A Dragon's Journey

Chapter 2: Training Body And Mind

Karn and Hyndla walked through the market, Hyndla hadn't changed anything about her outfit, Karn though had taken time to change into looser, more comfortable black robes.

"You are aware the robes make you stick out even more than just not being a Dwarf does." Hyndla said with one eyebrow raised.

Karn nodded "Stealth isn't the plan. If this merchant has more of these cursed artifacts these robes will help." To demonstrate Karn poured mana into the robe and it began to glow with swirling draconic symbols.

"Well. at least magic means it doesn't take me long to change." said Karn

With a frown Hyndla kept walking through the market, Karn on her heels. Something appeared to be bothering Hyndla but Karn didn't know what to say, especially since the dwarf seemed to be firmly in the camp of wanting her to be anywhere but here.

Hyndla's mind was racing, this day hadn't been anything like she expected. First she gets invited to a feast out of nowhere, then the King walks up with a damn lizard talking about her like she's his best friend and suggesting cooperation. To make it all worse, the woman's polite as can be, if people didn't call her Princess you'd never know she was even nobility. Where was the arrogance and delight in cruelty she'd always been warned about?

With a sigh she made up her mind to at least get some answers "So, why does his majesty treat you like you're his own kin?" A small smile graced Hyndla's lips when the dragon seemed to jump at the sudden breaking of silence, then a look that seemed almost wistful graced Karn's features and for the briefest moment Hyndla found herself lost in those red eyes before snapping herself back to attention

"It happened quite by accident" Karn started with a small laugh "We happened to meet on one of his majesty's diplomatic visits with my father. He found me in the garden drawing flowers so he just sat down beside me and started talking like we'd known each other all our lives."

A small flush of embarrassment colored Karn's cheeks "He began talking about Valla, about the Dwarven people, he taught me the story of Brunhilde and I was enraptured. At that time my father's reign was still young, King Beowulf's beard was still brown, and the Draconic kingdom's nobility were still mostly arrogant pricks."

"My father always told me that we dragons weren't superior. It took time for me to understand that, but his majesty helped, he opened my eyes to the truth of my father's words and he started a trend of my father bringing in many tutors of other races to help me understand the world and the people that're in it."

"When a dragon reaches their two hundredth year we are sent to travel the world. In the old days this was designed to allow the young a chance to cut loose and release all their childish aggression before coming home to be upright and respectable. My father wants this to be a journey to understand the other people of this world, I'm the trial run and something of a goodwill tour on the side."

She stopped talking and turned to Hyndla "I'm really sorry for all that rambling on. I tend to get carried away." Hyndla suppressed a laugh as the dragon's embarrassed face was just adorable.

Hyndla stopped herself, what was she thinking? A dragon? Cute? Utter nonsense, she shook the thoughts from her head.

"It's fine, I asked after all. The King was right about one thing at least, you're certainly an impressive mage."

Karn's smile was radiant "I appreciate that Hyndla." She paused, "Got him, come on"

Karn began speeding up and Hyndla kept pace. Sure enough just ahead there was a stall set up with all sorts of baubles and jewelry, plus a blue feathered avian hawking the wares.