"Whooow!"
Up above clouds illuminated by the sunset Laud was seated on a dragon. The wind blew back his blond hair. A film of tears minuscule over his eyes. As he soared Laud turned to look at his mother. A woman with a similar blond hair with hazel eyes. She smiled at him.
"Hold on tight," she instructed, then held on to a mast that stuck out of the saddle. Laud held on to a leather rein strapped to the dragon.
A gray blue dragon with silver wings. It groaned and dove into the clouds.
"Whooow!"
Laud screamed again as they descended. They got so low Blue IV legs touched the river. They flew over the river turning at every curve. They followed the river until they were almost at Vestus HighCastle.
Down below was the town of Pyre. A name of mockery that stack. The whole town covered their ears and a high pitch sound filled the air. Moments later they heard a sonic boom.
Markeen looked up as a dragon flew over them.
"Hey, get those fishes off my boat. I have places to be," Markeen said to a group who were still staring at the skies.
"Yes Captain," a group of young men said, then run and picked up boxes. Markeen walked off the boat and a man approached her.
"Markeen, what are you doing transporting fish? It's raid season, we can make much more out there. One trip and we would be set for years," the man said as he walked with her.
"First of all, it's Captain Markeen. Second, it takes double the crew to go raiding. Third, it takes a whole lot of preparation. The Bird would need a lot of repairs to make a trip like that," Markeen stopped and so did the man.
"The Bird is mine too, I should have a say in how it is used," the man stated.
"Mark, you tried to sell it. In fact you did sell it, to me. You have no say in what I do with the boat. You lost that right when you took my money," Markeen said and stormed off.
Meanwhile Laud and his mother were at the HighCastle.
"Where were you?"
A much older boy approached Laud and asked. He had a similar blond hair but unlike Laud he took his mother's eyes.
"I went flying with mom," Laud announced with a smile on his face.
"It's raid season, you should be a the grand hall welcoming guests," the boy said.
"Lord, go easy on him. He is just a kid," their mother said Lord.
"You are right, Maude. He is just a kid, you should know better," Lord barked at her as she got closer.
Laud saw how he talked to their mother but said nothing. He was about to walk away when Lord stopped him.
"Where are you going?"
"To the grand hall," Laud stated, knowing immediately it was the wrong answer.
Lord frowned
"Smelling like dragon?"
"I'll go wash up," Laud mentioned, he bowed his head as he walked away.
"Maude, Laud should be focusing on getting his own dragon. If you keep taking him flying he would never learn," Lord said, he looked at his mother who nodded.
Lord left and made his way to the grand hall. There was a throne which his father was already seated on. There were two other seats. One on the left and the other on the right.
Lord took the seat on his father's right hand side. People walked in, they looked around admiring the architecture. Jagged walls all around, glass floor that shimmered. Sunlight beamed on the throne from an opening above. Lantern were all over providing ample light to see. A banner draped over the wall begin the throne.
On it was the Vestus crest. A red dragon on hind legs with wide spread wings. A white snow flake as a background. Beneath was a banner that read, "Sicree Bond, Hold Supreme."
Laud walked in and took a seat by his father's side.
"High King, I Lord Fuit pledge five hundred warm bodies for your raid," a man got down on a knee and said. He kept his head bowed.
"Rise, I accept your pledge and grant you Sicree's grace," High King Tobias said in a commanding voice. The man did what he was told and walked away.
More people pledged in a similar manner. After a day of pledges, High King Tobias, his rider and some others were in the grand hall. They discussed the number of raiders they have and tried to strategize.
"Five thousand, that's barely enough to raid one outpost," Veren said, then looked at his dragon and nodded.
"What did he say?"
The High King asked.
"Quake said, if the rumors of an alliance is true. Five thousand would not make a dent," Veren interrupted.
"That's true but the food we have cannot feed all those warm bodies. At least not for months, with the supply we have we might run out of before we get to the calm belt," Aben the Cookmaster said.
"No one seemed to be pledging food items this time," Moro the Coinmaster said, then adjusted his robe.
"Winter is coming, they cannot risk running out," Abu the Wordsmith said, he looked at High King Tobias to see if he would take the hint.
"We might get better luck tomorrow," High King Tobias said. The others nodded, and turned their head when the door opened. . A man walked in and whispered into Tobias's ear.
Tobias asked to be excused and rushed out. He walked down hallways and flights of stairs. Finally he got there, immediately he got there sweat beads started forming.
"Am I late?"
"No, just in time," Maude said and hugged Tobias.
Laud stood in front of a huge cage, covered with a cloth. Lord stood by his parents and watched.
A man pulled a latch and ran away. The cage door opened slowly. A two foot wyrmling walked out. Laud put his arm out towards the wyrmling. Laud focused, lines formed over his forehead. A vein popped at the side of his temple. All the while the wyrmling played. It chased its tail and rolled around on the ground.
Laud still focused, he felt the wyrmling's mind calm. The wyrmling stumbled and shook his head.
"I'm doing it," Laud said and turned to looked at his parents.
"Watch out!"
Maude screamed, and Laud turned to see the wyrmling lunged at him. It hit him knocking him to the ground.
Maude wanted to intervene but Lord put his arm out stopping her. She looked a Tobias for his approval but she got none.
It bit Laud by the leg and shook, sweeping him against the floor. Laud screamed for help, but they all stood there and watched.
After a while Maude rushed in to help. Lord tried to stop her but she slipped away. As she approached the wyrmling ran back into the cage. The caretakers closed the gate and bolted it shut.
Maude carried Laud and took him to the physician.
Later that night, Maude confronted Tobias.
"Why did you not step in when Laud was being attacked?"
Maude asked as Tobias took off her night robe.
"Honestly, I thought he would be fine," Tobias explained. Maude turned around and asked,
"Are you not afraid of loosing your son?"
"I am but there is something that scares me more. Do you remember how drunk my father was with power. I did everything to not turn out like him. I even gave up being a rider.
After ruling for years I regretted my decision. Not being able to understand the dragons. Having to rely on my rider for that. Sometimes I doubt the interpretation. This influenced my choosing of my heir.
I really want Laud to become a rider so he can support his brother. Of late, the way Lord behaves reminds me of my dad. If Laud does not become a rider, I will name him my heir.
I don't think Lord would be happy about that."
Tobias explained and hugged Maude.
"They would be fine, they are strong," Maude said and hugged him back.
Behind the door, Lord listened. He frowned and walked away.