War of the Dragons - Chapter 6
"You want to join the hunting party?" Ace asked, even his calm and measured demeanour letting some surprise through at this information. It had been two days since Ty had started joining them around the campfire, and now she had put forwards a new request. "Why? Its not something you usually do, and is left to us. Isn't it?""That depends on the lord." Ty explained with a small smile, unbothered by the incredulous expressions that surrounded her after she put forwards her request. "Whilst some prefer to keep their claws clean and let their guards do all their work. Others are a bit more claws on than others, such as myself.""More like hands on the bodies and loins of the guards." Nova muttered under her breath, get a brief flat look from Ace for the comment, before turning back to the eastern dragoness. Having taken the time to get his emotions back under control and show no more emotion as he spoke."Very well then, I shall accept your request. Do you have your own hunting gear, or will do you use the same gear as your life-sworns did?""I used my own gear, its in the carriage.""Very well then." Ace said with a nod, before turning
to address the hunting party who had been in the process of gearing up when Ty came out with her request. "Arcantos, fall out. I'll be replacing you for this hunting session." Arcantos blinked in surprise at this, halfway through strapping a hunting harness onto his chest, through he started take it off as Ace turned back to Ty and said. "I hope you don't mind, but I wish to see of your hunting prowess personally." Then, he leant in and said quietly. "Plus, I have noticed that you and Arcantos seem to be getting quite comfortable with one another and I think its time you spend some more time with the rest of the patrol when he's not involved.""Stronger bond with the guard, the stronger their wings to shield the guarded." Ty said quietly, quoting an old adage from the times of Arthurian. "I understand your reasoning. Through I can't help but wonder that you don't seem to like the idea of Arcantos get 'comfortable' with me.""Arcantos... has difficulties with cue's of body language and the small nuances of society." Ace said cooly at Ty's accusation. "And he has zero experiences with language of the heart. He has a loyal friend by the name of Teprogia back at camp. Whilst he might not see it, and possibly deny it, her feelings for him run deeper than friendship.""And what, you're scared that I might steal him away and break her heart?" Ty said, scoffing at Ace's words and hidden accusation... at least that was what she thought. Ace's next reply however quickly silenced her."No. I'm scared that you might grow fond of him, and have your own heart broken when the two finally get together." Ty was left speechless at this, staring up dumbly at the dark dragon. Ace let this information sink in before he continued. "If Arcantos moves to the east,
Teprogia will follow and become a guard as well, and not simply due to her love for Arcantos. She is loyal and see it as a duty of a friend to ensure one doesn't carry a burden alone. And it would do no one good for a Lord to fall in love with a guard... especially one that loves a different guard.""I... I see." Ty managed to stutter out looking away as she spoke. In all honestly surprised by Ace's foresight and analysis... "Yes... even one like myself could be tempted to use my powers to get the one I love... and yes... I... I can see myself growing to love him. I already admire and respect him for his silent courage, moral code and endless curiosity... if I spend more time with him... falling for him isn't hard to imagine.""Plus, one never knows how the heart might fall." Ace said quietly, his tone taking a slight wistful note that made Ty look sharply at the dragon, seeing how he was looking into the distance. His expression soon hardened however and he turned back to the lord. "Enough talking, we've delayed long enough, get kitted up." With that said, Ace turned around and marched over to the hunting gear they had been set up. Aware of Ty's eyes on the back of his head as he joined Nova in getting ready for the hunt.* * * * * * *The three dragons were silent as they flew towards a nearby forest. A prime hunting spot as indicated by the guards maps and translated by Arcantos. The silence wasn't a comfortable one, as Ty kept glance at Nova, searching for things to say, but unable to think of anything. Yet, it wasn't a tense one either, as Nova was now tolerating the Lord instead of making her a focus on hatred.After a solid ten minutes of flying, the group arrived at their location and glided into the land. Now that they had begun their hunting, there would be no talk until they managed to bag some prey. Once on the land, the three split up partially, always keeping the other two in sight and checking every three minutes. With their keen sense of smell, it wasn't long until they found a scent trail, and after Nova signalled to the others that she had found one, they quickly converged on it to follow.Moving silently through the forests was not an easy task, their size and scale not exactly making them low and sleak. Their claws meant for battle and grabbing, not spreading their weight across the floor for silent movement. Dragons weren't designed to hunt in forests, yet they had been doing so for generations, and this training allowed them to pass through the undergrowth with only the slightest of sounds.It was not long until they came onto their target. A doe, young and in her prime. Leaning down to take a drink from a brook, neither old or ill, she was not the best choice to hunt. Yet, she was the prey that the three dragons had found, so it would be she who they hunted. Nova raised her foreleg, being the one to find the scent she had the first right to try. Just as she cast her blade however, the wind changed, bringing their scent towards the doe. The deer's head shot up in alarm, and the blade landed with a thunk in the banks Before the deer had chance to react however, Ty's foreleg snapped out. A shimmer flashed across the space before the throwing blade was embedded into the doe's throat. Any noises it was going to made was choked by the metal cutting through its wind-pipe, and the deer collapsed. Splashing noisily into the stream."Damn, that likely spooked away any more nearby prey." Nova cursed softly, stepping out from the bushes and leaping neatly over to the other side of the brook. Retrieving her blade as she examined the doe. "Still, quite a lot of meat on this one. Will only need to get one or two rabbits or game-birds and we should be good for this trip. Nice throw Lordy.""Your was just as good." Ty said humbly, jumping over to join Nova alongside Ace. The wind dragoness yanking the deer out of the stream and onto the dry bank, and retrieved her own blade as well. "It was just unlucky that the wind changed as you cast it." Ty quickly cleaned her blade, before returning it to its sheathe as Nova shrugged her wings."It happens in hunting. Just glad I had someone quick on the draw on my side for once. Unlike old slow-poke Ace.""It was one time." Ace said with a sigh, as he leaned over the doe. Pulling out a much large blade and began to skin the deer. Nova snorted, even as she stepped into to help, pulling out her own skinning knife."One time you say. Well that one time just had to be missing an 18 pointer pure-white stag! A bag like that is the stuff of legends, and you let it get away without even drawing blood for us to track, or fur for us to bring back as evidence.""Yes Nova, we all know you're jealous of me thank you very much. Honestly, save your life from a Thunderwolf as a kid, and this is the thanks I get?""A Thunderwolf? As a kid? Are you serious?" Ty asked, standing and watching the two get to work. Knowing that she would just get in their way. Ace looked up at the dragoness, pausing his work in order to answer."I got pretty lucky, and it was an old, sickly Thunderwolf. Plus, saying I was a kid paints the wrong picture. I was 15 years old and well into puberty, so its not like I was a young-ling or anything." "Oh stop being so humble." Nova said, stopping in her skinning as well to talk. Though at this, Ace just glanced at her before getting back to work. Turning to her fellow dragoness, Nova explained. "It was old and sickly sure. But its resonant field was still strong enough to nearly black us out. Hell, it was so desperate for a meal that it didn't even bother stalking and pouncing. Just whammed the field on us and walked over. Even a full grown soldier would have difficulty standing straight. Yet, as I was struggling to stage conscious as this wolf stalked over, what would I see but a foreleg come down in front of me. Then heard Ace growling from above. 'You will not touch her'.""I did not say that.""Yes you did Mr. dramatic, now shut up I'm telling a story." Nova quickly turned back to Ty after glaring at Ace. "Anyway, the wolf didn't really like that and leapt at Ace, only for him to smash right into its belly and knock it back. I couldn't really see much after that and I think I finally did black out. Next thing I know, everything had cleared up, and I saw a form hunched over another. Once I scrambled to get a better view, what else would I see by Ace all covered in claw wounds and with the thunderwolf's fangs deep in his shoulder. Whilst his own jaw was fastened around it own, and the Thunderwolf was quite, quite dead."That is impressive." Ty said, turning to look at Ace with new-found respect, as the darkness dragon began removing the skin now that it had been separated from the body. "You must be one of the best fighters in your squad if you managed to take a thunderwolf at a young age.""Like I said, I was simply luck." Ace said, bundling the skin to the side and turning his attention to the task of gutting the deer. "I'm not a great fighter by a long stretch. I plan to become one however, as there is an almighty fighter that I must vanquish. So even after the three years, I will remain in the army."Ty let out a thoughtful hum at this, not entirely sure if Ace was telling the truth. One does not defeat a thunderwolf by simple luck after all, especially not when it was almost blacking out his friend. Still, that brought Ty's attention to Nova, her curiosity roused and another question coming to her lips. "So why did you decide to become an actress Nova?""Because I tried it out, and enjoyed it." Nova said bluntly in response. After a small pause were Ty frowned and Ace just looked at her, the fire dragoness snorted and rolled her eyes. "Fine fine, I'll try for a longer explanation... lets see... well. Everyone loves a good story, whilst what might be a good story differs from dragon to dragon, they still enjoy it. And pivotal to each story is the characters. Characters that dragon's hate, or pity, or respect, or admire or love. Characters, that can have such an impact on one's life, that they forever change you. Many wish to know their characters, to live as their characters even for just a few brief moments. And as actress, I can do that."Nova had stopped aiding Ace, and moved away, indicating for Ty to take her place. The lord swiftly moving in to help as Nova looked off into the distance, deep in thought. "I know that is not real, only a part of the act, the imagination. But when I get into the zone, it doesn't feel like that. It doesn't feel like I'm acting, to me. It feels like I'm actually that character... and its simply incredible. Not just being another character, but interacting with other characters, dragons of stories that I would never otherwise be able to meet, and that is something that I would never give up. Ever."The group lapsed into silence after this, Nova looking off into the distance, as Ace and Ty finished off gutting the deer. Once around half a minute had passed, Nova snorted and turned back to face the other two. "And there you have it, as sappy and dramatic as it was. Now then, we knew why Ace is a soldier, and I'm an actress. Only one left in this line of questions is yourself Ty. How come you're a wh-Courtesan? What made you want to play that job?""I've experienced first hand what's it like not to have anyone." Ty said quietly at this, standing up and moving way,
allowing Nova to take her place as the task of butchering the deer for transportation began. "You might be surrounded by friends and family, but you feel lost. Lonely. No one to turn to, no one who you can confess to, no one that understands. It was a Courtesan that brought me out of that darkness, kept me healthy and alive during those dark times... and I can't let others go through it whilst I can help them.""That's all well and good, but come on. I'm sure there's more to it than that." Noa said with a snort, pulling Ty out of her thoughts and making the air dragoness turn round in annoyance. "Its all well and good, but I'm pretty sure there's other ways to help those that need a companion.." Ty glared at Nova for breaking her focus, and for being rather rude. However, she eventually had to concede. "Yes, its more than that. I admit, that I enjoy sex, a lot. Not only that, but I've always admired Courtesans. Honestly, a lot of females do. Their elegant, classy and intelligent. They're the ones setting the trends in fashion, and setting the standard for all females to uphold to. In a way, its a bit like a Western Dragon desiring to be a strong fighter, even if you have another job. The western dragons greatly respect strong fighters, so who doesn't want to be one? Of course, I also try hard to make sure I set an example not just of beauty, but of morality as well.""So is that why you became a lord? Because you desired to set an example for the next generation to follow, and your strong code of ethics led you to become a lord?" Ace questioned, as he finished up butchering the deer, and now began cutting into the skin and wrapping the chunks of meat around it in easy to carry packs."That is why I got nominated for the position of lesser lord yes.
When the lord in that position decided to retire. Of course, to get nominated is one thing, to actually get selected as a potential is another and extremely surprising for me. Once I was in the running, I put a lot of effort into it, and when a lord. I put as much effort into being a good lord as I could, without sacrificing my job and enjoyment as a Courtesan. Which lead me to ascending from lesser lord to actual lord.""Nominated? Running? You make it sound like being a lord is like a mayor." Nova said with a snort, only for Ty to nod at the comparison."Its actually rather similar in all honesty. Lords tend to rule more than just one village or town of course, but its very similar overall. The main difference being that the Ti?npíng huì decide on who the potential lords actually are.""The what?""Its their council." Ace explained, jumping into the conversation before Ty could answer. "The ones that keep the Lords from growing corrupted and decedent and are the only ones that have a power over the Lords. Of course, they don't have full power over the lords, as the lords also have to ensure they keep clean as well.""Oh yeah, that lot." Nova said with a small dismissive snort. "Why can't they be called something simple that we all understand. Like I don't know... 'Council of Balance'? Instead of a strange exotic hard to pronounce name like whatever you just said?"Maybe we have a strange, exotic hard to pronounce name, because it is an entirely different language to Western Common." Typhose suggested a little icily at Nova's dismissive response. "This language being known as 'Eastern Common', and if you translate Ti?npíng huì from EC to WC, you would find that it already means 'Balance council' thank you very much.""Alright alright, no need to get uppity about it sheesh." Nova said, rolling her eyes and standing up. The deer basically tendons and bones now. With the meat and offal all wrapped up neatly in its skin. "Anyway, we're done here. Lets go snag a few more rabbits and then get back to the others."Typhose just looked at Nova for a few moments, toying with the idea of saying something back to her... but decided that it wasn't worth it and instead just nodded her head. "Lets get hunting."* * * * * * *The three dragons managed to get a pheasant and two more rabbits before they returned back to camp. Handing them over to their ice dragon in order to prepare the meat. Most of it being frozen there and then in order to preserve it, but the rest was simply put in the cooler bag. Keeping the meat fresh for the evening meal.With the hunt completed, the group soon got on their way once more. Arcantos noted that Ty had become a lot less talkative than she had become recently. But he didn't mind that much as he wasn't that much of a talker himself. Yeah, he can talk if he really gets into a subject or conversation, but most of the time he prefered his quiet and solitude. The rest of the journey passed by uneventfully, with Ty joining the hunt groups for both of the last two days. Ace was also in the group for the first day, but seemed to be satisfied and didn't replace anyone during the second. Though he still made sure that Arcantos didn't have any hunting duties, something Arc didn't really take much notice of.Finally, at around noon of the eighth day after the tragical ambush occurred, as they reached a bend that would take them out of a forest they had been travelling though for the last hour. Ty called the patrol to a halt, asking for them to gather round. "Once the carriage round the bend, the town will come into sight. Currently, there are a few nobles that have strong anti-western tendencies. News of myself being escorted back to eastern territories would travel fast, and once they hear of it, they would gather support quickly. One in particular would not hesitate to call on the Q? bèi pledge in blood. It would be best that your presence is left unknown.""Very well, if that is what you wish." Ace conceded, dipping his head in acceptance towards the Lord. However, he did not leave it at that, and followed it up swiftly. "It does bring up two important questions.
Firstly, how are you going to cover for the death of your life-sworn guards? Secondly, how are you going to cover our sevenfold debt to you, when we come to you a year after our compulsory time is complete?""The second one is the simpler one to answer. I was in western territories not just as a Courtesan to an Easterner, but also a diplomat and ambassador in talks with the Duke of Kuvine. I can say that I arranged for several western guards to come and serve me with him. So they can experience Eastern culture and help strengthen relations between our nations. The Duke is an astute dragon, he'll know to say that he did, but not mention who was chosen at all.""Kuvine? That's a handy coincidence, as the Duke will be able to help arrange the ship that we will require in order to get to your lands." Ace noted alongside of this information, before going onto say. "But that doesn't answer the first of my concerns, and lets be blunt here. The lie you just mentioned won't matter at all if you can't cover the first, and I doubt the Duke can help with that.""Actually, in a way, he can." Ty said with a small smile. "You see, the journey to here from Kuvine goes through a mountain pass, and the Duke expressed his concern about me taking such a path. Because there had been news of rock-slides in the area around the path. With how I had been taking the scenic route, and passed no western towns or villages that can disagree with my story, I can say they perished rock-slide.""That is a very clever idea your lordship." Ace acknowledged with a small dip of his head, but once more he didn't leave it at just that. "But there is a major flaw in that plan. Your carriage is completely undamaged, and as you haven't gone into a town or village, there is no way you could
of gotten it repaired to a sufficient level.""That is why I am asking for you to throw a small rock or two at the roof of the carriage, and smash a bigger one into a wheel." Ty said with a smile, her plan bringing exclamations of surprise from the patrol, but the lord continued as if there was no noise at all. "And then we can repair the carriage. That way, there will be sufficient evidence about the rock-slide."Very well then." Ace said with a nod, having no more arguments or questions to bring up with the Lord anymore. With a signal to the earth dragon, Ace led the rest of the patrol - along with Ty - some distance away. Keeping well out of the earth dragon's way as he set to work. First, creating three small boulders out of the earth and levitating them above the carriage before letting them drop. Smashing into the roof before bouncing off, leaving three big dents in the wood. He then combined the three boulders togethers into a much larger rock, and smashed it into the carriage's side, completely shattering the rear-left wheel, and greatly damage the side of the carriage. Job done, the large boulder was then fused back into the ground.-Once that was done, the patrol and Ty moved forwards. Quickly setting to work on patching and repairing the damage done. Timber was drawn on from the surrounding forests, being careful not to pick anything that a single dragoness would not be able to handle alone to keep up the perception. The dents and holes in the roof of the carriage was repaired easily enough, but the wheel was a much more difficult task. Needing solid planks of wood, instead of branches from trees, they ended up taking some planks out from the floor of the driver seat area of the carriage. Leaving only enough room for a single dragon to sit there, something that the Lord would not need to bother about being 'alone' during such a long time for her journey.Work done, the group withdrew in order to examine the carriage. It was no longer the pristine work of careful craftsmanship. Instead, it was broken and bruised, having gone through a hard time and hastily repaired in order to complete the journey. Arcantos frowned though as he examined it... the picture didn't quite seem right."Something wrong Arc?" Ace questioned after a small pause, the darkness dragon having looking around to gauge the reactions of his patrol and noted the small frown. Arcantos hesitated, again shying away as six sets of eyes swung round to examine him. Still, the bipedal dragon looked at the carriage, trying to find what was wrong it."It feels like its missing something..." Arcantos muttered out loud, even as he examined the carriage. 'Its bruised and broken alright. A big hole in the front with a ramshackle wheel. The roof obviously deformed now with the repairs. Still, the craftsmanship is still visible so its not any old carriage, Ty's sign easy to see, and its a very well-kept carriage...' "Its clean." Arc blurted out suddenly after a moments of expectant silence, realization coming to him. "Its not that clean." Ty said, her expression reflecting the puzzlement in her voice at Arcantos' statement, turning back to examining the carriage herself. "It has picked up an week's worth of dust and dirt. Its about time for another clean in all honesty, and I'll be glad when I see it turned over to caring hands for a proper caring for.""But that's the thing, its only a week's worth." Arcantos said, seeing information in Ty's replying, and pouncing on it to reinforce his point. "Which means it had been cleaned the day before the tragedy occurred, correct?" Ty nodded at this, still a little uncertain. But Arcantos continued quickly, not giving her time to speak. "But, in your tale. You've been travelling alone for several weeks now. If not a month or more. The carriage shouldn't be so clean. I doubt you would of wanted to clean the carriage alone, but to get here as quickly as possible." "Ooooh." Ty said as understanding came to here as to what Arc had been getting at. The Lord nodded in answer, saying. "Yes, your right. Cleaning the entire carriage would not be something I want to do, and it would take a lot of time and effort that I simply would not be able to afford." Glancing back at the carriage, she realized another problem. "Plus, the breaks and repairs are extremely sharp for repairs that were done some time ago, we will have to wear them down."Nova grunted at this, not liking the extra work that was being built up right in
front of her, but she knew better than to complaining. Instead, she glanced at Arcantos and commented. "Its a good thing sword boy brought along sandpaper in order to keep his weapons sharp and rust free then. Otherwise the wearing down might of been a little difficult.""Actually, the under-boxes have some sandpaper as well." Ty said before Arcantos could reply to Nova's commentary, the red dragoness turning to face the Lord as she spoke. "It was there to keep the carriage in good condition, as we have whetstones to keep weapons sharp." "Yeah well, whetstones and sharpening kits aren't exactly light items, and when you're out on patrol, you want to be travelling light." Nova said, a little defensively, though not confrontationally. "Get those out for us, as we'll start rubbing in the dirt." Nova quickly grabbing a pawful from the dirt road and headed for the carriage. The patrol was quick to follow as Typhose looked on in faint bemusement.The combined time it took to perform the repairs, as well as the work done to add that look of being time-worn to the carriage brought the sun from its position at the height of the sky, all the way down until it was hovering near the horizon. Once more, the group withdrew and examined the carriage in the shadows. This time, no one had issues with what they saw."I best get going." Ty said, stepping forwards away from the group and turning back to address them. "I'll rather get out of the forest before it becomes too dark to drive. It would be rather embarrassing to have to camp in the forest when the town is so close by." "Will you be alright driving the horses?" Arcantos asked, concern creeping into his voice as he realized that wasn't something he had thought of, and was kicking himself for the oversight. Ty smiled reassuringly at him however."I'll be fine. I can drive the horses, but I'm slow at doing it. It will actually help explain why I'm a few days behind schedule, alongside having to spend several hours digging my guards out of the rockslide in order to give them a proper burial. The actual reasons for my delay is not something I am willing to share.""In that case, I wish you farewell my lord." Ace said, stepping forwards and dipping his head respectively to the eastern dragoness. "At least until we come to repay the debt of what we have cost you.""Yes, I shall look forwards to it." Ty said, smiling at Ace. Only, she seemed to hesitate, and turned to Nova. "Just, one thing before you go. Its Typhose.""Excuse me?" Nova said, scowling slightly in confusion."My name. It is Typhose." The Lord said, as understanding came to the fire dragoness, who then smirked. "I really don't see why that was so difficult to share." "I'm not surprised. Though, I would prefer if you still refer to me as 'Ty'." Typhose said, a small smile on her lips as she turned and hopped up onto the carriage, getting settled down to take the reins of the re-harnsed horses. The entire patrol moving out of the way... except Arcantos, who stood rooted at the spot, staring at Typhose."Arcantos, move!" Ace snapped, the military order breaking Arcantos out of his stupor, and making him move to join the others. Silently watching as Typhose clicked her tongue, getting her two loyal horses walking onwards, moving past the patrol and round the corner. Only Arcantos realizing the implications of the name that had just been shared,