Midnight Rider

A New Development

“Where did you find this?” Melzar said sharply. He looked almost scared of it, he knew what this meant.
“A cave in the mountains, in a dragon nest.” Tanwen stroked it slightly, feeling a bit protective. “I couldn’t believe it; I didn’t know what to do at first. But I want to do what is right for the people.” She looked to the man who had basically raised her. He had that slight upturn in his lip that she always looked for. She grinned at him slightly, before looking at the egg again, “And after hearing you now, I know he can’t have it. This little one needs to be taken from here, to hatch for someone that can change the tide of this land.”
“You’re sounding almost wise there lass, you are far wiser than me. I agree.... We need to get it away from here. I’ll talk to that man when he gets back. Hopefully he will be able to take you both away from here.”
“I can’t just abandon you. If I go and don’t report for my duty, you’ll be called for. He’ll know...”
“We cannot both run, and you cannot stay. You will follow my orders, when he returns you will leave with him. Hopefully you will leave before the week is out.”
Tanwen did not like the decision he had come to. She knew he had a point, but that didn’t mean she agreed with it. “We’ll ask when he comes, does that sound fair?” Melzar did not look pleased at this. But agreed to what she said with a nod. “OK then. I will take my leave. I must clean myself and then make my rounds.” She shouldered her pack after returning the egg to it, then stood to attention and saluted before making her leave.
After leaving Melzar’s office, she made her way to her rooms. She greeted the guards on duty as she was want. When she arrived, she saw Gwen, her personal maid. She greeted her as normal and had already drawn a bath for her, she then left her as she knew Tanwen preferred.
Tanwen set down her pack, taking the egg out and putting it on her desk. She briefly looked at it, the torchlight flickering off its smooth surface.  To have something so precious in her possession was unbelievable. She touched it once more, enjoying the feel of it under her fingers, before moving away and disrobing to have her bath.
Once cleaned, she dried off and put on the more informal uniform she owned. Black pants tucking into polished tall boots. Black shirt cinched with a polished leather belt, her sword at her side. She didn’t bother with the rest, officially she was not on duty. She looked to the mirror to ensure she was at least presentable. Her jet black hair was braided neatly, her uniform straight and orderly. Her green eyes showing some of the fatigue of travelling.
Happy with her appearance she left to grab some food and check with her sergeants. Stopping only to put the egg in the chest at the foot of her bed before she left. Her conversation with Melzar at the back of her mind
~~~~~~~
A couple days past and things were running normally. Tanwen oversaw her troops training during the day, instructing when needed. By night she was detailing troop movements and supply chains. However, when she retired to her rooms, she would take the egg out of its hiding place to admire it. She could swear that it would move every so often. But whenever she waited for it to happen again, it would lie still.
The day after had been a long one, however, there were rumours of the Varden moving close. Some lines had been cut and she was in the process of preparing her troops to move out. She knew the order would come down to remove the threat so it would not hurt to be ready. Melzar’s mysterious contact had also not shown his face.
She put down her quill and rubbed her face. She would get nothing more done tonight. Looking at the egg, she brushed her hand against it, the coolness of its surface calming her mind. She closed her eyes briefly until she felt movement. Her eyes flung open, and she pushed off her chair, sending it to the ground. A squeak pierced the silence.
She didn’t know what to do. It peeped occasionally, followed by a period of silence. Then all of a sudden it rocked a few times before a crack shattered the surface. A piece wobbled from the top, balancing on the dark head of what was emerging. A series of squeaks followed and the small body of a baby dragon made its way out of its protection.
It crawled away from the shards of its egg, and licked itself clean of the membrane remaining on it. It was coloured the darkest of blue, almost black, like the colour of the sky in the darkest of night. It’s wings were large, much larger than its body, the thin membrane almost see-through. And its talons were already sharp, slightly serrated on the inside.
Once it was finished it looked to her and squeaked inquisitively. She admired it and crept closer reaching out her right hand. It reached out its snout and the moment they made contact a blast of icy energy shot up her arm. The pain was indescribable as she shot back with a shout, falling to the ground. She collected herself for several moments allowing the strength to return to her limbs before she got to her knees.
She heard Gwen approaching asking if everything was alright. She shouted that she was fine, she had just lost her footing due to tiredness, that she would retire for the day. Gwen made to enter the room, but Tanwen shot to her feet and intercepted her, saying that she was fine. Gwen gave her a sceptical look. But then agreed and wished her a good night.
She then felt a consciousness brush against her mind. She reacted instantly by throwing up her walls as taught. The small dragon let out a shriek of terror, looking around before settling on her, body tense. That was when she realised what had occurred and lowered her defences. The tiny dragon chirped happily, before resuming its search of the room. Its mind was filled with curiosity, but also a ravenous hunger. She chuckled slightly and went to her travel pack. Inside was dried meat that would serve purpose for now.
As she reached for it she caught a glimpse of slight silver on her palm. Stopping abruptly, she turned her hand and stayed at the symbol on it. She’d seen this mark before, on the palms of her teacher when it was not covered. The mark of a dragon rider, the gedwëy ignasia, the shining palm. She had bonded with a dragon!
Tanwen looked at it and smiled, she was a rider. She quickly went to her pack and grabbed the meat. “Come on over, I have something for you.” She said to it. It cocked its angular head, a bit of confusion passing through the bond. Tanwen passed thoughts of food and the taste of meat to it, and it came over. She cut the meat into smaller chunks and fed it until it’s stomach was bulging slightly. Once it was content, she stroked it a low humming coming from its throat as her hand rubbed its crest.
She picked it up momentarily to determine its sex, and it squawked indignantly. The dragon was a male. She carried it to the bed and set it at her side, settling to sleep for the night. It stretched like a cat then curled next to her, its head resting on her arm.
She smiled to herself, then looked to her palm again. A dragon rider. She could help bring the change she had spoken of with Melzar. She would seek him out in the morning, but first sleep.
Tomorrow was going to be another long day.