Proud as Artaban, we returned to Fort Brume in the center of Francie. On the spot the Baron and Earl as well as the dragon hunters received us with great pomp and circumstance. They had been warned for weeks of our exploits by Arma. Arma came back with us after having received the authorization to show herself. We were amazed, but not me, I could smell her all the time and played along. She was surprised but that's how it was. I told her I smelled her but I couldn't confirm it. I was too young to be certain.
We showed our treasures and I had taken pictures with my phone and showed them to everyone. Some painters copied our exploits as best they could, but we followed the Pope's instructions: Everything about dragons had to disappear!
No corpses, skins, teeth, bones, even the mention of them must have been confusing.
History was to make myths out of them.
With 6 dragons out of the game, their future was in jeopardy. Unless I started making dragons everywhere, but I'm too young to do disgusting things.
Even Arma, who was changing clothes, didn't ask me to turn my head and I didn't care. If I wasn't thinking about mom or cuddly toy, I dreamed of honey, cakes, candied fruit, chewing gum and other sweet pastries.
I was the best friend of the castle's cook and I was always ready for a service to be rendered to him. Picking, transporting, starting the oven, bringing wood, and I was sure to get a biscuit gougouille as a reward.
It bothered the other knights but I was part Beast too and they had to admit it.
I answered their remarks that my senses were a thousand times more developed and that the envy was terrible and the temptation untenable.
Arma had to intervene several times when they "corrupted" me with culinary delicacies.
"But stop making fun of him like that! And you, DOUDOU! would do anything for a pie, some common sense! Luckily I manage your budget, he'd go off with sweets in your belly!"
The other knights were bent over backwards to laugh with me. I didn't miss one of them, but I had a good heart while the other noble knights aspired to more power, more conquests while me, it was a hunting ground and a place as a home where I was left alone.
Raoul and Theo asked me to settle on their land so that we could be together, but they knew that only the king decided which nobleman had which land! Except inheritance.
I was invited by King Childebert IV, son of King Thierry II, younger of Clovis IV and father of the famous future King Dagobert at Soissons in the north.
The new ones were also summoned and so was Arma.
The trip lasted 2 weeks but for me 1 day but out of respect for my friends, I hunted and brought back juicy preys but we had found something much better! As the forest was green, there was FULL of game, TOO MANY game ravaging the crops and I was cleaning and as a reward, they went from hostel to hostel and although I slept under the stars or at best, in the stables when they were empty and if they were still big... I had with me my country tent, which looked more like a siege tent.
I could roll myself into a ball and put a brazier in the middle or most of the time in front and with my warmth, the men would circle around me and lean against me [https://img.wattpad.com/2adadd4d2c6894e2b1e706430b5f695cc833921a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f56613054454e7a71437a714747513d3d2d3936323931363733302e313633623331396636626664656139353733313233363038343638392e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
I could roll myself into a ball and put a brazier in the middle or most of the time in front and with my warmth, the men would circle around me and lean against me. It was more comfortable against me in my tent than they were in theirs when it was raining or windy. Moreover it was MY tent that I was carrying and it was the excuse not to become a beast of burden like a knight knight .
I was a kid but I had my pride. And then Arma would kick the others out most of the time except when it was really cold or only a dragon could bring warmth.
Besides, with my size, it was the tent that was set up the fastest and most often.
Then we arrived in Matval in a small castle but better than the fortified wooden mounds.
Then we arrived in Matval in a small castle but better than the fortified wooden mounds [https://img.wattpad.com/b3563ed781c61b9847a42b79554917ef78ad5ca3/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f55595f767276696d7043786f64673d3d2d3936323931363733302e313633623331623630663430356662333132303139363334323331382e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
King Childebert IV(III) [https://img.wattpad.com/59e82bb880d0a73552077ce012d1816f883c2874/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f43374755386f72474c34375549413d3d2d3936323931363733302e313633623331626138323633643934663837393636313839343436312e676966?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
King Childebert IV(III)
There were not too many luxuries, fabrics and common products were still a luxury and everything was recyclable. Worn clothes worn by kings were sewn up, beds were closed in canopies and heated with hot water bottles or alcoves. Even the seats were caulked against cold and humidity. It was a dark, cold and damp world.
Trumpets announced the king and ribbons and flags were hung and used as colors and drapes to insulate and protect from the cold. There was a banquet and drinks of wine and mead, dried fruit, fresh eggs, pastries and game products.
I recognized a prepared and cooked version of my hunting catch from last night.
A lot of meat was penned.
Then a chamberlain shouted after knocking the ground with his stick: "HIS MAJESTY THE KING".
The king knighted each of the knights who kissed the ring on his finger and each was assigned to a noble house, barony or county, others were called as royal escorts and trained at the castle. They received land and meritorious rewards and then came my turn. Everyone here wanted to see me:
A Dragon Knight!
Knight Mark, said the Dragon! Come closer," said his majesty, "and I almost crawled so that the king would not have to raise his head.
Childebert: I see you're making an effort.
You will have land in the north in Neustria, near here, as a noble knight. You will have the right to tax, cook and justice on your land.
As a Dragon you are allowed to travel and hunt for food, but not to disturb the hunting and game of the estate and the domestic animals except with a fair compensation for the owner.
Your name and identity are now proclaimed in the kingdom and beyond so that you are no longer hunted like a beast. But you must respect the Law! and your king.
Like any new knight, you must put yourself at my service. You will be paid accordingly.
You will be responsible for protecting my family this year, especially Dagobert and Princess Doda of Burgundy, his bride who lives here with her family. You must also designate a person to represent you, since not all the buildings are your size. If it is a knight, he or she will have an extra rank.
I thought of Alma right away, but would she agree? Theo or Raoul would be disappointed.
I turned my head towards the 3 friends but I stared at Alma: She nodded, thinking I would choose Theo or Raoul but I said: ALMA!
The king then turned his head and said: Alma, my child, come here!
Do you have a problem serving under my roof? It is a mission of the utmost importance. We are in the north and the Danish dragons known as Vikings are enraged and pushed by the dragon king to sack our kingdom. They have the habit of taking hostages even if they are unable to pay a ransom and if the ransom does not arrive, they eat their victims horribly.
After the ceremony, we were directed to our quarters and to my surprise, I was given a clean, dry den with my fire pit, canopy nest and beds for guests and convenience. It was also customary to have a bed drawer underneath and the children, servants or mistresses would come and sleep underneath, sharing the warmth and sweetness of the night.
Alma's room next to my den was luxuriously furnished. There was a direct access door between my lair and her room and another door I did not know from whom.