Predator [ON HOLD INDEFINIETLY]

11: The Knighthood

The royal Knighthood. The Queen wants me to join it.

What?

"I know this is quite sudden," she continues, "but it is necessary. You are the best dragon tamer in all the world; who better to fight than you? You will train my men and lead them into battle."

"Your Majesty?"

"What is it?"

"Humans and dragons are . . . much different beings. From the time that I began to remember, I have only known dragons. Also, I'm not what one would call 'sociable'. I do not know if I will interact well with the others or if it will live up to your standards." I pause. "Do I get a chance to think this over or is this an order?"

I'm looking at the Queen, but the Princess answers instead.

"This is an order. I had a dream that a woman in armor stood atop a hill with a Black dragon above her screaming his battle call. She looked very much like you. At your feet lay dead bodies, beast and human." She walks around the table and stands before me. "I want you to do this."

I stare at her. I can't believe my ears. "A . . . dream, Your Majesty?"

Her eyes harden. This expression does not go well with her features. "You doubt me, tamer?"

"Of course not."

"Then you have three days to gather your belongings from the Yard and to arrive here. You are dismissed." Despite her dismissal, it is her who spins away from me, striding proudly from the room.

A standing ovation to the heir's performance.

I continue to stare at the doors, even though it is now empty, and drown in my thoughts.

I do not want to do this.

* * *

Briner is devastated. "They're taking you away?"

Lord Strike bangs his fist on the table. "I can't believe she's doing this to me!" he growls. "Your Pahcove's only tamer! Does she expect us to suddenly lower our standards after a decade?"

I simply stand in front of them with a hand on my whip, trying to comfort myself. Leaving Briner with no tamer is one thing I am fretting about.

The other is Daemo'cch.

Am I just expected to leave him? He'll eat everyone up! Taking me away is a hazard to the rest of the 'residents' here in the Yard. Didn't anyone from the Royal Council think of this? It's not a secret to anyone about our legendary Black dragon that is nearly impossibly to tame and please.

I'm the only one who can approach him easily.

"Excuse me," I say quietly. "But may I be excused? I need to check on the dragons."

Briner is gazing down at the table, still dismayed, and absently waves his hand in my direction. I turn and leave.

I try not to run to the dens.

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A/N: Hi~ This chapter is a bit short and I'm sorry about that. It's just that this story just took a sharp U-turn on me and now I have no freaking idea where it's going. I might go back and delete some stuff so bare with me, my limited readers~