Private Tales Don't Shy From the Light

[Aster Sayre]

"An expedition?" The incredulity used was a loud and solid no without being said. Aster's mother quirked a brow at her daughter from across the long table set for a formal morning meal to break their fasts.

In turn, Aster lifted her chin and met her mother's gaze unwaveringly. "For only two days and a night. There is a migration of saltsea dragons that would pass, and visiting the Scaled Cliffs is the best spot to watch them all." It was going to be an effort to let her mother realise that Aster was simply telling her mother and not seeking permission. "I will be back before dinner tomorrow." She added with finality.

Her mother drew breath to speak, but Aster's father, the Duke, chuckled. "Let her go. She has a dragon now. Cerys will not let harm come to our daughter."

A truth that could not be spoken with more surety. Aster regarded her father with aumsement. "I will not be going alone either." A lie to keep the truth some conpany.

Preparations were being made, and for the next couple of hours, Aster finally found her way to the dragon's den in the Palace grounds. Although Cerys was not housed here, deemed too wild and spirited to make peaceful rest here, Aster had to transport all her gear kept here to take with her. The saddle, the bags, even the leather riding gear she decided she would change into once she met with her dragon.

"Just... one moment, my lady." An attendant gave her a half smile. Aster crossed her arms, trying to look complacent but all she wanted to do was to leave the city already. "There's... we are trying to locate a draft dragon to help you get across the city."

She frowned. "Is there not a carriage I can take?"

"Afraid not, my lady..."

She sighed, and made it known sje was beginning to grow unhappy. A carriage meant she could take some rest without being seen by the people. Although not royal by blood, being cousins allowed her to live at the Palace. She was known to the people of Thanasis, for she often travelled with the Princess of Thanasis.

 

[Torec]

Old One-Eye had seen better days. Probably days when he had two eyes instead of just the one. Now the enormous cockatrice hobbled along on two feet, resembling the oddest cross between a gamecock and a dragon. Atop the enormous saddle and saddlebags sat a dark haired and bearded man, grizzled, whose skin spoke of hard days under the sun and weather.

Torec, Dragon Tamer, slid spryly down the One-Eye's side as the beast of burden came to a halt near the dragon's den in the Palace grounds. He grunted as his boots hit the ground and he stretched his back, patting the cockatrice's feathered leg.

"Gettin' too old for this, I think."

The cockatrice let out a crow of agreement. Torec grunted, squinting under the light of the sun until he spotted the little grouping and pile of gear. Leading One-Eye by the reins, he approached a woman with hair of palest silver. Spelled royal if he knew it. Funny, how he'd been taming dragons for the royals for the better part of his life and still had yet to meet but one or two of them. Tamers came and went. In fact, the life expectancy was pretty short. A miracle he'd been around this long.

Torec nodded in greeting. Not sure the protocol for a royal who was more of a cousin than a princess. Bow maybe? He didn't.

"Lady Aster? Torec, house dragon tamer. Got your draft 'trice here. I can start loading up your gear, if you're ready to go."

Aster Sayre

 

[Aster Sayre]

Her head turned, enough that she could catch the one talking with a side glance. Her lips parted, as if to say something, but her expression spoke for her. "Cockatrice? I am not being carted like goods, Tamer."
And a cockatrice was not going to keep up with where she planned to go. It would be slower, when she needed to move quickly. Aster took a moment, and sighed. "Apologies. No, a cockatrice would not do. My dragon has made a habit of feasting on every cockatrice that has moved my gear around. I have lost perfect pairs of boots and three cockatrices."
"Again, we are sorry for the wait, my lady. The Princes have..."
She held up a hand. "Oh, believe me, that tells me plenty. I know which of my cousins you speak of."
"We have a carriage, if you would like us to begi—"

"Yes, please. The moment the draft dragons become available..."

"We will have you on your way shortly." Smiled the attendant.

Aster turned to Torec. "Perhaps you could be of assistance then. Dragon tamer, correct? If I am traveling north along the coast, do you know where the wild goats are being herded? My dragon... likes to stay in the wilds. I would like to see to it that she is getting enough food out there." Although it would be no different than it would be if she resided in the city. "Or do you suggest hunting in the sea?"

 

[Torec]

Torec scowled. What did the lady have against cockatrices?

He patted One-Eye's beak reassuringly when she mentioned that her dragon ate cockatrices for breakfast.

Don't worry, old fellow.

What she said, if true, said more about her lack of control and trust with the dragon than anything else. That made his frown deepen. He looked at the ground for a moment, his mop of dark hair falling forward to curtain his face. Royals did hate it when he scowled. Took it personal.

She spoke to him again, asking about the wild goat paths.

Bloody royals.

Saddle care. Claw care. Tooth care. Scale care. He knew all these. But goats?

"Not a goat herder," he scratched at the beard thistles covering his jaw, "Sea is safer if you stick closer to the coast." Safer for people and cockatrices, apparently. "We travel inland, then it can't be helped... there should be goats near this time of year."

Aster Sayre