Chapter 21 - Leddi and Rews

Ash woke up early to meet a foggy morning gloom. Looking out the back of the wagon, the world was still cloaked in a hazy embrace of mist. He then got to work gently rubbing Rasp’s back scales.

The dragon woke slowly under the boy’s ministrations. The dragon rustled his wings briefly before flicking an eye open. And with a low disgruntled hiss, Ash’s scaly partner yawned widely, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

Good. Now's a good time, he thought.

The dragonboy slipped out of the wagon while Rasp gracefully followed. The dragon then stretched its lengthy boy for a moment before following Ash into the pre-dawn gloom.

While Rasp open and closed his wings, a vigilant sentry drifted closer, but not too close, and spoke lightly to avoid waking the other troops. “Are you taking your dragon out to fly?"

Ash nodded in affirmation, "Yeah."

"Alright. I’ll wake some of the others to go with you. Captain's orders."

While the night-watchman set about slightly nudging awake a few sleeping men with his boot, the boy strapped on his gear and rucksack with Rasp's rock.

A few minutes later, Ash, Rasp, and a pair of escorting soldiers keeping a safe distance were walking along the misty road, away from the caravan. And when Ash threw up his arm, a happy dragon bounced into the cool air a moment later with a happy roar. Raawwwrrr!

Thats a relief, Ash thought. He'd been getting worried. Rasp had been entirely too comfortable with hanging out doing nothing the past few days. I should have known better. It wasn't like he'd just forget how to fly.

It was only when they just returned to camp when the sky began to brighten. Clinking sounds could be heard throughout the camp as people prepared breakfast.

Horses tugged at their picket lines with fearful whinnies as Rasp pulled out of a dive with wide wings to come to a easy landing. Nearby morning cooks who caught the sight had their mouths drop in awe at the sight.

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Oops. He'd have to try to return quicker from now on.

Even though the Talon Empire was famous for their dragons, most people had rarely seen them up close, and the mesmerizing display of the winged beast stirred excitement among the onlookers.

A murmer of excitement spread thoughout the caravan after the black dragon's landing.

Having made their way back to the wagon, Ash emptied the crystal out of the rucksack so Rasp would stay. With that all important task taken care of, he then went and grabbed their breakfast.

He ended taking multiple trips to drag over three giant sacks of sun-dried, salted meat and a bucket of water. While his partner ate, Ash snagged a thin piece for himself before going to stand in line for a bowl of hot porridge.

Ash was making his way back with his portion of steaming oats as the last few sleepy-eyed troops rolled out of their bedrolls from under the wagons. Morning activities commenced, setting the camp in motion.

An hour later, with Rasp comfortably nestled in the wagon, the caravan resumed its journey. As the convoy set out, an eager voice broke the morning stillness.

“Good mornin Ash!”

Hah, saw you this time. It was the same child from the previous day, his enthusiasm undiminished. Ash had spotted the brat right away off to the side of the road. He wasn’t alone either.

This time he was accompanied by another sandy-haired boy. One around Ash’s age. And judging by how he looked to be an older version of Rews, they were probably brothers.

The two boys, with Rews having learned his lesson, maintained a respectful distance. Still, their curiosity was evident.

“Good morning Rews”, Ash greeted back. He looked questioningly to the other kid. The new boy took that as the initiative to introduce himself.

“I’m Leddi Dessur. I apologize for my idiot brother’s actions yesterday.”

“I’m not an idiot!”

“Oh yeah, could have fooled me.”

Ash caught a flicker of movement from the tailgate as the two brothers started bickering. Not today Rasp. Don't want to get the Captain mad with a repeat occurrence. The dragonboy moved to put himself between the wagon and the Dessurs and spoke curtly.

"Be quiet and back off. My dragon is watching. I think you are annoying him." Ash strictly pointed to Rews' bruised arm, “I might not be fast enough next time.”

The squabble immediately died down as the boys saw the scaly face staring at them. They stared back even as they slowed their pace.

Leddi was the one to realize something Ash said. "You said 'him'. Is it a male dragon then? What's his name?"

Ash shrugged, mostly for himself. At least someone's listening.

"His name is Rasp. And yeah, he's a male dragon. And he's the best partner ever." Ash really meant it too! Rasp was his partner 'til death afterall.

This revelation sparked an avalanche of queries from Rews, "Is he black all over? What type of breath does he have? What does he eat? How old is he? Do you sleep with him? Do dragons... "