Show a Little Respect Chapter 1

I was the ruler of the skies. The Vikings feared me, and called me names that showed their fear. I went where I pleased, I did what I pleased, I took what I pleased, and I burned whatever did not please me. That was a lot, sometimes.

Then came that night when they threw the net over my head, and tied up my wings with weighted ropes, and drove me into a tiny cell and shut the door behind me. And they left me there.

From time to time, I heard them let other dragons out of their cells. I heard sounds of fighting. Why did they not let me out? If they wanted to fight, I would give them a fight! If they did not want to fight me, then why did they keep me caged? This tiny space was meant for a much smaller dragon. Could I remember what the sun and the moon looked like? Sometimes I would spend days thinking nothing but "Let me out let me out let me out let me OUT!"

At last, one day, they let me out.

I heard the noises of many Vikings from all around me. I heard the creak of the door. I prepared my fires. I leaned against the door, so when it was free, it flew open and I burst out, setting myself afire at the same time. Why does such a natural thing frighten them so much? But I heard sounds of fear from all around me. Good. I ran halfway around the ring that imprisoned me, looking for some way out. When I found none, I shot a blast of fire at the nearest Vikings. They scattered like frightened sheep. I climbed onto the ceiling, looking for some other way out. Then I saw him.

He was a tiny Viking, the only one in the ring. He stood there, with a helmet and shield that were too big for him, and a knife that was far too small for me. Was this who I was supposed to fight? It seemed like an insult! There had to be a trick. I dropped to the ground and faced this little Viking, alert for any surprises.

He stared into my eyes, and I saw no fear. No Viking had ever looked at me without fear before. I stepped toward him warily; he gave ground. Suddenly, he reached out and dropped his weapons. More trickery? I heard no one sneaking up on me from behind. Now the small one's hands were outstretched toward my nose.

Never, in all my many days, had I seen such a thing. One quick bite, and his hand would be gone. This was no attack posture! Was he trying to communicate something? He made some human sounds, something like "issokay, issokay." His voice was not threatening at all. Either this little Viking meant me no harm, which was unimaginable, or this was a very elaborate trick.

If he really meant me no harm, then why did he wear the horned helmet of the dragon killer? I glared at it. To my amazement, he reached up, removed the helmet, and threw it aside. Now he had no offense and no defense. Was it possible that he was peaceful? I heard sounds from the humans that surrounded us; I looked around quickly. I did not dare lower my guard. Not yet.

I looked back at the little one. Again, he had reached for my nose. The gesture was unfamiliar, non-threatening, and oddly relaxing. A nearby Viking said something; the little one answered in a commanding tone, then reverted to his softer voice. I was willing to trust this little Viking. He was certainly different from all the rest. He was not attacking, yet he had no fear. He had something in between. Respect. It is something dragons receive from each other, but never before from a Viking.

Then I heard the crash of metal on metal behind me. A trick! I was right after all! The deceiving little Viking would be the first to go. One quick bite... but he darted away. Very well, the fire. He dodged that, too. He was elusive, this non-violent Viking. I would have to chase him. But the ring that imprisoned me also imprisoned him.

I made repeated attacks, and always I just missed. My long imprisonment had eroded my skills. From nowhere, a hard blow to my head knocked me down. Another small Viking had thrown a weapon at me! So she wanted to be my target? Killing two would be twice as satisfying as one.

The second one dashed for a doorway, followed by the first. No! One of you is not getting away today. A shot of fire at the doorway, and the first one retreated back into the ring. Perfect! I pounced and imprisoned him in my claws.

So, little Viking, you willingly made yourself bait for their trap? Do you know what happens to the bait in a trap? I have waited a long time for this moment. I will enjoy this. You, on the other hand, will –

Without warning, something powerful lands on my back, claws digging at me painfully. I have to release my prisoner; I need all my limbs to fight. I roll away, but whatever it is, it stays on my back. I break away, biting furiously at it. It fights me off, kicks, and I fly halfway across the ring.

The night dragon! How did he get here? "I have no quarrel with you!" I roar at him. "Just give me the little one!" In a day full of surprises, the dark one gives me the greatest surprise of all – he places himself between me and my prey, and defends the little Viking! Twice I try to get around him, and twice he moves to block me. My own kind have turned against me! "Traitor!" I roar. "He is mine!" the dark one snarls back. I cannot fight the night dragon on a good day, and I am still weak from captivity, and my head rings from the hammer blow the other small Viking gave me. If the dark one wants the little one that badly, he can have it. I do something I have never done before. I retreat.

I hear more sounds of fighting, but I have no desire to join in. Today was the best chance I would ever have to get back at my captors, and it all went wrong. I do not resist as the larger Vikings lead and prod me back into my cell. It sounds like they have imprisoned the night dragon as well. Small comfort.

Later, in the silence and the darkness, I think about what happened. If they imprisoned the night dragon, it means he was not on their side. There was no trick. The little one really was harmless.

So what was he trying to do?