Fire And Blood

The Company Of The Rose Part 3

Aegon XV

The bloody piece of meat in his hand felt heavy as Jadewing's deep bronze eyes followed it with each slight movement.

It was early in the morning and the sun was still rising. A sailor stood close by with a bucket on hand and a large barrel filled with water next to him, near to the otherwise deserted aft, where he and Jadewing were standing across from each other but far enough to not be a distraction.

His she-dragon had her wing joints folded and was leaning on her claws as front legs. Her long neck stretched forward, he could see her nostrils flaring as she breathed in the scent deeply. Then, her eyes strayed from his left hand to his right, where he was holding the whip.

An angry hiss left Jadewing's throat and she retracted her neck, her cunning gaze eyeing his right hand warily. Her long tail was swaying back and forth behind her, making her appear excited, agitated or both. Likely both, Aegon assumed: excited for the meat and agitated because of the whip.

"Ilagon," he commanded firmly, making a downward motion with his hand.

Jadewing shuffled about, lowered her behind and sat down on her haunches, her eyes flicking between the meat and the whip. It was one of two commands he was training with her for now. Ilagon, which meant down, and keligon, which meant stop. He had managed to have her follow ilagon with only little hesitation since their return from the Roses those few days ago. Keligon, however, was an issue. Jadewing did not enjoy being held back when it came to her feedings. She was a vicious dragon, aggressive and generally unforthcoming.

Gaining her unconditional trust and respect would be his greatest challenge and victory, most likely in his lifetime, he knew, and the reddened skin and, so far, only shallow burns he had already collected would speak of his progress in this journey.

He threw the meat between himself and Jadewing and his she-dragon was about to lunge for it before it even touched the ground. He was familiar with that sight.

"Keligon!" he called immediately and, for the first time, Jadewing actually listened to him before he had to use the whip.

She growled in annoyance and snarled at him. Then she roared, stretching her neck towards him again, baring her black, knife-like teeth. He held up his hand, withholding his whip for a moment longer.

"Keligon!" he barked at her and this time Jadewing spat fire at him.

Seeing it coming, Aegon quickly dodged and swore, swinging his whip at Jadewing a moment later, the tip cracking against her snout, forcing her to rear her head back. She roared at him, leaning forward again and pressing her body to the deck's floor, her neck stretched as far forward as she possibly could. Anger shone through her eyes. Again, he swung the whip at her, the loud crack making Jadewing flinch away. Then, she reared back and lunged at him. Aegon jumped to the side, reached out with his left arm, grabbed Jadewing by the neck just behind her head and forcefully slammed her down onto the wooden deck, putting all of his strength and weight into keeping her pressed against the floor. Muffled shrieks and roars escaped Jadewing still and Aegon struggled to contain his furious she-dragon. Her tail whipped about aimlessly and he had to take care not to get hit, lest he break something. Her clawed wings aimed for him but could not quite reach him and scratched the ground instead.

"Keligon!"

Jadewing stilled now, though not without that annoyed, angry rumbling coming from deep within her chest – a sound that was her and her alone.

"Curb that attitude, heed my command and you will get your bloody meat," he told her through gritted teeth, carefully relaxing his grip. His fingers could not even quite reach around the back of her neck anymore. "Keligon," he repeated, more softly now.