Omnixius
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DKP 5-19 Her dragon
🕑 Added 2020-06-12 18:05:18 +0000 UTC
The column marched, making good progress as they wound down the dusty road. The weavers magic lightened the load and hastened their journey, allowing them to navigate hills and slopes with ease. The scouts hadn't seen anything for miles but small villages and rolling farms. It would appear the back of the raven guard was broken, and any surviving men too few in number to stand in their way. Any reinforcements they picked up now would likely be turned around to run back to Calathen. With any luck, they would make rapid gains and be around the mountains in three days.
Gersius walked near the supply wagons with his wives discussing the morning as they both shook their heads.
“She gave you her blessing?” Thayle asked.
“She did, I would not have been able to use the forge if she hadn’t,” he replied.
“And you saw her naked?” Lilly asked for the fifth time with a smile.
“Lilly, you don’t need to keep asking that,” Thayle said.
“Can I peek into your mind and see?” Lilly pressed.
“And I thought I was the one who was bad,” Thayle laughed.
Lilly shrugged as she walked along in her green traveling dress. “I think Sarah is pretty, don’t you?”
“Of course she is, but she isn’t a member of our family. It isn’t right to want to see her naked like that,” Thayle pointed out. Lilly smiled anyway as Thayle went back to the point. “And you think we should switch?”
Gersius ran his hand through his hair and let out a sigh. “I know it would make her happy.”
“And what will make you happy?” Thayle asked.
“I want to ride on Lilly,” he said, causing Lilly to smile wider.
“Then we need to tell her no, frankly I am a little offended she doesn’t want to carry me.”
Gersius expected that response and took her hand as they walked. “She didn’t say that. She said people would see the dragon I ride as the one with the most prestige, and that is very important to her.”
“Which means she sees me as the lesser partner,” Thayle said, looking away.
“I don’t think your lesser,” Lilly said. “And I would love to carry you.”
Thayle smiled and took Lilly’s hand as she let out a deep sigh. “I was looking forward to riding on Sarah,” she said. “Now, I feel like she doesn't want me there.”
“She never said that,” Gersius reiterated. “She only said people would see me as the dragon knight. I do all I can to make people aware you are also a dragon knight. You are no lesser partner in this endeavor, and I will not allow people to say so.”
“Gersius, there is no way to soften this blow. She wants you, not me.”
Gersius nodded and let out a groan. “I am telling her no. She offered to carry you. She needs to honor that.”
Thayle shook her head. “I would rather ride on the dragon that would be happy to carry me.” Lilly smiled again as Thayle squeezed her hand.
Gersius struggled not to get angry as he felt Thayle's pain over the bind. She wasn't deeply hurt, just disappointed, but that was more than enough to set his mind working. He understood why Sarah felt the way she did, but his wives did not. He could explain it to them, but it would be better if they heard it from Sarah herself.
“I will be right back,” he said and walked ahead.
“Where are you going?” Thayle asked.
“To talk to Sarah,” he replied as he moved up the line.
He found Sarah talking with Numidel as they walked near the front with Lengwin and the other leaders of Astikar. He walked right up to them and addressed her firmly. “I wish to speak with you.”.
Sarah turned and nodded, her eyes still glowing with red fire.
“Of course, what about?” she replied.
Gersius waived her and Numidel to walk ahead and put some distance between them and the column. Once they were far enough, he settled in and looked to them both.
“Is something wrong?” Sarah asked.
Gersius nodded. “Thayle is hurt that you want to carry me instead of her.”
“Why would she be hurt?” Sarah asked.
“Because she felt special when you chose her,” he said.
“Surely she must understand why I would rather carry you.”
“Wait,” Numidel interrupted. “Did you withdraw your offer to carry Lady Thayle?”
“I didn't withdraw my offer. I merely expressed my desire to carry Lord Gersius instead. I will happily carry Lady Thayle if the choice is not open to me. They are both dragon knights after all.”
“You can’t do things like that,” Numidel scolded. “Humans attach emotion to this sort of thing. You have likely hurt Lady Thayle’s feelings.”
“How am I supposed to know what will and won't hurt a humans feelings?” Sarah argued. “I was only being logical and choosing the rider with the most prestige.”
“You made an offer that brought great honor on Lady Thayle,” Numidel said. “If somebody offered you a great honor and then later said they would rather give it to another, how would you feel?”
Sarah looked away as she worked on the thought and then let out a low growl. “I would be insulted.”
“Exactly,” Numidel said. “You have insulted Lady Thayle.”
“Well, what am I to do about it now?” Sarah asked. “I didn't mean it as an insult; I will happily carry her.”
“You need to reassure Lady Thayle you wish to carry her.”
Sarah rolled her eyes as she muttered to herself. “Where is Lady Thayle?”
“Near the middle of the line walking with Lilly,” Gersius said.
Sarah nodded and looked skyward a moment before turning to Gersius. “Would it be too much trouble to have the wagon with my saddle pulled aside?”
“I could have it pulled into a field. Why?”
“I wish to carry you and your wives into the sky,” Sarah said.
Gersius nodded and tried to hide his smile as he went back down the line to make arrangements. As he arrived, his wives were anxious to hear what he had to say.
“Well?” Thayle asked.
“We are going to travel with Sarah,” he said.
“So, we're going upfront?”
Gersius smiled and shook his head. “No, we are going to fly. She wishes to carry all of us into the sky so that we can talk.”
“All of us?” Lilly asked.
Gersius nodded. “You get to fly on Sarah’s back.”
Lilly practically bounced with excitement as he moved on to order the wagon aside. It only took a dozen men to get the saddle out, the weavers having made everything lighter. Once it was down, Sarah arrived to stand behind it and change before putting it on.
She squatted as low as she could, and they used the rope ladder to climb up. Thayle sat in front with Lilly right behind her and Gersius in the rear. Her saddle had straps to tie their legs firmly, so they did as a precaution. Sarah turned her massive head about to regard them and make sure they were settled before spreading her gigantic wings.
Lilly was glowing over the bind as they soared up. She hugged Thayle tightly as Sarah took them higher and leveled out below the clouds. Gersius tried to look down, but Sarah's body was wider than Lilly's, and looking over the side was much harder. He watched as Sarah turned her head around to look directly at Thayle.
“I am told I have caused an insult,” Sarah said. “I must apologize for my actions. I did not understand that my needs would wound you.”
Thayle shook her head as she gazed up into Sarah’s blazing eyes. “You made me happy because you offered to carry me,” Thayle said. “I know it makes more sense for you to carry Gersius, but you choose me, and that made it special.”
Sarah nodded her head and beat the air a few times before leveling off. “I hope you will forgive me, I am a dragon, and I struggle to see it the same way you humans do. I suppose I am blinded by my need to be honored and recognized for my power.”
“Why are you so focused on being recognized?” Thayle said.
Sarah turned her head back, her long neck carrying her a significant distance away.
“Dragons do not easily humble themselves. Even for one of us to worship a divine is a great act of humility. I bowed my head to Astikar and have served him most of my life. When the curse came, I resisted it for a short time. In that time, I was told to flee to the temple in the mountains. I was promised honor and glory in exchange for imprisoning myself within. Astikar told me that a day would come when a hero would restore Balisha, and then the healing could begin. I would be called to be his champion when that hero came, and I would be first to this hero's side.”
“But you weren’t first,” Thayle said.
Sarah shook her head and let out a long sigh that smelled of smoke. “The first hero came and went, he visited the temple and went before Balisha, but went on to win his war without me, and only when the empire was finally at peace did he settle down to restore Balisha’s faith. It fell apart when he was assassinated, but even if he had lived and set me free, the chance at honor and glory was gone.
“And you were still trapped in that temple,” Thayle added.
“Yes, Thankfully, when you three arrived, you went directly to Balisha and set about restoring her faith. You have enabled Numidel, and I to participate instead of sitting in our prison. However, I still wasn't called first. Gersius arrived with a dragon of his own, and went on to gather a second before I joined you. Even Numidel proved to be of more use to you than me. He gave you the saddle, the gold, and set you on your task. What have I done for you? What purpose do I serve in this endeavor? I was supposed to be first, but instead, I am last.”
“You never got your promised reward,” Thayle said with a nod. “Just like Gersius never got his.”
“Astikar doesn’t seem to care what happens to his followers,” Lilly said.
“Please do not speak ill of my god,” Sarah said. “I know not what his reasons are, but I trust he has done what is best. I will endeavor to serve him despite it.”
“Which only shows how much you deserve it,” Gersius said. “Despite what has happened, you still honor his name. I fell and turned my back on him, then went before him to hurl accusations. I understand why he took my reward from me, but you never fell or turned away. You deserve the reward he promised you.”
“Be that as it may, my petty nature has driven me to seek to reclaim the glory I felt I lost. In my heart, I knew I would be the dragon that carried the dragon knight. When I discovered you did not need me, my heart broke, but then I learned there were two of you. In my haste, I offered my services to you, Lady Thayle, eager to capture some measure of honor and glory.”
“But the greater honor will go to Lilly,” Thayle said.
Sarah shook her massive head and let out a rumbling sigh. “I believed that too, even up until minutes ago. Numidel made me see what a mistake I was making. You are a dragon knight just as he is, and your name will be praised along with his. I made a poor judgment by assuming he would always be seen as the greater, and thus I should be the dragon at his side.”
“Sarah,” Thayle began. “Everybody sees him as the head of this army and the dragon knight. Let's be honest between ourselves and admit that Lilly will get more praise for carrying him.”
“Indeed,” Sarah replied. “And my foolish heart is jealous of that fact.”
“I understand; you are the greater dragon, you should carry the greater dragon knight,” Thayle said as she looked down. “I will ride on Lilly, and you can carry Gersius.”
“Well then,” Sarah began. “Now that all of our understandings are laid bare, and you have set me free, I can now choose more carefully.” She paused and brought her head in close so that Thayle could look into her blazing eyes. “I choose you because I truly want you to be my rider.”
Thayle looked up and met her gaze once more. She was amazed to see Sarah’s aura flash with white with the truth. “But you should carry Gersius,” Thayle insisted.
“If you make me beg you, I will become very cross.”
Thayle let out a sigh, as her heart warmed to know mighty Sarah would beg her. “I accept,” she said with a smile.
“Good, now as my dragon knight, what would you like from me?”
Thayle smiled as Lilly hugged her close and whispered in her ear. She nodded her head and looked up to Sarah, who still watched them with those blazing eyes.
“Lilly wants to know how fast you can fly,” Thayle said. “Can you show us?”
Sarah turned her head back and spread her wings wide. “I can show, but you had better hold on.” She beat the air fiercely as she carried them higher, her speed growing beyond anything Lilly had ever done. The wind whistled past, causing hair to fly back as Sarah pressed on, gaining more speed by the second.
“She is much faster than me!” Lilly cried.
“She is almost too fast,” Gersius said. “No wonder her saddle has straps to tie our legs down.”
She pushed on for several minutes tearing through the sky at incredible speed. Sarah then banked hard, causing them to lean as she twisted around and began to slow. “Was that fast enough?” she asked.
Thayle nodded a pleased smile on her face. “That was invigorating.”
“I should hope so,” Sarah replied and struggled with a thought. After working with Gersius on the forge and the argument that ensued, she learned something. Lilly offered them more than just raw power and the prestige of a dragon. She humbled herself to them and allowed them to refer to her as theirs. Sarah knew deep down that to understand why she needed to make a similar sacrifice. With all the courage she could muster, she turned her head back and looked down. “I am told by Lord Gersius that he refers to Lady Lilly as his dragon. I would like you to do the same with me.”
“Are you sure?” Thayle asked with wide eyes. “I would never do anything to portray you were second to me.”
“Lady Lilly is his dragon, and she suffers no harm or loss of station. It would honor me greatly if you would tell others that I am your dragon,” Sarah replied.
Thayle smiled and looked out over the mass of red scales sparkling in the sunlight. “So be it. From now on, you are my dragon.”
“Good, I will give you my blessing as well. I want you to share in all I can offer you.” Just saying that made her tense up, and hearing Thayle acknowledge she was her dragon caused something inside to stir.
Thayle smiled and rubbed at Sarah's shoulder. “If you're going to be my dragon, I want you close at hand. You should walk with us from now on.”
“I will endeavor to be at your side, my dragon knight,” Sarah said.
Thayle looked back with a pleased smile. “I have my very own fire dragon.”
“I am pleased this ended well,” Gersius said. “We should go back to the column now.”
“I am sorry, Lord Gersius,” Sarah replied. “But, I will wait until my dragon knight decides.”
Thayle looked at Gersius as he smiled back and gave her a nod. She turned to Sarah and leaned into Lilly’s chest. “I feel like flying some more. Take us above the clouds.”
Sarah nodded and carried them up until she was just above the clouds; her feet skimming the surface. They flew in a lazy circle around the army, drifting between the clouds as Thayle enjoyed her new dragon.
Eventually, Sarah landed, but only to let Gersius and Lilly off. Sarah walked behind the column a safe distance from the horses to avoid spooking them. Shadros walked along ahead of them, looking back frequently as if unable to believe what he was seeing. Thayle rode on her back, talking to her about how she met Gersius and Lilly, and what motivated her to follow them. She spent a good deal of time describing the condition Gersius was in when Lilly carried him out of the city. This brought up a question that had nagged at her ever since.
“Do dragons heal quickly?”
Sarah nodded and looked back. “I would say we heal much faster than you humans do. A wound that might take you a week to heal would take a dragon two days. Why do you ask?”
“Lilly healed so much faster than I expected, and whenever she was near Gersius, he healed just as quickly. I knew her light was going to him, but I never expected it to carry her power with it.”
“Nor did I,” Sarah admitted. “Honestly, I have not known of such a thing until I met you and your family. This must be another magic of the bind, the same way you share her gifts without expressly having her blessing.”
“Do you think Lilly’s wings would have healed over time?” Thayle asked.
Sarah thought about it a moment and then shook her head. “We dragons can heal a broken wing by nesting on our hoard and using its power, but as I understand it, Lilly's hoard was already gone, and she was very near to death. That Gersius brought her back from such terrible wounds is a testament to the strength of his faith.”
“So if she had her hoard, she could have healed them?”
“Maybe,” Sarah said. “She would have to sleep on it for a lengthy period of time while drawing on the power slowly to focus on her wings. From the description I have of the state of her wings, she would have been asleep for over a hundred years. Much longer once they were cut off.”
“There is no way to do it faster?” Thayle asked.
“There is, but you pay a price most dragons are not willing even to consider. You have to absorb the metal completely, causing it to collapse into dust as it's power is consumed in a great torrent.”
“Why didn’t Lilly do that with Numidel’s coins?” Thayle wondered.
“Because she has no idea she can,” Sarah said. “I have been teaching her, and I am appalled by how little she knows of her strength. Also, I suspect Numidel didn't give her near enough metal to heal her wings. Only a divine could have accomplished the task with so little to draw on.”
“You are aware of what Lilly did with the gold?” Thayle asked.
“She told me everything and begged me not to say anything to him,” Sarah said with a shake of her head. “That a dragon chose to honor a human before restoring her wings leaves me confused.”
“She loves him,” Thayle said.
“I don’t understand what that means,” Sarah replied
“Do you want to know?” Thayle asked.
Sarah took a deep breath. “I have been thinking about it,” she admitted. “But I am not yet ready to speak on the subject.” She looked up just in time to see Lilly running back down the line and quickly ended the topic.
“Word is spreading,” Lilly said as she climbed up the ladder to sit behind Thayle.
“Word about what?” Thayle asked.
“About your dragon,” Lilly replied with a smile. “Soon, the whole camp will think of Sarah as yours.”
“I am Lady Thayles,” Sarah said, still not believing what she was doing.
“Alright, if we're going to have a relationship, you need to start calling me Thayle. No more of this lady business unless you're being formal in front of others.”
“I will make the change. I would appreciate it if you addressed me as Sarah.”
“We have been calling you that for days,” Thayle said. “You should do the same with Lilly, and Gersius, no more titles.”
“I will do my best,” Sarah said.
Thayle smiled as Lilly whispered in her ear and then looked back.
“Ask her yourself,” Thayle said.
“Ask me what?” Sarah replied, turning her head to glower down at them.
Lilly hugged Thayle tightly and looked up with a smile. “Could I have your blessing too?”
Sarah stared at Lilly for a long moment and nodded her head. “I will bless you both.” Lilly smiled wide and bounced in happiness as Sarah looked on. She felt a strange sense of comfort for having been the cause of such a reaction. She turned back to the road, looking out over the column as her thoughts began to race. Her eyes caught Shadros glaring back at her and decided to engage him.
“Is something bothering you?” she asked.
“Why are they are you back? Have you decided to be their horse?” he bellowed to them.
Sarah growled and quickened her pace to catch up to the dragon she dwarfed and lowered her head to speak to him.
“I am carrying the champions of this army for the honor and glory it brings me,” Sarah said.
“You look like a pack animal, groveling to the humans for their approval,” he replied.
Sarah shook her head and lifted it high. “I don’t expect you to understand. I serve the divines and Astikar in particular. They have chosen these humans as their champions, that I am called to carry them is a great honor, one you will likely never appreciate.”
“I have no need to bow to the gods,” Shadros replied.
“Then you are even more shallow than you first appear,” Sarah said. “Lady, I mean Lilly, embraced the importance of the divine and is very happy.”
“My mother embraced a divine, and it led to her death,” he said.
“Your mother worshiped a divine?” Thayle asked in shock.
He nodded his head. “She worshiped your goddess, this Ulustrah. It is why she made her lair in the temple with the sword. She was told to go there and protect it.”
“So your mother was sent to protect it by Lady Ulustrah,” Thayle said in surprise.
“Yes, and she died doing so,” he replied.
“Now I know why you hated me so much,” Thayle said. “Not only did I come for the sword, but you blame Ulustrah for your mother's death.”
“This army is full of people who have grievances with the divine,” Sarah muttered.
“The divines are doing their best,” Thayle said. “They have admitted that things have gone wrong, and events have not unfolded the way they wanted. Gersius says that all we can do is keep our focus on the destination, not the path. He said the path would change, but the destination will always be the same.”
“Gersius is a very wise man,” Sarah said.
“He is a brilliant man,” Thayle said. “And I love him with all my heart.”
“I am surprised such a man stumbled in his path,” Sarah said.
“He would have gladly died to honor Astikar,” Thayle said. “What stumbled him was the fear that Lilly might die instead. He couldn’t bear the thought that she was paying for his mistakes.”
Sarah nodded and looked down at the blue-haired dragon on her back. “Then forming the empire and ending this war is his path, not his destination,” she said as Lilly looked up in confusion.
“Then what is his destination?” Lilly asked.
Sarah leaned in closer and looked her firmly in the eyes. “You are.”
Lilly leaned away from Thayle as Sarah’s words rolled over her. Thayle reached around and took her hand to comfort her as Lilly accepted the truth of that statement with shock.
“No doubt you are both his destination now,” Sarah said. “It is a life with you two that he sees in the distance and follows his path to achieve.”
“Why would he care about a dragon?” Shadros asked, shattering the powerful moment.
“I don’t know,” Sarah said. “But I know humans fell in love with dragons before, and they are just a likely to now. Perhaps there is something we both can learn from their example.”
Shadros let out a bellow of denial, and Sarah fell back to leave him be. She walked on with her two riders as they silently pondered the revelations. Thayle felt the need to steer the conversation to something a little less emotional and offered an observation. “I know it’s funny, but I prefer riding on dragons while they walk,” she said. “Maybe it's because Lilly was forced to walk for so long.”
“Dragons walk, but we fly anywhere that isn’t easily reached,” Sarah replied.
“I know, but it's more fun to go slower and spend our time like this, talking and being together. When we fly, it's often too short, or were too focused on a task were trying to do. When we walk, it feels so much more intimate.”
Sarah let out a deep breath and looked ahead to the rest of the column. What had gotten into her head? Why did she feel compelled to cater to this woman's needs? She swallowed her pride and began to speak, even as her mind implored her to stop. “If it makes you happy, I will walk with the column whenever possible, and you and your family can ride on me.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Thayle said.
“Will it make you happy?” Sarah asked, turning her head just far enough to see. Thayle smiled and nodded as Sarah looked ahead again. “Then, you ride when we can.”
“Your dragon is nice,” Lilly teased.
“My dragon is wonderful,” Thayle said. “And I am honored she chose me.”
“I wish I had a dragon,” Lilly said with a pout.
“You are a dragon,” Thayle laughed. “What would you do with a dragon of your own?”
“This,” Lilly said. “It’s fun to be a rider for change.”
“You are all welcome to ride whenever I am walking,” Sarah said.
Thayle turned around and hugged Lilly tightly as Sarah watched from above.
“You silly dragon, why would you want to ride when you can fly?”
“It is no small thing for a dragon to welcome a rider like this. Look at how few people I let ride on me. This is a very rare and special gift, and I appreciate what Sarah is doing, especially since I am another dragon.”
Sarah let out a bellowing sigh and lowered her head closer. “If my dragon knight allows it, you too may call me your dragon.”
Lilly looked at Thayle with a smile, and Thayle nodded. “From now on, she is our dragon.”
Lilly smiled wide and looked up at Sarah with bright eyes. “Bring your head down here.”
Sarah lowered her head closer, and Lilly waved her hands to bring it even closer. When her face was centimeters away, Lilly reached up and hugged her chin.
“I am glad you’re our dragon,” she said and hugged tightly.
Sarah froze, unsure of what to do as Thayle reached up and hugged the other side.
“I am glad you're our dragon, too,” Thayle added.
“I am honored you feel so strongly about this,” Sarah muttered as the embrace went on. She began to feel panic as Lilly stroked her jawline but didn’t dare move.
“You are a wonderful dragon,” Lilly said. “Thank you for being so kind to my Thayle.”
“You are welcome,” Sarah said as she grew ever more uncomfortable.
Lilly and Thayle finally released her, and she lifted her head high, eager to be out of their reach.
For the rest of the day, they walked along, talking about the road ahead. Sarah watched as Lilly and Thayle shared smiles and kisses while rocking on her back. Their behavior made her think about how she felt, especially about being alone. Sarah realized that since they had been on her back, she hadn't felt alone. She felt like she belonged for the first time since arriving at the camp.
When they made camp for the night, she was invited to spend time with them. She observed even more of their behavior, especially that which was directed at Gersius. Lilly smiled every time she caught him looking at her, and Thayle sat at his side, laughing and touching him with playful gestures.
It was late at night when they finally parted company, and she sat on the edge of the bed in her tent. Though they tried to muffle the sound, her sharp senses heard what they were doing, and once again decided to walk. She took the sword with, the work of polishing it hardly begun. Alone in the darkness, she sat on a rock, working away at the blade with a stone, slowly but surely polishing the metal.
Her mind was full of the day's events. From submitting to be the possession of another, to the hug they gave her, she struggled to make sense of her feelings. What occupied her mind the most was how having them on her back while they talked drove away her loneliness.
Was this part of what Lilly discovered when she began this journey? Could there be something to learn here, after all? She took a knee and opened her heart to Astikar and sought his guidance. She then prayed to Balisha for the first time in her life and asked her to give Astikar the answer. When she prayed to Astikar again she set out a path she wanted to walk, and waited for the sensation. An overwhelming sense of rightness and purpose filled her and left no doubt what she should do. The path was set, but did she have the courage to walk it?
Comments
WhiteRabbit
your lesser -> you're Lady Thayles,” -> Thayle's just a likely -> as likely
