To Train A Dragon Rider (Distain2003 & darkangel76)

[darkangel76]

It is a time of trouble and strife. War riddles the lands and dragons rule the skies as the countries of Azur and Pheir battle over dominating the western half of the world. What started as a small feud over trading rights, eventually escalated into a war unlike any other. A war involving most of the western half of the world. A war where one country swore to conquer the other and one day gain dominance over all of the lands of the world.

The war consumed the lands for decades. Warfare adapting as time passed on. Eventually, dragons began to rule the skies once more. So the countries of Azur and Pheir had no choice but to learn how to tame the beasts, use them to their advantages. And so the war took a turn to the skies. Fire, ash, flight. The new ways of warfare. Those lands, which had more dragons under their control, had the upper hand. And thus the dragon riders were born. A new breed of warrior.

Dragon riders were fearless. Ruthless men at the front lines of battle. In the beginning, men flocked to the call of the dragon. But over time, that faded. As more and more men died during battle or during training, the fear eventually set in and drastic measures to ensure that enough warriors were ready for fighting were set into play. This led to the birth of the lottery. Every five years, all eligible men, and even women given how difficult times had become, were placed in a drawing where if called, had to answer and train to become a dragon rider.

The country of Azur was ruled by a great and powerful king. A king with no direct heir to his throne since his only offspring was a daughter. He was saddened at never having had a son, but as the war continued to grow in its intensity and bloodshed, and consume everything in sight, he became glad of this. For it was far easier to shield a daughter from the ways of war than it would have been a son. There was no sign of the war ever letting up and by now, it had been going on for at least a century, if not longer. Disheartened at the state of things, but wanting his country to come out the victor, he kept his daughter away from the fighting, away from the lottery, away from anything and everything that would place her in danger. Since his daughter was the last of his bloodline, he had no choice but to one day have her rule Azur. He needed to ensure her survival amongst the chaos, amongst the blood flowing over the lands. He wanted to keep his daughter pure of heart, untainted by the cruelties of the world, the harshness of the land. So, he kept her in the dark about much of what was truly going on, lying to the people that she was also included in the lottery when she finally came of age. Something she’d been unaware of at the time.

Now, a new lottery would soon be held. A new dragon rider would be called and forced to answer. Soon, their training would begin…


~+~+~+~


Princess Liana of Azur walked quietly down the dimly lit corridor of the castle. The torches flickered as she walked by them, one by one. Their flames wavering from the slight breeze of her body and gown floating down the stone hallway. Night was approaching and soon she’d be ready to retire for the evening. But the sky looked particularly beautiful as it darkened from deep reds to shades of midnight, so she couldn’t resist walking to her favorite spot within the castle to watch the sky change and the stars and moon rise as darkness fell over the land.

Liana reached her balcony and drew the curtains behind herself as she stepped out onto its terrace to watch the sky and look out over the lands. She flicked her long dark hair behind her shoulders and smiled. The stars were just beginning to appear and looked like diamonds sparkling in the inky black. In the distance, she could see the shadow of a couple dragons flying about. She knew those were the dragon riders and she wondered if they were merely training or readying to engage in yet another battle. She’d been sheltered from most of the ongoings of the war, but she was far from stupid. She let her father think she was in the dark on everything, but really she was not. She knew more than he knew, more than he’d ever realize.

Smiling to herself, Liana continued to watch the dragons fly in the distance. They were terrifying beasts, to be sure. And she felt horrible for all the men and women who had no choice but to learn how to tame and ride one. To face the front lines of battle. She cast her eyes downward over the lands. They were blackened from the dragons’ flames. Twisted ash and rubble. She’d heard stories of how Azur had once been, long ago before the conflicts with Pheir ever arose. She wondered if the land would ever be restored to how it once was, if the conflict would ever end.

As Liana gazed outside on her balcony, she could hear footsteps in the corridor behind her. She moved closer to the drawn curtain when she heard the echoes stop.

“The lottery is to be held first thing tomorrow morning,” came a male voice. Liana couldn’t tell whose it was, since it was slightly muffled.

“Yes, indeed,” came another voice, this one also male. Liana recognized it to belong to one of her father’s advisors. “Everything has been prepared for the drawing.” There was a slight pause. “And as per the king’s request the princess’s name has been left out.”

Liana felt her skin redden when she heard them talk about how she wasn’t in the lottery drawing like everyone else. It was against the laws of Azur. Her own father purposefully breaking those laws and being supported by those of the royal court. She wondered how many people actually knew he’d left her name out of the lottery. She found out well after the last lottery, her first eligible lottery, that she’d been left out and the thought of it upset her greatly. She found it wrong that she wasn’t placed at the same level of risk as everyone else of Azur. Sure, she had no desire to become a dragon rider or to fight in battles. She knew nothing of warfare or fighting and the dragons, though beautiful, terrified her. But she didn’t like that she was getting special treatment because she was the king’s daughter. It made her blood boil.

Earlier that evening, Liana made sure her name was placed in the lottery for drawing. She didn’t expect it to be drawn. The odds that it would not be were greatly in her favor. But if it did, she’d answer the call just like everyone else. She wouldn’t put up a fight and she’d do the best she could. Of course, she knew her father would be livid if this happened. But she’d deal with that if it happened.

When Liana heard the men leave, she drew open the curtains of her balcony and headed to her room to retire for the evening. Morning would come quickly and her fate now rested in the lottery.

 

[Distain2003]

Pheir was a not much different then that of its enemy the dragons flew mounted by chosen warriors as well a fact they where not all pleased with but all accepted. There where a few men and women though who chose to join the flight and take to battle on wings. Thanos was one of those men his family home was decorated in hundreds of medals and awards his father and grand father where both great dragon riders. He and siblings where reported to have been born with out fear or remorse. Each took up the reigns of the great beasts of their lands. And one by one their scorched bodies found their way to shallow battlefield graves.

His two brothers and sisters where long dead when Thanos took to the air on the flight that made his name famous. Many claimed that it was not fearlessness that lead him into the fray but a wish to join his heroic blood line in death. As he rode his mount over the border flying air support for ground troops moving into the a small border town he was on edge. He did not like the idea of attacking a town of innocent people but he was given an order. One that he carried out with great to the best of his ability until he saw the men turning onto the church.

That was when the great warrior of Pheir turned and consumed his own men in the fire of his dragon. None where spared the flame as he defended not an enemy but innocent people hiding in a church. When he landed his drake he made the worst mistake of his life he released the reigns of his dragon, freeing the beast from his command. It was 2 days before he was found laying in a field not far from the town. No one knew what had happened to him he was bleeding from several puncture wounds and many thought he would die.

Ten years later he was now one of the greatest dragon ride in his new home, Azur. He was the only dragon rider to ride solo, for several reasons, no the least being he had turned on his own men. He now rode on the wings of a black drake, a very rare breed not found on the battlefields as they refused to be tamed. Few of Azur's soldiers knew him by name or by sight he kept to himself as it was not his job to make friends it was his job to be a weapon. The troops called him the Angel of death, or the Black Rider both for his drake and his armor. He preferred to fly at night as his dragons breath was not fire but acid and it kept his black mount invisible during his night fighting.

He was riding into battle tonight making his way off to the front lines to provide cover for the troops fighting along the border. He would fly tonight and then fly security over the drawing in the morning, there where rumors that the lottery would be attacked. It was a wise plan one he had thought about doing many times but could never build the support to do so in Pheir. Today would be a long day for him but he would not break his routine just because the king ordered him to run security.

 

[darkangel76]

The sun streamed through Liana’s window, rays of light dappling the lush red curtains surrounding her canopy bed. Some of the light gently fell upon her cheeks, warming them a little. Slowly, she opened her pale eyes and gazed toward her window.

Sitting up, Liana suddenly realized what day it was. It was the day of the lottery. Unlike last time, this time, her name was actually up for being drawn, her father completely unawares. As a result, she more than wanted to be present at the drawing of Azur’s next dragon rider. She knew her presence would cause at least some mild alarm with her father, though she hardly cared. She was a woman now, as far as she was concerned and it was time to stop living behind the shields her father kept on building up around her.

Liana understood why her father acted as he did. He wanted to protect her, to keep her safe. But all it did was keep her in the dark, keep her naïve. She wanted to learn about the world. How else could she possibly rule a country one day if she was kept clueless about so many things? So slowly, over the past several years, since the first time she’d been eligible for the lottery, she’d begun to take notice of things around her. Her father’s and his advisor’s expressions when discussing certain matters, the way the various warriors for Azur carried themselves. She paid attention to what the commoners said, along with those of the royal court. She listened for subtleties and was more than upset when she learned about how sheltered she’d really been. And then there was the ‘special treatment’ with the lottery. Upon learning that, she vowed that she’d never have her name excused from another lottery ever again, so long as she could help it.

Pushing off the warm blankets, Liana swung her legs over the side of the bed. She slipped down to stand up, the stone floor cold against her bare feet. She walked over to her window and peered outside. In the distance, she could see a dragon flying overhead, an enormous black one. It looked so ominous to her eyes and she wondered how anyone could ever ride such a beautiful, yet terrible creature. She wondered, if she ended up being called in the lottery, if she’d be able to live up to becoming a respected dragon rider of Azur. She knew nothing of such things, her skills in fighting or anything physical practically non-existent. Heaving a sigh, she went over to her armoire and picked out a gown for herself. Her fingers gently brushed the delicate satin of a deep blue gown that she was particularly fond of. She slipped out of her night dress and put on all her underthings – stockings, slip, corset. She then stepped into her gown. It was difficult getting dressed in such elaborate things without assistance, but this morning she had no choice. None of her attendants expected her to go to the lottery drawing and she wanted it that way on purpose. Had they known, it would’ve alerted her father that something may have been plotted.

Liana finally secured her gown about her body. She looked at herself in the mirror and heaved a sigh. She looked the part of princess, a part she’d mastered. A part she was tired of playing. She hoped that today her father would see that she was no longer a child. No longer one to be coddled and shielded. Quickly, she fixed up her hair and exited her room, heading quickly down the stone corridor.

Liana arrived at the place where the drawing would be held. Her father and his advisors weren’t present yet. Nor was the ‘name holder’. But she knew they soon would be there and then the explanations would begin for her. As she waited, she peered over the edge of the balcony she knew her father would be standing on. The very one where he’d set up the ‘name holder’ and draw the name for the next dragon rider. The people were already starting to mill about. She could see the fear and anxiousness on their faces. Looking up to the skies, she saw the dragons again. Again there was the large black one and again she wondered what sort of person rode such a beast.

Time stood still as Liana watched the black dragon flying above everyone. She wondered if the rider was merely keeping watch to ensure no riots occurred or if there were other reasons she was unaware of. Reasons that would make most peoples’ blood run cold from the hard truths of war. Trying not to dwell on such things, she continued to stare at the beast flying overhead, totally mesmerized at how someone had been able to tame him.

 

[Distain2003]

The night crept by slowly as it did every night spending hours in the nearly perfect silence that came flying threw the night sky on a dragon. The quiet of the peaceful night only breaking when he spotted enemy troops moving taking a few moments to pass over them a few times and rake them with his beasts breath. Never pausing to sustain the attack only passing over twice urging them to turn and flee the other way. He did not enjoy killing men at night it felt like he was cheating them out of a chance at a fair fight.

As the sun rose he made his way into the country to the castle and began flying search patterns over the castle. The watchful eyes of both he and his drake as well as the several other riders in the area scanning for any sign of a threat. As the hour of the drawing approached Thanos concluded that the attack was not going to happen. As a reward he turned his mount and flew towards the castle swooping low as it moved closer to the walls. The crowd in his path recoiled in fear that the black rider had finally chosen to turn on this people as well.

The feared attack never came though as the beast raised up and landed on the roof of one of the watch towers of the castle walls. The treat for his mount was some time to rest while on duty, they had been flying nearly non stop since just before dark and he felt they both deserved a break. Leaving his weapons bound to his saddle except for the sword on his hip he gripped the rope he had draped over the large black beasts neck and began sliding down it slowly. A manuver many had never seen done before he hung from the beasts neck like a pendant on a rope necklace. Sliding at great speed down the rope to ramparts below.

Once there the crowd drew in a combined breath as he released the rope and walked away from it all fearing the beast would turn on him and the crowd. It did no such thing though merely turning a bit in place and settling down as best it could on the small roof. Its feet touching either side of the roof its tail and neck hanging off as the massive beast began to settle in. One of the guards from the tower came charging over to Thanos but before he could begin his verbal assault on the rider Thanos snatched the collar of his shirt.

His rasp voice heard by those nearest the tower as he drove the soldier towards the edge of the ramparts. "Unless you are coming to offer a tired rider a drink I recommend you keep your silence. For men do not fair well when they choose to learn to fly." He said sternly positioning himself to push the soldier off the battlements to the ground some 30 feet below. The soldier quickly broke free and turned back into the tower deciding against confronting the grizzled veteran who was not in the mood to speak.

The show now over all eyes turned back to the castle as they prepared to bid a friend goodbye to become like the men flying above. Even Thanos who leaned over heavily against the wall stared at the balcony 50 or so feet from him his eyes trained on the young woman who stood on it alone. His mind wondering as to why the young girl was there alone and not guarded it seemed so curious to him. His eyes then returned to the skies scanning the drakes above for any sign of attack.

 

[darkangel76]

Liana watched the black dragon, the one that had her entranced, land gracefully upon the watch tower not too far off in the distance. She could barely make out the man who rode him. And she wondered what sort of person he was. Surely he had to be brave, fearless, to ride such a creature. She watched him dismount the beast in a strange fashion and tilted her head in curiosity. She’d never seen a dragon rider before. Only from afar and not this close in proximity, not ever. Her father had made sure of it. As he landed on the floor of one of the ramparts, she saw a guard charge at him. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the dragon rider grab at the guard, making him cower a bit in fear.

Liana wanted to turn away from what she was witnessing. It frightened her, made her wonder if her decision to place herself in the lottery had been the right thing to do after all. For if this was the way dragon riders were, she didn’t know if she wanted to become one. Plus, to have to face someone like that? She didn’t know if she could actually do such a thing without fainting. She’d be a laughing stock, considered hopeless. She knew she’d try, but there was no way she’d ever be able to face someone like that.

Somewhat shaken at what she’d seen, Liana turned her gaze o ut at the people milling about down below. The crowd was becoming larger and she knew that soon her father would appear, along with his advisors and the ‘name holder’. It wouldn’t be long now.

Staring out at everyone and trying to ignore the sight of the black dragon and its rider, Liana suddenly heard footsteps behind her.

“Daughter? What are you doing here?” It was the voice of the king.

Liana swallowed, her body trembling ever so slightly, and turned around to face her father. She tamped down her fears and smiled. “Good morning, father,” she said softly, yet sweetly. “How fares thee?”

The king furrowed his eyebrows as he looked upon his only child, his daughter. “I fare well, but why are you here, Liana?”

“I’ve decided that I’m no longer a child, father. I wish to witness the drawing of the lottery.” Liana’s face was set, determined. “Seeing as it’s a fairly large event for our people, and as heir to the throne, I thought it only right that I attend. After all, I too am eligible for the lottery, am I not?”

The king’s face turned an odd shade of red and then purple as he sputtered over his words. When he calmed down, he took Liana’s hand in his own. “Of course, Liana. As you wish.”

Liana nodded, “Thank you, father.”

The king frowned and one of his advisors set the ‘name holder’ for the lottery drawing on the balcony where the king would stand and draw the name of the next dragon rider for Azur. The king then stepped up to address his people.

“People of Azur, I bid you good morning!” the king shouted.

The people cheered. Liana just stood quietly next to her father. She could feel the stares of the people down below, the stares of the advisors from behind. And they burned, made her uneasy, so she cast her eyes over at the black dragon resting peacefully across the way.

“As you all know, today is an important day. Today we shall have another fortunate soul called to ride the dragons. An individual, man or woman, who will deserve the utmost honor and our respect.”

The people cheered, though Liana could sense the fear as they did so. It made her hands shake a little. She wondered who would be called. Would it be her? Or someone else? The odds were in her favor that she would not be called, but now she wasn’t so sure.

“People of Azur… our next dragon rider will be…” the king’s voice trailed as he reached his hand into the ‘name holder’ and pulled out a slip of paper with a name written on it. He held it up for all to see and opened it. Immediately, his eyes went wide, his face red. He turned toward Liana, his face furious with anger, frustration.

Liana swallowed. ‘Oh god,’ she thought to herself. ‘He’s chosen my name!’ Panic instantly washed over her entire body, her hands shaking, her teeth chattering.

“Princess Liana of Azur!” the king shouted out, his voice unsure, filled with anger.

There was a lull in the crowd, a bizarre hesitation. Suddenly, they roared with cheers, with praises for the newly called dragon rider.

 

[Distain2003]

Thanos stood on his perch leaning over his eyes scanning the crowd as he thought his mind wondering about over the vents of the day. His dragon had tucked its head under its wing and began taking a short nap trying to relax as best as possible. Thanos out of boredom reached over to the ropes and fidgeted with the ends of the long rope as he watched the crowd of people until the king arrived on the platform. His eyes darted up to the king having never met the man before and only seeing him a time or two before.

He could hear most everything they where saying and he could not help but smirk as she proclaimed herself an adult. Not long after her name was drawn and as the crowd cheered he nearly fell from the ramparts. His laughter could be heard above the crowds cheers at least from the balcony where the royal family was standing. He rolled his eyes and chuckled wrapping his left wrist in the ropes, preventing himself from losing the grip of the rope. To say he was being insubordinate would be not completely correct he was being insubordinate and dismissive.

"Lets get out of here, we where hoping for a soldier and we got a sheltered noble it appears we where mistaken in having hope for this lottery. " His dragon turned and responded to his statement as if it knew what he was saying slowly moving to stand. The crowd still excited looked to the battlements to see what was happening most if not all not able to hear him speak.

His dragon soon rose into the air lifting him up by his left arm as he held the rope tightly flying him directly across the square. With a quick motion of its powerful neck it flung Thanos high above its body and moved to catch him on its back. The crowd was in awe for a moment as he flew away the entire time laughing loudly about the events and talking to his dragon about the state of affairs. "How on earth are they going to train someone who can not even dress them selves how to do battle. " He roared in laughter as he flew back over the castle making his way towards the mountain side fortress where he and his mount lived. He felt great pity for the poor foul who would be stuck training the spoiled brat that was the kings daughter.

 

[darkangel76]

The king looked over at Liana, his face ready to explode with rage, with fury. “What did you do?” he spoke, his voice eerily calm.

Immediately, the king rushed over to his daughter and grabbed her firmly by the arm. She winced at the pain as he dragged her away from the balcony’s edge and away from the crowd of onlookers.

“Liana, what did you do?” The king was shaking with anger, his grip on her arm tight, bruising her. “I know this is your doing.” He looked at Liana, his eyes flashing. “Tell me you’re behind this. Tell me!”

Liana cringed, her eyes tearing a little both from the pain her father was causing her by holding onto her arm and by the expression she saw plastered all over his face. “I’m sorry, I…” her voice trailed. “I had to, father!” She paused a moment. “It wasn’t right what you did last time! It wasn’t!”

“I will not have my only daughter sent off to be trained by those savage men!” the king roared. His advisors looked stunned, bewildered. They were completely at a loss as to what to do. “We must do a re-draw! Now!”

“But sire,” one of the advisors said, interrupting the king as he raged. “If we do a re-draw, it’ll cause a riot. We cannot risk such a thing. Azur is already low on its morale with the way the war has been going the past several years. They’ll suspect the last lottery was fixed and you’ll lose their support, their faith.”

The king sputtered, glancing from his advisor, to Liana and back again. The anger he was obviously feeling rolled off him in giant waves. It was evident that he knew his advisor was right, that he didn’t want to accept it. He bowed his head and he let go of Liana’s arm. She reached up to cradle where he’d bruised her, rubbing it gently, trying to ease the throbbing pain she felt. He looked up just then, his eyes fixing on his daughter’s.

“Training with dragon riders is not the life I wanted for you.” The king’s voice was but a whisper.

“I know, father,” Liana spoke, her eyes softening a little. “But it wasn’t right. Just because I’m your daughter doesn’t mean I should be granted special treatment and protection.” She heaved a sigh. “According to law, I’m of eligible age and therefore should be held to the same levels of risk as everyone else. Never did it state that nobility or royalty were to be excluded.”

The king exhaled loudly. “I do not support this, Liana. Not at all.” He paused, desperately trying to calm himself down. “If it was within my power to put a stop to this, I would.” His eyes showed so much bitterness. “I want you to know that as you go off to train with those savages.”

Liana looked down at her feet, “I understand, father.”

“You will be treated no differently than any other dragon rider who’s been called in the past. Those men do not discern between gender or social class.” The king walked toward his daughter, a frown upon his lips. “Your life will be very brutal from this day forward. Training commences almost immediately.”

Liana curtsied. “When does it begin?”

“Your trainer will meet you tomorrow at dawn. He will meet you down below in the courtyard.” The king’s face was now full of sadness, of pity. It made Liana uneasy. It was almost like he was mourning her.

“Yes, father. I’ll be there then,” Liana replied.

The king nodded and walked away, leaving Liana to stand by herself. A mix of emotions coursed through her veins. She was frightened, she was sad, frustrated. But she knew she’d done the right thing. And she didn’t regret what she’d done even if it meant answering the call to become a dragon rider. She walked back out to the balcony. The crowd was slowly dispersing.

Liana looked up into the sky and saw the black dragon flying overhead. As she watched it fly away, she swore she could hear someone laughing.

 

[Distain2003]

Thanos laughed the entire way to the fortress that was his home in this nation talking to his dragon as though it was his best friend. He did so with good reason this beast between his legs was his only friend and they fought together just to prove this. He curled around the mountain to the large opening that had been carved into the mountain to give the dragons access to the massive stable inside. Inside hundreds of dragons where caged to prevent them from fighting each other and attacking their masters. Slowly Thanos walked his dragon to his cage and patted him on his flank apologizing for placing him in the cage.

He then went to his room far from the rest of the riders, it was a room that was for a general when the building was first built. A rank that if Thanos could control his rage for even a moment he would have reached. As it stood he was the lowest ranking dragon rider in the military. He was a joke amongst the riders so powerful yet so out of control he was the definition of battle scared. Inside his room he peeled off his armor and tucked himself into bed he had been up for a very long time.

He had no more then gotten his armor back on and began stretching in it to make sure it was all seated properly when there was a knock on the door. "Leave it at the door." He hissed as he continued to stretch not wanting to interrupt his routine for any avoidable reason. Soon a piece of paper slipped under the door and foot steps could be heard walking away. Gathering the small slip of paper he glanced at it rolling his eyes as he read the brief note. 'General Volarion demands to see you before you set out for the day.'

He growled knowing that this meant the king has heard his mocking of the kings daughter and he was going to be getting into trouble again. The moment he opened the door the General began to speak to him neither being very polite to each other as neither liked the other. "The king has sent word his daughter is to be the next rider, and at his command our best rider is to be her trainer. After speaking with him he insisted that it be not our best soldier but... our best rider. He wants his daughter to be taught by the best...."

His speech was interrupted as Thanos walked over to him his hand motion urging him to speed threw the bull shit. "AAAAAAAAAAND"

"And ... You will be training the new rider you and her will go to the dragon lands to find her a mount and to teach her how to fight and train her. " He said back his voice full of anger for being interrupted by such an insolent rider.

"You have to be kidding my why not ask me to teach an infant to fight. At least then i would not have to teach someone who had no chance of learning to fight. " He roared as he turned the generals desk on its side he was livid, he was not being asked to teach a new rider but being told to waist his time teaching a noble.

The general furious with his things being strewn across the room turned and gripped Thanos by the collar staring into his eyes. Before he could begin to threaten him Thanos stuck him right under the jawline driving his head up and back away from Thanos. It was only seconds later that he crumpled to the ground laying in a pile in front of Thanos. "I have told you before no one puts their hands on me even you. I'll train the brat but don't be surprised if she comes here crying for her daddy because i am mean to her. " With that he marched from the room to begin his routine before the General was able to regain his focus.

 

[darkangel76]

Liana walked solemnly through the castle’s long corridors. She’d spent the entire day in solitude, not wanting to speak to anyone. Not even her attendants. She had nothing to say after she saw the way her father looked at her when he conceded that she become the next dragon ride for Azur. He’d been more than furious and when he departed, it seemed like he was preparing himself for her funeral and burial more than anything else. It made her shiver, made her stomach hurt.

The sky was slowly beginning to darken. Unlike most nights, Liana had no desire to head to her favorite balcony to watch the moon and stars rise overhead in the sky. Her heart felt heavy. She hated that she’d upset her father, had knowingly placed him in a difficult position that took him totally off guard. And she was indeed afraid of the task now set before her due to her own actions of placing her name in for drawing at the day’s lottery. She knew the risks before hand. And though she still felt it had been the right thing to do, there was a part of her that wished she’d just bitten her tongue and left things as they were. But now, that was all too late.

Liana finally came upon her bedroom. She pushed open the heavy wooden door, which creaked a little as it opened before her. She entered her room and then closed the door behind herself. She took off her gown, followed by a majority of her underthings.

Walking over to a table where a large pitcher and basin had been set out for her, Liana picked up the pitcher and poured some of the still steaming water into the basin. She picked up a sponge and dipped in the hot water and then lathered up some soap. Gently, she scrubbed her body clean with the sponge and then rinsed herself off. Once finished washing, she put everything away and slipped into her night dress.

Liana then headed toward her bed. She pulled down the blankets and snuggled deeply within them. “A dragon rider,” she spoke to herself, her voice a mix of fear and anxiousness. Staring at her window, her canopy curtains partially drawn closed, she closed her and drifted off to sleep.

Morning came all too soon. No sooner had Liana fallen asleep, it was time once again for her to wake up. She needed to get ready. She was to meet her dragon rider trainer in the courtyard.

Liana moved as quickly as she could, dressing herself and fixing her hair. She had specifically requested earlier the day before that she didn’t want to be bothered by anyone, that she wanted to be alone as she prepared to meet her trainer. Of course, she knew she wouldn’t be dressed properly since all she owned were gowns, and that, more than likely, this would earn her no respect from the one who would be training her. She also knew she had nothing else in her possession that would be of use for the new life she was about to thrust herself into. So, she decided to leave everything behind and start anew.

Dressed and ready in the only attired she had, Liana walked through the stone corridors. They felt colder than usual. The warmth from the torches doing nothing to warm her skin. The sky was still fairly dark, though streaks of soft reds and purples began to color the sky. Dawn was approaching.

Liana walked out into the courtyard. It was so empty, so silent. She looked up into the sky and in the distance could see the silhouette of a dragon approaching. It was still too dark for her to make out the beast and its rider, though she could tell that this dragon was particularly fierce. A lot like the one she’d seen perched on the watch tower during the lottery drawing.

Lips trembling, hands shaking, Liana cast her eyes down at the ground and away from the sight of the oncoming dragon and its rider. Her life was about to change forever, just as her father had said it would. Trying to tamp down her fears, she focused on her breathing, waiting for her trainer to finally fetch her and take her away from the only life she’d ever known.

 

[Distain2003]

Thanos had a larger saddle then normal it would carry his new companion with him and had a bag for all her things new, and old. He moved clumsily threw the night and it caused him and his drake to catch more arrows then normal and that made them both angry. As they flew threw the night sky towards the city his anger only grew binding his left wrist again in the rope draped around the beasts neck. As they sank into the city he slipped from the back of the beast sliding down her bag in hand to the end of the rope. Seeing the guard from the day before he could not help but give him a strong kick as he flew past sending the man hard into the ground.

Once he was a few feet from the ground he dropped to the ground and rolled to stand only a few feet from her tossing the bag at her feet. The now freed drake made a tight turn and landed behind him standing there like as an ominous reminder of what was to come for her. He stared at her for several long moments looking her up and down repeatedly taking in every detail of her form that he could see. When his eyes found hers he glared at her his gaze seeming to look into her soul and ask if it could handle what was to come. He did not mask the anger in his eyes he cared not that she would see he was not pleased about this.

His form was large and if his armor was any hint as to the build beneath it there was little wasted on him. He seemed to be a solid piece of muscle and bone with the attitude of a grizzly bear. His armor was black from head to toe with iron buckles holding the pieces of hardened leather together. A black mask covered most of his face starting at the bridge of his nose and arcing down along his cheek bones. It followed the line of his lower jaw giving about a half an inch of movement for his mouth before it vanished behind his hair. His hair was shoulder length and fell just behind his temples and curled around in a rather chaotic fashion. His dark brown eyes showed enough rage and emotion to more then cover for his emotionless presence.

"You will not like this, this will not be easy, and at the end of your time with me you will hate me. This is not some story book for a nursemaid to tell you before you go to sleep. I am not going to teach you how to ride some majestic creature around for fun. I am hear to teach you to kill, to take life with out blinking and with out remorse. " His voice washing menacingly from the slits in his mask as his glare remained on her eyes. "You will bleed, you will be hurt, and you will kill. Learning to kill will be the easy part, discovering how to block out your memories and turn of your instincts will be the hard part. If you wish to run or give up, now would be the time. Don't waste my time if you are just going to quit later. "

His hand moved like a blur to the sword at his waist and drew it slashing at her with incredible precision, slashing less than 3 inches from her chest. His motion was simply to test and see how fast she could react to his attack wanting to see if she had a chance at being a dragon rider. "I am leaving in 15 minuets, your clothing is in that bag if you still wish to continue training be here before i leave. If not... do not it is that simple. " He said sternly turning returning his sword to its scabbard and turning to walk back to his dragon placing his hand on its flank.

 

[darkangel76]

Liana felt herself shrink back a little in fear as the dragon rider approached her. He looked mean and ominous, the sort of man you didn’t want to cross. Ever. His face was mostly hidden behind his black armor, which only added to his already terrifying appearance. She dared a glance into his deep brown eyes and felt her body shiver. When he finally spoke, she had all she could do to not let her entire body shake with panic and fear.

The dragon rider’s words felt like spears impaling Liana’s body. One in the heart, another through the gut and still another through the throat. Each thing he said sounding worse and more terrible than the thing he said before. Swallowing, she wondered what would happen if she decided to run away.

As tempting as it was to just run back to the castle, never to look back again, Liana knew that wasn’t an option. If she fled, she’d be letting Azur down, herself down. She’d be sending a message to her father, one she didn’t want to give him. Besides, no other dragon rider in the past had ever turned down the call before. And she most certainly was not going to be the first. It wouldn’t be right and it would make it appear as if, because she was royalty, she was getting special treatment.

The dragon rider turned on his heels and walked back to his black dragon, the very beast Liana had seen atop the watch tower during the lottery drawing. Suddenly, she felt her blood boil a little. This man had laughed at her. He had laughed at the idea of her becoming a dragon rider. In a way, she didn’t blame him. But still… he didn’t know her. He knew nothing about her. Clearly he had no idea of her own determination, skill or no skill.

Liana set her jaw and ran after the dragon rider. “I do not need fifteen minutes to mull over what to do. I know what must be done.” She paused a moment, her blue eyes flashing. “I must answer the call of the dragon riders. I must be trained.” Balling her hands into fists to keep them from shaking, she looked directly into the man’s dark eyes. “So do what you will with me. I’ll do my best to live up to your standards. Don’t think me naïve enough to not see that this will be difficult for me, that I’ll have problems. More than a few.” Her voice was shaking, wavering. “But I’ll get through them somehow.”

Still terrified, but wanting to show this man her determination, Liana stood there before the dragon rider. She refused to look away from him though everything instinctual told her to, told her to run. She wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction. Not after he made it clear that he already thought her a failure without giving her the slightest chance to prove anything.

 

[Distain2003]

Even threw his armor it was clear his body was tensing as though her voice was hurting him. His fingers curled slowly into a fist and the leather of his glove groaned against his firm grip. Grumbling something softly it was a cross between barely audible and nonsense not one word of it made sense to her. It was not a language common among the rival nations but one his father had learned a long time ago and taught his son. The dragon seemed to understand him and snorted in response turning its long neck around placing its face next to the pair.

The more insistent she became and the closer she drew to him the angrier he grew. Finally he had enough and his vicious draconic temper flared to the boiling point. Gripping his sword's handle with his right arm he turned drew the blade and made an attack at the same time. The motion resembled him throwing an elbow that was aimed for her throat the difference being the blade that ran along arm.

He was less than 2 inches from her when his dragon snorted again the knuckle of his wing bumping the man in the shoulder causing him to freeze. As though he understood the dragon, and the dragon was telling him to stop attacking the woman. His eyes moved to his woman leaving his blade where it stood froze in mid swing still mentally debating finishing the blow.

"You where told to go change not because i wanted you to go run away and give you a chance to flee with out judgement. But because you are dressed like a princess and there is no room for that frilly dress on the back of my mount. NOW... I am going to tell you again in 10 minuets i am leaving. If you are not here you will have to find your own way there. Now get out of my sight before i change my mind. " He turn the blade with a flick of his wrist and slashed the front between her breasts leaving a 2 inch slit between them as he turned. Placing the blade away he began grumbling to the dragon again patting it on its neck just behind its head.

 

[darkangel76]

Liana felt her heart stop, her blood run icy cold as the dragon rider moved to attack her. She thought for sure she’d pushed him too far, that he’d kill her despite who she was, despite what she’d been called to do. When the black dragon made a noise and moved its wing as if trying to remind the man of what he was supposed to be doing, she had never been so grateful. How the beast sensed the problem she had no idea and it made her wonder about their intelligence. It also made her look at the creature in a different light, with respect and admiration.

The dragon rider paused mid-strike at the beast’s nudge, his expression vicious even though his face was nearly hidden by the black armor. Armor the color of his soul, so Liana thought. Relief and fear radiated throughout her body, his shouts sounding like muffled sounds, unable to be made out or understood. All she could focus on were his dark eyes. The malice she saw in them made her feel so very cold inside. The dragon was warmer than this man.

Just then the dragon rider flicked his blade, causing Liana’s dress to rip apart a little at her breasts. Immediately, her hands went up to try and fix the torn material, but all was in vain. He’d ruined it. Cheeks red, she reached for the bag, her dress ripping further as she moved and twisted her body. She tried to hold the material together, but it was no use. The rip was growing larger and she needed to change. Quickly. She glanced over at the dragon rider who’d walked back over to his black beast and then at the castle. Her room was too far away for her to go to if she was to be back in such a short amount of time. So was the castle, for that matter.

Scowling, Liana walked a little ways away, where she saw a pile of crates stacked upon each other. Unfortunately, it would have to do. She didn’t have much choice given the dragon rider’s time constraints. She quickly hurried over to the crates and went behind them. She hoped no one from the castle was looking out into the courtyard. She removed her ruined gown and then most of her underthings. Opening the bag she found a simple tunic and a pair of trousers. She pulled them on over the little she left on from her previous life as a princess, her royal clothes piled in a heap on the dirty ground. The clothes were too big for her, but she’d manage. She also found a pair of boots and a hooded cloak. The boots fit her relatively well, but like the rest of the clothes, the cloak was a bit big as well.

Once dressed, Liana just left her old clothes by the crates and walked back over to where the dragon rider stood with his black dragon. Her feet felt heavy as she approached him, the cold man with a black soul.

Liana looked at the dragon rider, her attire totally different now, her mood and expression rather somber. “I’m ready now,” she said.

 

[Distain2003]

He patted the dragons neck and it laid down slowly pressing its body as low as he could. Thanos stepped up onto the beasts knee and began fixing the rope that he had bound to its back. He grumbled softly almost nonstop as he bitched about having to deal with the annoying princess. He was so sick of dealing with the insufferable bull shit that came with training such a pitiful prospect. He knew he was being punished and he knew that he was going to return the favor causing chaos for those around once he returned.

He was standing against the beasts shoulder when he heard the heavy foot falls behind him his hand to his blade he turned around quickly. Seeing the woman walking forward he relaxed if there was ever a person he would turn his back to she was it. He could not yet imagine a day when the princess would be a threat to him, even remotely, he could not imagine her being a fighter. Once she was close to him he reached out grabbing her by the waist and tossing her up onto the back of the dragon.

Her landing was hard as he was not aiming to land her on the saddle simply get her on the drake's back so he could mount. The moment she had landed he was climbing quickly and tossed his leg over the saddle reaching back his hand gripped her waist line and lugged her heavily into the saddle. Her chest pressed into his back as the dragon pressed it self to its feet and prepared to fly. "Your going to want to hold on. " He said firmly taking her hands and pulling them around his stomach pressing them together for her.

His hand gripped the pommel of the the saddle and the handle of his weapon shifting it to lay along her leg and not be jammed between them. He remained silent as the beast lurched into the air flying them high up into the clouds making their way to the front lines where the fighting had raged the day before. "It is important to see what you are being trained for. What these dragons that we are blessed enough to fly do to those who are not in our favor. "

 

[darkangel76]

The dragon rider grabbed Liana as if she weighed nothing and threw her onto the back of his dragon with a hard thud. She clamped her eyes shut at the pain that jolted her body with his harsh maneuver. She’d be damned if she was going to shout out from what he did. For some reason, she felt like he expected that from her and that bothered her immensely. He wasn’t giving her a chance at all. She knew she was soft, had no skills, had been sheltered. But that didn’t mean she didn’t have the capabilities of learning if she set her mind to it. This man saw her as a burden, something laughable. It was all too clear to her and it made her blood boil.

As the dragon rider mounted the beast, seating himself in front of Liana, he turned slightly and pulled her closer, her body coming into full contact with his own. “You’re going to want to hold on,” he said gruffly, pulling her arms about him and pressing them against his front.

Liana just let the dragon rider adjust her body. Though she was angry at him based on her first impressions of him, she did also fear him. Something she so desperately wished wasn’t the case. And then there was the fact that she was terrified of the flight they were about to take while on the back of this massive beast.

As the dragon began to stand up, Liana felt her heart stop. The fear that went through her was unlike anything she’d ever felt. Her arms tensed and she clung onto the dragon rider fiercely. She pressed her face against his back and tried to calm herself down. She had to stay strong; she had to show this man that she wasn’t a joke. Unlike him, she had a soul. She had feelings. Blood actually coursed through her veins. Just then, the dragon beat its wings and took to the air, soaring high up into the skies.

"It is important to see what you are being trained for. What these dragons that we are blessed enough to fly do to those who are not in our favor, " the dragon ride spoke to Liana over his shoulder.

Liana could barely breathe. They were so high up in the sky. What if they fell? What then? Would the dragon catch them or would they fall to their deaths? So much fear wracked her body, flooded her mind. Slowly she tried to open her eyes and turn her head to look down. Puffy clouds were scattered below them, the trees, the castle, everything… it all looked so small, like miniature statues of what she knew.

“Oh god,” Liana muttered softly against the dragon rider’s back. As they flew on, she saw her old life get smaller and her new one growing larger. In the distance she could see the battlefronts, the place where the other dragon riders stayed to fight for Azur.

Liana wondered what exactly this dragon rider was going to do with her once they landed. Would training start right away? Would he teach her how to fight first or ride a dragon? She just didn’t know. There were so many things she knew she needed to learn and she had no idea where things would begin. She hoped he’d begin things by finally telling her his name, a simple introduction. But for some reason, she didn’t think him the type to do such things. Any signs of warmth or kindness she was sure were foreign to this man.

After several minutes, Liana noticed that they were heading down toward the ground. Her gripped tightened once again around the dragon rider. They were going so fast and she wasn’t used to how things felt. Swallowing, she buried her face against his back and squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for them to finally land.

 

[Distain2003]

The land grew closer and the air grew heavy, thick with the sent of blood and ash the sent of burnt flesh lingering after the battle. Not far away soft groans could be heard as the not yet dead sank towards their inevitable fate. Those with a chance had long sense been removed from the field and taken to near by camps to convalesce. Soon the beast hit the ground with a soft thud the impact nearly nonexistent to the riders on the drake's back. Thanos moved quickly to slip from the back of the dragon pulling her down with him.

He made sure he set her down on her feet but released her once she was seated it would be her own job to catch her land legs. Silently he lifted his hand in the air and swung a circle snorting the dragon stood and took to the air. A large blast of wind driving past them as the beast flew up into a holding patter above them. "If i tell you to hide do so... And do so with haste or you wont live to train. " His voice stern but calm as he tried to impart the urgency of the situation to her they where standing on the front lines of the war.

He lead her firmly his hand on her lower back leading her threw the scorched battle field. Bodies laying where they fell most burnt as the walked over the blackened land. He lead her with out a word to a large dragon who appeared to be completely fine from their location but as the walked around most of its left side was gone like it had just vanished form existence. He shook his head and placed his hand on the dragons neck patting it gently as if he was soothing a dieing friend. Not far from then laid a man in heavy chain armor a deep gash having opened both the man and the armor like one would open a bag of fruit.

Clearly the man was long dead the wound was even to untrained eyes instantly fatal. Thanos moved and knelt next to the rider his hand going into the deceased riders hand removing the gauntlet quickly. Tossing it to the ground next to him he slowly removed the riders ring looking at it for several long moments. "His name is Richard Watts, he was 29 years old and had a family who cared for him deeply. " He said softly standing and looking at the woman across from him needing to impart why he was different form the other riders.

"He was one of my closest friends, last night while most of your nation was safe in their beds i killed him. " He said sternly any emotion from seeing his dead friend having vanished from his eyes. "This is why they call me the Angel of Death, The Black Rider. Your people fight because they are heeding the call of your nation to defend its lands. I fight because it is all i know, it is all im good at. That is why they chose me to train you because there is no rider on either side who is better at what we do the I. " He stood staring into her eyes waiting for the sign she could take no more.

 

[darkangel76]

As they closed in on their destination, putrid smells immediately began to hit Liana’s nose. The smell of burnt skin, ash… death. She had all she could do not to vomit, so she bit down on her lower lip to help keep anything wanting to come up, down where it belonged. It was hard, but she had to try. For her body to give in now to such a thing would only make her appear even more useless and hopeless than she already did. Especially since they hadn’t even landed yet. She wondered where exactly the dragon rider was taking her. Wherever it was, the smell alone let her know that it wasn’t somewhere pretty and she wondered if it was the frontlines of battle, where Azur and Pheir clashed against each other the most often.

More moments passed as they flew on top of the dragon. Liana didn’t even know when exactly they’d landed, since her eyes had been clamped shut and her face had been buried against the dragon rider’s back. But she knew it had to have been before he grabbed at her waist and pulled her off the beast as he dismounted. The moment her feet hit solid ground, she felt her knees wobble and then give out. Clumsily, she fell onto the ground. Embarrassed, she refused to open her mouth. Instead, she just got up again, her legs still shaky, only this time she managed to keep herself upright.

The dragon rider didn’t seem to notice Liana’s stumble. He was too busy communicating something to his dragon, which then took off to the skies. She watched it fly away with graceful ease, leaving her to stare after it in complete awe.

"If I tell you to hide do so... And do so with haste or you wont live to train,” the dragon rider said, his voice harsh.

Liana just nodded. Glancing about, she could see the lands littered with dead bodies. Humans and dragons alike. The stink of their rotting flesh, only being made worse by the fiery heat, rose into the air mixing with the ashen smells of burnt wood and charred stone. She felt her eyes prickle with tears as she took in the sight of so much death, so much blood. But she managed to hold them back. She could see several dragons flying overhead, engaging in an aerial battle of some kind. The gruesome sight of it make a shiver creep along her spine.

Just then, Liana felt something touch the base of her back. It was his hand, the dragon rider’s hand. He led her through the maze of dead bodies strewn across the blackened lands, taking pause when he came upon a dragon he seemed to recognize. He stopped and touched it, as if paying some sort of respect to the beast.

Liana felt horribly at the sight of seeing the creature in this state. It looked like it’d died a painful death. Again, she felt the bile rise. And again, she barely managed to keep it all down. Trying to focus on something so that she didn’t feel sick, she looked over at the dragon rider. What she could see of his face looked solemn. It took her aback a little to see him this way. He then patted the dead beast, causing her heart to stop a moment. The way the dragon rider appeared to actually care made her wonder despite how horrid he’d been to her earlier.

‘Is there a man who can feel underneath that black soul?’ Liana thought to herself.

The dragon rider walked around the dead beast and hung his head when he saw the body of the man lying next to it. His face grew even more somber, touching Liana somewhat to see him this way. Immediately, he walked over to the dead man and knelt down by his side. He removed his gauntlet and stared at the ring on his finger.

The dragon rider looked over at Liana and spoke. "His name is Richard Watts, he was 29 years old and had a family who cared for him deeply.” Slowly, he stood back up, his eyes still fixed on her. "He was one of my closest friends, last night while most of your nation was safe in their beds i killed him,” he then added.

Liana gasped. ‘He killed him? How?’ she thought to herself. She didn’t see him drive a blade into the man’s heart or order his dragon to rip the man and his beast apart while up in the skies. His words confused her, though she could see that he was trying to make something he felt important very clear to her.

"This is why they call me the Angel of Death, The Black Rider,” the dragon rider said, continuing where he left off. “Your people fight because they are heeding the call of your nation to defend its lands. I fight because it is all I know, it is all I’m good at. That is why they chose me to train you because there is no rider on either side who is better at what we do than I.”

Liana felt her blood run cold, a wave of pity stab at her heart. This dragon rider knew how to feel. Underneath the blackness, there was the hint of a soul. A soul he’d forgotten he had, a soul he wished to keep buried away and out of sight. With all that he’d seen and done in his life, he’d had no choice but to turn away from anything that radiated warmth or light. He needed the blackness to survive, to cope.

Again, Liana felt her eyes prickle with tears. Only this time, she let them spill. She wasn’t saddened by the death she saw all around her, nor was it the fear of dying or the putrid smells of battle that had gotten to her. No. It was seeing a man such as this resorting to hiding his true self from everyone, himself included. Losing himself in the ways of war and fighting.

Liana walked over to the dragon rider and looked up at him, her eyes glittering with tears. “I’m so sorry,” she spoke softly.

 

[Distain2003]

He placed his hand on her chest to stop her from getting any closer he was not certain what she was going do, but the look in her eyes made him think she wanted to hug him and he could not have that. "I swore to my father and myself and that dragon flying in the air above us that i would kill anyone who threatened me or it. I do not care who that is the men of Phier, the men of Azur, you, your father, or what ever deity you pray to to beg forgiveness for the acts you will commit on these fields. If we are threatened the threat ends will lay on the ground just like Richard. You would do well remembering that and doing the same yourself. "

He paused for several long moments he turned and made his way into the battles center to continue to search for anyone he may know. "Take some time to settle your stomach and calm yourself. I have am going for a walk if you need me i will not be more then a shout away. " He spoke firmly turning to walk into the field seeing a dragon writhing in pain as it inched closer to death.

He moved slowly to the large beast as it growled in pain lashing out at anything and everything that moved trying to bite them. As Thanos got closer her moved carefully drawing his blade carefully staying away from the the snapping jaws of the massive dragon. With one quick motion he drew the blade and buried it at the base of the dragon's skull killing it instantly its body going limp. He could then be heard mumbling softly in the language he had spoken to his own mount patting the dragons head before removing the blade and cleaning it on the glass.

Moving slowly he began patrolling the battle field again never more then 50 yards from his apprentice. He took a slow breaths as he moved around the filed slipping the ring into a pouch on his hip. Waving down his hand the dragon moved to land next to him his hand rested on its neck as he spoke quietly to it. His stance and tone sounded as though he was discussing the demise of the 2 dragons laying on the scorched field.

 

[darkangel76]

Liana gasped as the dragon rider touched her chest and pushed her away. The contact of his hand against her caused her adrenaline to surge. When he removed his hand, her skin still felt hot, like he was still touching her. She then winced at his harsh words as he spoke. They were so cold, completely contradicting the actions he’d just did. One moment he seemed to be mourning a friend, the next he was a heartless bastard. She stared into his dark eyes, silent, motionless, trying desperately to see a glimpse of the man who’d been standing before her only moments ago. Only, she saw nothing. His walls were back up in full force and no one was going to see past them. Not now.

Liana watched the dragon rider walk away. She shook her head a little as he left her there by herself. He was such a strange man. She found that she hated him, but that there was something else about him that intrigued her. It was as if there was a story behind him, a story that wasn’t typical of most men like him, one who was a warrior, a dragon rider. Something inside her told her that there was still more to him than the glimpse he’d given her not too long ago. That the glimpse was merely the first layer of several of who he was beneath that black armor.

Liana watched the dragon rider approach a dragon in the distance. He drew his blade and eventually plunged it into the beast’s skull. Covering her mouth, she turned away from what she’d just witnessed. Her stomach felt queasy. She was going to be sick. Trying to recover, she looked over at him once again. He was petting the beast he’d just killed, talking to it. It was all so odd. She didn’t understand what he was doing at all and it only piqued her curiosity about the man who was to train her.

The dragon rider cleaned his sword and continued to patrol around the scorched battlefield. Liana just watched him from afar, taking note of what he did and how he moved. Suddenly, he made a strange gesture with his hands and arms and within minutes, his massive black dragon was by his side. She tilted her head as she watched him talk to the beast, like it was a friend. Such odd behavior for such a man.

Heaving a sigh, Liana walked along the battlefield. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the dragon rider and his mount. As she walked, her heart felt so very heavy. So much death and destruction surrounded her. It made her feel sad, made her wonder if the war was truly worth it. It had been going on for about a century, if not longer and she also wondered if her people even knew the reason as to why the war had started in the first place. If that reason even really mattered at this point. To her, nothing seemed worth this amount of chaos or devastation.

Bodies were strewn about. Humans, dragons. The smell was putrid, though Liana found her nose adjusting to it slightly. As she looked down at the bodies, she realized that some of them were not fully dead. Some were in great pain.

“Help me,” came a raspy voice. Liana’s head snapped in the direction of the voice and she went over to its owner, a young man bearing the colors of Azur.

Liana knelt down next to the young man she didn’t know and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “There now, it’ll be all right,” she said, trying her best to remain calm. She could see that he was missing a leg and that a gash along his abdomen exposed a few of his organs.

The man looked up into Liana’s face. “No… it won’t,” he replied, his voice hoarse. He blinked a few times, “Your highness,” he stated.

“Shhh…” Liana said, her eyes tearing.

“My lady, what are you doing in such a place?” he asked, his voice soft, a mere whisper.

“I was called to become a dragon rider. Much like you, kind sir,” Liana answered. She smiled at him, trying her best to hold back her tears. “I hope to one day be as brave and skilled as you.”

“You flatter me, your highness,” the man said before a fit of coughs wracked his body. He spit up some blood and smiled up at her.

Liana smiled back, trying not to pay any mind to the blood.

“Thank you for letting my last visions of this world be of such a beautiful lady, your highness.”

“Now you flatter me,” Liana spoke. “Rest now. Rest.”

The man nodded, his breathing sounding weaker. “Aye, the eternal rest,” the man whispered. “Stay with me as I pass.”

Liana nodded and took the man’s hand in her own. She stayed by him until he stopped breathing, his body going limp. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she felt a sob bubble up from deep inside her chest. She let go of his hand and looked up. In the distance, the dragon rider was watching her. She wondered what he was thinking. Probably that she was still a joke, not fit to learn a damned thing. Slowly, she stood up and, with a heavier heart, began walking back toward him.

 

[Distain2003]

Nathan leaned back against the dragons neck allowing it to take his weight as he relaxed a bit. Speaking softly to him about the man who's ring he now held. Telling him stories of how the pair had fought side by side and how he missed having someone over his shoulder he could trust. Both seemed to agree that it would be nice to have someone to watch their back it was tiring watching every thing on the battle field. It was quickly making his body grow tired and feel much older then he actually was.

His eyes fell to the young woman in his charge as she milled around his mind wondering on how to train her. When he had started he knew so much more then her he had grown up around riders. He felt bad for holding her past against her, then again most held his past against him so why should he feel any different. His mind wondered about how to teach the young girl how to be a dragon rider and the first came to be fairly obvious he needed to teach her to wield a blade. Walking forward he reached down and undid the belt of a fallen soldier.

With one firm motion he removed the belt holding the blade to the deceased soldiers hip along with the scabbard. Moving to the other side of him he took the blade from his hand and cleaned it slowly. Inspecting it he nodded and placed it back into the scabbard looking down at the dead soldier in front of him his eyes scanning for some form of identification. Finding none he frowned as the princess approached his eyes having caught her consoling the dieing and he did not like that. He was going to have to harden the young woman or she would leap from her mount after her first kill.

When she was standing before him he held out the blade to her and waited for her to take it. Once she had done so he looked at her then at the dead man next to them. "Thank this man for giving you your first blade now... you just need to learn to use it. " He took a deep breath and moved to the dragon waiting for her to come to him so he could place her on its back. The beast sank to the ground again to make mounting him easier for both riders, the beast most saw as violent and evil was proving he was better behaved then most horses.

 

[darkangel76]

Liana eyed the dragon rider as she approached him. The look on his face was one of hardened disappointment. She wondered if she’d done something wrong. Though how was this possible? She’d only been on the battlefield for a short while, hadn’t done anything at all. So why he looked at her like that confused here.

Standing before the man, Liana looked up into his brown eyes, her cool blue ones sore from the sights she’d seen.

“Thank this man for giving you your first blade now… you will learn to use it,” the dragon rider stated.

Liana gasped as realization hit her. The dragon rider had taken one of the deceased’s weapons and was giving it to her to use. How this man could take something from one of these poor, dead souls was beyond her comprehension. They’d just died brutally in battle, away from their friends, their loved ones. Upset at the dragon rider’s actions, she cast her eyes downward, not wanting to touch the blade that clearly didn’t belong to her.

The dragon rider stood there in silence, the blade he was handing her still extended for Liana to take. She looked up at him once again, her heart twisting, aching. Reluctantly, she took the blade he offered, holding it awkwardly as she examined it. Almost immediately, he walked away from her and back to his dragon who readied itself for its riders.

Liana stood there for several moments just staring at what the dragon rider had given her. Finally, she let her legs move her body forward, toward the beast that would carry them to their next destination. Toward the cold-hearted dragon rider who would be training her.

“How could you just take this from that man?” Liana asked. She needed to know how he could detach himself so easily. It seemed impossible and she didn’t know if she could do that. Or if she wanted to be able to do that. Her eyes teared up a little, though she managed to prevent herself from crying. “How do you expect me to learn how to use such a thing? He only just died.”

Liana bit her tongue just then. She knew she’d more than likely said too much, had made the dragon rider angry. She probably confirmed his thoughts about her too, sealed her fate as the laughing stock of dragon rider apprentices. She looked into his eyes, her own begging for him to understand where she was coming from, though she held no hope for such a reaction despite what she wanted and needed.

 

[Distain2003]

He was a bit annoyed she took so long to take the blade but he understood he still saw these corpses as people. When she finally took the blade he turned looking to this dragon rolling his eyes he was so frustrated with the young woman. Training her was going to be the biggest challenge of his life and he knew that. At this point he was beginning to believe this task impossible. She was to nieve, to weak, and to stuck in her old ways to be of any use to him.

He turned looking at her as she spoke to him causing him to grow annoyed as she spoke and her words frustrated him even more. "How could you take this from that man?"

"He is dead, i don't think he is going to use it or care." He said calmly coldly, in a very matter of fact sort of way, the man on the ground was just a body to him one he had seen many of.

"How do you expect me to learn how to use such a thing? He only just died." Her words set him off it was so frustrating for him to hear her speak like that to him he wanted to smack her but he held his fist.

"I don't... I expect you to fail miserably. "He said sternly looking her in the eyes he meant that with ever bit of his being he expected her to be a failure. Frustrated by the end of her statement he drew his sword and tossed it into the dirt before her the sharp blade burring into the dirt a few inches. The unique etchings and curves on the blade made it distinct then the simple sword she was holding in her hand, who's only marking was on the hilt the symbol of her kingdom.

"That blade came from a dead man as did this armor and the saddle i normally ride. They where taken from my father and his father before him, and their blood still stains all 3. A weapon will do a body no good all of these weapons will be collected by the winner of this fight soon enough and taken to be given to another soldier who will fight and die with it. " He hissed reaching out snatching the blade from her hands and throwing it down to the ground before her. He then gathered his blade and placed it in his sheath.

"If you can not handle bearing the blade of another then don't. You would only dishonor the blade of someone who fought and died for something they believed in. Now get on we have a long flight ahead of us and i would like to get some sleep tonight. " He snarled turning back to her again grumbling again in the tongue he used with his beast cursing her constantly he was so angry right now he could kill her and not bat an eye.

 

[darkangel76]

The dragon rider’s words were like spears of ice piercing Liana’s heart. They were beyond cold and said so very much. At least he admitted that he thought her a failure. Better to say it aloud and keep nothing hidden, she decided. But that didn’t make it hurt any less. She’d been under this man’s ‘wing’ for only a few hours and this was what he thought of her. She wondered if he hated her too. Based on his tone and candor, she wouldn’t doubt it. It was clear that he did not want to be the one training her, that he wanted to be as far away from her as possible. Well, that was good as far as she was concerned because the feeling was mutual. Unfortunately, things were as they were. They had no choice but to endure each other’s company. She would grit and bear it, heed the call. But it didn’t mean she’d like it and it didn’t mean she’d always comply with his orders. Yes, she’d show him when she could.

Liana narrowed her eyes as the dragon rider told her she’d be dishonoring the man who previously owned the blade if she didn’t take it willingly. She wondered how much truth there was in his words. Though she hated him, she had to concede that he probably believed what he was saying whether or not it was true. The way he’d knelt down over his friend, the way he talked to his dragon. There had to be a shred of humanity within him. Somewhere. She just wished he could show that to her and not just to those who’d died. But even there, he still seemed distant, detached.

Looking at the blade, Liana frowned. It felt awkward in her hands. Securing it to her body, she followed the dragon rider as he began walking toward the beast that seemed to be more of a friend than anything to him. She noticed he was speaking a language she didn’t recognize. It was odd and she wondered what language it was. Maybe if she was feeling brave enough, she’d ask him about it.

When they reached the dragon, Liana looked at the dragon rider. “So now where are we going?” she asked. She shrank back a little as she looked into his eyes when he turned to face her. His expression seemed angry. It was as if he’d strike her down if she so much as gave him a reason. And it seemed like he was hoping she gave him one too. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, though she scowled to herself for the apology. He didn’t deserve one. And though he frightened her and though he was one of the most skilled dragon riders of Azur, she didn’t feel that she needed to ever feel as though she owed him anything. Ever. Setting her jaw, she fixed her eyes to his once more and waited for him to unleash his wrath.

 

[Distain2003]

He set his jaw as she approached trying to control his urge not to strike her his temper as violent and in control as the dragons the riders rode. Turning he set his eyes on her as she began to prepare for what they where about do and he was glad she had placed the blade on his hip. "So now where are we going?" She spoke up and he took a deep breath about to tell her where they where going when she spoke the words that set him off. "I'm sorry."

His eyes hardened and his leather gauntlets groaned complaints about the tightness of his grip. Soon his hand raised covering her mouth his grip firm enough to the gravity of his speech but not enough to mark her. "Never say your sorry. Apologies are for those to weak to defend their actions and opinions. " His voice cold and firm as his grip making sure she knew he was never going to say he was sorry for anything he had done.

"Get on the dragon." He said firmly his hands going to her waist lifting her roughly onto the back of the dragon again before rapidly ascending the beast to its saddle. The moment he was there he lugged the beast into the air leaving it to her to hold on. He was still trying to control his temper and did not want to hurt her to badly a injury to her hands could prove a challenge to her training.

Once in the air the dragon lept to great height taking the pair far away to the northern reaches of the nation in only a few short hours. Setting in the woods along the northern border at the foot of a mountain far from the fighting to the south the dragon began to descend. Its thunderous call alerting all in the area that it was coming in to land. A bellowing roar that pieced to the very core of a person paralyzing them with fear of what was to come.

 

[darkangel76]

The dragon rider grabbed Liana by the waist and threw her onto the dragon’s back behind where he was seated. He didn’t say another word, though his expression and earlier words had said enough. The moment her backside landed on the dragon’s back, it immediately began to ascend into the air, taking flight and soaring high above the clouds.

Liana’s arms wrapped tightly around the dragon rider’s middle. She didn’t feel as though she’d been seated well and was terrified of falling off the beast, plummeting to her death. Burying her face against his back, she let her tears fall freely, her cheeks dried by the cold, harsh winds that blew past them as they flew. She needed to let her emotions out, but she now knew she could never do so in front of him. He had no time, nor the want, to get to know her as a person. It was just as well. She was his apprentice and this was a time of war. She just wished she could feel some sort of compassion, some sort of anything. The transition she was going through was rough and she understood that it had to be in order for her to learn. But this?

The ride seemed an eternity to Liana. She wanted to be back on the ground and she needed to be alone so that she could somehow let go of everything she felt inside. More than anything she wanted to scream and then to hit something. Hard. She’d love it if it could be the dragon rider, she wanted him to understand how truly difficult this all was for her, yet that despite everything she truly was trying. But she knew that would never happen. He was strong, fierce. There was no way she’d ever even remotely be his equal in a fight. He’d tear her down without a thought. Hell, he’d do it now if it weren’t for his orders to train her. She was certain of that.

Liana felt her stomach drop and she knew that they’d be landing soon. The air had gotten colder, so she knew that they’d travel north of the battlefields. Though to where they’d flown, she had no idea. At that moment, she was just glad that they’d soon be on the ground. Her entire body was tense from having to hold onto the dragon rider so tightly, fearing the fall she knew could have come given how poorly she’d been seated on top of the dragon.

The dragon let out a loud and low bellow, a roar that Liana was sure could be heard for miles on end. Daring to open her eyes, she watched them descend further until they actually reached the ground with a light and graceful thud. As soon as she was able, she slid awkwardly off the dragon and glared at the dragon rider. He told her never to apologize just before they traveled to wherever they were now. Looking at him, she raised her hand ready to strike him with all her might. She knew it would hardly do anything to him, especially since he wore that ominous black armor. But she didn’t care. She was angry, livid, at how he’d just flung her onto the dragon, not caring about her welfare. She wanted him to know she was angry and that she wouldn’t accept him doing such things ever again.