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Invading Will

Chapter 1

Part 2

By: D. C. Henry ("Ahndeleck")

The dragon's first words sounded cautious, almost afraid. Deanna decided that it made some sense, in a way. She and her men had invaded the dragon's home, armed, and outnumbering him. She didn't envy the dragon, she guessed she knew exactly what he felt like.

He was smaller than she expected. His bright red hide and yellow neck and belly were striking and told her that at least the dragon was healthy. The soft rubber like spines that ran down his neck, back, and tail all stood straight up, a sure sign he wasn't comfortable. The three thick whisker-like threads above his mouth were shorter than normal, which meant he was younger than she expected as well, and the lack of any black coloring on the dragon's spines also told his young age.

"We're from Freeraven." She said as she waved in the direction of the city, "The council of the city wanted to know more about you. What is your name dragon?"

"I'm Raogothcar."

"Raogothcar?" Jacob said beside her, "That's a little hard to say isn't it? Do you have any other names you go by?"

The dragon stepped into the mouth of his den with his head cocked to one side. The smaller spines on his head were standing out, and he looked obviously curious. She didn't care what the rest of her men called the dragon. The nation of Ravenstone needed his skill, not his friendship. The other dragons that lived in Ravenstone couldn't be trusted with what the council hoped this dragon might be able to do for them.

"If you're going to be living here, you've got to have a name that people can say." Jacob said, "All the dragons in the past have names you can say easy, like Tethy or Yaster. Even the snake in the ground that visits the markets is known as Heras."

"Or Harass, since that's about all she ever does." Helen said.

"Those all sound strange." The dragon said, "I don't think I could come up with a very good name like that. They don't sound long enough, not like a proper name at all. Do all the dragons have strange names?"

"Oh sure, people always feel more comfortable talking to someone they know, and with a name they can say. That one you have is definitely too hard to say, no one could remember it either. Rar.. something."

"Raogothcar."

"That's right, we can't have that, its too hard. All the other dragons I've met had a short name."

"Jacob," Deanna said turning her gaze at the man for a moment, "We don't want to give our guest a hard time. Perhaps this is something we should give him some time to think about."

"No," the dragon said, "if humans like a short name I should have one."

Deanna looked back to the dragon. He held his head to one side as if he was curious about the idea of a new name. For a short time he looked eager, the spines on his back flared out and a smile on his face. She waited for him to come up with his new name, and watched as his face changed to a thoughtful expression, his spines laying back straight again.

She hadn't expected the dragon to so readily want to conform to any sort of human way. Heraseth barely tolerated her human given name of Heras. It only made dealing with her more difficult when using the name. She had never met a dragon that wanted to be named so eagerly.

"Raocar! That's a great name. I can remember that one." Jacob said, "What do you think?"

"It sounds strange to me," the dragon tilted his head to one side in a thoughtful manner, "like its some sort of rock or plant."

"Not all of the dragon's have short names though." Travis said from behind them all. "Elsorleth doesn't like having her name shortened. It really depends on you what you want to be called."

The dragon sighed and the spines on his back relaxed and fell mostly flat on his back. "I think that maybe I will keep my name. Its not a bad one I think, is it?"

Deanna could see that if she let the rest of her scouts do all the talking, the conversation would lead to no where. She'd never be able to tell if Freeraven could get the dragon's help. She would have to change the conversation back to what she came for.

"It is not a bad name dragon, the council of Ravenstone sent us to learn a little about you. The council hasn't heard of a dragon living so close to cities before. What brings you here?"

"I was looking for a den, and this one seemed alright. It isn't yours is it? I can go somewhere else if you already have this one."

"No, we live in the city. Could you tell us how you came here then?"

"My father and mother told me that it was time that I left their den and found one of my own. They told me that it was time I started my own book and learned about the world in my own way. I didn't know how to do that, but I knew I couldn't stay there anymore. Father always told me stories about when he was helping the estates of Esmorin against the north. So as I looked for a new den, I decided to find a den close to humans like you. So I could find friends like my father.

"I've come a long way it seems. There wasn't much in all of that Nyland, it was all too flat and I didn't like it. Then I saw the mountains here and thought that it might be a good place. Then when I saw the city down below, I knew I had found the right place. So that city is called Ravenstone?"

"Yes, its Ravenstone." Deanna said, "So, you haven't had a den before?"

"No, I've lived in my parents den all my life so far. Its nice to be out finally. My mother told me about how much she traveled and learned magic and wrote before she met my father. Does Ravenstone have a library?"

"Yes it does. Do you know how to heal others?"

"Mother taught me a lot about how to heal things." The dragon's spines drooped and he lowered his head, "I'm not very fast at it though, not like my mother is. When I went flying in a storm when they told me not to, she had me heal my own wings after I fell into some trees. It took a while, but I can do it."

The dragon was certainly not what she expected. He obviously had no experience of his own to speak for. Though it sounded as if he knew more about healing than Heraseth did, or at least she guessed he did. Heraseth never shared much of her knowledge of magic with anyone but herself. She only peddled in town when she needed something for herself. With the talking the dragon looked eager to share anything he knew. Already she knew far more than she was looking for on this trip.

"I have to draw a circle to do any real healing. My father tried to teach me how to do some of the flash magic for healing, but I don't think I'm very good at it. It always burns a lot when I try to do it like that, but I can make the circle work very well."

"Its just slow." Jacob said.

"Yes, very slow." Raogothcar said as he sat down, "I've not tried to draw a circle for a human before though. So it might be even slower, maybe. I'm sure I can do it though. Mother always said I was really good with the circle magic."

"I am sure she did." Deanna said, "Raogothcar, if you don't mind I think there is someone on the council that would like to meet you."

"There is?"

The dragon tilted his head to one side as he asked, his spines perking back up. He reminded Deanna of a large red puppy, seeing something new for the first time. She didn't feel certain about having such a young dragon draw circle magic around anyone, much less the prince. She knew she would be inviting disaster through the tower's doors with the guise of a playful kitten. At least it would be the council's decision, and not her own.

"I believe so, but I have to go and make sure that they do want to meet you. There is a field down near Ravenstone. You will recognize it by the circle of old trees just north of the road that leads into the city. I'd like to meet you there at noon tomorrow."

"I am pretty sure I know where that is. What will happen if this human doesn't want to meet me?"

"Don't worry, either way I will be there. If he wants to meet you, he'll be there too. We need to go back and talk to the council, if you'll excuse us please.

Deana nodded for the others to head back to their horses. Her scouts fell into a single file and went down the stair-like stones back to their horses. Deanna nodded slowly to the dragon, who nodded back with a very toothy smile.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing you tomorrow Deanna." The dragon said, "I'm really excited."

"I'm sure."

Deanna walked past the dragon to join her other scouts. They were already mounted and waiting for her. She quickly hopped up on the back of her own horse and coaxed it into a trot. She guessed she would make the city again by sundown or near enough to it.

She wrestled with the meeting with the dragon the entire way. For years she had dealt with Heraseth in the city, and she comprised most of the interaction Deanna had with dragons. Two other dragons that passed through Ravenstone, that she remembered well. One had stolen chickens from a merchant before he left for good. The other nursed his own image; he had been the most arrogant creature she had ever known. The second dragon she met was another young one from the south. She had been the best of them all, but she must trade with one of the small villages in the Black Feather Woods. Deanna knew there were good dragons in the world, but most of her meetings lead her to be skeptical.

"Travis," Deanna said, "your impressions are nearly always right. What did you think of him?"

"I don't know. He seemed kind of young to me. Maybe like a kid looking for friends or something. I can definitely say it wasn't an act or anything. That was genuine."

"Travis, of course he's young." Helen said, looking over her shoulder, "None of his spines had changed color yet. He's really young, definitely just out of the nest. I got the same impression though, that he's looking for friends."

"Jacob, when we get back," Deanna said, "I want you to go up to the library and check the name Raogothcar. Yes he's young so the name probably won't be there, but I want you to check it anyway.

"What do you want me to look for other than just his name?"

"I don't know, anything. I just don't trust him."