The Dragonriders

Chapter 4

A Dragon Chosen

Shirley

I wake up with a big, blue dragon head laying on my legs. During the night Celeste came into my room and apparently wanted to sleep near me. Or as it turned out, on top of me. When I stir a bit she slowly wakes up. 'Hmm... oh what? I'm so sorry, Shirley. I didn't see I was sleeping on you...'

I roll my eyes. 'Good morning to you to... you know, those legs... I'd like to use them after today as well.'

She lifts her head up. 'As always you got your way with words... now, are you ready to start your new life?'

I nod. 'I will commit myself to it. Something has changed. I understand the dragon now. The leader was there.'

She nods. 'So was I. The leader and I wanted to talk with the dragon last night, but you were there before he arrived. I heard what you both said.'

Something is off here. 'Why didn't you show yourself then? And if you were there... then why didn't you come to comfort me?'

She closes her eyes. 'This was between you and him. I should not have been there at all. However, I still have my doubts about him. Having said that, I have talked with the leader. He won't be killed.'

She did it again. How, I do not know, but she managed to find out my deepest wish and make it possible. I hug her paw. 'Thank you. This means a lot to me. I knew he shouldn't die.'

She seems a bit taken back but doesn't shake me lose. 'I am still concerned about his connection with you. However, that is a concern for a later time. For now... it is time for your lessons.'

Celeste

Shirley, as promised, does fully commit to her training. I see it and so does the Dragon Guard council member. However even I can see she is not a great swordsman. The Guard elder tries every close combat weapon with her, and every time it comes down to the same thing: she has a lot to learn. Her progress in magic is also slow. She dares try new spells more often now, but her ratio of trying new things and actually succeeding in them is still the same. Very bad.

In the week that follows I make an agreement with the Guard elder, that he trains her in the morning and I do in the afternoon. Both of us book little progress with her, however what progress we do make is precious to both of us. Eventually I see the light, and when the Guard Elder shows up again I say what I think. 'We've been going at this all wrong.'

He looks at me as if I'm on fire. 'Then what do we have to change? Bond her to a dragon now and see if she can swing a sword around then?'

I shake my head. 'No. We are training her to become a Dragon Guard. However, before she can become one she needs to have a dragon. Why not prepare her for that, learn her mostly the theory, so that later on she can use the magic I taught her to enhance her currently limited capabilities and make her able to learn the fighting?'

He thinks for a moment. 'She still has to grow natural muscles but otherwise I agree. Her reactions are to slow and she is to sluggish with the sword. She could use some support there and if you are correct, we have been going at this the thickheaded way. I'll prescribe her some exercises to do each morning to grow her muscles and focus on the theory for now. I guess you will teach her some spells to help her use her muscles more effectively?'

I shake my head. 'No. I'll go to the market first and find an Elf to sell me a spell book first, so I can learn the magic. I can't teach her if I can't do the magic myself.'

He smiles softly. 'You haven't changed a bit, have you? Still finding reasons to collect more spell books of increasing rarity. Your collection is already worth a fortune...'