My Story: Dragon Master

[Silverwind]

Um. Here's a little story I wrote. I haven't got much of it, and with every other story out there I want to write (or am in the process of), I kind of forgot about it.

What are thy thoughts, o denizens of draconian.com?

Dragon Master

Sileverwind







CHAPTER ONE



The light of morning bathed the town below in gold, giving it an air of peaceful majesty. Peoples? voices could be heard as they prepared for the new day. Atop a hill not far away stood Kody, the famed swordsman and dragon master throughout the land of Nith. His brown cloak softly whipped about him in the slight breeze, but he paid no attention to it as he continued to observe the town.

Beside him stood a tall young Elven woman, who watched silently as Kody appraised the town before them. ?What do you think, Lord Kody?? she asked a few moments later. Kody shifted his gaze from the town to the Elf before answering.

?It seems to be a good place to rest, Arista,? he replied cheerfully. ?I just don?t know how the townspeople will respond to Rost and Amorith.?

Arista smiled knowingly and glanced back at the bottom of the hill. ?Yes; they are quite?intimidating, aren?t they??

From below the hill came a loud snort and a surprised shout, and suddenly Vonn, Kody?s Half-Elf friend, came sprinting up the hill. ?I swear those dragons of yours are going to eat me!? he panted as he collapsed on the grass. Kody laughed and helped his friend up.

?Aw, they won?t hurt you,? he said, giving Vonn a pat on the back. ?Just as long as you don?t annoy them, that is.?

Vonn glared down the hill and grumbled, ?Well, everything I do seems to annoy them.? Arista and Kody shared amused glances before Kody promised to go talk to the two dragons.

The dragon master approached the two massive beasts that lay at the edge of the hill and reached out to them with his mind. Hey, Rost! And Amorith, too! How are you guys today?

Rost, a big black dragon with deep red eyes, snorted a bit of flames from his nostrils. That Half-Elf is so annoying! he exclaimed with a growl. Can I eat him? Please? Kody sighed and gave Rost a pat on the snout.

No, you can?t eat him, he replied with a hint of amusement. Half-Elves don?t taste very good anyway.

Amorith then reached out to Kody with her own mind. How do you know? Have you tasted them? They look delicious to me! Her big blue eyes shone brightly, sharply contrasting with her pure white scales. As if to make a point, she licked her massive jaws and stared up the hill at Vonn, who had his back to them and was talking with Arista.

Kody sighed in irritation and addressed both dragons at once. Listen, guys! You can?t eat my friend; and that?s final! Okay?

Okay, Rost and Amorith agreed, though they both sounded like they didn?t mean to obey.

Lighten up! Kody told them. If we find any monsters, I?ll let you eat all of ?em!

Amorith growled and nudged Kody with her nose. Monsters, she sniffed, taste disgusting!

Well, it?s monsters or nothing, Kody told her with a sympathetic pat on the nose before he turned to go back up the hill.

I?ll bet Half-Elves taste much better than monsters! Rost added as Kody was halfway up the hill.

I?ll be sure to tell Vonn you said so, he laughed as he joined Arista and Vonn.

?What?s so funny?? demanded the Half-Elf su****iously, giving Rost and Amorith below doubtful looks. ?What did you tell them??

Kody shrugged and picked his travel sack up off the grass. ?Oh, I just told them Half-Elves don?t taste very good,? he replied as he stuffed his cloak into the sack. The sun was beating down on the land now, and it was getting very warm.

Vonn gave the dragons another look and yelped when Rost gave him a grin full of big, sharp teeth. ?They don?t look convinced,? he noted shakily as Amorith licked her jaws and began to stare at him with her huge blue eyes.

?That?s because they?re not,? Kody told him as he retied the sack. ?They told me to tell you that Half-Elves are better to eat than monsters.? He hid a grin as Vonn?s face paled and the Half-Elf jumped behind Arista.

?Somehow, that didn?t make me feel any better about the situation!? he snapped, eyeing the dragons with hatred and receiving hungry stares in return. Vonn gulped and began running down the hill as fast as he could go as Rost and Amorith made their way up the other side.

?You really know how to scare him, don?t you?? Arista said with a laugh as the two dragons reached the top of the hill. Below them, Vonn was already halfway to the town and wasn?t slowing down a bit. She reached out her arm and rubbed Rost?s nose, making the black dragon close his eyes happily.

?It?s funny to watch his facial expressions,? Kody said as he tossed his sack over his left shoulder. ?But you know I would never let them eat him, Arista,? he added defensively as she raised an eyebrow at him.

Oh, come on! Rost pleaded. Just one little taste? That wouldn?t hurt, would it?

I said no! Kody answered firmly. Rost began to pout.

You?re mean, the dragon told Kody sulkily.

I know, Kody told him with a grin. ?Alright, let?s go into town and get some breakfast! I?m starving!? he said aloud as he started off down the hill. Arista gave the two dragons each a farewell pat before following Kody, who was now moving at a slow trot.

Bring us something back! Rost shouted out into the dragon master?s mind. Kody turned back to give him a thumbs-up before continuing his run to the town.

Six minutes later Kody and Arista arrived at the edge of the small town, where they found Vonn waiting impatiently for them. The Half-Elf glanced at the two dragons perched on the hill and heaved a sigh of relief. ?For a minute there I thought you were going to bring them with you?? he muttered to Kody as the trio began to search for an inn.

?Oh, come on! You know I won?t let them eat you. Don?t you trust me?? asked Kody with a false pout.

Vonn gave Rost and Amorith one final glance before he looked before him once more. ?You I trust; them, I don?t.?


Well...what do you think? Should I post the rest of chapter one?

[Demondragon]

Well, I like it. The dragons' comments are amusing.

I'd like to see the rest!

Excellent! I like the Dragon's comments as well!:D

[Silverwind]

Thanks. I originally wrote it for a kid (around 8 years old), so if it sounds a bit "young..." that's why. ;)

[Demondragon]

We don't mind! It's still a great story.

[Silverwind]

Merci beaucoup, Demon! :D

[Demondragon]

Any time, Silverwind. :)
When are you going to post the rest??

[Silverwind]

Ah...well...soon. The rest of chapter 1 is written. But...I haven't written the rest after that. I'll post ASAP (or as soon as I remember..mehehehe.) ;)

Wahoo!!! Can't wait to read it!!!

[Silverwind]

Hello, ye denizens of Draconian! Here be the rest o' my tale...er. Well, the rest o' chappie 1, which is all I have written at the mo'.

The town was abuzz with activity that morning as Kody, Arista and Vonn walked down the dirt streets. Merchants were setting up their booths along the side of the roads, placing colorful signs advertising their goods all around them. Vegetable growers, fruit harvesters, even fisherman and shoemakers all proclaimed their wares to travelers passing by.

?There,? said Arista suddenly, pointing to an inn not far away. A worn sign hung above the door, bearing the name The Golden Dragon. Vonn frowned at the sign as the trio approached the inn.

?Why do we have to eat at a place with dragon in its name?? he complained as Kody opened the heavy wooden door and immediately went inside. ?It just reminds me how much they want to eat me...?

Arista grunted and shoved him through the doorway. ?By the light, Vonn, it?s just a name! Now get in there and find Kody!? she commanded as she allowed the door to close behind her. Vonn began grumbling irritably to himself, but he did as the Elf asked and soon located Kody at a back table in the corner of the common room. The dragon master waved his two friends over to join him at the table.

?I just ordered breakfast for three,? he announced as they sat down next to him. ?Porridge, fresh fruit and ham!?

Vonn winced at the mention of porridge. ?Eww?that stuff?s disgusting!? he whined. Kody raised an eyebrow at him.

?Well?unless you want to pay more for something else, I suggest you just eat what you can get,? he told the sulky Half-Elf as three serving maids approached the table with three bowls, a plate of ham and a basket of fruit. Kody promptly took an apple and began to slice it, dropping the pieces into his porridge bowl. Arista daintily helped herself to ham and a banana while Vonn stared into his cereal bowl, thoroughly disgusted.

As they were eating their meal, the great wooden door suddenly opened, and a cloaked figure flanked by a large dog entered the common room. No one seemed to notice him or pay attention to him, but the moment the man saw Kody, he rushed off in his direction. ?Food for the poor?? he asked in a raspy voice, then threw aside his cloak with a laugh.

?Cass! How have you been?? asked Kody happily as he greeted the man with a friendly slap on the back. ?How?s old Thunder doing these days?? he added, glancing down at the big gray dog and patting its shaggy head.

Cass shrugged and gave Thunder?s fur a ruffle. ?He?s doing well for a wolf his age,? he replied, drawing some glances from those close enough to hear. ?Wherever we go, people always ask me how I got him so tame. I just say, ?It?s not about getting them tame; it?s about letting them know they can trust you.?? Thunder gazed up at Cass with large golden eyes and then laid his head on the young man?s thigh.

?Too bad that doesn?t work on dragons,? Vonn muttered to himself. ?Hey, Cass, do you want this stuff? I don?t like it,? the Half-Elf offered, shoving the bowl of porridge at the other before Cass could even answer. Cass shrugged and thanked Vonn before he began eating the hot cereal enthusiastically. Vonn wrinkled his nose as he watched, but then turned to the rest of his meal and ignored Cass.

When everyone had finished and the serving maids had taken away the plates, Kody leaned back in his chair and turned to Cass. ?So, Cass, what brings a wizard like you to a small town like this??

Cass smiled and propped his elbows on the table. ?That?s the same question I was going to ask you three,? he replied with a laugh. ?Dragon masters, Elves and Half-Elves don?t come around here too often.?

?That doesn?t answer his question,? Arista pointed out as the two friends laughed over the coincidence. Cass gave her a look before clearing his throat.

?Just like always?? he murmured before he continued on. ?Truth be told, I?ve heard?rumors. I decided to travel and see if I couldn?t make sense out of them.?

Kody frowned at the mention of rumors. ?What sort of things are flying around towns these days?? he questioned slowly. Cass?s scowl deepened and he rested his chin on his hands.

?Rumors that?that the Dark Lord Zaark is stirring again,? he replied softly. Vonn, who had been sipping at a cup of water, snorted at this remark and spat water all over the table and Arista. The Elf glared at him, but Vonn didn?t seem to notice as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and gaped at Cass.

?Did you say?Zaark is doing things?? he questioned, eyes large and round like dinner plates. When the wizard nodded the Half-Elf made a squeak and quickly downed the rest of the water in his cup. Most of it ended up on him and the table because his hands were shaking so much.

Kody frowned deeper at the news Cass gave them. Everyone knew that Dark Lord Zaark had been imprisoned by the great heroes one thousand years ago. The great, black, two-headed dragon had killed many innocents and had covered all of Nith with a blanket of fear. To hear that he was free and moving about once again was news to terrify even a dragon master.

?How long have you been traveling about because of these?rumors?? Kody asked Cass quietly a few minutes later.

?About a month and three days,? the wizard replied in an emotionless tone. Vonn choked on the new water he had just ordered before shoving the cup across the table away from him.

?A month? Do you have any idea what trouble he could be causing in that amount of time?? he asked shrilly, seeming to not notice the many strange glances others gave him.

Cass nodded slowly, his bright green eyes now clouded over with dark thoughts. ?Only too well,? he replied. ?Rhynam, to the north of here, has been totally destroyed.?

?Rhynam,? Arista said in a voice filled with shock. ?The City of A Thousand Walls has fallen? That indeed is not good news.? Cass merely shook his head in agreement.

?Something has got to be done about it,? Kody said, slamming his fist on the table. ?Zaark can?t be allowed to go around killing and destroying innocent people!? His fist quavered with fury and his blue eyes were alight with fire.

?Kody? What?s wrong?? asked Cass worriedly, noting his friend?s sudden change of mood.

?My parents lived in Rhynam,? Kody replied shortly. Cass?s eyes widened for a moment before he lowered his head in respect.

?I see,? he said simply. ?You have every right to stop Zaark now; perhaps more than anyone else capable of doing so.?

Kody began to ignore everyone around him but his fist and the table it laid on. That evil dragon Zaark had killed his parents! And not only them, but his entire family as well! He could almost hear their cries for help as fire rained down from the sky and monsters armed with swords and spears invaded the city?

?Kody? Are you alright?? Arista asked in a soft voice woven with concern.

?Yes,? he answered a few moments later. ?Yes, I?m fine. But Zaark isn?t! He must pay for what he did to all those people?and I?ll be the one to pay him back!?

Cass frowned at this sudden announcement. ?Kody, going for revenge isn?t the smartest thing to do,? he pointed out meekly.

Kody nodded but stood and slung his sack over his shoulder. ?It?s a good thing I?m not doing it for revenge, then, isn?t it? I?m doing it for justice.? With that he left the table, opened the door and allowed it to slam behind him with a thud that silenced the entire common room.

So. Er. Dost thee likest it?