The Black Dragon (tentative title)

[the_wolfs_howl]

Author's Note: The next part! Lots of description this time, so I'd love to hear your thoughts on that - anything from whether it was understandable, or if you think something should be described in more detail, or whatever. And lots of names, too. Names are often my weakest point in whatever I write, so please tell me what you think of all the names. Also, does anybody know if people used wardrobes in the Middle Ages? I wasn't sure about that. Hope you enjoy it!

"Ow, ow! It stings!"

"Just...hold still...." Shard panted, wrestling with Shynael's head. The black dragon wasn't making it very easy to apply the ointment the woman had given them. Finally, after much struggling, he thought he had managed to cover the entire wound, and he backed away, panting from the effort. "You know, it wouldn't have hurt so much if you'd just held still!" he exploded furiously.

"You're not the one with the huge gash in your neck," Shynael muttered darkly.

"It's not that deep," Shard pointed out, wiping the sweat off his forehead and bending down to pick up the ointment. He led the way farther into the cave-like room, Shynael following him grudgingly.

For the first several hundred yards in from the entrance, the room had every appearance of a natural cave hewn by nature. Then there were several shallow steps down, and all semblance of a cave was gone, lost in the grandly furnished room beyond. The ceiling was high enough that Shynael didn't even have to stoop to fit, and there was enough open space that he could easily turn around without being in danger of knocking something down with his tail or wings. Shard stood in the center of the room, slowly turning around and drinking everything in. An enormous canopied bed loomed on a sort of dais in the middle of the far wall, covered in a green and gold coverlet. To the left of the bed stood a large wardrobe made of a dark, shiny wood, and to the right was a bookcase filled with thick, heavy leather-bound tomes. There were chairs clustered around it to sit in while one read, and a square table with more chairs around it. A single, soft carpet coated the floor of the room, and a warm glow came from a large chandelier and spacious fireplace, both already lit.

Shard felt numb with wonder. He had never even seen in such a lavish place before, and now.... "Hey Shard!" Shynael called, breaking into his thoughts. "Come look at this!"

Shynael was standing in an alcove near the bookcase, and when Shard came over he saw that the floor was covered in what looked like moss, only it was so thick that his feet sank into it as if it was grass. He reached down to touch it with his fingers, and marvelled at how soft it was, like a fluffy green cloud. "I bet it'd be really comfortable to sleep on this," he remarked.

Shynael's whole face lit up, and he sprang onto the moss. "I claim it!" he cried joyfully. His face was so eager that Shard had to laugh.

Shard noticed for the first time a door across from the alcove, next to the fireplace. Curious, he went over and opened it, to be met with a sudden gust of steam. Poking his head inside, he saw a smaller room with a perfectly round pool of steaming water, and many different bars of scented soap on a stone counter next to the door. He remembered what the woman had said about taking a bath, and decided she probably had a point. After all, he had been wandering around on the fringes of civilization for the past four months.

Shedding his clothes, Shard sat down at the edge of the pool and stuck his legs in, relishing the warmth of the water against them. The temperature was just right – not too hot, and not too cold. He wondered how so much water had been heated, and how it was kept warm. When he slid off the edge into the water, it came up to his chin, and he was enclosed in the water's warm embrace. Shard gave a sigh of contentment and closed his eyes. He was starting to like this place.

[the_wolfs_howl]

After a long, soothing bath, Shard emerged from the bathing chamber feeling much refreshed. Shynael trilled at how wrinkled he was, but Shard ignored him, too busy looking at the black scales that lined his arms. He had been half-hoping that the warm water and all the scrubbing he had done would make them come off, but they were still there, a dark blemish on his skin. In fact, there seemed to be more than when he had examined them last. I suppose it's because I've been riding Shynael a lot, he decided with a sigh.

Shard found his thoughts drifting to the woman, and how beautiful she was. Again, he looked at himself and saw how rough and uncultured he appeared. Perhaps if he could wear something other than these tattered rags.... He crossed over to the wardrobe and opened it, expecting it to be empty. His jaw dropped as he saw the fine clothes inside. Fingering the sleeve of a blue silk jacket, he knew he would never be able to wear such princely garments. He was only a village boy, accustomed to the rough cloth of countryfolk and clergymen. He didn't deserve these clothes fit for a king! Nevertheless, he had to admit that the clothes he had worn the past four months were wearing thin, so he chose the plainest clothes he could find: soft, russet-colored leggings and a plain white shirt.

Hunting around a little, he managed to find a small mirror and examined his reflection. His hair was still rather shaggy, but at least it was cleaner than before. It would have to do. "You ready to go?" he asked Shynael, who was watching him curiously.

"Once you've finished preening yourself," Shynael snorted. "You look just as ugly as you did before, you know."

Shard made a swipe at Shynael's head, which he easily evaded, and together they walked back to the entrance of the large chamber. Shard paused before going back down into the bowl; it was empty as far as he could see, and he wondered if they were too early. Then Shynael gave him a playful nudge that almost sent him sprawling, and they made their way to the flat space where they had landed an hour before.

Before they even had to wait, Shard saw movement in a few of the other openings in the curving sides of the bowl. His attention was diverted, however, by a loud, heavy beating sound that filled the air. The powerful whump-thump sounded like the beating of a vast heart; Shard could feel it vibrating his ribs and pounding against his eardrums. A great wind sent the branches overhead into a frenzy and whistled through Shard's hair. Tilting his head back to look up at the dancing branches, Shard let his mouth drop open in wonder.

The largest dragon he had ever seen descended slowly through the branches, its immense wings making sounds much deeper than Shynael's. This dragon's scales were like amethysts, shining purple in the dappled light. The great beast landed delicately on the ground, the tremors it made shaking the chairs around the tables. Shard couldn't take his eyes off this dragon; it had to be at least three times the size of Shynael, even larger than Shynael's mother. Its teeth and claws were huge and deathly sharp. All the same, Shard couldn't help but think that this dragon was beautiful.

A man slid down the dragon's side, wearing violet armor that blended in perfectly with his dragon's scales. He had already taken his helmet off, holding it under one arm. He looked at Shard with a strange mixture of curiosity and weariness, his lined face tired but his dark eyes still glimmering under thick brows. His black hair was greying, and a scar ran down the right side of his face, barely missing his eye.

The sound of talons clicking against stone alerted Shard to the presence of more dragons. He looked beyond the purple dragon and saw three dragons approaching – red, blue, and green – with three humans at their sides. There was Advent, and someone in a hooded grey cloak, but the one that drew Shard's gaze was the woman from before. She had discarded her red armor, and now was clad in a green gown that swirled around her feet like a fountain. She had also pulled her long black hair into a plait that hung down her back like a glistening rope. She greeted the man with the purple armor, but there was an odd buzzing in Shard's ears that kept him from hearing the name she used.

"Have a seat," the woman offered, gesturing to the chairs around the nearest table. Shard felt very self-conscious as he chose a chair, all eyes upon him. But as he pulled a chair out, the others moved forward and sat around him. The woman sat herself at the head of the table, and the dragons settled themselves in a semi-circle around that end of the table. Shard could feel Shynael's warm, comforting breath on the back of his head.

For a moment, no one said anything, as if afraid to break the awkward silence. Then the woman splayed her fingers out on the table and rose to her feet. Shard noticed scales creeping out from underneath the sleeve of her dress: smooth red scales that left gaps of skin in between, almost like lace. "First things first," she said. "I am Legacy. You've already met Advent," she frowned at Advent, who slouched in the chair directly to her right, scowling at his fists on the table. "This is Glaive," she added, gesturing to the man in purple armor, who sat on her other side, next to Shard. Glaive half-turned in his seat and briefly shook Shard's hand. "And Vesper," Legacy nodded at the figure shrouded in a cloak, sitting next to Advent. Vesper made no motion at all.

"I'm Shard," Shard said when Legacy looked at him expectantly. He found himself slightly unnerved by this less-than-warm welcome, and thought his voice sounded hollow in the empty air.

"Shard." Legacy nodded politely. "I suppose you have a lot of questions for us, so I'll try to answer them."

"Yeah," Shynael spoke up behind Shard, causing all heads to turn to him. "What is this place? Who are you people? And what do you want with us?" The last question he asked with a growl deep in his throat. The blue dragon growled, and Shard had half a mind to tell Shynael to be quiet. However, he was just as eager to hear the answers to these questions, so he did not interfere.

Legacy smiled at Shynael the way one smiles at a darling child, and Shard knew that Shynael was irritated by this. "This place?" she asked. "This is our abode, and as for who 'we' are, I think that much is obvious. We are the humans who found a dragon, and the dragons who found a human. We are the ones who have bonded, until we are not quite the same as before. We are the Ambassadors."

"Ambassadors?!" The implications of this word made Shard forget any awkwardness or embarrassment he had felt a moment before.

"The only link between human and dragon," Glaive said, his voice a low rumble coming from somewhere deep inside his chest.

Shard supposed this made sense. Humans and dragons who could be friends with one another were the obvious choice to attempt to bridge the gap between such fierce enemies. "I-I'm just suprised, that's all," he stammered out.

Legacy granted him a brief smile, and his spirits lifted. Then she turned back to Shynael and said, "As for what we want with you two.... I believe that is obvious as well. We want your help. Surely you felt the pull on your hearts that brought you here? This is where you were always meant to be. This is...your home."

[~darkelfgirl~]

Very good descriptions, especially the room and the bath. The names are nice to me--unordinary names like these make you think more about the character (well, they make me, hehe).

Hmm..I'm wondering why the buzzing occurred...

Nice update ^^

[the_wolfs_howl]

Okay, good! I'm glad you liked it. I was reading Crispin: The Cross of Lead when I saw the word 'glaive.' It was love at first sight, you might say

[Esoteric]

Ah, more and more dragons, oh my!

the room had every appearance of a natural cave hewn by nature.

Redundant.

I love the bit about the moss. Very funny dialogue between the two as usual. The names are fine...I begin to wonder if the signify individual roles.

She greeted the man with the purple armor, but there was an odd buzzing in Shard's ears that kept him from hearing the name she used.

I too was wondering about the buzzing...is it meant to imply something?

"Ambassadors?!" The implications of this word made Shard forget any awkwardness or embarrassment he had felt a moment before.

"The only link between human and dragon," Glaive said, his voice a low rumble coming from somewhere deep inside his chest.

Shard supposed this made sense. Humans and dragons who could be friends with one another were the obvious choice to attempt to bridge the gap between such fierce enemies. "I-I'm just suprised, that's all," he stammered out.

The conversation runs well, it it feels like something is missing between the last two paragraphs. "I-I'm just suprised, that's all." Sounds like the answer to a question...but no one asks him a question. I can imagine Legacy seeing him frown or squirm in his chair and asking him if he wishes to say something. "I-I'm just suprised, that's all." would be a fitting response to such a prompt.

Very curious where all this is going. I sure hope the ambassadors can get along with each other...because if they can't, I don't know how everyone else will!! Keep writing!

[the_wolfs_howl]

Okay, first.... The buzzing thing wasn't meant to bring that much attention to itself. I merely meant to show that Shard is basically twitterpating over Legacy here. Perhaps I should change it? Maybe, something about how he was too busy watching her lips form the words to understand what she was saying?

Anyway, thanks Eso! I'm glad you like these names okay; I hope you can say the same for the dragons, when their names are revealed. I'm a lot less sure of those.

As always, I'll take your suggestions to heart. I'm starting to get pretty nervous about the way this story is going to unfold; I'm starting to venture out onto uncertain territory, where I'm not exactly sure what I want to happen. I guess I'll just have to trust my beloved characters to see us all through.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Author's Note: Whew! Barely made it in time! As I was writing the last bit of this section, my eyelids were actually drooping down, lol ^_^ Um...not really that much to say this time, unless you know whether men wore nightshirts in the Middle Ages. I couldn't remember.

Shard glanced around self-consciously at the four Ambassadors, who all watched him as though waiting for him to do something, say something. And all Shard could do was lick his lips and try to think of something to say, all the while feeling confused and disoriented. He found his eyes fixing on the small golden hoops that hung from Legacy's earlobes, jiggling as she moved her head. His mind was horribly blank, like an empty page in a book that Father Mark had told him to fill, without first giving him ink or quill with which to do so. Shard licked his lips again, swallowed, and cleared his throat, but Shynael saved him.

"So...you want us to help you?" he asked warily.

Shard suppressed a sigh of relief as everyone's eyes flicked away from him at Shynael's first word. Everyone continued to watch Shynael except for Legacy, who continued to watch Shard intently.

"What exactly do want help with?" Shynael continued.

"We've just said," Legacy replied, speaking to Shynael but still watching Shard. "We are here to bridge the gap between dragons and humans."

Shard finally found his voice. "To make peace?"

Legacy nodded, "Peace is our ultimate goal. But I am afraid there is much death and war on the path to peace. Too many have already fallen, and we can spare no one. That is what we want help with. We need your strength."

Shard wanted to scream out, But I can't fight! I've lived my whole life in a church! Yet as he stared into Legacy's moss-green eyes, he could just see the look of disappointment on her face if he said such a thing. I thought you would be able to help us, she would say. But I can see I was wrong. Very well. You should probably leave now. Somehow, the thought of leaving this new world they had stumbled upon was too much to bear. For once, he could see a purpose to his life, something that had been missing ever since dragons had crashed into it. He wanted his life to have structure again; he wanted to be able to see more in his future than simply a lifetime of wandering and eking out a survival with a growing dragon. "We'll try to help you," he croaked out, cringing inwardly at his hoarse voice.

Legacy smiled again, and his heart fluttered hopefully. "Thank you," she breathed, sitting back down. "You cannot know how much another hand will be appreciated around here." Then her face sharpened slightly, and she said, "Vesper!"

Startled, Shard turned to look at the cloaked figure across the table from him. But Vesper only nodded once, rose from the table, and disappeared through the nearest doorway in the wall. Wondering what had just happened between the two of them, Shard glanced uncertainly among his companions. When they all seemed quite content to contemplate the table before them, he turned his attention instead to the dragons that loomed above them.

After four months with Shynael as his only companion, the four other dragons looked strange to Shard's eyes. Glaive's purple dragon, who towered above Shynael, seemed to be made of nothing but rippling muscles barely concealed by shining scales, and its breathing seemed rather loud now that no one was talking. The red, snake-like dragon that Legacy had ridden now lay curled on the floor, twitching two long whiskers as thick as locks of hair. The squat, blue one crouched behind Advent's chair, glaring openly at Shynael, the crest of spikes around its head giving it the appearance of a threatening dog. Shard decided the green dragon lying on the ground a short distance away must be bonded to Vesper. At first he thought it was asleep, but then he noticed one large eye was open, looking Shynael over.

Shard wished someone would say something; the silence was beginning to unnerve him. He wondered if it was always like this with the Ambassadors, or if it was only because of him. Such a thought made him want to curl up in his chair and sink down out of sight. But then he looked up and saw Vesper emerge from the doorway, returning to the table carrying two large platters of steaming food. His stomach growled loudly, and a blush sprang to his cheeks.

Legacy looked up in amusement. "I think you'd better serve Shard first, Vesper."

Vesper nodded, and set one of the platters down in front of him. Shard glanced down and noticed how small Vesper's hand appeared next to his, which lay face-down on the table. Vesper's hand looked delicate, and almost...triangular, he thought. So, Vesper is a 'she,' he thought. Looking up swiftly, he tried to catch a glimpse of her face, but she had already turned away to set the other platter before Legacy.

As Vesper made her way back to the doorway, the red dragon looked up and said, "It is dark enough now."

Shard looked up at the canopy above them and noticed that the light had taken on the tired, dim quality of the setting sun. He opened his mouth, but Shynael asked the question before he could.

"Dark enough for what?"

The blue dragon's lip curled in disdain. "Hunting," it spat out.

"Oh," Shynael said in a small voice as the other dragons got to their feet and unfurled their wings. Shard's ears were assaulted with the many kinds of rustling that ensued – soft and silvery, rough and leathery, harsh and rasping, sharp and snapping. Shard could easily pick out the sound of Shynael's wings, having heard them open and close so many times. A mountain range of color suddenly rose up above his head, and even as he watched, the five dragons sprang into the air, shooting upward through the branches and leaving a wild tempest in their wake.

And just like that, they were gone. Shard realized his mouth had fallen open, and hastily closed it, looking down at his meal and hoping no one had noticed.

When Vesper had returned with food for Advent and Glaive, Legacy urged them, "Eat, eat! No one can save the world on an empty stomach!"

Shard watched Vesper disappear into the doorway a third time, briefly wondering if they should wait for her, but then his hunger overrode his manners and he dug eagerly into the chicken before him. It was wonderfully cooked, laced with spices he didn't even know the name of, and swimming in a savory sauce. It made a much more satisfying meal than anything he could come up with himself, and his only regret was that he stuffed himself as full as he could, and there was still some left over.

Throughout the meal, Legacy made half-hearted attempts at conversation, asking Shard where he had come from and who his family was. Shard was rather embarrassed to admit that he hadn't been anything special, but to his relief this didn't seem to bother her at all. Conversation petered out, however, and after a few tries Legacy seemed to give up. Shortly after they had all finished their meal, the dragons returned, once more kicking up a mighty wind and sending tremors through the ground as they landed.

Legacy got to her feet, and the others followed suit. It had grown quite dark during the meal, but Shard could still see her turning to face him and Shynael. "Get a good sleep tonight, you two. Tomorrow we will start your training."

"Training?" Shard's mind, steeped in the meal he had just eaten, refused to work for him, leaving him in confusion over her words.

Legacy's voice was amused. "A church boy and his dragon can't become warriors overnight, you know."

Shard blushed, thankful for the cover of darkness that would hide his burning cheeks. Everyone scattered, splitting up to go to their rooms, and he followed Shynael to theirs. He was glad Shynael's eyes were keen enough to see in the darkness; the doorways all looked the same to him.

Shard could hardly stop yawning as he changed into a soft white nightshirt, barely noticing that the chandelier had been extinguished and a candle near his bed lit instead. But as soon as Shynael disappeared in his mossy alcove and Shard slipped under the covers of his large bed, his eyes couldn't seem to stay closed. Maybe it was because he couldn't stop thinking about this strange place that would soon become his home, or maybe he had eaten too much. Maybe the soft featherbed, which made him feel as though he was floating on a cloud, was too different from the hard ground that had been his bed for the past four months. Whatever was the case, he couldn't get to sleep no matter how tired he was or how many times he rolled over.

Finally, Shard let out a sigh and pushed back the covers, sliding down onto the floor. The carpet was soft on his bare feet, but when he stepped into Shynael's alcove, the moss was even softer. He paused at the edge of the moss and watched the black dragon for several moments. Though Shynael's eyes were closed, something about his breathing made Shard think he wasn't asleep. As silent as a breath of air, Shard crossed over to his friend and laid a hand on his neck.

"I can't sleep," Shynael said in a loud whisper, keeping his eyes shut tight.
Shard laughed softly, sinking down onto the mossy ground. He curled up in the crook of Shynael's neck, feeling the warmth radiating from his scales like an aura of comfort. "Neither can I," he admitted softly, already feeling himself slip away into dreamland.

Shynael curled his neck tighter around Shard and began to purr, even as the two of them fell asleep.

[Esoteric]

Ah....*sniff* a touching end to the chapter. Very nice, (and as someone with pretty consistent sleep habits) very realistic.
Couldn't find much to nitpick on grammar this time.

Everyone continued to watch Shynael except for Legacy, who continued to watch Shard intently.

Might want to change up the wording here... 'continued to watch' sounds repetitive.

So, I'm guessing Legacy is the leader? She certainly acts like the leader.

Okay, first.... The buzzing thing wasn't meant to bring that much attention to itself. I merely meant to show that Shard is basically twitterpating over Legacy here. Perhaps I should change it? Maybe, something about how he was too busy watching her lips form the words to understand what she was saying?

Not surprisingly, I missed this question before.... um, I think you can keep the notion as long as you make the cause of the buzzing clear. I assume you mean something like him hearing the blood pumping in his ears because he's suddenly hot and nervous and his pulse sped up, yes? As long as it's a bit clearer as to the source of the distraction, you can keep the 'buzzing'. Otherwise it could be a gnat buzzing in his ear for all we know--which wouldn't suggest an emotional response.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Thanks for your help - as always! I have trouble sleeping in a strange place, too - the beds are usually uncomfortable in some way, or just different, and I find myself waking up at weird times throughout the night. So I figured if I'd grown used to sleeping at the side of a dragon, it would be weird to sleep in a comfortable bed all of a sudden ^_^

So, I'm guessing Legacy is the leader? She certainly acts like the leader.

Why, how did you guess? XP Yup, she's the leader. They always fall for the important ones, don't they?

[the_wolfs_howl]

Author's Note: Sorry for how long it's taken me to get this next part written up, guys. I've had quite a few computer problems lately - my laptop is dying, so the only computer I can consistently use now is our dinosaur, the ol' Windows 98. And then my sisters always seem to decide to play their games right when I was about to start typing. And then of course I put other writing commitments ahead of this one, for which Shynael will never quite forgive me, I think. Anyway, that's why it's taken so long. Sorry about that, and I hope you enjoy this part! I was going to write more, but it was already quite long, so I thought I'd better end it where I did.

When Shard woke, curled up in the warmth of Shynael's body, he felt disoriented and confused. To begin with, it took him several moments to remember where he was, and then he had no way of knowing what time it was. There were no windows in the room to show if it was day or still the middle of the night. But Shard felt rested and very awake, so he supposed it wouldn't hurt anything if he got up. Gently pushing Shynael’s wing to the side from where it had been draped over him like a blanket, he got to his feet and tiptoed across the mossy floor so as not to wake the dragon. In the main chamber, he saw that the chandelier had been relit, and took this to mean that it was indeed day.

Crossing over to where he had left his clothes in a heap at the foot of his bed, he saw that they were gone. Fine black leather leggings and a shirt of deep blue had been folded neatly in their place, and Shard also noticed that his bed had been made. He wondered who had done this, then had a curious thought: Maybe it's magic. Such a thought excited him, and as he dressed himself he let his imagination wander to all the possibilities of such a thing.

After a few minutes, he realized that there had been a pleasant, mouth-watering aroma about the room ever since he had woken up. Looking over at the small table against one wall, he saw that it had been laid out with a mighty feast of a breakfast. Stomach growling, Shard eagerly sat down at the table. For a moment, he could only stare at the mountains of bacon, the seas of eggs, the hills of toasted bread – white bread, not brown and coarse as it had been in the village. It was a meal fit for a king, and at first Shard thought it looked simply too good to eat. Eventually, his hunger won out, and he eagerly dug into his meal.

"Hey, Shard!" cried a sleepy voice from the mossy alcove. "I thought you didn't know how to hunt!"

"I don't," Shard replied, confused.

"Then how'd this huge deer get in here?"

Shard jumped to his feet and hurried over to where Shynael stood at the far end of the alcove, examining the fresh carcass of the most gigantic deer Shard had ever seen. When Shynael looked over at him quizzically, Shard shrugged. Shynael grinned and happily began to eat his own breakfast.

When the two of them were finished eating, Shard commented, "I wonder what time it is."

"Oh, midmorning, I'd say." Shynael crinkled up his face in thought.

"How do you know?" Shard asked in surprise.

"Oh, didn't you know? Dragons have an innate sense of time. My mother-"

"Your mother told you," Shard finished for him, grinning. "Come on, let’s go. Legacy’s probably waiting for us."

Sure enough, when they emerged into the bowl of the Ambassadors' residence, Legacy stood in the middle with her red dragon, already clad in her red armor. "Slept well?" she asked briskly when they came up to her. Before either of them could answer, she continued, "Come, we have much ground to cover today. Follow me."

The four of them crossed the bowl to an opening much smaller than any of the others. Compared to the gaping cavern mouths all about, this one looked as small as a mousehole, and at first Shard wondered how they would fit through. But when they neared it, he saw that it was the size of any ordinary door. "How am I supposed to fit through that?" Shynael complained as the two humans began to enter.

"You're not," the red dragon said, sounding bored.

Shynael looked mutinous, and pressed his face against the doorframe to watch as Legacy and Shard stepped through into the room beyond. His face blocked off all light from the doorway, but Legacy fumbled with something and suddenly torches blazed up all around the room. Shard gasped with wonder at what he saw.

Hanging up in neat rows on racks that ran the entire length of the long, narrow room were enough suits of armor to clad a small army. The armor shone every color of the rainbow, sorted into sections of a certain color. Over here were red suits, over there blue ones, and in the corner purple like Glaive's. Each suit was complete, from helmets and gauntlets down to greaves and boots.

Even as Shard stood there and stared around at it all, Legacy was moving through the aisles purposefully, glancing around as though looking for something. Shard hurried after her, until she came to a corner and said, "Ah! Here we are."

Shard looked over her shoulder and saw a single rack of seven black suits of armor, shining in the torchlight like the smooth surface of some deep, dark pool.

"Black dragons are very rare," Legacy explained, glancing over at Shynael’s face in the door. "We have seven suits here, but to my knowledge they’ve never all been used at once. Until you two showed up, I’d only ever seen one black dragon with my own eyes."

Shard felt a certain amount of pride to hear this, and he knew without looking that Shynael did too. Legacy continued as she selected one suit and began helping Shard into it.

"This armor has been around for centuries, ever since the formation of the Ambassadors, some say. No one remembers how these suits were made or what they're made from, but they've proven to be the one material that will not scratch or tear when rubbed constantly against dragon scales. It's like diamonds; nothing can scratch a diamond except another diamond. I suppose you could say this armor is the opposite of that. It's tradition to wear armor of the same color as your dragon's scales, and it's also helpful as it provides camouflage. There," she finished, tightening the leather straps that held his greaves on. Straightening up, she asked, "How does that feel?"

Shard's heart had begun to beat faster as soon as she had put the breastplate on. He could smell her scent all around him, could feel her warm breath against his neck as she spoke. Swallowing, he quickly turned his attention to the armor that now encased his body like a metallic cocoon. It wasn't completely made of metal (or whatever material it was made out of); the metallic plates were held together at the joints with large pieces of leather that made movement much easier than if the entire suit had been made of iron like a knight's. Shard looked up at Legacy and smiled. "It feels wonderful."

Legacy gave him a brief smile in answer, and his stomach did a somersault. She picked up the black helmet that went with the suit and said, "Keep your armor in your own room, and wear it whenever you ride Shynael, or your clothes will be falling apart at the seams. I'll put your helmet in your room for now; you won't be needing it today.â€

[the_wolfs_howl]

"I noticed how you flew yesterday, of course," Legacy said, glancing over her shoulder at the two of them, "and I can see you are both amateurs."

"I can fly just fine!" Shynael protested. "I've been doing it for months now!"

Legacy gave him a patient smile. "Yes, you fly most wonderfully by yourself. But neither of you seem to have the slightest clue how to fly together." She came to a halt and turned around to face them, hands resting lightly on her hips. "You were unable to keep your seat," she told Shard. "You let a sudden jar throw you off his back. And you," she accused Shynael. "You let Shard fall. If Linygae and I hadn't been there, he would have fallen to his death, and you would be none the wiser."

Shynael drooped his head and Shard felt his cheeks redden. They both knew she was right.

"You will be working with Vesper and Vannasai," Legacy continued, "since Vannasai is the closest in size to Shynael."

Shard glanced over Legacy's shoulder and saw the green dragon sitting on its haunches, waiting for them. With a second glance, he noticed Vesper standing next to it, wearing the same grey cloak as before. Her hood was still up, shrouding her face in darkness.

"Shard, you will fly with Vannasai," Legacy informed him. "And Shynael, you will fly with Vesper." Turning to Vesper and her green dragon, she said, "Bring them back around noon." She waited for Vesper to nod, then swung up onto her own dragon's back and flew off.

Shard watched her go, then looked back at Vesper. He tried to smile, but her constant silence was beginning to unnerve him. Without saying a word, she crossed over to Shynael and touched his neck. He looked a little nervous, but lowered himself down so that she could climb up. Shard walked up to the green dragon and said haltingly, "You're...Vannasai?"

"I am," Vannasai rumbled.

"Are...Are you a 'he'?" Shard asked. Too late, he realized such a question might be offensive.

A hint of humor entered Vannasai’s blue eyes. "No, human. I am female. Don't worry, you haven't offended me; I understand how hard it is to tell." She squinted at Shard, then said just as tentatively as he had, "But you're...a 'he'?"

Shard smiled and nodded.

Vannasai let out a breath. "Even after all these years spent among humans, it's so hard.... But we should get going," she added hastily, looking up as Shynael lifted into the air.

Shard clambered up onto Vannasai's back. It was much harder than mounting Shynael, for she was much bigger than he was. When Shard had situated himself in the hollow behind her neck (which was much more spacious than he was used to), Vannasai said, "Don't lean forward so far. Sit up straight and hold with your legs. That leaves your arms free."

Shard obeyed her; he figured there could be no one better suited to teach him how to ride a dragon than a dragon itself.

"Now, clutch tight with your legs!" Vannasai cried. She unfurled her wings, gathered herself up, and sprang into the air.

Shard felt as though he was about to fall off her back entirely, but he clutched as tight as he could with his legs, clenching his fists on them so he wouldn't lean forward and grab onto her neck. He didn't fall off in their ascent, and when Vannasai levelled out he let out a relieved breath and relaxed his grip a little. Vannasai glanced back at him to give him an encouraging look. "You don't need to be afraid of falling," she said, her voice rumbling gently against his thighs. "If you lose your grip, I will catch you."

She proceeded to instruct him as they flew, correcting his grip and fine-tuning his balance. "Lean into the turns," she might say, making a gentle curve through the air. "You'd be surprised how much that helps my own balance." Shard grew to like her soft voice, gently admonishing and correcting. She made him feel calm, and her voice made his tense muscles relax, till he wasn't holding onto her with a death grip anymore. He let the muscles beneath her smooth green scales slide under him, shifting but never putting him in danger of sliding off.

At last, after they had been flying for several hours, Vannasai said, "We should probably be heading back." She turned around, reminding him to lean into the turn, and flew back the way they had come. They had been flying in an ever-widening circle away from the thicket of trees, and now Vannasai flew in a straight line towards the Ambassadors' home.

After a few minutes, Vannasai asked somewhat shyly, "Your dragon...Shynael.... How old is he?"

"About four months," Shard replied.

"Ah, an infant," Vannasai said, and somehow Shard knew she was smiling even though he couldn't see her face.

"How old are you?"

Vannasai looked back at him, and she was indeed smiling. "A little over five years. I am still hardly more than an adolescent, of course. All the others are so much older than me; I was pleased when you showed up. Now I can have a friend closer to me in age."

Shard suddenly wondered if Shynael had been lonely all this time. He had never been able to befriend a fellow dragon while he had been with Shard. Had Shynael longed for his kind and never let on, much as Shard had longed to be with humans again? He supposed finding the Ambassadors was one of the best things that could have happened to them; here they could be with both humans and dragons, the only place in the whole world where both races lived in harmony.

Vannasai instructed Shard how to lean backward as she made her descent, and touched down onto the stone with a clatter of talons. Legacy and her dragon, Linygae, were waiting for them, and soon after they had landed Shynael returned with Vesper. Vesper's hood had blown off, and as she slid off Shynael's back Shard saw her mousy-brown hair, cut short like a boy's, and her pale, drawn face. When she turned to go back to Vannasai, she froze for a moment, staring back at Shard with eyes like a frightened animal. She hastily pulled her hood back up, and hurried past him to stand by her dragon.

Feeling a little confused, Shard strode over to Shynael, who said in a low voice so only he could hear, "I like her. She's nice."

"Vannasai is too," Shard told him in the same low voice.

Shynael looked up at Vannasai, only to discover that she was already looking at him. Shard watched the two of them exchange an appraising look, and glanced at Vesper. He wondered why she seemed to be so afraid of him (and everyone else, for that matter), but then Legacy began to speak and he momentarily forgot her.

"Come, all of you. We'll have a light lunch and then continue your training."

Pronunciation of Dragon Names We've Heard So Far: Shynael = shah-NIE-ell; Linygae = LIN-ah-guy; Vannasai = VAH-nah-sigh

[kryptech]

I haven't read the last couple entries until yesterday. Good stuff! I can understand Shard's awkwardness around the other ambassadors and particularly Legacy. Vesper is intriguing... I also liked the sort of conflict Shard had between finding purpose by joining the unfamiliar ambassadors and fighting along with them, but feeling unworthy and unable to take up such a role.

BTW, I love your "R" signature image. Being of similar persuasions I found it very humourous. ^_^

[Esoteric]

Ah ha, more at last. The writing is good as always, nothing to complain about there, and I liked the training drill.

So the armor is already made? ...for a while I was wondering if dragon riders grew their own armor. Guess not, but this brings up another question....
I'm surprised to learn that the Ambassadors have been around for centuries. If so, how come there are still so few and there is still open war between man and dragon with no prior mention of attempts at peaceful resolution? It seems strange that a group which has been around so long seems to have absolutely no 'presence'. Is there an explanation for this?

[the_wolfs_howl]

kryptech - Thanks! Glaive is my personal favorite of the Ambassadors, but more on that next time. Vesper's my second-favorite. She turned out a lot more enigmatic than I'd imagined her being, but I think it works well.
Oh, and I'm glad you like my sig

Eso - Thanks! Hey, you haven't complained much for the last few sections! Does that mean I'm getting better? *looks up hopefully*
Ooh, that's an interesting idea - the riders growing their own armor. I hadn't thought of that. In a way, I suppose, they do, but not...well, maybe I'd better keep my mouth shut
And don't worry; we'll be finding out more about the Ambassadors in upcoming sections. All will be revealed....

[Esoteric]

Hey, you haven't complained much for the last few sections! Does that mean I'm getting better? *looks up hopefully*

Yes....of course, absolutely, that must be the reason. It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that my brain is shutting down after watching so many mind-numbing low budget Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel against my will.

Yeah, I dunno. There haven't been as many typos or awkward sentences. At the same time, there hasn't been much action/excitement lately...so if I wanted to, I could complain about that...

[the_wolfs_howl]

You can do whichever you like. I mean, it's great to think that my writing might actually be okay, but what if it isn't? I'd rather you complain about something than just say it's good because you're my friend.

And...yeah, I think this is probably a lull in the story. There's probably going to be at least one more section of mainly just training, but I'll try to put in some more action too

[the_wolfs_howl]

Author's Note: Oh dear me, it's been too long since I've updated this. I hope you'll all forgive me, because I know Shynael never will I wish I could do some kind of Christmas-themed chapter or something, but it's not winter in the story, so oh well. It's interesting how differently one can come up with ideas. I had the main gist of this section in mind for a long time, got the idea for the sword reaction about a day before I wrote it, and then got the idea for the sheath out of the blue while I was writing.

When Shynael took off with Shard on his back, Shard noticed a subtle difference in the way the dragon flew. He couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but he suspected it was because of Vesper's training. He was conscious of the changes in the way he sat as well, and he discovered it was much more comfortable to ride while wearing his new armor. They were following Legacy and Linygae, who soared smoothly away from the thicket that made up the Ambassadors' home. Legacy had been strangely silent about where they were going or what the next part of their training would be, even when Shynael had pressed her for answers. It was almost as though she was afraid they would desert once they found out what they would be asked to do. That's ridiculous, Shard thought to himself. We're in this no matter what; she should know that. He rather wished she would ask him not to desert; that way he could promise his loyalty, and he was sure she would look rather pretty with a pleading expression on her face. He grinned to himself, glad that Legacy was too far ahead to see, and that Shynael was facing the other way.

After a few minutes of silent flying, they came upon a tree whose leaves were all a rusty red color. It stood out from the rest of the green canopy, the only tree that looked in danger of losing its leaves. Linygae began to descend through the branches, and Shynael followed, both he and Shard wondering what they would find when they landed.

Shard slid off as soon as Shynael furled his wings, looking about him in amazement. They were in another large bowl only slightly smaller than the one in which the Ambassadors dwelt. The leaves overhead gave the light a slight reddish tint. There were no openings around the sides of the bowl; instead, swords, spears, and all manner of weapons hung in racks and on hooks along the walls. A long table sat out of the way, laden with water, bandages, and various medical supplies. This left a large space clear in the middle where Glaive and his gigantic purple dragon stood, apparently waiting for them.

"Try not to be too hard on them, Glaive," Legacy said, still sitting on Linygae's back. "This is their first day, you know."

The purple dragon smiled slightly. "Remembering your first battle scars?"

Legacy returned the small smile. "Fondly." Linygae sprang into the air, and with a whoosh of wings they were gone.

Shard and Shynael approached Glaive rather nervously, but he looked more tired than fierce. "So," he rumbled. "We're to teach you combat."

"Wait," Shard interjected. "Why do we need to learn how to fight? Isn't peace our goal?"

Glaive gave him a strange look – almost pitying, Shard thought. "You'll see," he said after a moment.

"Come with me, Shynael," the purple dragon said. "We need to find an open space; this is too small for me to move freely."

Shynael hesitated, looking at Shard and obviously thinking of Legacy's parting words. Shard gave him a slight smile to reassure him, and Shynael reluctantly followed the ponderous dragon away.

"Now that Gyvael's gone to train her new student," Glaive said, leading Shard over to the wall, "we can get down to business." He cast his gaze over the long row of swords. They hung in order of their length, from hardly longer than a dagger to the height of a grown man. On every hilt was a miniature dragon, tail wrapped all the way to the pommel, wings outstretched to create the crossbar. The head of the dragon lay flat on the blade, its empty eye sockets seeming to follow Shard's every move.

Glaive reached out, his hand hovering above the hilts, examining the swords with an expert eye, till he finally seemed to decide on one. "Take that one," he grunted, pointing at it.

Shard reached for it, but as soon as his hand closed around the hilt, he saw dead bodies surrounding him. Dead knights, their thick armor rent like paper. Dead men, torn and bloody. Blood dripped down his blade, and when he looked at the palm of his left hand, it was covered in warm, sticky, red liquid. Blood seeped through the fingers that clutched the hilt of his sword. The stench of death was thick in his nostrils, making the air so heavy his lungs seemed to stick together. Death and blood surrounded him, neverending, threatening to blot out the sun itself....

Shard dropped the sword and backed away, staring at it in horror. The bodies were gone now, the stone floor of the bowl empty. The blade was clean again, but his hands...his hands were filthy.

"What is it?" Glaive asked in genuine concern.

Shard wrenched his eyes away from the innocent blade at his feet, looking up into the older man's weathered face. "I...I can't," he whispered.

"Can't what?"

"The sword...." A lump grew in Shard's throat, rendering him speechless, so he could only shake his head mutely.

Glaive looked at him shrewdly, then asked, "Have you ever killed before, boy?"

Shard drew back as though struck, seeing again those five knights he had killed. Tears rose in his eyes to blot them out as he murmured, "Yes. I have."

Glaive stood looking at Shard with an unreadable expression for a few moments, then he bent down and picked up the sword where it had fallen. "Do you know how I got this?" he asked, jabbing a finger at the scar that ran right next to his eye. "It was my first battle outside these walls. I wasn't much older than you at the time. The man I fought nearly killed me, but as you can see I was the victor. Sometimes killing is necessary to stay alive, Shard." He held the sword out to the boy.

Reluctantly, Shard grasped the hilt again. He gritted his teeth, but the bodies did not return this time. When Glaive let go, Shard's arm swung down; the sword was much heavier than he had thought at first. He could almost imagine that the deaths he had caused were weighing it down.

Glaive corrected his grip and went on to show Shard the basic sword movements, then had Shard repeat them over and over again. Shard concentrated on the blade in his hand, clumsily guiding his sword through the motions, trying not to dwell on how strange this was or wonder what Father Mark would say. So focused was he on his own sword that he almost didn't catch the sudden movement in the corner of his eye. Shard turned his head just in time to see Glaive's sword whistling through the air towards him. Letting out a yell of surprise, he spun on the spot, his sword darting to meet it. The two blades connected with a loud clash, and Shard's sword twisted out of his grip, skittering away on the ground. The next moment, Shard froze with the tip of Glaive's sword at his neck.

Glaive grinned wolfishly. "Lesson number one: When my sword is drawn, I am your enemy." He flipped Shard's sword into his hand with the tip of his sword, then handed it back, commenting, "You did better than most for your first day; usually they're so stunned I can knock the sword out of their hands with no resistance."

Shard accepted the sword in bewilderment, but Glaive gave him little time to dwell on his strange teaching techniques, for suddenly he attacked again. Shard swung wildly in his surprise, missing Glaive altogether. Glaive's sword knocked Shard's sword away easily, then pressed gently against his neck. This cycle repeated itself over and over, frustrating Shard more and more each time his sword flew from his hand. This isn't teaching! he thought. He's just toying with me. In his anger, he ignored Glaive's sword angling towards him, and jabbed at Glaive's chest instead.

Somehow, Glaive caught him in time, knocking Shard's sword away. When he had Shard at his mercy yet again, he said mildly, "You're getting angry. Anger can provide you with strength, but it prevents you from thinking clearly. Be careful around your own anger, Shard."

[the_wolfs_howl]

Shard reluctantly accepted his sword, and the cycle began again. He lost all track of time; he could only concentrate on feebly attempting to defend himself with arms that grew heavier and heavier as time wore on. Finally, Shard managed to block two of Glaive's attacks before the sword was knocked from his hands. This seemed to be Glaive's goal for the day, for he sheathed his sword and said, "That should do for today."

Shard picked up his sword and wearily followed the older man over to the table at the far end of the bowl. Shard was breathing heavily, and sweat poured down his face. The armor was stiflingly hot; he longed to pull it off, but he knew he would need it for the ride back. Glaive passed him a goblet filled with water, and he gratefully downed its cool contents, quickly pouring another for himself.

"You did well for your first day," Glaive rumbled, watching Shard over the rim of his own goblet. "I suppose it comes from being a black, but you have great endurance. Determination. Good qualities for an Ambassador."

Shard wasn't quite sure what he meant, nor did he feel as though he embodied those qualities, but he was too tired to argue or ask questions.

Glaive set his goblet down and turned to a great wooden chest next to the table. He pulled up the lid, and Shard saw a dazzling display of colors that almost seemed to dance before his eyes. Glaive rummaged around for a while, then resurfaced with a shiny black sheath. Delicate white lines branched across it, splitting apart and twisting into intricate curlicues. When the sheath shifted in Glaive's hands as he gave it to Shard, the lines flickered in and out of sight as the light hit it in different directions.

Shard took it, some of his weariness seeming to lift off his shoulders. "It's beautiful," he murmured, following the white lines with his eyes.

"The first Ambassador I ever met wore that sheath," Glaive said, closing the trunk again. "She said she made it herself, but she never told me how. I am still guessing to this day." He smiled fondly for a moment, then his smile disappeared and he appeared older than ever before. "When she died...she told me to ensure that the next human bonded to a black dragon gained possession of her sheath. She told me to tell that one...that it carried her blessing...and that every black dragon...was destined to be alone."

Shard felt honored, yet at the same time confused. Touched, yet angry. It was a strange mix of emotions, and he didn't understand them, so he said nothing and simply sheathed his sword. It was a perfect fit.

As Shard was buckling his new sword around his waist, a thunderous double beating of wings announced the arrival of Gyvael and Shynael. Shard crossed over to his dragon, who looked just as beaten and weary as he felt. "I thought he wasn't supposed to be hard on you," Shynael mumbled tiredly.

Shard looked at his hands, and suddenly realized that they were covered with small cuts from Glaive's sword. He figured it was probably safe to assume his face hadn't fared any better. Similing grimly, he retorted, "You're not looking so great yourself."

Glaive looked at them with a mixture of sympathy and amusement, then said, "Come. The hour is late, and soon it will be time to hunt."

Shard struggled up Shynael's side, and was sorely tempted to lean forward on the dragon's neck like he used to do. He restrained himself with difficulty, trying to remember Vannasai's teaching from earlier. The flight back to the main Ambassador residence seemed much longer than it had the other way, but finally they landed in the great stone bowl again. The others were waiting for them.

"Go wash up first," Legacy commanded, wrinkling up her nose ever so slightly. Shard didn't even bother to dismount, letting Shynael carry him into their room. Shard stumbled onto the ground and fumbled about with his armor, his fingers clumsy from weariness. Somehow, he managed to take everything off, and stumbled almost blindly into the room with the large bathing pool. He was too tired to notice that the water was cooler than before – not so cold it would take his breath away, but just the right amount to be refreshing to his hot body. Shard slid into the welcoming embrace of the water, leaned back against the side, and closed his eyes with a sigh. He was asleep before he even realized it.

Gyvael = gah-VIE-ell

[the_wolfs_howl]

Christmas Surprise! You get an extra bonus part this time! It's almost like an omake at the end of a manga volume or something...except it's not really that funny. Eh, anyway. Merry Christmas, everybody!

When Shard awoke, his first thought was that he must be in heaven. Surely, he must be lying in a patch of fluffy, warm clouds, for nothing else could feel so wonderfully comfortable. Slowly, he dragged his eyes open and realized that he was lying in his large bed in the Ambassadors' residence. He tried to remember climbing into it, or at least dressing himself in his soft nightshirt, but he could not. The last thing he remembered was sliding into the pool of water in the other room. Did that mean that someone had pulled him, wet and naked, from the water while he was still asleep? Such a thought brought heat to his cheeks, and he hastily sat up.

Shynael poked his head out of his alcove, chewing something loudly. "Oh, Shard, you're awake!" he said thickly through a full mouth, a few chunks of half-chewed meat flying out.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Shard chided, watching a bit of bone roll off the side of his bed. "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude?"

Shynael merely trilled and ducked back into his alcove to finish his meal. Shard slid off his bed, stepped around the chunks of meat on the floor, and dressed himself in the clothes laid out on the foot of his bed. This time, the shirt was a green so dark it almost looked black. As he pulled on the rich garments, Shard marveled at how many sets of clothing he had now. He had grown up with only one at a time, receiving a new one whenever he was too big for the one before. He wondered where the Ambassadors had procured all these lavish possessions.

Shard was just starting on his breakfast when Shynael came out to sit at his side. He was silent for a while, until he asked, "What's this?"

Shard looked up to see that Shynael was looking at the sheath Glaive had given him the day before. He told Shynael everything Glaive had said, and when he was finished Shynael looked confused.

"I don't get it," Shynael huffed. "I'm a black dragon, and I'm not alone. I've got you."

Shard stopped eating and looked up at his dragon friend. Before he could stop himself, words came tumbling out of his mouth. "Am I any kind of substitute for your mother and all the dragons you could have known if not for me?"

Shynael drew back as though he had been struck, and Shard instantly regretted his words. The black dragon blinked and looked away from his human friend. He remained silent for what seemed like an hour, though it was probably only a minute or two. "No," he finally said. "You're not a substitute for anybody. You're just my Shard. It's because of you that I'm not alone."

As Shard looked at Shynael, he realized the same thing could be said about him as well. Shynael could never be a substitute for Father Mark or his village, but he didn't have to be. It was because of Shynael that Shard was not alone. In a way, the Ambassador who had made the sheath was right. Both of them had lost their entire world, everything they knew and held dear. And in some ways, it was because of each other that they had lost those things in the first place. But at the same time, it was because of each other that they could still stand.

A sudden hissing sound and a short burst of steam made Shard look up. He realized that Shynael was crying, and immediately stood up at his friend's side. Shard put his hand on the smooth, wet scales of the dragon's face, not caring that the tears were scalding his hands. He didn't know what to say, so instead he simply whispered, "Shynael."

Shynael pushed their faces together, so that his tears ran over Shard's eyes. The heat, and maybe something more, made Shard's eyes burn as if they were on fire. If he had looked down at his arms, he would have seen that several new scales had appeared on them that had not been there a few minutes before. But even if he had noticed this, he wouldn't have cared very much.

[Esoteric]

More Black Dragon? What a pleasant Christmas surprise!

Shard reached for it, but as soon as his hand closed around the hilt, he saw dead bodies surrounding him. Dead knights, their thick armor rent like paper. Dead men, torn and bloody. Blood dripped down his blade, and when he looked at the palm of his left hand, it was covered in warm, sticky, red liquid. Blood seeped through the fingers that clutched the hilt of his sword. The stench of death was thick in his nostrils, making the air so heavy his lungs seemed to stick together. Death and blood surrounded him, neverending, threatening to blot out the sun itself....

Shard dropped the sword and backed away, staring at it in horror. The bodies were gone now, the stone floor of the bowl empty. The blade was clean again, but his hands...his hands were filthy.

I like the flashback, it's very good for a quick jolting reminder. But it's also a little long and wordy, which starts to make it feel melodramatic. Try make it a little more condensed, even by just a sentence or two.

Glaive looked at him shrewdly, then asked, "Have you ever killed before, boy?"

Shard drew back as though struck, seeing again those five knights he had killed.

I like Glaive's perception, however i think it would have more impact as a statement than a question, especially considering Shard's response.
Glaive looked at him shrewdly. "So, you've killed before."
Shard drew back as though struck....

"You did better than most for your first day; usually they're so stunned I can knock the sword out of their hands with no resistance."

Don't you mean, try? It's a little premature for Glaive to be evaluating his day's performance at this point.

Hmm, I wonder where all this Ambassador business is going...sounds dangerous.

[the_wolfs_howl]

More Black Dragon? What a pleasant Christmas surprise!

Aw, thanks! (I take it as a compliment that something I've written could be a pleasant surprise.)

Yay, critiques! I don't know why getting criticism is making me so excited]Hmm, I wonder where all this Ambassador business is going...sounds dangerous.[/QUOTE]
Fufufu....

Oh, and this is a question for everybody: Now that we've encountered a couple dragon names other than Shynael (which is never ever EVER going to change), what do you think of them? Do they sound good? Stupid? Slightly off? Any suggestions for improvements will be most gratefully received; as I've said before, I'm horrible at coming up with names.

[kryptech]

Ah, it is good to get around to reading the latest!

Shard looked at his hands, and suddenly realized that they were covered with small cuts from Glaive's sword. He figured it was probably safe to assume his face hadn't fared any better.

I know nothing whatsoever of sword combat. However, it seems to me that cuts from sword practice would have the potential to be pretty serious. Of course Glaive would be skilled enough to mortal injuries to Shard and perhaps his sword was duller for practice...

I've found the names thus far to be interesting and suitable to their characters. I like how the ambassador and dragon pairs have similar names.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Hmm, thanks for the suggestion; I'll keep it in mind.

And thanks for reassuring me about the names; that's at least one vote of confidence ^_^ And I'm glad somebody noticed how riders and dragons have similar names

[the_wolfs_howl]

Author's Note: Yikes, I guess it was about time I updated this, eh? Well, this'll be quick; it's eleven p.m. here and I really need to get to bed. I hope you enjoy this next section; I'm not too pleased with it, to be completely honest, other than the first scene. Advent was begging for some "screen-time." ^_^

When Shard and Shynael emerged from their room, they found the courtyard-like bowl of the Ambassador residence empty except for Advent and his blue dragon. Advent, leaning languidly against his dragon's side, looked up when they drew near and sneered, "Well, speak of the devil. We were just talking about you, boy."

Rather miffed at being called a boy by someone who couldn't have been more than three years older than he, Shard frowned and said, "Oh?"

Advent smirked and said coolly, "We were wondering how long you'll last. Andrael's betting on a month."

The blue dragon, Andrael, smiled unpleasantly, revealing two rows of sharp, narrow teeth.

"But I think he's overestimating you," Advent continued casually. "The last new recruit we had lasted that long, but he was a full-grown man. A knight, if I remember correctly. Obviously, if he only lasted that long, you won't live out the week."

Shynael growled, and Shard felt like imitating him. "And who do you think you are, to evaluate your fellows?" he asked coldly.

Advent's smirk widened, and he pushed himself away from Andrael to lean closer to Shard. "Look, young one," he said in a poisonously soft voice. "I have been here since I was five years old. I've seen Ambassadors come, and Ambassadors go. Unless you're exceptionally strong like Glaive, for example, you won't last. Life between the dragon's claw and the human's sword is perilous. Don't think that just because everyone's giving their attentions to you means that you're special. Every time Legacy looks at you and smiles, secretly she's just hoping you'll stick around longer than the last one." Looking satisfied, Advent swung expertly onto Andrael's back. "But I know better."

Shard opened his mouth to speak, but Andrael took off into the air, soon disappearing from sight above the tree branches. Shynael growled again and crouched as if to spring into the air after him, but Shard put a hand on his neck. "It won't do any good," he admonished softly. "Remember what happened last time?"

Shynael grimaced, still staring up into the treetop. "Yes, and that just makes me want to go after them even more."

But Shard knew Shynael wouldn't go after them now, so he took his hand away. "I wonder why they dislike us so much."

Shynael snorted. "Dislike? They hate us! You could see it in their eyes!"
"Yes, but why? We never did anything to them!"

"Nothing except exist, you mean," said a voice behind them.

Shard's heart leapt in his chest, and he turned around to find Legacy and Linygae coming up behind them. Legacy smiled, and Shard couldn't help but think about what Advent had said.

"Don't let Advent get to you," Legacy said. "He's like this to all new Ambassadors."

"He must hate a lot of people, the way he was talking," Shynael muttered.

Legacy pursed her lips. "It's not hate, exactly. It's more like...initiation, or something; I don't know. He's been here since he was a child, since before any of us except Glaive, so it takes him a while to warm up to newcomers. But don't worry. He does eventually." She smiled again; Shard's stomach flip-flopped, but he still couldn't shake Advent's words off.

Shard said awkwardly, "He mentioned something about a knight who only lasted a month...."

"Oh, Sir Cedric?" Legacy rolled her eyes. "It was almost a relief to see him go, to tell you the truth. Gruesome death, but...." She abruptly changed the subject. "Ah, Vesper, Vannasai! Well, I'll leave you to your lessons, then."

Linygae bore Legacy away, and Shard watched them go with a torrent of confused thoughts and emotions. He heard the click of talons against stone, and looked back down to watch Vesper and Vannasai approach. Shard pushed his thoughts aside and smiled at Vesper, who once again wore her grey cloak over her shining green armor, hood enshrouding her face. "Good morning," Shard said tentatively, still somewhat unnerved around her.

Vesper stopped abruptly, her head turned to Shard. He couldn't see her face, but he rather thought she looked surprised. She remained frozen for a few moments, then nodded slightly and hurried past him to climb up onto Shynael's back.

Shrugging inwardly, Shard greeted Vannasai and climbed up just as Shynael
took off. "Do you remember what you learned yesterday?" Vannasai asked, beating her wings to take off as well.

"I think so," Shard replied, clutching her tightly with his legs. They broke through the canopy close behind Shynael, who took off in another direction and left them alone like before.

Vannasai continued with their lessons, flying faster and with sharper turns than the day before. Shard lost track of time, forgetting his anger at Advent in the face of the peacefulness of isolation and Vannasai's soothing voice.

Suddenly, the tranquility of the lesson was shattered, as a very familiar voice roared, "Boo!"

Vannasai did a strange twirling flip in midair as she turned around in surprise to see who it was, and Shard was amazed that he somehow managed to stay on her back. Shard hovered in the air, grinning at Vannasai with a mischievous glint that Shard hadn't seen there since the days of their games together. Shynael trilled with delight at Vannasai's shocked face. "Vesper?" she asked uncertainly, drawing closer.

Vesper, whose hood had blown off, looked just as bewildered as her dragon. Shynael playfully slapped Vannasai with his tail and cried out, "You're it!" Then he streaked away.

"What on earth...?" Vannasai murmured.

Shard, who couldn't help laughing, asked, "Haven't you ever played a hatchling game? Shynael's mother told him all about them."

Shynael circled back and called out, "Come on! Come and catch me!"

"I'm going to regret this," Vannasai groaned, but as she turned to follow Shynael, Shard caught sight of her smile.

Vannasai shot forward with greater speed than ever before, zooming after the black blur that was Shynael. Shard could hardly breathe in the wind that slapped against his face, and his muscles strained to hold onto Vannasai. But he was filled with exhilaration and the unexpected joy he had always felt when playing games with Shynael.

Vannasai was larger and faster than Shynael, and in no time at all, she caught him in a flying tackle that jarred Shard so much he nearly fell off. When Vannasai trilled happily, Shard noted how different her trill sounded from Shynael's. Hers seemed more like a song than a purr, like a brook burbling through the forest below. "Now see if you can catch me!" Vannasai called out, and raced away.

Shard couldn't hear Shynael's pursuit; his ears were filled with the whistling of Vannasai's wings and the wind they made. He had never known that anything could move so fast, and he wondered if Shynael would be able to catch up or not. It took a long time, but finally Shynael cut up in front of her unexpectedly and tackled her as she had done to him, his head suddenly thrusting up next to Shard. "Hi, Shard!" he called cheerfully, then sprang away.

Vesper must have said something to him, for he abruptly turned back. "Aw," he whined, "do we really have to stop?"

"Oh!" Vannasai exclaimed in surprise. "I'd lost all track of time! We ought to be getting back." The two dragons flew back side-by-side, the sound of their wings molding into on another.

"Well, that was fun, wasn't it?" Shard called over to Vesper, grinning.

Vesper looked at him in surprise, as if wondering why he would speak to her. Hesitantly, she nodded in answer to his question. Her lips twitched as if she was going to smile, then thought better of it and turned her head away.

When they landed back in the bowl, Legacy was waiting for them with an impatient expression on her face. "Where have you been?" she demanded.

"Oh...extra instruction," Vannasai said sheepishly as Shard and Vesper slid down and returned to their dragons. As they passed each other, Vesper's lips twitched again.

"Well, I suppose it's necessary," Legacy huffed. "But I've been needing you to do something for me. Eat quickly, you two," she told Shard and Shynael. "Glaive is waiting for you."

Shard hastily obeyed, half wishing they hadn't played that game after all, and wolfed down his food as Legacy spoke to Vesper some distance away, too low for him to hear. Presently Vesper nodded, pulled her hood back up to cover her face, and disappeared in one of the doorways with Vannasai. Legacy cast a brief glance at Shard and Shynael at one of the long tables, then entered a doorway that Shard suspected was her room. He felt very alone in that large place with only a noisily-eating dragon to keep him company.

[the_wolfs_howl]

After their hasty lunch, Shard mounted Shynael and they set off for the tree where Glaive would be waiting. Shard noticed again how differently he rode his dragon after Vannasai's teachings. The two of them remained silent during the flight, except for one time when Shynael called back, "I'd always wondered what it would be like to play a game with another dragon. Vannasai's a lot faster than you, you know."

"I can't really help that, you know," Shard retorted with a grin, nudging Shynael's neck.

Shard was in good spirits when Shynael landed in the bowl of the red tree, where Glaive and Gyvael were waiting for them. These good spirits soon evaporated, however, once Glaive started on him. Just like the day before, the two of them clashed swords, and Glaive easily swatted Shard's away time and time again. Shard wondered if this was really the right way to teach someone to use a sword, and grumpily voiced his opinion while trudging over to retrieve his sword yet again.

Glaive grunted. "The only way to learn is to do," he said, then lunged at Shard while his back was turned.

Somehow, Shard found that he had been expecting this, and was already leaping aside, lashing out with his sword. Glaive moved smoothly to meet his attack, but he called out, "Good! Lure the enemy!"

Once again, they fought until Shard's whole body ached, then returned to the main tree once their dragons returned. Shard managed to stay awake long enough to eat, but he was so tired he moved as if in a dream. He followed Shynael back to their room after the meal, bypassing his bed and choosing instead to sleep with his dragon. He fell asleep to the lullaby of a loud, steady purr.

Andrael = AND-rie-ell

[Esoteric]

Apologies for not responding sooner...I read the updates shortly after you posted them..I just kinda...sorta...forgot to come back and comment.

It's curious that you aren't terribly pleased with most of it. I'm actually wondering if you know the reason why. Training isn't usually the most exciting pastime to read about unless, A: It's life threatening, B: It's psychologically challenging, even to the reader. I'm guessing that's why you aren't as happy with the bits after Advent's conversation. His scene gives us some real emotional tension, and develops characters a little more. Realistically I know training would go on a long time, but sure hope something exciting/dangerous happens soon (hint, hint).

[the_wolfs_howl]

Okay, okay, I'll take the hint. Something exciting/dangerous, is it? We'll see what we can cook up *rubs hands together* *Shard and Shynael run away*

Thanks for commenting!

[kryptech]

Good to read a little more, though I don't really have any comments in particular.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Well, thanks for commenting anyway! XD

[the_wolfs_howl]

Author's Note: Well, I finally got the next section written! Eso demanded something exciting, and I hope this fits the bill. I discovered quite a bit while writing this, so I hope you will too. I'm running late at the moment, so I won't say any more except that in the final conversation of this section, my mood music was "When Somebody Loved Me" from Toy Story 2.

Shard surprised himself when he realized he had already fallen into an easy routine. He would wake up, eat a hearty breakfast, then emerge into the courtyard-bowl for his flying lessons. After that, there would be lunch, then the lesson with Glaive, then the evening meal and bed. By the end of his first week, Shard already felt as though he had been with the Ambassadors for a very long time.

Even though the other Ambassadors remained politely distant from him (with the exception of Advent and Andrael, who remained decidedly antagonistic), Shard felt strangely at home. This was the one place in the world where he could live freely with what he was. Dragons would kill him, humans would curse and shun him, but here he was accepted. He didn't have to worry anymore over what might happen if someone discovered Shynael, or saw the black scales that littered his body. He was free.

On the morning of their seventh day there, Shard and Shynael found Legacy waiting for them in the courtyard rather than Vesper. She wore a thoughtful look as she watched them approach. When they came to a stop, she said without preamble, "I'd like to see you two fly together. I think you're ready by now, but I want to be sure...."

Shard didn't know what he was supposed to be ready for, nor did he feel so, but he was determined to impress her nonetheless. He would show her she had no cause to worry! He was going to stay, and prove Advent wrong. Swinging easily up into the hollow behind Shynael's neck, Shard took a moment to settle himself. It really was much more comfortable to ride Shynael than Vannasai. Shynael seemed to fit him like a glove.

Shynael shot into the air, and Shard held on with his legs, feeling a jolt of his stomach unrelated to the sudden jump in altitude. "We have to impress her, Shynael," he murmured, not sure if the dragon would be able to hear. Whether he did or not, the young dragon flew magnificently (if Shard said so himself), circling around Legacy, who had followed them up on Linygae. Shynael even did a few backflips and twirls in midair, and Shard did his best to adjust his balance properly.

Finally, Legacy called out that they should land once more. When they broke through the leafy canopy, Shard looked around and saw the others waiting for them. Vannasai winked at him, but everyone else remained still and solemn. All eyes turned to Legacy, who slowly slid off her dragon's back. Shard remained on Shynael, his breath catching in his throat as he waited for her verdict.

Legacy looked briefly around at all of them, her eyes resting on Shard the last. Just when he was starting to worry, a smile broke out on her face. "He is ready," she announced.

Advent snorted.

Legacy's smile evaporated and she turned around. "Do you have something to say, Advent?" she asked coldly.

Advent crossed his arms over his chest. "Just because he can stay atop his dragon doesn't mean he's ready."

Legacy's expression grew sharp and dangerous. "I say he is ready. And that should be enough for you."

Shard gulped, wishing he could sink through the floor. He hated being the cause of this disagreement, and hastily slipped off Shynael's back so he would be half-hidden behind one of the dragon's enormous wings.

"He can fly somewhat," Vannasai said softly.

"He won't disgrace us all, at least," Glaive rumbled.

Advent's eyes flicked from one unyielding face to another, until finally he jerked his head in what seemed to be a gesture of compliance. An ugly expression twisted his features, however, and he glared darkly at Shard as soon as Legacy's back was turned.

The others began to disperse, and as soon as Shard was certain Advent was leaving, he hurried to catch up to Legacy. "Er...Legacy?" he asked, feeling a light blush rise onto his cheeks. "Might...Might I ask what's going on?"

Legacy, who had been frowning to herself, looked up at him and cleared her expression. "Oh. I'm sorry. I guess I should explain. We're going to take you to the King."

Shard stopped short in surprise. "The king? What king?"

Legacy smiled at him somewhat incredulously. "Why, the Dragon King, of course!"

----------

Around midday, the ten Ambassadors set off. Legacy had insisted that they all bathe, shine their armor, and sharpen their swords for this occasion. Shard's head was still spinning, and he had to keep on pinching himself to be sure he wasn't dreaming. He wasn't sure why, but he had never expected there to be a king of the dragons. He supposed it made sense; after all, there were human kings aplenty. But as he thought about it, he realized that he had always thought of dragons as mindless beasts with no cultural structure of any kind. He knew differently now.

They flew south, out over the trees that stretched out to every horizon. Shard wondered if the trees extended to the very edge of the world itself. But after about half an hour of flying, he saw a faint line of darker green than the carpet of treetops. As they drew closer, he realized it was the edge of the forest, and when they drew even closer he could see an enormous valley, lush and green. Closer still, he saw many birds wheeling back and forth about the valley. And as the valley seemed to grow larger and larger, he gradually realized that they weren't birds. They were dragons.

It seemed that the closer he came to that valley, the more dazzled Shard's eyes became. Dragons of every size and color imaginable swooped in and out, easily weaving their way around each other. Some flew side by side, deep in conversation. Others called out greetings as they passed each other. Shard spotted a red mother dragon scolding her two scarlet hatchlings, who apparently had barreled right into an old blue dragon. The Ambassadors passed right through the middle of this hubub, drawing no more attention to themselves than any other dragons. Shard supposed the five humans were so small compared to their dragons that they couldn't even be seen at first glance.

Shynael practically quivered with excitement as he followed on Vannasai's tail, staring left and right at all the dragons everywhere. Shard smiled to himself and stared as well. Eventually he grew accustomed enough to the multitude of dragons to realize that the Ambassadors were making their way through the crowd to a cliff at the southernmost end of the valley. At first he thought there was a small black mound of stone near the edge, but as they drew closer he realized it was a dragon. A massive, hulking black dragon. Other dragons of various colors, all tiny in comparison, surrounded it and seemed to be presenting offerings of meat to it. There was no doubt in Shard's mind: This was the Dragon King.