"Dragon Runner - Wyvern" by Stephanie ´Kat´ Kunder

Dragon Runner

WYVERN

            A delicate hand ran across the rough scaled of the nine-foot long creature.  In reply to the woman’s soft praise, the dragon sung lovingly.  Spreading his inelegant wings, he presented his under side for the gentle caresses.

            That’s a good boy, Extavier, thought Laurana to the four-year-old.  It’s such a beautiful day…Maybe later we will have time to go for a quick flight.

            Her hand grazed where his thick scales formed an uneven scar.  Remembering how she had come across the strange beast, Laurana frowned slightly.  Catching sight of his mistress’s displeasure, Extavier crooned his deep voice and wrapped his wings about her. 

She settled her head against his warm, red body.  Today was no day to worry about the past.  Those hunters had long been taken care of, and her dragon had healed much better then she had expected.  Her dragon.

It still seemed strange that a highborn lady had an ugly, two-legged dragon as a familiar.  What was even stranger was that the creature could read her mind, and had an intelligence that surprised Laurana every day.  Some how or another, he had found a secluded cave were he stayed hidden most of the time.  And was always at her slightest psychic call for him.

Laurana felt horrible for hiding her beloved dragon.  But what would her father think?  What would Lord Dellom think?  The girl scrunched her dainty nose up at the thought of her fiancée.  Why did she have to marry the stuff-shirt anyway?  With a sigh, she admitted to herself that it was her only duty as the sole child of the Lord of CliffKeep.

But, she thought with a grin, I don’t have to like it!

Extavier hummed in agreement.

Chapter I

“Daughter!”

The roar of the CliffKeep Lord echoed through the castle halls.  Servants skittered out of the angry man’s way as he stormed about, searching for his petite daughter.

“Laurana!”  he bellowed again.  “You had best get your hide out of whatever corner of this Keep you’re hiding and come to the library this instant!”

Wide-eyed, the young woman watched as her father strode away.  She knew the tattling stable boy had seen her with Extavier, and no amount of bribery could keep his mouth closed.  Laurana not only feared for her safety, but also her dragons.  The creatures were not tolerated in most of Wyvern; and the few parts in which they were, were too far to be of any help.

Sending a warning thought to Extavier, Laurana stepped into her father’s favorite room.  Hundreds of books covered the walls of the library; steps were built into the walls to provide easy access to the ones closest to the ceiling.  At one time, she thought the room comforting and warm with all the bright colors.  Now, it all seemed a threatening site as her father towered over the hearth.  Head down in a sign of vulnerability, Laurana faced her father and waited. 

The Lord looked intently at his only child for a time, eyes hot with anger.  Then, in an almost snarl, he spoke,

“I know what you have been hiding from me, child.  I know that it’s been going on for a very long time,” he paused.  “Those beasts are a nuisance to Wyvern!  The fools who protect and house them are just as much of a nuisance!

“I won’t have them near my hold knowingly.  Nor will I have my hire congregating with them!”  Slamming his wine cup on the nearest table, he continued, “How did you ever get near the fiend anyway?”

“Father, he was injured.  Suffering.  I couldn’t lea-” she was cut off mid-sentence.

“No!”  he roared.  “It doesn’t matter! A hunt has already been started!  His head will hang on this library wall if I have anything to say for it.  And, daughter, I do.”

“Y-you can’t!”  Laurana screamed to her father’s departing back.

His answer was to swing around and connect his hand to her check.  “You will not disobey me, daughter.  I am Lord, and father to you.  That dragon will be dead by the next moon!”

With that, he left her in a crumbled heap on the floor.  Tears running down her face, she mentally called out her distress and a warning to the dragon.  To her surprise, the creature answered her in the barest of speech. 

I come.  Bring things.  Take you away

Not having time to question the dragon further, Laurana ran to her chambers.  Not surprisingly, her father had sent her personal maid and two guards posted outside her room.  The red mark of her fathers doing showed angry against her pale skin, and it didn’t take much for Laurana to convince her maid that what she was doing was for the best.

“Come now, Marian, we must hurry.  He’ll be here soon.”

“I find this so romantic, Lady Laurana.  Though I guess if I were in your position, I’d do just about anything to get away from the tyrant…”

“Marian!”

“Lady, you know as well as I do that his Lordship his one of he worst tempers in Wyvern!  He’s known for his-”

“Though what you say is true, he is still my father.  Even though my present actions are not respectful of him, I will still not allow others malicious words.”

“Yes, milady,” Marian answered.

They made quick work of the rest of Laurana’s packing.  Her father’s old cast a ways were tightly packed, along with two of her favorite but most useful gowns.  Marian had convinced the guards to allow her to bring food to the chambers, and that too was packed into a shoulder bag.

“Milady, how are we to get you out of the chamber?”

Laurana paused.  “I don’t know.”

Just as she finished her sentence, a thunderous bellow came from the courtyard.  The woman rushed to the balcony to see Extavier soaring above the Keep.  Below them, the populace was running about, frantic at the sight of the angry beast.  The Lord appeared from the weapons storeroom, brandishing a bejeweled sword.  He proceeded to yell at the dragon, swinging the sword about.  Extavier promptly ignored the man, all attentio focused on Luarana. 

When fly under, jump on.

Without a thought, Luarana took a deep breath and did as the dragon said.  As he swooped below the balcony, she leapt onto his back, bags securely on her shoulders.  She sighed thankfully as she settled herself before his wings and wrapped her arms around his neck.  Her sigh turned into her laughter when she looked down and saw her father’s angry red face.

Oh, Extavier!  This is the craziest thing I’ve ever done!  But anything to get away and be with you!  Fly on, dragon, fly on!

The dragon burped out a bit of flame in front of him and bellowed his happiness.  Making one last circle of the Keep, the pair flew off in the direction of the farthest mountain peaks.

Where the creature took her was a large cave set off into the Dimen Peak, the largest one on Wyvern.  It seemed to Luarana the dragon had this escape planned for a long time.  The cave was oddly furnished with scrap furniture and other items scattered about. 

When she remembered he could speak back to her, Luarana turned to the dragon in revelation,

Extavier, why haven’t you spoken to me before?  How did you find a voice?

The dragon, confused himself, answered her, I do not know.  It came.  You were in trouble.

But why not before?  I always thought you could only answer me in bellows and hums.  This is fascinating.  I wonder if the same thing would happen with others.

Extavier growled in displeasure, I don’t want you talking to others like me.

Luarana laughed out loud and rubbed the dragon reassuringly.

Don’t worry;  you are as much as mine, as I am yours.

The dragon hummed in agreement.  He nudged her gently deeper into the cavern.  It appeared at first that the cave was but one room; but the larger cavern went back father to break off into three smaller rooms.  Luarana smiled at the dragon,

My, you must have been busy looking for a place like this.  It’s amazing.  Is it all natural?

Yes, I found it.  All by myself!

Luarana smiled softly at the dragon.