Lireal looked around the road outside Travelyns Fighting Academy. She
didn't remember the last time she had come through the tall oak doors. The
faint memories she did possess were of the tall trees she had played in
before succumbing to the ways of warrior maidens. She was now a deadly
weapon, one that no one would ever be able to tame. The Academy had made
sure of that. She led her horse out onto the packed dirt road. As she
mounted, wind raced through her long brown hair, lose in the warm summer
air. She smiled slightly and chirruped to the horse.
As she made her way along the long road to Evanlange she thought about her life at Travelyns. The thought of leaving the only place she had ever known slightly scared her, something now many could do. The life she had endured while living there had been beyond what most could handle, the long training hours being the worst. She winced at the sword masters first words to her when she had come.
"You will never master the sword. There is always something that is left to learn. Even if I cannot teach you, it still exists. This you must always remember." She still kept this in mind always when she used her sword. She had earned this particular blade and she used it to the best of her ability. Only the sword master beat her once she had graduated with full honors. But he had said she had been a challenge and she someday would come back and beat him.
"Oy, miss? Do you think you could 'elp me?"
Lireal snapped straight looking around for the voice. Her hand was already on her hilt, the sword half drawn. "Ummm." She gulped. "Where are you?"
"Down here miss." Lireal looked down and gasped. In her path lay a purple dragon. It wasn't full grown but it still was a good fifteen feet long. Its green eyes stared at her, not blinking. She then realized it was caught in a net, enveloping it in thick green rope. She got off her horse but did not help the creature.
"How do I know won't eat me?" she said, drawing her sword. "I don't know why someone would capture you but they must have had good reason."
"Aye miss. They did. I was eatin' the cabbages. And the carrots. I'm a veggie eater ya see." He chuckled. "Not many times do you come against a dragon that won't eat ya I'm thinking."
Lireal smiled and set to work cutting the dragon free. The rope was well made and it took her several minutes to get it cut. The dragon shook out its wings and turned to face her.
"I am Ferrous Piquer. It means "Iron Bite". But you may call me Ferr." He bowed, his wings slightly unfurling. They were huge. She gulped and prayed she had made the right choice in freeing him.
As she made her way along the long road to Evanlange she thought about her life at Travelyns. The thought of leaving the only place she had ever known slightly scared her, something now many could do. The life she had endured while living there had been beyond what most could handle, the long training hours being the worst. She winced at the sword masters first words to her when she had come.
"You will never master the sword. There is always something that is left to learn. Even if I cannot teach you, it still exists. This you must always remember." She still kept this in mind always when she used her sword. She had earned this particular blade and she used it to the best of her ability. Only the sword master beat her once she had graduated with full honors. But he had said she had been a challenge and she someday would come back and beat him.
"Oy, miss? Do you think you could 'elp me?"
Lireal snapped straight looking around for the voice. Her hand was already on her hilt, the sword half drawn. "Ummm." She gulped. "Where are you?"
"Down here miss." Lireal looked down and gasped. In her path lay a purple dragon. It wasn't full grown but it still was a good fifteen feet long. Its green eyes stared at her, not blinking. She then realized it was caught in a net, enveloping it in thick green rope. She got off her horse but did not help the creature.
"How do I know won't eat me?" she said, drawing her sword. "I don't know why someone would capture you but they must have had good reason."
"Aye miss. They did. I was eatin' the cabbages. And the carrots. I'm a veggie eater ya see." He chuckled. "Not many times do you come against a dragon that won't eat ya I'm thinking."
Lireal smiled and set to work cutting the dragon free. The rope was well made and it took her several minutes to get it cut. The dragon shook out its wings and turned to face her.
"I am Ferrous Piquer. It means "Iron Bite". But you may call me Ferr." He bowed, his wings slightly unfurling. They were huge. She gulped and prayed she had made the right choice in freeing him.
