Dragon Mine - Chapter Two

Still not sure about the title but I'll just keep it for now.

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At the barracks on the west side of the castle Tennon made ready for his trip to Lady Aoife’s territory. Despite being given an invitation to visit the supposedly friendly nation, Ethan new better than to take that at face value. Glad to be out of the monkey suit from earlier Tennon checked himself over, making sure his armor was in good condition. The chest piece was mostly made of dragon hide, an extremely durable but also flexible material. On top of that he wore half chest piece of armor made of draconium that covered the left side of his chest. Pauldrons covered his shoulders while gauntlets and greaves covered his arms and feet, all of which were also made of draconium.

Draconium is a powerful mineral found only where dragons reside, so the mountains surrounding Dohvic were filled with it. Used to make weapons and armor it has twice the strength of steel but only half the weight, it also has a multitude of alchemical and magical uses. Because of this, it is highly sought after by the nations outside of Dohvic and was therefore the heart of Dohvic’s trade.

Lastly Tennon checks the runes inscribed on the underside his gauntlets, making sure there were no major deformations in them that could ruin their use or purpose. Finished with his inspection Tennon grabs his knapsack filled with food, his blades, and other commodities off the floor and makes his way toward the door.

Catching his reflection in a small mirror Tennon stops and looks at himself, his face was flush, his short brown hair was slightly frazzled, and his hazel eyes had a nervous glint to them. Giving himself a mental shake Tennon closes his eyes and begins taking deep calming breathes. After a few moments he open his eyes and sees his face was no longer flush, having returned to its naturally sandy tone. His prominently brown eyes with hints of blue and golden hues were now steady and full of determination.

“Nothing you haven’t done before.” Tennon tells himself, pushing aside the fact that this was his first official mission.

Continuing outside; Tennon watches as soldiers trained and ran drills under the watchful eyes of Dragon Captain Holdis in his human form.

“I thought you were off duty this week.” Tennon called out to Holdis as he made his way over.

Holdis was a fire dragon, in human form he has the appearance of a gruff muscled man in his forties with brown hair and red eyes. His red horns protruded from the sides of his temple and went up, his left horn was currently smaller than his right due to it being broken during a sparring session with Brock. He was a good natured and friendly dragon, but when it came to training, he was a stern taskmaster that all the cadets dreaded.

“What, and give these guys a vacation? Over my dead body.” Holdis answers with a smile. “Hey, what in the hells are you doing!?” Holdis calls out to a group of cadets who had been running around the training ground in full armor and had stopped to catch their breathes. “You stop running when I tell you to or if you’re lucky enough, dead! Now move your arses!!!”

The cadets, clearly exhausted, began trudging their feet around the training ground.

“Keep pushing them the way you do, and they very well might kill you, don’t think the thought hadn’t crossed my mind when I was put under you.” Tennon states with a grin.

Holdis lets out a boisterous laugh, “Aye, but you were the only one capable of doing it at the time.” I look of realization then crosses Holdis face, “Forgive me, I just realized I should be saluting you.”

The position of being Lord Rai’s Right Eye, was something of a combination between an adviser and a captain. The Right Eye oversaw a group of human and dragon soldiers who served under Lord Rai directly. Since the group was outside the standard army and the Right Eye reported directly to Lord Rai, the position was considered above captains, but below Commander Brock.

Tennon stops Holdis, “No, I don’t want the cadets to see you saluting me, because then they’ll start nagging me to save them from you.” Tennon jokes.

“Ha, they wish!” Holdis chuckles in amusement. “Now then, you’re dressed rather well, big date today?” Holdis jokes, but his eyes held a serious expression.

“You say that as if I even have the time!” Tennon scoffs keeping his tone light and friendly. “No, I’m checking in on an old acquaintance, hopefully we’re still on good terms.” Tennon answers vaguely while giving Holdis a knowing look.

Tennon had been told not to share his assignment with anyone just yet so this subtle and silent conversation was all he could give his friend. Holdis continues to smile but the glint in his eyes hardens, showing his understanding.

Just then a horn announcing the someone’s arrival is heard; Holdis and Tennon watch from afar as Captain Foudre and his platoon of soldier’s return from border patrol.

“He’s going to be a joy to be around once he hears news of your promotion.” Holdis states sarcastically.

Tennon sighed, Foudre was a lightning dragon with horns similar, though smaller, to those of Lord Rai and believed that made him better qualified to be his Right Eye. Even before his father’s injury, Foudre had made numerous pleas to Lord Rai to let him be given the position, the final time stating that a human wasn’t worthy of it. Lord Rai proceeded to break Foudre’s jaw and barred him from ever bringing up the subject again. Undeterred Foudre then tried a different tack by trying to woo Lord Rai’s daughter Leilani, he thought she would easily fall for his handsome features, which even Tennon had to admit were a sight to behold. His golden hued skin combined with his blonde hair and green eyes were, as many females and some males could attest, quite captivating. But Leilani saw right through him and harshly rebutted him, stating she knew more humans worthy of her then him. Since then, Foudre has had a disdain for humans, Tennon and his family in particular.

“I think it best I leave before then.” Tennon replies and bids Holdis farewell.

As he makes his way towards the stables, Tennon senses a presence following him, but he just smiles and pretends not to notice.

Reaching the stables, Tennon enters and makes his way toward the last stall on the right which was his.

“Hey William, how are you feeling today, you ready to go on a trip?” Tennon calls out in a coddling tone.

A blue horse sized dragon sticks his head out of the stall and let out a happy cry, Tennon begins petting the dragon and gives it a scratch under its chin, eliciting another happy cry. Looking at William, Tennon is always taken aback by the great disparity between dragons. Unlike Lord Rai and other intelligent dragons, who are treated like gods. Those like William with only animal like mentalities are kept and trained like horses to carry people and supplies, some are even kept as pets. Those who cannot be tamed and are violent in nature are treated like beast to be killed, harvested, and eaten, even by other dragons.

“Come on, let’s stretch out those wings and get you warmed up.” Tennon states as he opens the stall.

The blue horse sized dragon known as William steps out of its stall, Tennon opens the stable doors leading outside allowing William to exit. William stretches out its front legs like a cat, letting its talons dig into the dirt and then stretches out its hindlegs. After giving its body a quick shake William unfurls its wings stretching them out and then slowly takes off into the sky.

Tennon quietly watches as William flies in circles the sky; having judged this the perfect opportunity, the presence from earlier rushes toward Tennon. Just as the presence is about to make contact with Tennon’s back, Tennon steps to the left and grabs the arm that was reaching for him. Using their momentum, Tennon pulls the arm and stick out his foot tripping them and flipping them over on to their back with a soft thud.

“You’re getting better princess; you might just get me in a few more years.” Tennon states cheekily.

Lord Rai’s daughter Leilani props herself up off the ground with her elbows, “You know I hate it when you call me that, it doesn’t even make sense, my father is a lord not a king.” She states with a scowl.

Tennon smiles and extends his hand to her; after a moment of glowering Leilani takes his hand and pulls herself up. Tennon watched and waited for his childhood friend to pat the dirt off her form fitting trousers and shirt. She was a head smaller than him with golden-brown skin and long raven hair that was currently in a neat ponytail. Her horns, which came out the side of her head and went up and curved back, were currently covered by black fabric. Normally this was unheard of, dragons took great pride in their horns and would never cover them up, but for Leilani there’s was reason

“Shouldn’t you be with your tutor?” Tennon asks.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t come to see you off, especially given where your going!” Leilani states excitedly.

“And how do you know where I’m going, no one is supposed to know?” Tennon asks sternly.

“Aaa…I…mmm.” Leilani stammers as she tries to come up with an excuse.

“You were listening in on our meeting using the wind.” Tennon accuses.

Normally there are wards and runes to prevent such a thing, but as Lord Rai’s daughter she was privy to the ways around the ones in her father’s study.

“Well, I have to practice somehow, father can only teach me about lightning, and we can’t trust anyone else to do it!” Leilani exclaims and pouts.

“Shhhh!” Tennon looks around, “Careful, not so loud.”

Leilani turns away in frustration.

Tennon sighs, he couldn’t really fault her logic, only a select few knew of Leilani’s ability to control both wind and lightning, it tied into the reason her horns needed to be covered. Leilani was born from the union of Lord Rai a lightning dragon and his late wife Lady Lyse a wind dragon. Normally when a dragon is born of two different types, they take after either the mother or father, one or the other. But Leilani is different she was born a hybrid, both a lightning and wind dragon, evident by her topaz and emerald-colored horns, and scales when in dragon form. As a hybrid, Leilani was powerful for a dragon her age, one could only imagine how powerful she will become once she reaches her father’s age. The problem was what the other lords would make of her, the tentative peace between them was already in question, her hybrid nature could be seen as a threat or more likely an excuse. It also called into question the reasons for the Great Dragon War centuries ago. Until more could be learned, Leilani’s hybrid existence was to be kept a secret, which was difficult for a brash and rebellious dragon such as her.

Tennon places his hand on Leilani’s shoulder, “Things will get better, just give it time.”

Leilani sighs and rolls her eyes, “Are you going to see your family before you go?” she asks disregarding Tennon attempt to comfort her.”

Tennon sighs and drops his hand from her shoulder, “Yes, there are a few things I need to ask my father before I go.”

“Well tell them I said hello, and that I’ll be over for dinner later tonight.” Leilani states before running back towards the castle. “And make sure you come back alive!” Leilani calls out before disappearing completely.

Tennon gives a small wave in the direction Leilani ran off to and then looks up toward sky where William was still flying.

“William, come!”

William quickly swoops down and lands a few feet from Tennon.

“Good job.” Tennon states as he scratches the underside of the dragon’s jaw.

Grabbing his saddle from the stable; Tennon places it on top of William and secures his bag before getting on.

“Alright William, go!”

The dragon quickly takes to the skies with Tennon on its back; after giving William a few moments to get use to his weight, Tennon directs William to his parent’s house just outside the castle walls. Landing softly in front of his parent’s home Tennon took a minute to admire the house he grew up in. Despite his father’s prestigious position and the wealth that came with it, his family home was a simple two-story house. No servants or gaudy furnishings, his father saw no need for them, and his mother Isa loved to cook, some would even say she was the best cook in all of Coerth, Tennon included.

With a smile Tennon goes up the steps of his home, the wood whining under the weight of his armored feet, and opens the door, “I’m home!”

“In the kitchen!” His mother’s familiar voice replies.

Walking into his kitchen; Tennon finds both his parents and sister, Alma, at the table enjoying a hearty lunch. His father sat at the head of the table with his mother beside him, while his sister sat opposite their mother.

“I came by to let you know I’m leaving Coerth for a while.” Tennon states as he leans down and kisses his mother on the cheek.

“Do you have time to eat?” His mother asks, preparing to stand and serve him.”

Tennon holds up his hand, “No, I just came by for a quick visit.”

Tennon’s sister stops eating and looks at him in surprise, she was a few years younger than him with dirty blond hair like their mother and their father’s brown eyes.

“I’m seeing someone, a dragon. His father is one of the nobles under Lord Rai.” Alma states with a smile. “He’s very kind and has been treating me well.”

“You both might be getting a baby brother or sister; your father and I are thinking of having another baby.” His mother reveals with the same smile his sister had.

The reason for their sudden announcements was because of Tennon’s use of the words ‘quick visit’, in the past when their father said them, it meant that he was leaving on a hidden mission. From the outside it would seem that Tennon and his family were discussing their recent announcements, but in truth the real conversation was happening between Tennon and his father via taps with their fingers.

‘Where?’ Tennon’s father taps.

‘Noct.” Tennon taps back.

They do this while still talking to Isa and Alma; to avoid suspicions from any prying eyes and ears, the questions and answers had to be simple and quick.

‘Friends?’ Tennon taps, referring to any people they might have or can use in Noct.

‘None.’ His father taps in reply.

Tennon had already knowns this, but he wanted to make sure, though retired his father was still a wellspring of information and contacts, one he would not let go to waste.

‘Danger?’ His father taps.

‘Uncertain.’ Tennon taps back.

After a pause Tennon taps to his father, ‘Lord?’

‘Unknown.’ His father answers.

So even his father has not met Lady Aoife.

“Well, you just make sure he respects you, because I don’t care if he is the son of a noble dragon, I’ll kick his ass if he tries anything.” Tennon states, his mind now focused on the conversation him, and his sister had been having. “Alright, I have to go. Also, before I forget, Leilani is sneaking out to have dinner here again.”

“I’ll make sure to have a plate waiting for her.” His mother states.

“Yay!” His sister exclaims excitedly, friends since they were babes, Alma and Leilani friendship quickly grew into a sisterhood.

Using the cane Tennon had not seen on his lap, Tennon’s father stands, his use of a cane is from a wound that was not healed fast enough and is the reason for his retirement. Even so his father stood tall, his pride and sturdy body refusing to show any sign of weakness.

Making his way over, Herbert stands before his son, he thinks back on the days when the boy’s height barely reached his knee, but now stood a mere inch below him. Pride filled him as he motioned for his son to embrace him.

Tennon hugs his father, who’s hold he felt even through the layers of armor, a testament to the strength still in him.

“Good luck, my son.”

Bidding his family farewell, Tennon returns outside and calls for William, who had apparently spotted and hunted a wild rabbit while he was inside. William happily bounds over to Tennon, his maw still covered in blood, content with its snack. Tennon quickly mounts the dragon and takes off into the sky toward Noct.