Dragon Rider Academy Book 1

Chapter 7: Damsels in Distress

It's been thee days since Soren left for the Academy on Crosell. It's been a mostly peaceful journey. They've had to deal with a few minor monsters and a rainstorm during the trip, but nothing they couldn't handle. It was the final day of the trip and Soren knew they would arrive at the school in a few hours. Flying through the sky above a road surrounded by forests on both sides, on Crosells back, Soren enjoyed the feeling of the wind in his face. "Soren? Is everything okay?", asked Crosell.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask, Crosell?"

"You've been quite for a while now. I was just wondering if something was bothering you", answered the dragon.

"I guess I'm just excited. We'll be at the Academy in just an hour and then our journey to become true rider and dragon will begin".

"You're right. I'm very excited too. I can't wait to meet more of my brethren. Nightwing, Tyraxx and Moonstone are nice, but meeting new members of my race will be a very good experience. Not to mention, we'll finally learn how to fight as one in the air", said Crosell.

"I'm looking forward to that too, partner", said Soren as had patted Crosell.

A few minutes passed by before Crosell noticed something in the distance. "Soren, what's that up ahead on the pathway?"

Soren looked ahead. There was something going on in the distance of the road, but he couldn't quite see it. "I can't quite see what's happening. I can fix that. Far-Sight!!"

Far-Sight was a spell that those with physical sub-magic were able to use that allow them to see things from a great distance away as if they were close by. It's a handy spell if you want to look at something without moving. With Far-Sight, Soren saw what was happening and it wasn't good.

A group of bandits, about 20 of them, were standing around a carriage that looked of the highest quality. It was the type of carriage those of high noble standing would use to travel. The bandits were all men dressed in common thief garments. They were all carrying daggers, axes and swords. Some weren't even wearing shirts. There were some other men who didn't look like they were bandits because they were lying on the ground. There were dressed in regular armor that covered their chests and legs, simply iron helmets and there were lances on the lying a few feet away from them. Soren guessed that they must be the guards of whomever was in the carriage. What made Soren very concerned was what the bandits had surrounded in a circle. There were 3 girls in the middle of the circle the bandits had made. One was a human girl, one was an elf and the other was a beastmen girl. They were down on their knees with their hands bound behind their backs and gagged. Soren had a great guess that the bandits intended to sell the girls as sex slaves. Elves and Beastmen were rare in human lands and fetched a high price on the slave market.

Bandits were a common problem in the world of Tesaria. They raided villages and towns, stealing food and valuables and kidnapping women to sell into slavery or to keep for themselves. Slavery was illegal in every Kingdom, but that didn't stop bandits from kidnapping people and selling them to corrupt nobles. Nathan had a problem like that with one of the nobles in a neighboring land who was secretly selling women and children into slavery. When his father found out, he used his influence as a Dragon Rider and as a member of the Albion clan to imprison the noble, take his land and free the slaves. Selling people into slavery was something that made Soren extremely angry of how someone could do that to another person.

"A group of bandits have captured some women," shouted Soren.

"Well, then. What do you wish to do?", asked Crosell.

Soren placed his hand on the hilt of the sword his father had given him. "We need to help them! Let's make this out first unofficial act as rider and dragon and save those damsels in distress".