It took the entire night to complete my raid of Norsca' shores.

The crazy barbarians had to be laid low, while also diminishing their recovery ability by stealing and kidnapping their children, and young women.

Both Ostland and Norland would benefit from an influx of population, same as my Wild Guard.

Longboats filled with loot and children flew over the Sea of Claws, while the Norsca ports vanished in the wake of rune club.

By the time morning came, both Elector Counts found their castle courtyards filled with loot and blonde kids, much like my Wild Guard base in Ostermark.

Did I also keep a hundred blonde maidens for my own use? You can bet I did. I worked hard today, must as well earn myself a reward. To the victor the spoils, like the saying says.

I also saved a pair of young women for the each of the hunters in my Wild Guard, and three for Rolan. What can I say? I took care of my people.

The kids that showed promise may be taught magic, but most would become hunters in Guard, their constitution was hardy by the simple fact they were descendants of people who survived in the North among monsters of all kinds.

As I landed back at the ruined village in Ostland, the locals were mildly better, wounds healed and stomach fed. I took care to drag their dead away and bury them, but this village would need a generation to recover.

Alana had spent herself into a tired state, casting healing spells to her limit. Rivia had also fought hard and was kinda groggy.

"We'll go find a Dragon now, it will only take a minute." I said to the two Wizards who looked at me with blurry eyes. Whooosh.

Jet was resting in the World's Edge Mountains, having massacred an Orc camp to make himself a lair of burned bones and skulls. Very edgy.

"This is Jet Goldenweave, the Imperial Dragon of Altdorf. Jet, they are Alana and Rivia, our new Wizards in the Wild Guard." I introduced the ladies while the Dragon opened a lazy eye to make sure it was me.

"A real Dragon!" Rivia noted with a startled voice.

Alana just bowed. "I have felt your mighty spell, honoured Imperial Dragon!" she spoke in an awed voice.

"I like her! See, human? This is how a Dragon should be treated, not with fists to the face." Jet exclaimed in a more interested voice.

'Don't show her your Hysh magic. I want you to steal her spells and then come up with better ones. A dozen settings. Don't forget you represent the Empire and the Emperor. You must appear as a super wise Dragon, not a bumbling mage that has to taught everything.' I cautioned my Dragon, before he made a fool of himself.

The Dragon only had the potential to become a great mage, right now he was far worse than my own apprentices. Mostly because he never read a single book. Nor did the Emperor provide magic tutelage.

Jet nodded back, and turned towards Rivia. "Nature magic. Jade Order. Same as that Wizard who healed my broken ribs..." he sniffed.

'That was the Magister Patriarch of the Jade Order. You're lucky the Emperor cares so much about you.' I spoke to his mind, while landing the ladies on his back.

"Let's go flying a bit. Let's say towards Konigstein." I demanded with no ulterior purpose.

The Imperial Dragon took off with two stunned Wizards on his back. 'Slow speed?' Jet asked as we cleared the mountains and passed over Waldendorf at Mach 1.

While we did have a whole day ahead, it didn't mean we should waste it. 'Go Ninth speed for now. And try to figure out three more settings.'

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"What is this spell? Timewarp?" Alana shouted as I kept pace with the slow Dragon.

I just shrugged. It probably was, but I had no idea about Light spells other than mere common knowledge.

"The Dragon will tell you, if he feels like it." I yelled back.

Rivia just glanced around wide eyes. She would have likely died in the Norscan raid, or worse, get captured and taken. Now she was riding a Dragon, while the terrain below moved with alarming speed. And the Warden of the East flew by their side, looking...bored?

"Lord Warden...why do you need me?" she asked a bit timid.

I smiled gently. "Many reasons. The most important will be to maintain the fitness of my Wild Guard, both mind and body. And perhaps help out in other ways."

Rivia nodded, and closed her eyes to rest. At least she wasn't called as a battle mage. She wasn't strong nor skilled. And the Imperial Dragon surely didn't need her help.

Half-way into our flight, Jet discovered his Tenth speed, and began to glow with visible Hysh Winds as he sped up even more.

"I did it! Ten times my normal speed. Take that!" he exclaimed with a victorious shout, only for me to fly a bit ahead and then step on his nose.

'Pathetic. Your next spell should be at least twice faster than this. I know you lived in cave until now, but the world is far too large to move around like a slow turtle.' I answered and laid back on his face, while trying to awaken his own spell inside me.

It had worked once at Templehof, now I only had to do it again. I sunk my mind into our bond, trying to feel the light of Hysh through my Dragon.

I failed, of course. Maybe it was the slow speed which didn't impress me at all. Or maybe we had to get another cyclone of Magic Winds going?

"That must be Konigstein below!" Alana yelled as Jet banked and circled a large undead army forming up for battle.

A few miles away, the Army of Stirland had returned, twice as numerous as the army that got beaten before. Half of them were archers and crossbowmen, with a line of shielded spears out front and two cavalry regiments on the flanks. Not a single gun or cannon. Practically begging for another defeat.

I just grabbed the Wizards and flew away. Jet need more battle experience, and the undead had just gathered in large formations set up in parallel lines.

"Enjoy the fight, Imperial Dragon!" I yelled while diving towards the human army.

I stopped a palm above the ground and let go of the ladies while I stared the Elector Count for a long minute. He began to sweat, then cowered a bit under my silent gaze.

"Lord Warden..." he muttered.

"You can send the cavalry back to Leicheberg already, Grand Count. These troops will suffice to garrison Konigstein after we win the battle." I commanded in a harsher voice.

The scream of a Terrorgheist reached the army, and even from this distance, people began to panic and tremble.

"Wizard Rivia, see to their minds." I continued in a mild voice and flew up while drawing my Amber Bow.

My Arrow of Time found the heart of the mutated Vampire and returned to my hand, while I casted my Ox Stands buff a dozen times.

It wouldn't do for the army to scatter to the woods and forests around, and ruin a great victory.

"Peace!" Rivia casted over a group of peasant archers who had fallen to the ground with their hands over the ears. Sigh. Medieval armies sucked.