human settlement long before the dragons and humans from Hallador settled here.”
“Why only a human settlement?” Lili asked. “Did they dislike the dragons? How did they even build their town without the help of dragons?” Lili, Leila’s twin sister, loved hearing her grandmother’s stories.
“Ahh, yes, I supposed that sounds kind of odd, but Eknor’s founding is not as simple as history would like us to believe,” Brynhilda said.
Ella spoke up. “Wait, wait, wait, are you telling me that Eknor has some sort of dark sordid past? Please tell me that is true! That would be the most exciting thing I’ve learned all school year!” Leila’s best friend, Ella, reacted in line with her personality. She would love nothing more than learning Eknor harbored long lost secrets. She yearned for any potential adventure.
Leaning back in her wicker woven chair, Brynhilda smiled as she reflected on the past. “Ahhh, the story of Eknor. Its founding… well… is a love story.”
“Oh, puke, you can’t be serious,” Ella said while the others laughed at her.
Enok, Ella’s neighbor, and friend of the group spoke up, “Jabber mouth, can you be patient enough for one second and let Leila’s grandmother tell her story?” He felt like he could calm Ella down in any social situation. Enok turned back to Brynhilda. “You were saying Eknor’s founding is a love story, right?”
Brynhilda smiled and chuckled. “Well, not a love story you would think it is. It started that way, but it developed into a more meaningful love.” Ella rolled her eyes. Brynhilda looked at Ella with a smile. “… of course, any good love story requires conflict. This time, it was the legend of the Demon Dragon.”
“Okay, I’m back in! Demon Dragon sounds fascinating,” Ella said. “Everyone shut your mouths. Brynhilda has the floor. I want to hear about the Demon Dragon!”
“You’re the only one talking, Ella!” Torben couldn’t resist pointing out.
“Shut your face,” Ella said with a smile.
“But…”
“Seriously, shut your face. I’m trying to listen!” Ella gave Torben a quick elbow jab. Enok’s best friend Torben never failed to provide humor to their friend group. Not as bold as Ella, although his quick-witted drive for attention loved pointing out Ella’s flaws.
The group chuckled a bit and turned their attention to Brynhilda.
“Wait, was it a demon that looked like a dragon, or a dragon that looked like a demon?” Ella asked. Everyone groaned, hoping to get to the story. “Okay, okay, I’m listening!”
Brynhilda smiled at the bold personality. “Like I said, Eknor’s founding began as a love story. Once upon a time, there lived a noble warrior. Loyal, honest, brave, courageous. He served under a great queen, also a talented warrior that did not hesitate to lead her people; fighting alongside them through the worst of it. Both were talented and very skilled. They spent a lifetime fighting for freedom and truth. They became close trusted friends and eventually became victorious, bringing peace to their people and their land.”
“Their success did not come without tragedy. He lost his family in an attack on his home village, and she lost her king through the course of the war. These emotional scars remained long after the founding of Hallador. An unfortunate consequence of evil dragons who lost sight of their humanity. Hallador was a kingdom founded in peace and togetherness, dragons and humans working together. They didn’t want those emotional scars to surface and affect those that worked so hard to establish the peace that grew within Hallador.”
“Together, the elite warrior and noble queen left Hallador, traveling far, far away to start a life together. A life of solitude and healing. Traveling northward into the forgotten territory, they found a cozy valley, a place void of any population. They settled there in a remote location, nestled within the great northern mountains.”
Brynhilda smiled, thinking about that moment. “Image the peace of starting a new life, becoming one with nature!” She sighed, feeling the relief alongside her story. “They found a place of peace where their wounds could heal.”
“Naturally,” she smiled with a slight chuckle, “they started a family. Soon, other close friends from Hallador joined them in their remote location. They sought the healing of nature. Those families grew, and then those children had families and the settlement grew and grew, calling their location Eknor.”
“They grew plentiful crops, had many festivities and dancing, and as a community, they stayed active. Now, despite it being a time of peace, the queen and her husband continued to teach their families and residents the skills of combat. The life of a warrior ran through their veins. By training their children from a young age, they knew they could teach them the sacred responsibility that came with learning and perfecting combat skills. They would only use this knowledge and ability for peace and for self-defense should a greater evil ever try to disrupt what they established. They trained and taught honor, respect, empathy alongside sword play, shield defense, and bow techniques. Their little village became a village of warriors.”
“Okay, that sounds like the most amazing village ever!” Ella stated. She dreamed of becoming a great warrior for the kingdom. The blood of a fighter ran through her veins.
“Oh, it was,” Brynhilda said. “It was a unique settlement only populated by humans, unlike other colonies of dragons and humans. Even without the strength and industry of dragons, they built a simple life. They thrived in a peaceful nook nestled in the mountains of nowhere. They had no contact with civilization. But change cannot be avoided.”
“During the Great Expansion, explorers ventured out from Hallador in all directions. Inevitably, civilization discovered the fertile soil of the valley and the many places to settle with access to fresh water and other natural resources. Eventually, a small colony of dragons and humans settled the different locations throughout the larger valley. Mostly farmers, some hunters and trappers and several builders, business people and dragons looking for new opportunities in an ever-expanding kingdom. Its picturesque landscape became an immediate draw to the larger world.”
“The settlement of Eknor decided it would be best to remain to themselves, nestled away deep in their own canyon nook, yet they would maintain open lines of communication and welcome trade with the other colonies and settlements. The settlers of Eknor knew this growth and change would happen. Though only a human settlement, they made plans to welcome any dragons that might want to join them in their remote location. As more and more settlers arrived, most of them stayed with the lower colony.”
“Then, according to one account, the most unexpected event took place, creating a chain reaction of events that would forever change the settlement. While exploring for resources in the northern mountains, a young explorer found treasure. He claimed the valley over the mountain ridge was filled with caves where he found gold and jewels.
“Was it the Valley of Myrr?” Lili asked.
“It wasn't called that then, but it’s the same area,” Brynhilda said.
“Ahh, this is when the stories and rumors about the cursed valley started,” Leila said, logically connecting their history with lore.
“Hey, shhh, we are trying to get to the Demon Dragon!” Ella said.
Brynhilda continued her story. “Well, stories spread throughout the lower settlement as residents formed alliances to travel into the mountains and find their own treasure, with dreams of fame and fortune. The ‘idea’ of treasure soon became more corrupting than the treasure itself. Many residents got lost venturing into the difficult terrain of the Valley. Expeditions faced terrible accidents and tragedies. Quarrels formed between the residents, many between humans and dragons, since the dragons possessed the advantage of flight. Dragons easily claimed their treasure while humans took days venturing into the Valley.”
“The villagers of Eknor knew of the stories, although they didn’t value treasure. They founded their village on peace and healing, which is all they wanted. It became a concern for the Eknorians, wondering if the quarreling and corruption would ever subside. The fervor of the treasure seemed to grow with every passing moon cycle.”
“But the Valley did not like their presence.”
“As the stories of fame and fortune spread, so did stories of horrific attacks from wild beasts and creatures. The valley became infested with trolls and large Winged Sawtails, making flight around the mountains impossible.”
“There was a time without Sawtails?” Enok asked.
“According to the record,” Brynhilda said.
“How nice would that be!” Enok’s family constantly battled the Winged Sawtails in the area, trying to keep their livestock safe.
“Hold up,” Ella said. “Isn’t that convenient? As soon as people find treasure, the valley gets infested with giant Sawtails? It’s your story and all, but don’t you think it’s, well, too coincidental?”
“Haha, yes, and thank you for noticing Ella, although this isn’t my story,” Brynhilda said, throwing her hands up. “You can ask my ancestors. They made the record. In fact, the settlers in Eknor reacted much like you. It surprised them to witness this sudden burst of misfortune from nature’s fury. They lived for years with no similar incidents. It surprised them that even when people and dragons stopped venturing into the valley, the attacks continued moving from the mountains into their colony. Stories spread of Winged Sawtails swooping down, and plucking humans, dragons, and livestock alike right from the fields within their little settlement.” Brynhilda gave a large sweeping motion of her hand, plucking something up off the ground.
“The settlers of Eknor felt grateful their little village did not face the same offenses, yet they did not stand idly by. They visited the lower settlement frequently to help consult with and build up the settlement’s defenses. Oh, they were tense times for sure, but together, they made a difference. The desperate adventures for treasure ended, people focused on building up their settlement. Life seemed to return to normal. Until a string of strange disappearances plagued the community.”
“Please tell me…”
“Yes Ella, it was the Demon Dragon!”
“Yes! Now we are getting to the good part!” Ella’s eyes widened with excitement.
“Unless you are the villagers, then it’s the bad part,” Torben slipped in for a quick laugh from the group.
Brynhilda continued her story. “Oh yes, it was a terrible time indeed. Like I said, this is not my story. If it were, I would give it a happy ending, although, the legend of the Demon Dragon, well, I apologize, but the story doesn’t end. I wish I could tell you they fought the evil, and won, but I can’t. Humans and dragons alike went missing. At first one person went missing, then another, then several. Humans and dragons went missing during the middle of the day! The terror that spread throughout the colony grew worse than the creature itself.”
“The Demon Dragon moved like a phantom. It seemed to come out of nowhere. Unlike a wild beast, this creature attacked from the shadows of darkness, quiet and stealthy, like a snake sneaking up on its prey. This made it impossible to fight face to face like any normal wild animal. As much as they tried to track it, lure it, trap it, people continued to go missing. In their minds, it was a veritable demon. Those that claim to have seen the creature described it as a shadow itself, surrounded in darkness with blood red markings and soulless glowing eyes. It had long legs and wings to creep through the trees and forests around the village. Some claim with one look, it could paralyze you, like a venomous serpent poisons its prey before it consumes it.”
“Many claim the demon dragon was a dragon that somehow harnessed evil powers, others claimed it to be a mutated flying creature not yet identified. Nobody figured out what it was. They only recorded that humans and dragons went missing in the lower colony.”
“Then, on one fateful day, when the leaders of Eknor came for a visit to the lower colony, they found the streets empty. Homes left deserted. The village appeared abandoned. Fearing the worst, they began a quick search. They found a group of humans and dragons gathered in the town hall, burdened with immense fear. Over the last several days, more than half of their village went missing. Overcome with the weight of fear, the last remaining colonists banded together hoping to stay alive.”
“This surprised the Eknorians. Their hearts hurt for the lower colony, yet they knew that people just didn’t vanish. They were a people of logic and reasoning and believed that which we cannot understand can eventually be explained. They did their best to help calm the remaining colonists and committed to help figure out what had happened. As the Eknorians searched for a reason, the mystery only grew deeper. The inhabitants simply vanished. No signs of a fight, no evidence they left on their own free will. Sometimes, residents still had food on their table.”
“Then, while examining one of the empty homes, the Eknorian leader’s young son made a comment. He said, ‘well, at least it looks like there’s more room for us Eknorians.’ It was an honest misunderstanding coming from a young warrior still in training. The comment stressed a growing concern the leader felt in the development of Eknor. She knew when a society lives in isolation from others, it can focus, grow and become great. Although inevitably, with greatness, comes the possibility to feel ‘greater than…’ another individual or group. She knew their little village of Eknor needed to change its course.”
“And this is my favorite part. Listen up, it’s important.” Brynhilda made sure the youths listened.
“She brought her son in close and asked him how he would feel if one day he woke up and she was gone. He responded he would be very sad. She taught him that just because the event didn’t happen to them, they should still feel for others as if it did.”
“This is when the leader of Eknor stated one of their founding principles.” Brynhilda motioned to listen.
“Peace does not come from avoiding conflict or hiding from it. Peace comes from resolving conflict through understanding and empathy. True peace comes when we learn to see the world as a whole. Now I’m sure the young warrior felt sheepish for his unlearned comment, but his mother saw the opportunity to teach, and to lead with a principle that would become the future of Eknor.”
“The leaders of Eknor returned to the colonists and said they could not explain what happened, yet they believed the people did not leave by choice. If something physically removed people from their village, then the people could physically fight that something. The only option was to fight back.”
“‘We are only simple farmers and ranchers. We are not warriors,’ the villagers pleaded. The Eknorians responded, ‘We are, and we will commit to you this day, that we will stay with you until your colony can live in peace. Every resident of Eknor will join this colony, and together we will fight. Together we will take a stand, and your town will have the peace it deserves!’”
“The Eknorians did not hesitate. Their village moved in as quickly as they could, while the Eknorian leadership strategized and built defenses. All non-warrior villagers made a base camp within their main town hall, relying on their numbers to keep a safe watch over one another. They ate together, they planned their day together, and together they all slept in the great hall to stay safe. They remained stronger together.”
“The Demon Dragon did not like the defiance of the villagers. The mountains came alive with wild creatures attacking day and night. Even if the Demon Dragon didn’t attack every night, the villagers could hear it flying around, crawling through the trees surrounding their village like a shark circling its prey. The Eknorians refused to fall into fear. They establish sleep cycles to keep a constant watch over the village.”
“The Eknorians knew the Demon Dragon waited for its opportunity to attack. This terrorization continued for days and weeks on end. Their supplies ran short. Soon they would have no food, and venturing outside of their fortifications to gather supplies became incredibly dangerous.”
“One fateful night, after weeks of exhaustion, the guards reached a breaking point. They tried to support themselves with their spears or prop themselves up, supported by the walls they leaned on. No matter what they did, they could not keep their eyes open. The Demon Dragon saw its chance.”
Swooping down into a side street, you could hear the growling and gurgling breath. You could hear the pounding of each step it took, its leathery wings and scales making a slight shuffle noise, and its slithering tail as it pushed it along. Closer and closer, it crawled to the town hall doors.
“REEAAAAACCCCXXXXSSSSSSSssssszzzzhhhhaahh,” the youth all jumped at Brynhilda’s loud screeching yell. “The creature let out the most hideous shreiking roar and burst down the town hall doors!”
“The guards leapt from their false slumber, ready to attack. Another team of warriors had replaced the sleeping townsfolk that night and charged from within to attack. A vicious battle erupted; the Eknorian warriors surrounded the Demon Dragon. It fought like a wild creature, as if an evil spirit possessed it. The Eknorians fought back through skilled and planned attacks. They gained an advantage over the Demon Dragon, and the vile creature knew it.”
“Heavily injured, the Demon Dragon made one last attack, throwing a group of Eknorians off-guard, and it leapt into the air with a limp in its flight and flew away. The Eknorians hurled their spears and shot their arrows, yet the beast did not fall. Even though they heavily wounded the creature, it escaped, never to be seen again.”
“Many believed that it died from its wounds. Many believed it became an evil spirit that haunts the valley in the northern mountains. The Eknorians stayed with the colony to help build up defenses and support them in case the Demon Dragon returned. But it never did. The colony grew, and grew and grew, and that is the Eknor we live in today.”
“That was amazing!” Ella said. “the part where the guards faked being asleep, you got me, then the battle, and the—” the youth erupted into conversation about their favorite parts, and how they jumped when Brynhilda let out her screech. The youth loved every minute.
“Thanks grandma, everyone loves your stories!” Leila said.
Brynhilda reached over to give her granddaughter a hug with one of her arms. “Well, I love telling them. Although they’re more than just stories. One day, when you can understand, I’ll show you their records.” Leila looked at her grandmother with an awkward glace. Brynhilda gave a simple kiss on the forehead of her granddaughter and turned to Enok as he spoke up.
“Is that where we get the legend of the Ruundyr?” Enok asked.
“No. It’s the same valley, but stories from the Valley of Myrr are based on other sightings and events that spawned their own lore of the Ruundyr. Most don’t know the legend of the Demon Dragon. I only know the story from my ancestors’ records. The villagers didn’t want to scare away new colonists and settlers. They recorded their stories and never talked about it again. It’s funny how our little Valley of Myrr has a way of conjuring all kinds of stories. Who knows what else it may have yet to share? That reminds me, the moral of the story!”
The youth reacted as if getting another school lesson.
“No, no, this is an excellent lesson to learn! You are such beautiful and strong young women and men. You’re young, you have so much life to live with plenty of adventures ahead of you. Always remember you are Eknorians, just like the leaders that founded this village, and just like those Eknorians, promise me, whatever you do, whoever you become, choose to fight for peace, hope and happiness. The world needs more of it.”
The youths smiled. They all felt like they could agree with such a noble goal.
“And whatever adventures you take, do not go venturing into that cursed Valley of Myrr. You don’t want to end up becoming another one of its ‘stories’,” Brynhilda said in a serious tone.
The youth responded to the shift in tone, listening to Brynhilda.
They held quiet for a moment, nodding their heads.
“Now I want to go in the Valley of Myrr!” Torben spoke up.
His friends all burst into laughter. “That’s such a Torben comment!” Enok said.
Torben replied, “C’mon, when someone tells you not to do something, you want to do that something!”
They all laughed again. Ella gave Torben a rare slap on the shoulders, showing she was all in on such an adventure.
The youth continued to laugh and chuckle, and once again continued their conversation about dreams of adventure, fame and fortune, courage, and glory. Brynhilda loved it. She loved their imagination, their sense of hope and wonder. She would do anything to keep them safe and their hopes alive.