Imperial

Chapter 4

Before the sun had even thought about peaking its sleepy head above the horizon, Master's sword had been prodding my now clean and shiny scales, before grumpily dragging me outside.

He did not bother with chains as he led me across the fields, towards small buildings scattered further away from the Dragon Stables. Already, lots of humans were scattered around the buildings, although some were still inside. It was no secret that the humans lived there, with all the luxury they wanted.

Warily, I eyed each building. All made from wood, and the same dusky colour. None were big, but perhaps they were just large enough for the humans to be content.

Claws sinking into the trampled earth, I narrowed my bright, reptilian eyes. Just like yesterday, today would be different. Not dragging wagons of coal from station to station, but flying. After all, Lord Raffael had said that he wanted me saddled, ready for flight.

Finally, after so many years, I would be able to return to the skies; to fly once more!

Heavy footsteps thundered ahead, and I whipped my head towards the source of the sound. Another human approached, his brown robes and pale face almost glowing against the still dark sky. He staggered over to us, clutching something in his hands. A large saddle. And of course, the all-to-familiar chains.

Nervously, I shrank away.

Noticing my unease, Master chuckled. Plucking the saddle out of the other human's arms, he strode towards me. "Help me strap it up," he ordered the human briskly, but not in the brutal and uncaring way he barked at me.

Not at all bothered by Master's command, the human shrugged. Dropping the chains at his feet, he scrambled beside Master.

Warily watching both humans from the corner of my eyes, I flinched as they drew closer. Master muttered a curse under his breath, glaring at me. With one warning glance, he tossed the saddle on my back roughly. Seconds later, the chains followed.

I cringed.

"Stay still, beast!" Master hissed furiously, tugging on those cold chains roughly. "You've got a long flight today - to Ukurauis. How you are treated there, depends on how you behave now."

As much as I wanted to fly again, and leave these desolate fields, my dream had just lost all its appeal... Every dragon knew of Ukurauis - mostly from horrid stories that had been exchanged quietly in the dead of night. Some of the older dragons had mentioned sprawling masses of buildings made of wood and stone, with humans jostling down the street. Horses and wagons frequently accompanied the humans... but so did dragons.

Just the mere idea of living in such a place surrounded by so many humans had my spine tingling in fear.

Yet that was not the scariest part. In the heart of the city, was the biggest, most wicked building the dragons had ever laid their eyes on. To humans, it was beautiful and majestic, but the older dragons had found that neither of those words fit the monstrosity that humans called a castle.

I shuddered.

A bitter voice jolted me back to reality. "You had better behave on this flight," Master's was warning me as he tugged on my chains. "Lord Raffael will be among us, and I will not have you embarrass me again. If you do... then that will mean the worst lodgings at Ukurauis for you. AND a whole heap of other punishments awaiting your return."

I did not doubt his words. His punishments were never pleasant. They'd be even worse if I disobeyed, especially now that he had warned me.

Seemingly satisfied, Master grunted.