Dame Mara dismounted her horse some distance from the crag ahead. Fierce roars and sounds of battle issued from the crag, smoke billowing from the heart of the cavern. The knight strode forward, at just over six feet tall her shining silver armor reflected the bright sun, and her armor held over a build bulky enough to support it. She crouched down to fix a piton over the edge of the cliff, tied a rope, and slipped down into the caverns below.
The Maneater of Old Bastia lay below, a fierce dragon who had devoured many rival knights who sought to slay it. As she slid down the rope she felt heat from the beast's belly warming her armor, its fierce roars echoing through the crag.
Her boots touched down and she drew her sword and shield. Each cautious step led her closer to her quarry, her fight, and with each step the roars grew louder. Hearing the beast just on the other side she steeled herself, and wheeled around the corner with a battle cry.
She came face to face with a fierce red dragon, its head a few feet short of being as long as her entire body. Two claws could easily lift up a horse. The dragon stumbled awkwardly, snarling at her.
"Maneater of Old Bastia! I have come to do what other men couldn't and finish you off!"
The dragon roared back shaking stone loose around the cavern, a yellow glow deep in her throat that shimmered with heat.
Then she paused, sitting back up. "Wait... you're no man."
"Maneater of Old Bastia! I've come to finish you!" She charged and struck at her scales, blade bouncing off her thick hide, the dragon doing... nothing. She loafed, a touch breathless, and scooted the knight back as her sword clattered off her scales again.
"Fight me!"
"Honey, no." Came her deep voice as she pushed the charging knight back a few paces again.
"Fight me!!"
"Little knight, what did you just call me?"
The knight stepped back, ready to take another swing. "You're the Bastard of Blackstone! The Maneater of Old Bastia!"
"Well, we can do without that bastard bit." Her reply comes collected, a measure of confidence and power in the situation. "Man-eater. You don't look like a man to me, now do you?"
Still panting a confused look struck her face. The dragon laughed, very much so in control as she lowered his head to her. "No, you don't. You may address me as Velyth. What should I address you as?"
With each word the dragon spoke she could feel the bass of it in the plates of her armor. "Dame Mara, or Mara. I've come to-"
"I expect you to. You've caught me during a very private moment. Now that you've thrust yourself into that moment-" her thick tail sweeps around the cavern, walling Mara off and bringing her closer to the dragon's warmth. "I expect you to be a knight of your word."
So close to the dragon she took in her scent. Nothing like the rot and stench she was warned of, in fact the iron and firewood scent felt inviting. What Mara guessed was a purr rumbled deep in the dragon's chest as she stepped forward. "What do you mean?"
The dragon sat back, muscular legs leading to claws that lanced the stone. A toned, curved underbelly led down to powerful back legs and a thick tail currently being used to trap her. Turning her body she revealed a rounded stalagmite on the ground that glistened. Mara's cheeks turned as deep red as her cape.
"You will need to remove all that armor first. It's all very unnecessary."
"That will take a long time to do..."
Velyth curled up, crossing claw over claw as her eyes lay upon the knight. "That's what I'm hoping for."
Mara was about to speak when she turned even redder. A teasing laugh issued from the dragon's jaws as she cast the knight a sultry look. "You may always leave. I won't ram you deep inside me and use you for my pleasure, unless you wanted me to. If you want to leave, do so now before I'm worked up. Once I'm worked up you'll be mine."
Her claws flexed and closed, her rumble filling the cave as Mara turned around, and began to unstrap plates of her armor.
The dragon watched appreciatively, each plate coming off and set next to the other. Eyes drew over the muscles of her arms and how they showed in the intimate light. In just the tunic beneath her armor Mara glanced over her shoulder.