Quick pronunciations:
"Caela" = Ki – la, ('i' as in 'pie'); from the Latin word for sky
"Muna" = Moo – na
Hope you enjoy!
CHAPTER TWO: TRAINING
After rinsing my body of the sweat and blood that still lingered from the day, I exited the small wash room and went back into the main bedchamber. I had only been occupied for a few moments, but both Muna and Caela had gone already.
The priestess would sleep well that night, as would I.
Crossing to the bed, I removed the top sheet, still stained with the evidence of our coupling, and climbed in. The fire was starting to die down, and I stretched, relieving tight muscles and settling deeper into the soft mattress. It felt a little guilty lying in the magistrate's overly luxurious bed while my men slept on crude cots. But after reminding myself that I had a right as their leader to the greatest spoils of war, I began to drift off to sleep.
As consciousness slowly faded, I thought of the priestess and what a fine prize she had proven to be. But of course she was just the first of many; my campaign was to be long, and there were plenty of women from here to the King's city. And not all would be as reluctant to share my bed as Caela had been.
And with that comforting thought, I finally fell into a deep sleep.
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I awoke early the next morning, quickly got dressed, and exited the house before most of my officers had even roused.
Outside, I moved swiftly through the brisk morning air to the back of the villa, where an open field ran down the opposite side of the hill as the town. The grass was pale with dew and morning light, and soaked my pants as I walked downhill toward a large red shape near the bottom of the rise.
As I neared to my destination, I noticed splotches of red blood staining the grass as well as a few large bones strewn about.
"Talon!" I said loudly when I reached the shape, which revealed itself to be quite large and breathing, "Wake up."
With a growl and a crackling of joints, the shape began to uncurl itself from the ball it was in, becoming a very sleepy, sluggish dragon; the secret to my victory.
"What is it?" the beast grumbled through large teeth, blinking its large yellow eyes blearily as it stretched its long, scaly neck.
I took a step back as Talon spread his wings and red leather with intricate black patterns briefly shaded me from the weak morning sun.
"I wanted to talk to you," I said as he finished and stood up fully on large, low legs, "We didn't have a chance to last night."
Well over fifteen feet tall while standing, Talon had to look down to address me, "Talk about what?" he asked flatly, tilting his head.
I rolled my eyes at him, "Just talk, Talon. After the battle I lost track of you. Nice timing on the magistrate's dragon by the way," I added, referring to his expertly placed kill of the town's previous owner's beast.
"Sorry it took so long," Talon apologized, misunderstanding my statement, "He had a field-runner. They can't fly but they slink along the ground faster than I can, so it took a while to catch him."
"Most towns in this region favor them for their herding abilities," I nodded, "But thank you for your tenacity."
"Why must you hold to that old tradition anyway?" Talon asked, "I thought the old order was exactly what you were fighting against."
"Killing your rival ruler's dragon predates any order I'm fighting against," I said solemnly, "And if I am to wear the mark of a tamer, then I should hold their rules sacred." I was referring to the tattoo of a dragon that wrapped around my right bicep, placed there soon after I had found Talon as an egg in the desert.
Talon sniffed, "Well I think it's silly."
Very young by dragon standards, Talon's attitudes were understandable. And while he had matured physically into a magnificently fierce creature, he had much to learn about human-dragon relationships.
"I saw you got plenty to eat," I said, changing the subject and looking around at what I assumed was the magistrate's dragon's bones.
"I am still quite full, yes," Talon said, "But I saw some sheep off in the distance if I get hungry again."
I nodded my approval, "So what do you have planned today?" I asked.
"Sleep," Talon rumbled, "I have not gotten enough of it since we left the desert and these chilly mornings leave me lethargic."
"It will only get colder from here on out," I warned, "Work on your fire-breathing in the meantime. Once a flame burns within you, you won't be cold any longer."
"Easy for you to say," Talon sulked, and then began walking around in small circles, "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to sleep."
"Nice talking with you," I said as he flopped to the earth, "I will be back later; first I have some business to conduct."
"Have fun," Talon yawned, and I turned and walked away, leaving him to his morning activities.
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Back at the house, I was pleased to find my officers had all risen and had their servants making breakfast. A large table had been set up in the main foyer, and I took my seat at its head while I waited for the meal to be served.
Nobody bothered me until the priestess, Muna, slipped into the seat to my right. With long, shiny black hair that framed a strong face and large, green eyes, Muna was the most beautiful woman I had ever known. A priestess of the earth, she obeyed an entirely less savory set of rules than Caela, who was a priestess of the sky.
I did not care much for religion, but Muna's skills in magic and medicine made her invaluable to me. And the men loved her as well, many of them having already found themselves worshiping with her late into the night since the march from the desert started a little over a month ago.
"How is our new friend?" I asked her when she sat down.
