Chapter 24 - The Princes' Rebellion

Ash was lazily twirling his sling after unloading a sack of jerky into the wagon for Rasp to nibble on when Rews trotted back, looking anxious. The boy was honestly surprised, didn't think he'd be back so so...or today even, but he kept twirling.

"Hi Rews. What's on your mind?"

Rews hastily bowed and blurted out, "My father said I bothered you. I'm really sorry if I did, Ash."

The dragonboy paused then responded simply, "Thank you Rews. I knew you didn't mean any harm." He put away his sling. "Want to talk about something else?"

The kid energetically popped back up. "Um, whycanonlyWartornbedragonriders?"

Uh, too fast, what? Ash was startled, "That was really fast Rews. What did you just say?"

"Err, I said, why are dragonriders only Wartorn?" Rews froze, bowed again, and peeked up anxiously. "I'm sorry if im bothering you."

Ash was amused, this kid is relentless. He looked at Rasp for a quick check, but the dragon was just coiling up in the hay, getting ready for his aftersnack snooze. Guess I got time to tell the story.

"Have you ever heard of the Princes' Rebellion?" Ash began.

Rews thought for a bit and then shook his head. "Nope!"

Clearing his throat, Ash continued, "Well, a long time ago, back when Sky City was the capital, the emperor's and his sons used to be the only ones who rode dragons. But then there was an Emperor near death, with many, many sons. Half of them disagreed with his official choice of heir. Especially the Prince with the largest and strongest dragon. He thought that with the strongest dragon, he would be the strongest leader. And he convinced half the princes that he was the better choice to take the throne. So they declared war on the heir and his supporters. But the heir was smarter and his dragon quicker, and his side won, upholding the emperor's decision, and slaying all who had rebelled. And-"

Rews' eyes widened as he interrupted, "Even the dragons?"

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Ash shrugged, "No, just their riders. Without their bonded partners, the dragons eventually scattered once they secured a new location for their treasures." He then resumed the story, "Before the emperor died he decreed that no member of his family would be allowed to bond with dragons ever again. So that they would not tear Talon apart. But the Empire still needed loyal riders."

His eyes glowed with simmering intent, "So they find orphans like me, cloth us, shelter us, train us, give us a new name, the Wartorn. And a purpose, to strike down Talon's enemies. Like they struck down my parents... Dragons are the weapon provided to us. How can we not be loyal?" He shook his head to clear his darker thoughts, "Many thought the new Emperor would revoke that decree when his father died, but he did not. Many thought his own heir would revoke the decree when he also took the throne, but he did not. Turns out that not bonding with a dragon gave a lot of time to be a better ruler. Which made Talon that much more united and stronger."

Ash glanced at little Rews. "That is why only Wartorn like me can be dragonriders. Its been that way for at least a thousand years."

The dragonboy smiled down at the enthralled boy. "So, what did you think of the story?"

Rews closed his open mouth with a snap. "Is that story for real? That's amazing!"

Ash shrugged, "It's what they teach us at the Skyfort."

The kid sank into thought, then asked, "Hey, does your dragon have treasures? The stories always say they do."

The dragonboy grinned, "Yup. Well he has one treasure, a special rock, and he likes to chew on it. You ever hear that grinding sound? Thats him with his rock."

"A rock?" THe kid asked in disbelief.

Ash tried not to chuckle. "Yup. A rock. A big one. Rasp's rock." Then he asked Rews something he had been curious about, "Hey, Rews, how many more days until we reach the mountain pass? I've noticed the road going uphill since yesterday."

Rews replied, "We'll get there tomorrow. We'll camp within the Dragon's Gate for the night."

"Is there anything special about the place?"

Rews wrinkled his nose, "Not really."

The following evening, as Rasp's wagon rolled into the mountain fortress, Ash couldn't help but think that Rews was right. The Dragon's Gate wasn't all that special.

The fortress was nestled in a low pass between two mountain. Having been raised in the Skyfort, it was disappointingly small. There were a few guard towers and simple stone battlements containing a small courtyard and buildings for the soldiers, and little else. Once the caravan had entered, it seemed to take up all the available space.

Captain Thorne approached Ash as the caravan came to a stop in the courtyard, with the soldiers positioning their wagons to isolate Rasp's wagon from the rest. "Dragonboy Ash, it would be best to keep your dragon from going out in the morning while we are here. Can you do that."

Ash met the Captain's gaze and nodded solemnly. "I'll do everything I can, sir."

Captain Thorne wasn't entirely satisfied with the response, but it wasn't like either of them could predict what the dragon would do. They could only react to the best of their ability. Ultimately, the Captain merely repeated his request before walking away.