ARMA: MARC, RUN AWAY!

NECROMANCER: SUBMIT YOURSELF SHADOW DRAGON! I AM YOUR MASTER!

And the serpentine dragon of the necromancer came upon me, sticking his sharp claws into my thighs, making deep cuts...

I roared with pain and shouted MOMMYYYY! He was not as strong as the black dragon and Kaa, but he had the experience of war and battles and that made the difference!

I threw a spell on myself and got up but the spikes went through my wing and it was hanging and I had to move forward.

It regained altitude and I dragged myself up to the wall but orcs fired crossbows and the spikes went through my flank and I started to bleed.

I roasted these orcs with my breath but I had to build up a reserve and I was careful not to hurt the knights. Some of them were panic-stricken as they did not often have a dragon as an ally.

I kept my assets to myself as my last playing cards and the surrounding wall prevented him from planting his talons again.

Goblins armed with spears rushed at me and I was cornered.

GRRRRR.

The goblins shouted: he has no more breath, bring the ballists!

Other goblins pushed a wagon with a large crossbow with several quarrels. I was sure that at least one of them would pierce me.

Cast spell : "Stone wall."

SCHLAK! the triggerfish came and lodged themselves in the stone wall and broke it and went on their way by sticking themselves in my chest. but my scales resisted and the tiles had lost their speed. Aye, that one really made me suffer.

I shot the tips of the orc arrows with my mouth but they were too well planted and I couldn't get them out.

The cavalry horn sounded and reinforcements arrived. I rushed towards the knights, squealing and crying! III IIIIII IIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIII. I was full of blood! I had many arrows stuck in me because in saving me the goblins had targeted me but they were the target of the human archers.

The sorcerer made a last descent on me and I turned around and spat out a big blast of lightning that struck the beast that crashed to the ground with the sorcerer:

YOU WILL PAY ME THIS DRAGON. THE MEN WILL TURN AGAINST YOU AND YOU WILL CRAWL AT MY FEET BUT IT IS TOO LATE. YOU HAVE MADE YOUR CHOICE. DIE!

And a black ray fell on me and I collapsed. But I had just enough time to say a prayer for protection against the evil that the Padre had taught me and the ray was very weakened.

I collapsed from exhaustion and a few goblins had time to stab me, but my mass and the scales resisted for the most part and they were slaughtered by the knights. The sorcerer vanished into the shadows and the serpentine dragon lay dead next to me.

Arma was seriously wounded and so was I. I was untransportable and bleeding badly.

I was crying in pain!

But the Men were screaming VICTORY! VICTORY!

HIP HIP HIP HOURRA and they lifted Arma up!

LIVE ARMA AND HIS DRAGON! they all shouted in their hearts.

Some healers saw me and said courage, Dragon, and they started to remove the arrows, breaking both sides so as not to enlarge the wounds, and they took thread and needles and started to close the holes. It was horribly painful.

I was crying and Arma held my paw between her arms while they sewed it back on. They put on Arabic balms and licked the wound with a flame to disinfect it.

I had 32 arrowheads in me and 3 stab wounds and they stuffed the holes with ointment and I screamed in pain.

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Some knights were shocked to see me crying like that but Arma explained to them that I was like an 8 year old boy and that I was brave but I still often cried after my mom.

They laughed and said "the little one" in contrast to my gigantic size.

As soon as I could, I threw major care on myself and all my wounds closed to the astonishment of the men.

But I was exhausted, unable to get up.

I cast the minor healing spell on Arma and her facial and visible wounds disappeared.

Arma : How did you do that?

I don't know, it comes by itself! A bit of draconic magic maybe!

Arma : Lightning!

Well, I had no choice, did you see how he slashed my butt?

Arma, but you spit lightning. It's the first time I've seen that! You're even more dangerous than we think.

You're mad at me????

No, no.

We all go to the inn but many are dying and my duty as a captain is to be at their bedside.

Wait Arma, bring them to me because I'm still under the black stuff that exhausts me.

We brought a wounded man, with an open belly and I gave him major care and his wounds closed up.

I thus saved 20 men and I lost consciousness, broke, too much mana spent and especially too young.

The knights were overjoyed to see their companions saved by the dragon.

Grunt: My God, he sacrificed himself to save the men, most of them dragonlayers.

I respect him and he should be rewarded for his courage.

Arma, yes, he didn't run away and obeyed orders and prevented a rear pincer grab and the villagers are safe.

We're going to build a big fire next to him and it will warm him up.

People will be able to come and see him and he will get his first medal. His first battle won with bravery.

He is on his way to becoming a dragon knight! He still needs 2 more battles to be recognized as a knight.

The villagers prepared a feast and a pyre was erected to eliminate the pestilence of the orcs and goblins.

Virtually no knights died tonight thanks to my intervention. And many insisted that I be named, but the rule is the rule and only the sovereign and princes have the right of knighthood.

My status rose from Squire to Warrior Soldier.

I slept all day long and woke up to the smell of feasts and salted meats and wine.

I was offered several tours and I was happy but then I asked the question that made the knights uncomfortable!

Who sleeps with me tonight?

HAHAHAHAHAHA shouted with laughter the knights. Braver children said ME, Me, Me, I want to sleep with Mark the Dragon!

I fell asleep thanks to the wine and beer and mead that relaxed me and the children took their bags and I curled up by the fire and the children slept leaning against me. A little girl even went to sleep under my wing and we all slept together. The village liked me and the knights I saved also saw their victory over me. I was also a big, lively kettle and I enjoyed the company. That's what I missed the most.

A painter also had fun immortalizing the scene and a sculptor began his notes and sketches. A troubadour also sang of victory.

The next day, I pulled the cart...

I also had to wash the armor in the pond and prepare the fire and the food. For that, no need for rations, I had to fly to capture some deer and the whole troop had to eat. I would eat with them and cook my meal like them and I had to wait until they had eaten to start or they would wave to me. That was the unchangeable rule and part of my education. No distinction was made between a servant and me. If nobles as knights-in-waiting had no privileges, neither did I, as a dragon.

Obviously what I couldn't do I didn't do like stitching or repairing leather. With big paws, it was impossible or I could do worse.

The difference was also the food. The food was for the knights and hunting was forbidden and reserved for nobles. This was the only exception for me and I had to do it discreetly so as not to anger the local lord and as a knight-in-training I was strictly forbidden to ruin a hunt or other lord's hunt. That was clear. If I had the status of knight, justice would be more lenient and I would have rights to defend myself but here I am either a serf or a wild beast or a squire and I was officially Arma's property, like a horse, well more than that! I was Serf of her estate in apprenticeship of chivalry.

We arrived at Fort Brume and made the report. I had extra bars sewn on my new cape and a laurel for my feats of arms.

I was officially allowed to have a sword and a shield with the coat of arms of the family of Arma and Fort Brume.

But my training did not stop there. I had to go on pilgrimage missions. Like her when she was younger.

Master," I asked, "what is a pilgrimage?

Arma: You have to go around the country and visit abbeys and make vows of charity, poverty and escort other pilgrims. You have the small pilgrimage and the great pilgrimage.

The small one counts as a battle but to become a knight you will have to show bravery at least once more.

The great pilgrimage, you have to go to the tomb of Christ, in the Holy Land to the Kingdom of God, have your scallop and go around Europe, visit countries and serve abbeys and monks there and go to Compostela in the Kingdom of Portugal.

Letters and missives will be sent to Rome to the Holy See that will validate your passages so that no one will be able to lie about you. At the end of the journey, a report will be sent by the Holy Pontiff to your king and a great annual ceremony of adouement will take place.

Then knights of all nations will be summoned to the great annual jousts which will aim at the redistribution of the disputed territories. The best having the largest territory to manage. Of course these nobles gain in title and power.

They can thus become in order

-Knight.

-Banneret (knight and squire)

-Baron.

-Viscount

-Count.

-Marquis.

-Duke.

Dukes may marry princes and princesses of the second order or a rare exception granted by the king. In general, princes and princesses are of royal blood and dukes and other nobles are not.

Me: So, to marry a princess, I must become a Duke!

Arma: HAHAHAHAHA, yes Duke!! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Try to be a knight first,

Mister "The little one"...