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“Miss, you really ought to hold in your chest better,” a voluminous woman said while she pulled on the straps to close a brown leather corset on a red-headed girl with a face covered in freckles. The girl grunted as the corset tightened around her middle, straightening her back into an unnatural and awful position.

“Margarete, can't we just leave it loose a bit? These things always restrict my movement. "

“Oh, no no,” the women said. “Lady Endora, you are eighteen now. You must wear these on formal occasions. Especially when it's the captain of air-corps.”

Matilda pulled again on the corset before tying it off, satisfied so she achieved, with the protest of the girl who tried to move in the thigh restriction placed on her ribcage.

“I am going to be a rider. I can't wear a corset every time the captain wants to see me. It's just unpractical.” She protested again.

“You are a lady-in-waiting and you must dress, if your mother were here...” Margarete could not finish what she was saying. Endora looked angrily at Margarete.

“But she is not, is she? No, it's all me alone to keep that family name high. Father doesn't care anyway, else he wouldn't have shipped me off to the corps. What was he even thinking? Dragons aren't noble?” Endora's voice aired frustration at her maid. Who backed away a bit? Letting the lady adjust her dress by herself. Endora looked in the mirror, dressed in her favourite purple dress with a deep brown leather corset over it. It was not as sophisticated as some of the other ladies-in-waiting, but it hardly mattered now. Soon, this dress would garter dust, just like her hopes of finding a respectable husband. Well, not that she particularly wanted a husband, but it was expected of her. She just wished she could get a husband that was not home often so she could peruse her real love interest... if she ever found a lady that would accept her love.

“Endora!” Came a deep voice from downstairs. “The captain can be here any moment. Are you ready?” It was her father, shouting from the stairs. Endora looked at a last time at her dress in the mirror.

“Well, this has to do,” she said before walking down the stairs to her father. “I am here,” she said when entering the front room of their house. Her father inspected her for a moment, looking at her dress and how her makeup was done.

“This should do well. Now remember what I told you, this is the captain of the corps. He must be treated with the respect he deserves. There are not a lot of women accepted in the corps, so you must be behaviour to be assigned a dragon.” He sternly said to her, holding both her shoulders in his large hands. “This is important for our name, Katrin.”

Katrin swallowed and gave a nod. Daring not to let her protests known. Speaking would cause arguments, arguments would cause shouting and she couldn't have that with the captain coming, so instead she placed herself in a chair and waited for the guests to arrive.

She did not have to wait long before there was a knock on the door and her father answered it, letting both the captain of the corps in with some other stranger. The three men entered the living room. First her father, then someone with dark skin and dressed in red dyed leather armour with golden stitches and large shoulder pads. And someone who was dressed in dirty metal chains. The man looked like he hadn't got a bath for a long time.

Katrin stood up and bowed through her knees for the captain of the corps. As one should with such a status.

“This is my daughter, Katrin Edora, Lady in waiting in the county of Esma,” her father introduced her proudly.

“Katrin Edora, it is a pleasure to meet you. You might have heard of me. I am Captain Yerm. With me is Derick Sothe, Trainer of the corps.” The human in the back gave a soft bow. “You know why we are here?”

Katrin waited a bit to make sure she was cleared to speak. “Yes, to discuss the terms of my employment within the corps.”

“Correct, and lady, you know that this is a rather unique opportunity for you to join our corps. However, we are in a bit of a thigh spot. And we feel you can help us with that.”

Katrin raised an eyebrow. Most unusual indeed. “If I may ask, captain, what would this issue be that you require the help with from a lady that has not been trained with the corps yet?”

The one who was Derrick shifted, and with approval from the captain, he talked. “We have captured a she-drake that has been troublesome. While it responds to punishment, it so far attacked anyone who tried to claim the best as their mount. While it has killed no one so far, we fear we need a new angle to make it behave. "

To say Katrin was worried would have been an understatement. Keep strong Katrin, you mustn't show fear else they look somewhere else. She looked to her father for support, trough he looked at stoic as always. When she turned back to look at the captain and Derrick, she saw them looking expectantly at her, like they assumed she had an answer.

“Do I get any training before I get introduced to it?” She asked, trying to hide the nervous tone in her voice.

“Certainly,” The Captain answered. “Trough, before that, we will see how it reacts to you. We have a theory the she-dragon might respond better to a lady rider.”

Katrin steeled herself. She had a growing knot in her stomach, making it almost impossible to speak the words her father taught her to speak. “Then I will accept, if the corps will have me”

At the time she spoke those words, a weight fallen off her shoulder. There was no way back now. This time, when she looked at her father, he smiled a bit. Well, at least he is happy. After all, he will not deal with a violent dragon. The captain produced a large piece of parchment, ink, and a delicate pen. He placed it on the table in front of Katrin.

“Please sign here and the contract will be legal. From the moment you sign, you will be an airman of the royal dragon corps. You will adhere to the laws set in place by her majesty and vow to put your life down in the line of duty. You shall be stripped of your status as Lady in waiting and will be assigned to a senior as a wingman. The barracks is where you will report tomorrow. It will be your home for the foreseeable future until we deem you worthy to fully serve in the corps.”

“Tomorrow?” Katrin said in shock.

“Would that be a problem?” The captain said with a minor frustration in his voice.

“No, no, it is just sooner than I expected, that is all.” Katrin took the pen in her hand and dipped it in the ink before writing her name with honed skill. All those classes about how to be a 'proper' lady, only to be used for a single document signing.

She stepped away to allow the captain to look at the signature and place a wax seal up on the paper, deeming the document official a genuine point of no return. Still, the knot in her stomach remained. Wondering what kind of dragon she was assigned to, apparently an aggressive one, but how could she be ever able to manage an aggressive dragon?

One problem at the time, she thought, while the guests arranged their belongings and made their way out of the room. They bid her farewell and moved away. Once they were gone, Katrin grabbed a chair to steel herself. Her head was spinning, and she felt like she could lose grip on reality any time now. She could feel her father placing a hand on her shoulder.

“You made me proud to call you my daughter today,” He said as 'comfort'. “I am sure you are going to be a fine rider and you will find another rider to marry,”

Marriage was the last thing she could think of today. She could not place a finger on how she felt about her father's words. Something just gnawed at her like a hatchling dragon. She tried to shake it by thinking how much her father wanted her to be employed after her mother died from her birth, but it kept gnawing.

“I should make my things in order. I feel like there is no use for dressing any more. Perhaps I should buy something fitting for my new role.”

“Come,” her dad said and lead her up the stairs to the storage closet where her mother's belongings were. He pulled a large, hard leather travel case from the back of the closet with the initials H.J. Edora. While the first part of the initials looked ancient, her surname and her mother's surname were written on a newer patch of paint. No doubt to cover her mother's maiden name. The rest of the rivets on the case were all brass that has seen better days. Slowly her father opened the case to. It was nearly empty, all but a single piece of uniform. No doubt in mind it was an old corps uniform. studded and strong against incoming attacks while maintaining some flexibility to move around on a dragon.

“Your mother left you your uniform. This is the only uniform that we have left. Her chain mail perished with her.”

Katrin nearly collapsed in shock, staring at the uniform that was placed inside of the case.

“My mother...” she said to regain her speech and strength. “She was a rider?” her father nodded. “Yes, she was a rider during the exodus. She was one of the few who chased down the heretic and his dragon. After that, she was sent to the front, however she perished in the war not soon after giving birth to you all those years ago.”

Katrin saw a tear forming on her father's cheek, even as he regained his resolve. Not knowing that to exactly to do, she took the uniform out of the closet. She expected the leather to be mouldy. When she felt the leather, she could feel it was oiled and even the fabric was recently cleaned. The buttons on the uniform were polished and all.

“I had Margarete fit it for you and make sure it was presentable. It should fit you perfectly. You have your mother's build. And now you carry on the tradition of her part of the family.”

“Why,” Katrin softly said. “Why did you tell me mother died in childbirth?”

“To protect you.” Her father said and excused himself, leaving Katrin all to herself with her mother's uniform in her hands.

“all these years...” she whispered softly. “I blamed myself for her death... but she did not die because of me” She let her resolve go, sobbing in the hallway for Margarete to find her.

“Oh dear, that's unbecoming of a lady, here let me help you” she offered a tissue of her pocket and lifted her to her feet to guide her to her room.

“did you know?” Katrin asked between her sobs. “Yes, your mother helped me find employment after my old master left with his dragon.”

“Your old master?” Katrin asked puzzled, trying to find some way to avoid thinking of her mother as some kind knight that rides into war on the back of a fire-breathing dragon.

“Yes, I was employed by Matthew on his farm to take care of the daily affairs. After he was gone, naturally I was cross-examined why I didn't tell anyone. No one believed me...no one still believes me. I didn't know that Matthew had become a dragon fucker. He destroyed my life until your mother helped me and employed me to help her with her pregnancy.”

“Matthew?” Katrin latched onto the name. “Is he like the heretic everyone keeps telling me about? Did he just left you?”

“Well, not just. One day he came to my house, dropped out of a large sum of money and the next day he was gone and my life turned to hell. I remember the knights and werewolves knocking down my door. They ceased my money and thrown me into jail for further questioning...God, I was never so scared.” Margarete shook as she told her story.

“But that is in the past. Now you are here and you are will become a rider.” Margarete said happily, like some kind of switch flicked over and all the worries she carried on her face disappeared from it. “And you will carry on what your mother did. So, did they assign you a dragon? I have not heard of the corps accepting an untrained recruit within a day”

Katrin took a deep breath before speaking. “Truth to be, I am terrified of what I have to do. They assigned me to some dragon that seems to be violent to anyone who wants to be its rider. I doubt I can do that, i doubt i can claim it.”

“but the captain must have a reason to assign you to one, right? Besides, you have nothing to worry about. You have your mother's blood in you. If she can be a rider, so can she.”

“The captain thinks that because i am a woman and the dragon is a she-dragon, I can train the dragon. But I don't know, I barely was sure i should be a rider in the first place, and now, I have my mother's name to hold high. I think I will fail,”

Margarete holds Katrin's hands in her own hands. “Look, I am not your mother, but i am sure that you will do fine. Now let's dry those tears and get you changed into something more comfortable and sort out your belongings for when you leave.”

It felt strange wearing her mother's uniform, while it oddly fitted her well for something not fitted to her before. She did not recognise herself when she looked back at her in the mirror. She did not see herself, a lady-in-waiting but a warrior looking back at her. Only the uncertain look on her face reminded it was indeed herself that was staring back at her. The horrible night of sleep did not help her with steeling her nerves. They had prepared everything for her to leave for the barracks. Now it was just about to go.

“Lady Edora, the carriage is ready. It's time to go,” Margarete called from the ground floor. Katrin gazed one more time around her room, or was used to be her room. She got no idea what it would be turned into now when she was gone. She had little doubt she wouldn't return to her father's house after this. With a sinking feeling in hear heart, she closed the door behind her and made her way downstairs. Her dad was standing in the opening of the main door to the house. She expected her father to be stoic as ever, tough when their eyes crossed. She could see a tear forming in her father's eyes.

When Katrin came closer, her father suddenly embraced her. “You look so much like your mother,” he whispered before letting her go. He took a small leather pouch out of his pocket and handed it to Katrin. “Here, something extra to make it until your first salary. Spend it wisely, as the rest of your money is locked up in your dowry. "

Katrin took the money with a wry smile. She didn't really feel anything for her father's 'kind' gestures or help. She briefly said her goodbye before stepping into the carriage. Margarete opened the door furthest away from the house to speak to Katrin.

“Take care. From what I know from your mother, the corps can be quite draconian, and that's not for the dragons.” She took a small notebook from her bosom. “Here, I promised your mother to give this to you when you need it the most. It's her diary during training her mount. I don't know what's in it, but she was sure that it would help you if you ever became a rider.. and well, here you are. Just remember to make sure you are not walked over.” She reached into the carriage and hugged Katrin. “I hope I see you soon.”

Katrin returned the hug. She did not expect to feel actual sorrow about leaving Margaret behind. “What about you? Will you now not be fired since you don't have to care for me?”

She gave a devious smile. “Oh, we both know that your father can't run the house without me. Don't worry about me, besides I now have enough saved that I can retire if I wish so, and who knows, you might need me in your future household,” she winked at her.

“I would be honoured if you would be my housemaid.” Katrin said back with a smile.

“Oh no, the honour is all mine, anyway don't let me keep you. Good luck Lady Edora”

Margaret closed the door, and soon after, the carriage moved into an unsure future ahead. The trip took her along the primary route outside of the central district. When she looked out of the window, she saw people staring and whispering when she drove by. She had been around the court for long enough by now to have honed a skill to know when someone was spreading rumours. Did the news spread that she will become a rider? If so, what would that mean for her status at the court, would that still be important?

She snorted when she thought about her appearing at the parties with a large fire-breathing dragon in tow. It would certainly solve some problems, while creating more than she could count. Still, it would get her noticed, at least. Perhaps being a rider wouldn't be all that bad. If her mother could be a rider, then certainly she could be a rider too, right?

When they exited the inner circle of the city, the streets became more crowded and their carriage's progress grounded to a halt while it tried to move through the heavy foot traffic. Really, a carriage was not designed for this part of the city. She just watched as they went over principal streets and past shops and warehouses that were erected on each side of the street. Many of the houses where build out and over the road with trap doors and hoists to pull goods into the lofts or simply yo move furniture around. While it was not the inner circle, she could still see jewellers around the street. She could not judge the quality of the jewels from this distance, but she could assume this is where the less talented crafts people were working.

While the inner ring and the middle ring were separated by an imposing stone wall, the middle ring and the outer ring had a less imposing wall made of large rocks cemented together in a kind of rough cobblestone like wall. The outer ring was more quiet and was constructed of smaller wooden houses. From time to time, where was a black charred home where a house fire had grabbed a hold of someone's house. The streets were still littered with shops and inns, but no more jewellers. Mostly black smiths or woodcarvers. The edge of the outer ring was protected by a simple wooden barrier to keep the people out. They made their way along the inside of this wooden wall towards the barracks of the corps and the dragon pens.

She took a deep breath, seeing the extra fortifications that surrounded the corps' complex. The dragon stables were visible from a distance and the noise of dragons was being quite notable even through the carriage's walls.

They stopped outside of the gate into the compound. The guards looked surprised at her. Looking at her uniform, then at the carriage and back to her again.

“What is a lady like you doing out here?” The left guard answered. He was shorter than her and his belly was bulging out and over his belt. He had short, thick arms that couldn't quite fit into his armour. “Shouldn't you be in the inner circle where you belong?” He pointed at the family crest on the outside of the carriage. “and what you are doing in....that armour? I don't remember you here, and I remember all riders”

“I am here on assignment from the Captain, however, I am no rider yet.”

The two guards looked puzzled at each other. “But you have...” The guard was interrupted by Derick calling and walking toward her. She hoped he would have showered. Alas, he did not. And this time, he smelled like the inside of an ale barrel.

“Lady Edora, seems you are just in time. I was waiting for you,” Derick said, examining her for a moment. “Ahh seems you have gear, that saves me a bit of time. Anyway, get your case and I will show you your bed. After that, we will meet your mount.”

While Katrin got the case from the back of the carriage, she expected some help, however the only one who helped her was the coachman. After that, she was left to carry the heavy luggage herself. She laboured, trying to keep up with Derick, while they moved to a small wooden building to the side of the field. It was among the smaller buildings out there.

“This is the women's barracks.” Derick said and opened the door inside. “Since you already am assigned an amount, you skip the rank of recruit and join and thus you are entitled to your own room. Trough, that doesn't mean you skip training. I give you until midday to settle in. Then we will introduce you to the she-demon that is your mount to become.”

Katrin took a deep breath, shovelling the case slightly. “So what did it do to become infamous?”

“Lets see, it tried to bite three of the best recruits I put to it, scared a stable boy into giving her more food than allowed, and broke free of her restraints at least twice.”

“And I am to tame her with no training,” Katrin replied dryly.

“You stand as much change as anyone with training. Not that the Captain will admit that. We can't have word around that we can't tame some dragons. Although we have breeding grounds for that.” Derick's voice was lazed with acid.

“And you don't share that pride,” Katrin said. Suddenly she was shoved with case and all against the wall and looked into Derick's cold eyes. His stench up close was even worse.

“I had pride once. That was before my wingman betrayed me and flew away to fuck his dragon and took my mount and three more dragons with him. I have only one thing as advise, don't trust dragons or anyone who is friendly to their dragon. You never know who might stab your back.”

Katrin swallowed. She did not dare to breathe, trough those eyes were piercing her. Using the wall to push against, she shoved Derick back with the heavy case. Making him stumble backwards.

Before entering the building, she said, “Don’t thrust dragons. I get it.” She made her way to her room. While all the other doors in the hallway had a wooden board on it with the name of the occupants, she did not have any. She was surprised to find that her room did not have any lock. Other rooms, however, did also not have any lock on them. The walls separating the rooms and the hallway from the rooms were thin. Katrin knocked on one to see how thick it actually was, but she could hear the echo on the other side of the wall.

“It will be hard to actually have honest private time,” she murmured, inspecting the room. It was a small room with only a bed, desk, chair, and closet. There was a single oil lamp hanging from a hook in the middle of the room. With a sigh of relief, Katrin put down the case in the room, unpacking the minor affairs she brought with her. She expected the corps to be spartan with accommodations, tough on a frame of reference for how it would be. She was quite disappointed at not have some kind of washing bowl or other amenities.

“Here goes nothing,” Katrin said to herself when the last piece of little clothing she brought disappeared in the closet. The other things were her brushes, soaps and amenities that she thought she needed to live a somewhat comfortable life out here. Plus a few books to get some enjoyment of what little free time she would have.

Suddenly, a knock on the door scared her. She quickly closed the lit of the suitcase and opened the door. On the other-side of the door was a tall woman with ginger hair. Her skin was harsh, and she wore a tattered rider's uniform.

“Katrin Edora I assume?” She asked in a brisk voice.

“Yes, that is me. Miss?” Katrin replied.

“That would be Lieutenant Amberheart. I will be your training supervisor from now until you leave this camp and become a useful member of your majesty's corps. Did Derick bring you up to speed on your assignment?” Lieutenant Amberheart gave a quick gaze around the room on the other side of the door, inspecting it.

“He told me I would be assigned to a troublesome dragon, trough he did not have any details ma'am,” Katrin replied.

The lieutenant snorted. “Troublesome would be an understatement. Trough he did not provide any details? Any tips? Any books to help you up to speed?”

“No, Ma'am, I just arrived here with what you see here.”

“Typical, follow me. I will get you kitted out with everything we have. Derick might be the one who tried to train the dragons here and capture them. But I am the one who has to keep everyone alive at the hands of these beasts. And his attitude doesn't help” Amberheart was walking at breakneck speed out of the building that was the women's barracks and towards a more centrally placed building. Katrin was not quite used to the speed the lieutenant was walking at and struggled to keep up. Never the less Amberheart kept her pace and kept talking like she did not need to pause for breath at all.

“Okay, so I see you already have some suitable clothes. That is good, rider armour is better than what they normally give the recruits. We are now heading the quartermaster and the supply depot. I expect you to memorise the camp layout by tomorrow. We will get you a few maps, as well as material about dragon handling. Derick told me you are to meet the dragon today, something that gives us little time to prepare, so keep up,”

The supply depot was on the edge of the complex near the entrance to the complex. It was a rather tall building with two large doors on one end to let carts inside and a double door for people to enter. On the inside, there was a large counter and rows and rows with shelves where various goods were stored.

“good morning Lieutenant Amberheart. recruit, it seems? The usual pack?” A tall tinted man said he wore a leather apron and was working on cleaning and oiling a whip that was splayed out on the table. He sported a well maintained white beard.

“Morning Everdale, this is Lady Endora. We will take on trying to tame that black beast we have here. So a little extra would be appreciated,”

The quartermaster stroked his bread and looked at Katrin. “You know we are a bit understocked of late. I don't have many rations to spare. But seeing how she already has a uniform, and that's normally the most expensive piece of a recruit equipment.” He Turned around to look at his shelves. “You know what, I might have something” The quartermaster dived into the shelves and disappeared from view.

Moments later, he returned with a bundle of books, and something warped in wax paper. “So,” he started, “This is your standard layout of books, materials and everything a recruit needs, minus the uniform. This means if that uniform of yours gets broken, you need to sort a replacement out yourself.” he slapped the pile of books and other boxes that were tied together with hemp rope.

“And this” He moved the wax paper to unpack it and gestured for Katrin to come closer. “This is your special little trick.” He unwrapped the paper to show a long and thin rapier that together with sheath stones to hone the edge and some oil. “I have had this little thing on stock for a while now. Its standard outfit for a rider, trough there are few riders kitted out here, so you can have it. I have been maintaining this one for occasions like this. Inspect it.”

Katrin extended a bit of a shaking hand to the hilt of the blade and weighed it. She never expected to hold anything like this. Trough she failed to see how this would do any favours against a foe, let alone a dragon in battle.

“Thank you quartermaster, but forgive me if i am not quite familiar with dragon rider equipment, but I don't see how this is handy against a dragon,”

The lieutenant answered. “It is long and thin to slide between the dragon's scales. It serves two purposes. As punishment for if the dragon doesn't listen or in flight, to kill your mount if it ever betrays you. More about the usages is in the books. Now let's move, we have little time. Lady Endora, I will see you soon at the trainings field.”

“Thank you, ma'am” she said and wrapped the rapier up in the wax paper and ran back to her barracks with everything in hand.