Of Magic and Dragons

A Stranger at the Tavern

As one would imagine, riding a dragon was nothing short of thrilling. Very few humans had ever seen the world from that high, and certainly not on a creature as magnificent as a dragon. It was the feeling of pure freedom with the sensation of wind buffeting you as the land below rushes past in a blur.

For the first hour or so, anyways. But then your muscles get sore, and the saddle rubs in all the worst ways, and the wind dries out your eyes.

Long distance traveling on a dragon was not all that preferable with the light racing saddle Gilbert currently owned, but making a new one better for comfort and travel would take time, money, and leather-none which he had at the moment.

Well, Gilbert did have some money, but it was useless without someplace to spend it.

So, while Gilbert loved riding, he also wanted to find somewhere to sleep. He connects his mind with Vivex's feeling a faint acknowledgment from the beast-albeit a beast smarter than he.

'Vivex, can you see a town near here?'  He asks through their connection. The albino can feel the dragon's wings ripple and move as she scans the ground below.

Gilbert couldn't make it out very well-not that his eyes are the best anyways-but they were too far up and it was too dark for the human eye in the first place. A dragon's eye was much more powerful, however, and superior of that of any hawk or eagle.

It wasn't long before he heard a rumbling grunt in his head, affirmation the she'd spotted something. Vivex projected what she saw, and he could see the image of a small town, the buildings dimly lit with flame and huddled close together, before it vanished.

'Land about a mile out, we don't need anyone seeing you,'  Gilbert directs. The dragon dips down, curving towards the right. As they grew closer to the ground, his knees tighten around the saddle to brace himself.

There was a loud thud as Vivex lands, her muscles rippling as they absorb the shock that comes with landing. 'Careful, little one'  she warns. The village and surrounding woods could be filled with any number of threats and the dragon would have to stay there instead of follow and protect her rider. Although she wouldn't be far off, she knew how good he was at getting into trouble. Gilbert rolls his eyes, arrogant as as ever.

"Please, I'll be fine. It's me, ja?" The rider was confidant, as usual. Vivex snorts, and shoves him along with her horned snout. Gilbert stumbles, but gives a harsh laugh that breaks through the stillness of the night.

He could find no easy trail through the forest-this area obviously wasn't quite a popular travel destination-but making a path for himself wasn't much trouble: the brush in this area was thin, and the trees loomed tall enough to make walking through the woods an easy task.

It isn't long before Gilbert spies the faint light of a town in the thick darkness of the night.

Gilbert strides confidently into town, finding no guards to meet him which was fairly usual for this time of relative peace, especially in smaller places like these. They had no real reason for any guards, there was nothing of value to any bandits from a small farming town like this.

The buildings were mostly wooden, closer together at first but if he tried he could see as they started spreading farther apart; the farms spread out for a few miles, he guessed.

He scanned the buildings, trying to make out the chipping black paint of old signs to find an inn or tavern-any place that will rent out a room for the night. He notices tables set up-the village must have a little market during the day. The albino reminds himself to stop by, and hopefully they would have the supplies he wanted.