In ties I willingly serve; Part 3

The scent of Thyna was all around him. The earthy, sweet scent of the dragoness was lingering in the air, together with the arousing scent of her heat. Gyrt did not have to sniff out the source of the scent, though, as he could hear her growls and roars of pleasure clearly. Weren't they worried to be caught? In fact, they were already caught once.

He did not look forward to opening a mental link with her at this moment. He braced himself for whatever emotion she would not contain. “Thyna!" He called out to catch her attention. He had to give her credit that she did contain the flood of emotions pretty well. He did feel hints of the orgasmic pleasures she was receiving, but what caught him of guard was the hint of genuine love she was not able to contain.

“Gyrt? What on earth you are doing here!" She called back. Soon the growls and grunts from behind the barn door stopped as it was followed by some struggle, while he just kept painfully waiting for them to finish their business. He could hear her rider from time to time telling her to “just hold still, dammit. I can't untie you."

When the doors finally opened, Gyrt was hit by the scent of heat and sex. Even though he tried, Gyrt was not able to control his body's response to the scent of a dragoness in heat. He could feel his shaft slowly slipping out of his slit. Shifting a bit uncomfortably, he tried to hide it as best as he could.

The human rider before him looked uncomfortable himself. He looked like he made love with Thyna in his clothes, because of the amount of juices he was covered in. Did the human even try to clean himself? Or was this the result AFTER cleaning? If the latter, what on earth where they doing?

“Gyrt" The human called out, his voice was nervous and flustered. “What are you doing here? Where is your rider?"

“Left him behind." His answer was clear, trying to clear his head from the lusty and devious thoughts he had. “Look, we saw you doing it near the lake." He watched Matthew become white, his skin turned into that deadly ashen-white colour. Gyrt did not dare to continue, as he allowed the gravity of this situation to sink in.

The silence was broken by Thyna talking. “How much did you two see?" She asked slowly.

“Enough." Gyrt snorted. “You should have seen my rider's rage; he went straight to the captain and right now he is plotting for you to get under control."

Matthew looked mortified at the brown dragon in front of him, while his mind was racing through all the possibilities he had. Fleeing? He would be found guilty by that, staying? Well, even if he would not be brought to justice, they would spy on him for the rest of his life. He might not get a moment with Thyna alone anymore.

“What on earth we are going to do next?" He turned to Thyna, looking at her with despair in his face.

“I don't know, but it sounds like we have time, love." She looked at the brown dragon with a thankful gaze. “I have to thank you for letting us know, how long do you think we have?"

“A better question Thyna. What are we even going to plan on doing?" He looked around at his farm and took a deep breath. “Even if we get through this without being discovered, all our career is shot. I doubt I can even keep the barn by then."

“Do you think I care about our career?" Matthew was caught off by the sudden anger in her voice. “If you think I cared about our career, we would never have mated."

“Easy, love." Matthew said, rubbing her snout a bit. “I am just looking at our options. We are facing execution, so we need a damn good plan to get out of this with our live and an even better plan to get out of this with our love."

Her mood calmed a bit. Although he could feel that some of her anger was still bubbling, he just hoped it was towards the situation.

“But if the farm is not an option, it means I have to live with other riders, and you will be locked in the barn. Riders talk, no doubt my reputation would be known. So, keeping our relationship is not an option, as we would be watched like preys." Matthew started to walk in circles thinking about the situation. What did he have? He had a fair bit of gold saved up with the bank. He had to get all of that out of the bank, but that was no way enough to bribe anyone to get out of this situation.

“What if you two flee?" Gyrt said with no real serious tone in his voice.

“Flee but where? Into the mountains? What kind of life would that be?" Matthew shot back.

“Well, I don't mind" Thyna hummed softly. “All alone with my mate, just like dragons in the wild."

“Hun, I am no dragon. I need clothes to protect myself, weapons to fend of predators… I don't think I can live in the wild." Matthew let his hand rest on the top of her head.

“Well, you could find a pack of dragons that accepts you." Gyrt said again, slowly becoming more serious. “Might be a bit difficult to find a pack that accepts you, but I am sure some dragons would be willing to have you among the ranks, even if Matthew is only a simple human. No offence, Matthew."

“Offence taken." Matthew answered dryly. “But finding a pack that would be willing to accept us… It could be easier to free all the dragons and form our own pack."

“I would happily join." Gyrt's comment, devoid of any sorrow made Matthew look at the brown dragon with astonishment. “Even if I risk death, it's a free death."

“Are you sure?" Thyna asked, slowly closing the distance between her and the brown dragon. She softly nosed him, showing her affection for him. “Whatever happens, I am always happy to call you my wingmate."

Was he blushing? Matthew asked, looking at the brown dragon. He surely saw something, at least. It might just be the cocktail of scent they both carried, so he kept observing the two dragons. If he and Thyna fled, they would have been hunted down like animals. But if they fled with a pack, they would be a formidable team and cripple the riders in one blow. Would he really want to go all the way and fuel a riot? It would be considered not only as an unholy animal but also heretic. Although he was branded as an unholy animal to be slaughter by laying with a dragon… Could he then be a heretic too?

“How many dragons you think would be willing to flee, Gyrt?" He asked the brown dragon. He could feel Thyna's surprised emotions in the back of the mind, as she had broken the embrace with Gyrt and put some distance between the two of them. Her eyes fell on Matthew, studying him and his emotions.

“I think in the barracks here, four dragons for sure. Maybe more in other barracks. I doubt we could reach them in time, though."

“Well, four might just be enough. How shall we get to them through? We can't just free them and expect them to follow us."

“I only need time." Gyrt said. “I can warm them up to the idea… if we are not caught."

“How long do you need, Gyrt?" Thyna answered, getting quite excited at the prospect of leaving the human world behind, and being open with Matthew as her lover.

“Perhaps," Gyrt shifted around unconvertable, “three days. I doubt we would have more time, anyway."

Matthew took a deep breath, taking everything in, listening to the dragons talk, while realising that at each second, he was surer of it, fleeing and starting his little revolution among the dragons. He just hoped that eventually more dragons would join. The more the stronger they were.

“Three days, it's enough to arrange something, at least. I have some obligations to fulfil." Matthew huffed. “I have to get the checks in order."

“What things you have to arrange, then?" She showed some of that hidden anger again, anger that made Matthew feel rather uncomfortable.

“It would be unfair to Margarete, to just leave and don't at least pay her wage. I had employed her, so I can't just drop her like she is dirt, besides, I would like to prepare myself and get some extra supplies. It's not like I need the gold I have on the bank."

Thyna hummed “I suppose you are right. So, 3 days to fix everything and then we flee in the night?

Matthew nodded. “If by then they haven't caught us."

“There you are. You, bloody insubordinate idiotic creature." Derek fumed while walking towards his dragon. The brown dragon had laid himself on the grass on one of the farm fields to nibble on a cow. In truth he was not hungry, though Gyrt had little doubt Derek would think he flew off to do anything but snack on a cow. He could just have returned like nothing went wrong; Derek should have suspected nothing.

“You think you don't get enough food? Is that it? You, unthankful beast." Derek stood in front of his dragon, whip in hand and the stable personal not far behind, with the usual assortment of chains and muzzles to keep him contained.

“I wonder why Thyna likes that, being trapped and helpless." He wondered to himself while looking at the leather gear.

“Well, if you feel so obligated to steal prey, perhaps I should feed you less, you entitled dragon. So, half rations for you." Derek still fumed stretching the whip in his hand. Gyrt growled at the prospect of being fed less. He gave a low, rumbling growl.

He received a whip across his snout. He let out a roar in pain when he was struck by the whip. “Don't growl to me, you beast." Derek shouted and whipped his dragon again. “Just be glad I will not rip every scale from your body."

Slowly Gyrt moved, getting ready for the chains to be applied to his body, at least he would be free one way or another. He took solace in the thought that just within three days, one way or another he would have been free from Derek.

“Really Gyrt, flying away like that. What were you thinking?" Gyrt huffed, chained to the ground in punishment. He could not see the dragoness in the stall next door, but she was clear in his mind, chastising him, for his actions. He hoped she was already sleeping, by the time he was tied up and well, the night was already falling.

“What did you think would happen!" she huffed.

“Freedom, Freedom will happen." Gyrt shot in reply, huffing softly. Breathing in the scents of the dragon stables. He could smell six dragons around, luckily the dragons he wanted to talk to were there.

“Freedom? You really think they would let you go? Even if you fly away, they will hunt you down to the end of your days. You can't win."

“What if we all flee, the five of us together. You could fly with me, Eny." Gyrt gave a grow, happy in the knowledge he got Miss Sure-of-herself's attention.

“Fly with you? And how are you supposed to break free from this place? You are chained up more than you've ever been before." Eny snorted.

“Thyna and her rider will free me, in three days. They could free you too."

For a moment, silence fell between them. He could hear Eny clawing at the ground, stretching the limit of her movement.

“And why would Thyna do that or why would we trust her. She would likely do all this just be tied up more." Eny snorted. She was agitated, curious and sad at the same time, an odd combo of emotions that flowed through the mental link the two dragons shared just to talk in private.

“Because she's got an unorthodox lover."

“What? She's fucked by a dragon. You make it sound like she got mounted by her rider. Though that would be her, bound up and fucked helplessly."

“Eny." Gyrt said softly. “Why are you always so bloody mean to her?"

“Because she is allowing herself to be abused!" Eny protested loudly.

“Well, she did get a rider who loves her. She is even allowed to walk freely without ties on that farm of his."

Suddenly the golden head of Eny looked over the wall separating the two, gazing down at the brown dragon tied to the ground. “Did you mate her while you were away, you are covered in the scent of her heat. I don't judge, just be fair with me."

“No, I did see her, but not to mate her. She has already one to soothe her heat, even though he cannot give her eggs. I did catch the two of them in the barn together."

“That barn is not big enough for two dr…" Eny stopped, puzzling the pieces together. “So, that's why they are going to get out of this." The golden dragoness let out a low rumbling laugh, nearly crying as she laughed at the absurdity of the situation. “Oh, that would explain everything. Poor Matthew, does he know how needy a dragoness in heat can get?"

“Well, he is finding out as we speak."

Eny shook her head softly and took another sniff from Gyrt's hide. “She does smell like heat. Alright I am in. Any dump is better than this one… But only if Orra is joining me. Without her, I am not going."

“Are you two lovers or something" Gyrt joked, he counted himself. Luckily, Orra was the next dragon on the list.

“Yes." Eny said with a dismissive tone. “And I bloody tried so hard to pretend she is not, and she is only my wing mate. But no, I must get eggs for my rider, so he can have his spawn ride my children."

“And you judge Thyna." Gyrt said with a snide. “And here you are, having your own little secrets."

“Keep that up and I will spit fire on your face."

“Don't bother, I am already hot and frustrated by having Thyna close by while she is reeking of heat and sex." Gyrt grumbled.

“Oh, you should ask Limy to join our little revolution then. She got a bit of an eye on you. I am sure she is willing to at least help you out." Eny snickered before pulling her head back into the pen.

“Okay, if you talk to Orra, Eny, I will try to get Limy on the game. And we can always ask Orvay to join us as well. I don't know if she will join us, but her rider does give her hell."

“Can't hurt to ask, even if she disagrees, she can't do anything till it's too late."

Gyrt hummed and closed his eyes, even though his body hurt from the whips he received, he slept soundly in the thought that he will be free, that all of them will be free. He longed for the moment to fly in the sky without his saddle, without being told what to do and what to think.

Honestly, Matthew did not know quite what to expect. He took one of the farmer's horses into the city. He did not want to bring Thyna, just in case. Then, he was walking out of the bank with every single gold coin he had on his account. It wrecked his nerves to think about the wealth he carried in his pockets and backpack. He made sure to hide the money well. He was an easy target, even if he walked along paths of the city clothing in his best gear. Every time he crossed a fellow Rider or one of the town's guards, he felt panic in his stomach. He managed to keep himself together enough to have some small talk with them. No one was suspicious yet, luckily, though subconsciously he sniffed himself after it. Did he still reek after sex? Could he smell Thyna on his clothes? Sometimes he thought he could smell her on him, other times he could smell nothing. Well, perhaps the normal scent dragons left on their riders. He was just lucky humans did not have noses as sharp as dragons.

He made his ways to the outskirts of the city, making to Margarete's. He hoped that half a year of her wage was good enough for her to find another job. With hesitation he knocked on the door. Hoping Margarete had her free day today. He was both relieved and anxious at the same time to see the door open and the white, freckled face of Margarete. Her ginger hair was still damp from a shower.

“Oh, Master Matthew" she proclaimed and opened the door fully to show her being a bit underdressed for the situation, still in her maiden's undercoat. “Come in, come in."

With hesitation he followed Margarete to table in the single room that was her house. She had two beds in the wall and a simple firepit to cook on. He took place on one of the wooden stools, with a sigh.

“I never expected you to knock on my door. What are you doing in my humble house, Master?"

“Margarete," he started slowly. “We have to talk."

He was so used to read Thyna's more subtitle expressions that Margarete's face was a welcome surprise to him. She slowly formed a deep red blush on her face. “Oh well, what is so important that it couldn't wait… We could have talked this over on your farm… I mean, where you are comfortable."

“I sadly don't have a lot of time at hand." Matthew slowly leaned forwards. “I will not be around for longer; I don't need your services anymore." He took one of the money bags from his backpack and put it on the wooden table. “I know this is short day and all, so here. Six months of your wage so you can find another job."

“But what is going on? If you don't mind me asking, sir. Maybe I could help you." she asked, looking confused at her now former employer.

“Margarete," he said firmly. “The less you know the better. If you want to help me, just remind that I am not a bad person." He said and stood up, leaving the money on the table. “Thank you for all your help over the years, I wish I could do more. But I have little time."

He left before she could regain her widths, it all felt cruel to her leaving in such a rush, but he did not want to be sniffed out and involve her. Besides, he had to do some shopping. As fast as he could, he rushed through the busy streets to get to the riders' blacksmiths and crafters. He did not have any time to get something specially made for him, but he hoped that he could still get some.

On the way he felt something, like he was followed. Every time he stopped, he thought he could hear someone's else steps. Although with the all the fuss around him, he could not be sure. The growing pit in his stomach told him something was amiss. Without trying to raise much suspicion, he moved towards a side road that was less busy. He quickly took another corner to hide behind a large barrel to see if anyone was following him. Sure enough, mere moments after he was out of sight, Matthew saw two peasants walking by who were looking around, whispering to each other.

In a fleeting pass he could hear the pair discussing something about losing sight of someone. Matthew had to suppress his desire to unsheathe his sword and pin them to find out who they were working for and why he was followed. If they were just regular peasants, there would be hell to pay for harassing them. Why would a rider be afraid of someone following him, if that rider has done nothing wrong?

And did he do something wrong? Well, he no longer knew the answer. He only knew what the law told him, but not if he was seriously wrong. It did not feel wrong, but then again, it also did not feel wrong to kill others in the name of defending their country. He rubbed his temples to clear some of the headache away that was not giving his head a rest. No, he had to focus now. He only had to buy some more things and then go out of the city.

Softly he sneaked away from behind his hiding spot on towards the main street, hoping that now he could do his shopping in peace.

“Master Derek." one of the recruits came to him at the stables. “I have fed your dragon as instructed, Master Derek."

Derek sniffed at the boy's fake enthusiasm. He seen it before, this recruit wouldn't last half a year into the training. He could already see the training taking a toll on that bloody boy. “Half portions?" Derek made sure that the boy had followed his instructions as intended.

“Yes, master Derek, half portions as you promised. I checked up on your dragon's ties and they are nice and snug."

For a moment Derek had fire in his eyes and he pinned the boy against the wall with one hand. “…and how would you know they are nice and snug?" he said menacing.

“I checked them." the boy said scared, looking at the hardened rider's face.

“And with checking them did you touch the ties?"

The boy nodded, receiving an angry huff from Derek. “You, idiot. What did I tell you about approaching dragons? They will eat you and spit you out, if they have the chance. You don't have the guts to deal with dragons. Pray to the gods you made no mistake; else, I will have you court-martialled. Now get out of my sight! I will think of a punishment later when I am done checking that my dragon is not trying to free itself!"

He let the trembling boy go and walked straight to the stables. “Gyrt! I better hope you are still in there you horrible excuse of a lizard!" He called out while opening the stable doors.

“Yes, I am master Derek." The brown dragon answered without any pause, his maw crunching the lamb leg that was brought to him. A merger meal for a dragon his size.

“Did you ask the boy to loosen your straps?" Derek inspected some of the straps on his dragon, all still nice and tight.

“I would have, if the boy was not shitting himself." Gyrt said in a tone he hadn't raised to his rider before. “But shamefully he was too scared to approach me, or even try to talk."

Like a reflect Derek reached out for his whip and hit him across the flank again. The brown dragon growled in pain when the tip struck along the tender flesh and scales of his flank.

“Don't put that tone with me, and how you dare to talk to anyone but me. You will obey me and only me, or else I will make sure you regret the day you are born."

“Oh no, whatever you are going to do? Tie me up even more? You already use me like I am some kind of mindless, soulless animal. What future could you possibly have for me that is worse?" Gyrt felt the rush of adrenaline talking to his rider like that. It only gotten better when he saw and heard the anger in his rider's voice and the sudden chocking coughs of other dragons that chocked in the audacity with what Gyrt was doing.

“You unthankful beast." The dragon received another painful whip. Derek was purposely hitting the same spot again. “You should be thankful that you are alive to the mercy of our king. You are a devil's work that is now put to doing good work. Without us you would be dead, and don't get cocky on me, I could kill you like that…" Derek snapped his finger. “…And I get a new dragon. I can sell your hide to whoever wants it. You are mine."

Gyrt let out an long growling laugh, receiving another painful whip from his rider. Although he no longer cared about his future; that could be the prospect of being free tomorrow night or the sight to how respectful Matthew treated Thyna. He just did not care.

“You can only threaten with that, I fear. And I simply don't fear you. I am a dragon. And I know one thing: if I kill one of your stable boys, your good reputation will be ruined."

Gyrt heard the whip clatter on the ground with pure rage and soon after a fist impacting his hide, although that it didn't even hurt as much as the strikes of the whip.

“You are a soulless beast." Derek growled “I will see how you will talk when I put you a week on no foot."

“I will simply eat the next stableboy entering my stable, or burn him to death, whatever I can do. Quid pro quo. And I think, I want to make your life a living hell, for once."

Derek for a moment looked at his dragon, perplexed. His mind racing for something to make his dragon behave like a normal, well-trained dragon. He gritted and grinded his teeth. “If you kill and eat anyone, I will personally murder you slowly and painfully."

“Oh? And you told me time and time again that it's not proper like to feel pleasure from a kill and you must always end it quickly, even with animals." It was that smug face the brown dragon had that annoyed Derek the most. It knew that it got the upper hand, but Derek did not want to admit it himself, a beast shall not best him.

“Perhaps I shall just stop feeding you, lock you away in a case. You will die in chains and alone."

“Derek." Well, that's a first, the tone, sharp, almost threating ringing in Derek's mind. “We can sit here all day, exchange threats. But in the end of the day, I am the fire breathing dragon. And you are nothing but a tiny human who can't even chain me up without your stable boys. Just see how far you get when I spit fire until your stableboys will no longer dare to come near me. Now be a good rider and fetch me my full dinner."

Derek fumed and walked out slamming the door of the stable behind him.

“That was…Thrilling!" A feminine voice called out. Her voice light and almost dancing in Derek's head. “I've never seen anyone stood up to their rider like that. Oh Derek, I should do that too!"

“Easy Limy, don't get inspired by that stone head. Our brown friend might have won the battle but not the war." A heavy male voice called down.

Gyrt huffed, puffing out some smoke while gnawing on the bone of the lamp leg, sucking out the marrow. “You are a pushover, Retug. Even Thyna is less of a pushover, and she gets off on being bound!"

“Mark my words Gyrt, you will regret this. I just play it smart, eventually they have no need for me and send me to the breeding grounds, there I can relax."

“If you don't die" Limy called out. “Like really you know of any dragon who got send to the breeding grounds because of old age. Most got their wings torn off, missing legs. I almost think they wait till some dragon tears out wings of on purpose so we can't fly away."

Retug gave and annoyed growl, resulting in one of the stable boys shouting for them to be quite already. “I will outlive all you idiots." He closed his statement.

Even back on the farm Matthew did not feel good at all. First thing he did was check up on Thyna who laid half asleep in the stall. Her bridles still on her face, even though she was not tied down. The immediate reek of sex and heat hit his face making his shaft stir a bit when he laid eye on his large purple scaled lover.

“Love!" She called out and looked at him with excited eyes, bringing her tail up to him and smearing some of her juices across of his mouth. He tasted her delicious taste, though whipped it away.

“We don't have time for this." he said, hushing her not to let anyone listen. He summoned some of the magic he gained from his dragon to check upon the protective wards around his farm. At least, he would feel if someone entered in his lands. No one yet had tempted to bypass them. “Did anyone come at the farm?"

Thyna shook her head. “No love, I have heard no one. What is happening? Did you encounter any spy?"

“Possibly, you never know for sure." Matthew circled around and gripped some of the ropes. “Look we need not to raise the suspect that we are onto them while getting ready, so I will tie you up in a way you can escape if needed."

Thyna gave a small, huffed snort. “I take it that you will not mate with me till we have escaped, right?"

“Do I really have to answer that Thyna?" Matthew looked sharp at his dragon, tying one of the ropes around her neck and the other loosely around, a cleat so that she could tear that.

“I suppose not, but don't you know how needy a dragoness in heat is!?"

“I know, when I was still in training, my master rider showed me how dragons mating." Derek snickered and finished off the horrible dragon rigging job with a loose tie around her tail. Those who didn't know about dragons couldn't realize why Thyna was not secured.

“Explains why you are so natural. You have been taking notes." Thyna teased him, testing out the ties on her body. “You will have to make up for it when we are free."

“I will love, don't fret." Matthew gave a soft rub across her snout, not daring to kiss him. The movement of her tail already left him hotter and more frustrated than expected. It did not help his edging nerves. Just one more night here, and then, tomorrow night they would be leaving this place for good.

“Alright Thyna, I will cook food and come to you soon with your dinner. Just be a good dragon and don't make a ruckus."

“But I can be such a bad dragon…" She teased him again when he closed the stable doors behind him. That bloody dragon will be the death of him.

It felt strange cooking for the last time in his house. He did not have the time to make a large celebratory meal of any kind. A nice stew had to do. He could feel something at the border of his magical wards, licking the edge of his property that send him just on edge. Even though going normal routines, he felt watched. He swore he could see something in the forest just behind his farm, a shadow moving.

“Take care Thyna, and goodnight." He said, but then added “Wake me if you need me, stay safe."

“I will protect myself and you, love. I will burn them before they can get their hands on you."

Matthew could not help but to smile at her determination, perhaps just her fearlessness was enough to get him through that night. He made sure to have a loaded crossbow next to his bed and his sword under his blanked. He will not be caught off-guard tonight. He checked the doors to his house twice that they are looked. It still felt not good that Thyna was out there alone, but no one would be crazy enough to get to a rider's dragon, right? Not when they did nothing wrong… or well they did but no one knew yet… alright someone knew but… He should stop worrying and close an eye. The next day would have been a long day.

He tried to get some shuteye despite him stressing. Slowly he did manage to drift into a light sleep, yet as soon as he got into the light sleep a pressure on his head woke him. Something, or someone had penetrated his protective wards and was now roaming along on his farm. Matthew tried to ignore the feeling as best he could and pretended he was sleeping.

Another strong buzz in his head, more people have penetrated his wards. He could hear his front door being lightly shaken; someone is manipulating the lock. He could hear its latch sliding away and the door opening. It was like fire in his head as the last of the protective wards set off an alarm on. Matthew gripped his sword while he listened for movement, yet he could not hear footsteps. Not even if the door to his room was starting to be manipulated. From the corner of his eyes he could see a large dark shape appear. Two red eyes, it's brown fur reflecting in the moon light.

Fuck. Werewolves. This was bad. In a split-second, Matthew called for all his magic and flashed a blinding light at the werewolf. He got his crossbow and shot a bolt at the wolf. It roared in pain, collapsing on the floor in blood.

He took his sword and rushed in his clothes to the door, how did they mark their footsteps? There were not a lot of werewolf packs that could be this affective at sneaking up. He knew one pack, even worked with them. The holy order, God's warriors. Cursed but seeking blessing through doing the churches dirty work.

He had to be careful, but that is when he felt another ward alerting him. It was the ward to the stable, Thyna!.

“THYNA!" He shouted, trying to get his dragon to wake up. Rushing through his house while making sure to cast whatever magic to prevent someone getting a sneak attack. Outside he could see the stable door opening, still not having heard a word from his dragon. He hoped he was not too late. A hope that was shaken when he heard his dragon's pained roar across the night.

Fuck.