Kevin crept as quietly as he could towards the beast. It was a youth, but no less dangerous for it. A light puff of smoke issued from its nostrils as it snored. In the waning daylight a faint gold shimmer covered the creature’s bronze scales. This was it. This was his dragon. If he could tame this magnificent beast, he might finally be free.
Only the bravest warriors and the dumbest stablehands tried to tame a dragon. It was impossible in their infant stage. The young dragons had no control over their fire for the first few decades. Though retaining much of its feral nature, dragons became far more sedate and even cordial after a couple hundred years. Armed with an enchanted collar, if a tamer could get it around the neck there was a high chance the dragon would suffer the saddle. At least that is what everyone said. A beast around 100 would respond well to offers of food. This dumb stable hand was ready.
All Kevin had to do was get the collar on it. At least that was the most important step. Once the collar was on it couldn’t breathe fire. Then all he had to do was convince it not to eat him. He had yet to come up with a plan for that. If he could get the saddle on it he might stand a chance. He just knew there was no turning back now. The knight he served, a baron’s son named Martin, would have noticed the missing saddle by now. Martin had promised him knighthood. However over the years he had come to realize the role of Page simply meant slave to the knight. All or nothing, he thought.
Somehow he had reached the dragon’s head without waking it. There was no time to stop now. Almost without thought he draped the spell worked chain over the dragon’s neck. As soon as the metal touched its hide the collar wrapped itself around and fastened tight. The beast was awake in moments and Kevin sprang away from it, landing in the dirt.
There was a long moment in which the two simply stared at each other. Kevin could not read anything in the dragon’s expression. He took a step towards it and waited. The dragon did not move. He tossed the side of lamb at it and the best did not take its eyes off him. He took another step, then another. The beast did not move one muscle. After many tense moments he arrived face to face with it. A deep scar split the dragon’s face from the left brow to its jawline. It only served to make the dragon’s stare more intense.
The dragon let out a low growl as Kevin continued to its back. He could see its muscles tense as he placed the saddle on. The enchanted straps did themselves up and the growling intensified. Kevin braced himself, counted to three and hopped on.
He had barely enough time to grab hold of the saddle handle before the beast took off. The dragon sped through the clouds with Kevin screaming. They flew over the mountain it had taken him a week to get to in a few minutes. It dove into the woods to weave around trees, with Kevin barely hanging on. They flew up into the clouds again, higher and higher until the mountains became small dots. Kevin clung to the beast, shivering in fear. After a time the beast slowed, allowing Kevin a moment to breathe. He kept a firm grip on its neck as it plunged back down towards the earth. As it neared the tree line an arrow shot passed, barely missing the dragon’s shoulder. It roared and landed on a rock ledge.
Kevin recognised the banners as the search party led by Martin went below. The group all had the same grim look. Except for Martin. His face wore a look of malice. Kevin shivered at the thought of being captured. The dragon looked from Kevin to the group and back. He still couldn’t read its face. He stood frozen in place, waiting for a miracle.
Martin was shouting with joy all the things he would do to Kevin when a mist began to rise around the group. A few of the men were spooked, and despite Martin’s best efforts, the group fled the area.
Kevin watched Martin leave. Only then did he notice the dragon billowing smoke down into the small gully. The collar had fallen off during the flight. The beast turned to stare at him again. He stood and froze. What now? The dragon cocked its head and waited. Without thought, Kevin strode to it and hopped into the saddle. A new home.
C.M. Wellsmore 