Dragon Knight

By E. y. Ryks

Cor the dragon has a problem; he's bored. As a way of amusing himself, he convinces his princess, Espreta, to help him become a knight. No sooner than he does his first heroic deed, Cor is sent by his fellow dragons to rid them of a dragon's bane (nemesis). Cor doesn't find it easy to secure the trust of his new found friends and the dragon's bane, with ties to Cor's past, has no intention of giving him the chance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Word Alive Press
• Release date: Jan 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781770691667

Book preview

Afterword

1.

The Knight of a Dragon

Espreta could hear the contented growl of the dragon as the knight approached. She brushed a stray lock of black hair out of her face, then put her hand back on the stone window ledge. The tower was in disrepair and parts were falling out, but it was dry and sheltered from the wind of the dragon’s wings. The knight rode closer, clearly unaware of what he was about to meet. She watched as the dragon leapt out in front of the knight, startling his horse. The knight drew his sword. Espreta shook her head; no knight could beat a dragon with a sword. He wouldn’t be able to get past the great claws and tail that protected the beast.

Espreta watched the knight go at it, outmatched and dwarfed by the immense ruby-coloured dragon that fought him. She shook her head again as the dragon knocked the horse off its feet. The dragon was playing with him; if it had really wanted to kill him, it would have done so already. A crunch echoed across the small valley as the dragon bit the knight’s armour. Espreta sighed. They never made it very far. The dragon picked up the struggling horse and dead knight and flew closer to the tower.

See, Esp, I can be sort of gentle. The horse is still alive.

Can’t say the same for the knight.

The dragon jumped as though only just becoming aware of the mangled form in his claws. Force of habit. He put the corpse in a small hole, a sad burial for any knight, but it beat being eaten. He put his paw in through the window to help her out. When she had first been helped out like this, she had been quite shocked at the paw as large across as she was tall; now it was a daily occurrence. She sat on his hand and he lifted her through the window. Now that that interruption has been dealt with, what shall we do?

I don’t know, Cor. I’m a little concerned about the horse. Why did you let it alone anyway?

Well, Corsendar lowered his head so he was somewhat eye level with her, it isn’t sick. It’s just terrified…

Can you blame it?

Cor chuckled, As I was saying, if it gets better you can ride it and come with me on walks.

Wouldn’t it be funny if a knight would just happen to come across on such an outing?

Cor let out a deep-throated laugh. I should laugh myself sick—it might make their tiresome intrusions amusing. That reminds me, why do you think they come around at all? Surely they must know by now they can’t beat me.

Espreta shrugged, It’s just something knights are supposed to do. I guess you would have to be a knight to understand.

Cor brought his great head closer to his neck, considering. He had recently been wondering why knights did a lot of the things they did, and any time he asked his princess about it, she said you would have to be a knight to understand.

Espreta, I want to be a knight. She stared at him, utterly shocked. Not permanently, just long enough to have my questions answered.

But Cor, you’re a dragon, and not just any dragon—the Great Red Dragon of the Grey Valleys.

Then I shall be the Great Red Knight of the Grey Valleys. Even as he spoke, he started to change shape. Espreta had been uneasy the first time she had seen him do it, but she had since gotten used to it.

Why doesn’t anyone know that dragons can change shape? she mused as Cor gave his sword a trial swing.

What fun would that be? Cor stood before her as a man now, very tall and relatively handsome. He let his sword return to its scabbard. Besides, if the people knew that, they might never trust one another again.

Espreta had to admit he had a point. So now what?

Cor rubbed the back of his neck under his red ponytail. I was hoping you could tell me.

Espreta held out her hand to the white charger till he came and put his nose on her hand. She looked back at Cor while hugging the horse’s head. I’m a princess, Cor, not a squire.

Cor blew out his mouth and shrugged. I guess I’ll have to do some of the things I always see them doing.

Espreta brought the hesitant horse over to Cor. And what’s that?

I’m going to find a kingdom to save.

Where are you going to find one of those?

Where do you come from?

Besprenza, but don’t you already know that?

Cor looked at Espreta as though she had grown another head. I was just looking for a princess. I couldn’t care less where you came from.

Espreta sighed. Cor, we both know there were other circumstances, even if you won’t explain them.

I don’t tell you because there is no need for you to know. And besides, you might not be as happy if you knew. Dragons are a lot more caring than people give them credit for. Espreta had to admit he was right about that. If anyone had told her before her capture how well she would be treated, she wouldn’t have believed it. Cor mounted the horse as though he had been doing it all his life. He later explained that he had watched the knights get on their horses before coming out to meet him. Cor smiled down and extended his hand. Will you join me, my lady?

Espreta placed her hand in his. Of course, Cor. What would I do around here anyway, all by myself?

Cor’s smile turned wolfish as he lifted her up in front of him.

The white stallion proved a noble animal, though Cor complained about its slow speed and threatened to fly them to their destination.

Espreta patted the horse’s neck. The horse is only slow compared to you and the other dragons. When you rule out the comparison to dragons, he is very fast.

Cor kept grumbling, I could travel faster, Espreta held him at bay by reminding him what his mission was—which basically amounted to whatever a knight could do a dragon can do better. Espreta decided not to go to her old kingdom, lest anyone recognize her and make her marry her ‘hero’.

Downright ridiculous practice—if I have to marry any princess I rescue, I won’t rescue them. Could I rescue a prince instead?

Espreta laughed. I don’t think a prince would enjoy being saved, Cor.

Humans are fickle creatures.

Do all dragons think that?

Cor considered a moment. They might. I’ve met very few of my brothers. We tend to give each other a wide berth.

I guess dragons aren’t very social.

On the contrary, Esp. We are very social when we are together, but when we’re apart, we couldn’t get farther away from each other.

They rode west for a day, resting near the end of the Grey Valley overnight. They had no problem with wild animals as Cor changed to dragon form for the night. The next morning, they continued over the hill.

2.

An Old Friend and a Mission

I hope we have some kind of adventure and don’t just spend all our time riding.

Don’t worry, Esp, I have a feeling we won’t have to wait long.

Why? Are you going to go find us some adventure?

Hardly. It’s going to find us. Even as Cor spoke, a horse and rider flew over the ridge at them. The ridge had hidden them from sight, but now they could see the page having some trouble controlling his horse. Cor held tight to Espreta’s waist to keep her from falling.

I am so sorry, the young page said when he rode within earshot. I’m in a great hurry and didn’t see you. The boy peered closer at Cor. You’re a knight! His sudden volume sent the spooked horse into a frenzy.

I am.

Then you can help us, the page said, struggling to regain his composure. In the name of King Thron, ruler of Rathdon, and lord of the land between the lakes Demire and Roe, and the great river Cobden, I commission you to come to our aid.

Cor glanced at Espreta, hoping for a clue as to what he should do next. For what do you need my aid?

A dragon broke into the marriage banquet and kidnapped the princess of Rathdon, King Thron’s pride and joy. The prince can’t go after her, as he has been wounded, the queen has had a series of fainting spells, and the king and all other nobles in the region are offering a large reward for her safe return.

Cor leaned closer to Espreta and whispered in her ear, Does that remind you of anything? He leaned back and addressed the page. What’s to be done to the dragon?

The boy looked stunned, His Majesty is not concerned about the dragon. He just wants the princess back. Will you come, Sir? What knight are you?

I am Cor, the Red Knight of the Grey Valleys, and I will come rescue your princess. But I have a condition. The messenger bowed solemnly to him.

I’m sure the king will hear it, but please hurry; the panic grows worse as the time passes. The dragon is a great, large beast—a hundred feet long and as grey as the storm clouds that plague our land. He is nothing to the Red Dragon of the Grey Valleys, I’m sure.

Cor smiled as they urged their horses into a run. Then you have heard tell of the red dragon?

The Great Red Dragon of the Grey Valleys—who hasn’t? It’s been there forever. They rode hard beside the messenger back to the castle. The trip ate another day and a morning. Espreta couldn’t help noticing the awe in which the boy held Cor. The boy saw him as a regal man, easily a descendant of some royal or another. Everything about Cor was red; his hair, his clothes, and even his eyes had a slight red hint to them. To top it off, his skin looked sun burnt. To Espreta, however, he was Corsendar, a dragon in disguise and out to prove a point. When they reached the castle, the first thing they noticed was the great hole ripped in the side of the building, the rather obvious handiwork of a dragon.

Cor turned to talk to Espreta while the messenger went in to fetch the king. From the description we got, it was Shatholier, Cor concluded. He is quite a bit smaller than me, and younger, too.

A hundred feet would be smaller than you.

Cor shook his head. Shath isn’t that long. People always overestimate the size of dragons. For example, they say I’m a thousand feet long. At that moment, the king and his entourage came charging out of the castle.

Found someone already to answer our call? the king asked, tossing aside formality.

The messenger stepped forward and bowed low to the king. Your Majesty, King Thron, I have brought the Red Knight of the Grey Valleys to rescue our princess. The king almost rushed forward to embrace Cor.

Cor raised his hand to stop the cheers. My one condition is that I won’t have to marry the girl. The whole company looked at each other.

My daughter is already engaged, Sir. Even if she weren’t, I wouldn’t dream of separating you and your lady. It was Cor and Espreta’s turn to look at each other. Now surely, Sir, you will come in and replenish your strength?

Your Majesty, I could not eat at your table while your daughter dines with a dragon. An approving murmur arose from the crowd.

As you say, knight. Go with my blessing.

Cor and Espreta rode out immediately. The horse, still nervous, was getting tired from all the riding. Cor let it slow a little and gazed at Espreta over his shoulder.

You know, Esp, I’m beginning to wonder where that knight came from—the one who came to save you. After all, Rathdon is the closest kingdom to my castle—

You mean your tower, she corrected.

Whatever. If the people here didn’t think to ask after the missing knight, surely he couldn’t have come from here. So where did he come from?

Maybe they didn’t think you had met him.

Could be. But I would have thought, if the knight came from Rathdon, the page was in pursuit of him.

That is possible. But why would they go looking for a particular knight? They have bigger fish to fry!

The page didn’t say a thing about it on the way back.

Espreta sighed. So where do you think the knight came from?

Cor shook his head. It’s the strangest thing. I didn’t recognize his smell, so he must have come from someplace I’ve never been.

I thought you’ve been everywhere.

I haven’t been to the Tail.

Espreta looked at the small blue flowers and sod the horse was trotting on. Cor had once told her that from the right height, their whole land looked like a coiled dragon, and the dragons used the anatomy of that geographical dragon to find their way around.

The messenger is following us, Cor observed when they were out of sight of the castle.

What did you expect? He’s more than likely been charged with writing your ballad, all about how you charged the beast and drove it back.

Ballads are absurd.

If I may, Cor, most humans would think dragon culture is weird.

Still, it will make the fight more difficult. I had fully intended to simply ask Shath to hand the princess over. I won’t be able to do that if someone is watching.

Wouldn’t Shath kill you before you reached him? What if he mistakes you for a real knight?

Cor laughed, a deep roaring sound. How little humans understand dragons! No, he wouldn’t eat me; he would see me to be a dragon no matter what shape I took. For that matter, any human who’s seen a dragon morph can tell whether or not another person is really a dragon.

Would I be able to?

Yes. You no doubt see me as having a permanent blush and red eyes. Others of your kind merely see me as one of them.

Espreta looked at the muscles of Cor’s arm, hardly hidden by the red leather of his armour. "They couldn’t call you a man like them."

Cor let his eyebrow raise at her, then scanned the hillside for signs of Shath. When Cor was confident they were drawing near, he reined in the horse and lifted Espreta down.

Going in alone? she asked once her feet were on the ground.

Alas, if I took you I wouldn’t be a very noble knight. Besides, if you could stall the messenger… She nodded.

He bowed and rode on. Shortly the messenger pulled up next to her.

Ho, what’s this? Has Sir Cor gone on to fight already? I had best find a vantage point.

Or you could wait till he comes back and just have him describe it to you, she suggested hopefully.

The boy shook his head wildly. Nonsense! What honour for a minstrel would that be? To let the knight go on alone and fail to take proper dictation?

Don’t you think they find it annoying to be followed around all the time?

Nonsense, nonsense.

You should find a different word.

While they were arguing, Cor was rapidly approaching Shath’s lair.

The forty-foot long grey dragon came charging out of his den as soon as Cor came into range. Corsendar! You don’t call, you don’t write, and then you just show up—in the form of a man no less!

Shatholier, it has been a dragon’s age, hasn’t it? Please act as though you’re fighting me; I am unfortunately being followed by a boy determined to write a ballad about all this.

Shath cocked his head, but he made a fake lunge at Cor nonetheless. Actually, I was hoping you would come by. There is a knight on the other side of the land that has been killing our kind.

Please remember that you are fighting a man, not a dragon. Cor hit Shath with the broad side of his sword. A dragons’ bane? There hasn’t been one for centuries.

Shath swung his tail at Cor, leaving enough room for Cor to easily duck. Well, there’s one now and he’s causing a great deal of trouble. They say no dragon can stand up to him.

Maybe not a dragon, but a knight certainly could.

Are you crazy, Cor?

Hardly. Isn’t this what you want?

I was thinking, since you’re so large, that you could simply…

Only if it comes to it. There’s a better chance of success if he doesn’t see me coming, don’t you think?

Shath flopped over after moaning loudly, Now I definitely think you’re mad.

You’ll think I’m worse after I’ve make my request of you, Cor said. Release the princess. If you want her, you can retrieve her after I’ve gone.

If you promise to go directly to take out this dragons’ bane, I will.

Dragon’s honour.

Dragon’s, or knight’s?

Cor shrugged. I’ll see you later.

Shath roared for show, then launched skyward and was gone. The princess rushed out the door before Cor reached her.

Brave knight, you have rescued me from the terrible beast. I am eternally in your debt. She proceeded to gush about his bravery, and all sorts of other matters dragons considered pointless.

Cor started to polish his sword with the corner of his shirt. He yelped when she suddenly attached herself to his arm.

I wish there was something I could do to thank you for your bravery and—

Cor took hold of her hand and pried it off his arm. Think nothing of it, lady. It was business as usual for a knight.

Still, I have several ladies in waiting who would love to be attached to a great knight such as yourself.

Cor cringed. No, that is completely unnecessary—

The princess stepped toward him. You must allow me to thank you somehow.

Cor took hold of her shoulders and moved her a little way away