There was an age of peace that reigned throughout the country of Nod. A country where there was no famine, no needless bloodshed, it was almost perfect. Especially in the Capital of Nod, the city of New Alveri. Sure there were those who disturbed the peace, but there were also those who protected the peace. These were the Knight Riders of New Alveri. Composed of a union of two distinct factions, once bitter enemies and now bonded allies, the Knights were the foundation of the peace and order that prevailed in all of Nod. One branch was of the humanoid races, human, elves dwarves and such. The other was made of different breeds of dragons. Neither could exist without the other… or at least that was the theory.
But this story isn’t about them.
This is the story of a young dragon who was a genius when it came to brawls. Her name was Darjza and she somehow always seemed to come out on top. Well, almost always. She’s been in more than one sticky situation and nearly gotten herself killed in the process. She was the type of dragon that would tell you that a punch in the face, or a bite to the neck - even a sword in the chest - will tell you more about a person than talking to them. This was because punches and claws never lied; a person’s true nature only became apparent in a good, old fashioned brawl. Darjza’s two dominant traits were her apparent lack of intelligence and her utter fearlessness. She always spoke her mind, she never backed down from a bigger opponant and she always kept her word. Now that you know a little about her, let’s begin her story. Shall we…
* * *
The streets were always busy. They were filled with humans, elves, dwarves, halflings, orcs, dragonborns, and of course, us dragons. Though in the central city of all the world – or at least the important parts of it – could one expect any less? Dragons took it upon themselves to maintain peace and order among the country of Nod, and the others took it upon themselves to help us out in any way they could, and to not hunt us mercilessly like they did back in the previous age.
I strolled through the streets of New Alveri, heading towards the southwestern gate. There, I planned on meeting a long time friend, Gatekeeper Kaj. He always said that we would fight when I was ready. “I sure as hell feel ready now.” I said out loud. Everyone around me at the gate heard it and most of them laughed.
“So who you fighting this time Darjza?” an elf asked me from his weapons stall.
“Kaj Mr. Ebon.” I answered simply.
A human from the other side of the broad avenue spoke up. “Kaj, really? You sure bout that DD?”
“Sure am Markus.” I replied. I always enjoyed talking to the smaller, two-legged folk. I found that I always made friends fast. As I stood to the side of the road, wagons and carts passing back and forth over the shiny enchanted cobblestones, I felt something grab my tail. I stopped and looked. It was a dwarven infant girl hanging on and tugging on me, giggling the whole time.
“Sorry Darjza, she’s quite energetic today.” said a dwarven woman who worked as a waitress in one of my favorite Inns.
“No worries Mrs. Kagger. How’s your man?” I said scooping up the child with my tail and moving her back to her mother.
“Still a poor drunken fool.” She said shaking her head as she picked her daughter off my tail.
“Sorry to hear that Mrs. Kagger.” I said.
“I’m not. If he weren’t, he’d be parading around the place with Colzemn.” she said with a wry smile.
I smiled back at her. “So true.”
I was bombarded with such friendly greetings and small talk as I waited just inside the minor gate, waiting for Kaj to notice me. It was the curse of being famous and friendly to others, as I often said jokingly. I didn’t mine too much the time I spent staring up at the colossal city walls, but I did want to Kaj to hurry up and fly down so I could request a sparring match with him; I felt pumped and ready at long last. However I finally grew bored with waiting and walked out of the gate. When I looked up to his perch, I found him asleep! Now, I did know that Sky-Swollowers are known to sleep for a vast amount of time, yet I wasn’t the patient sort of dragon. “KAJ!!!” I roared, sending a flock of grey pigeons fluttering into the sky; almost immediately, three of them were cut down by the hawks which prevailed in the area due to the city’s tall stone buildings.
After a moment of silence I was about to roar again but then Raj lifted a wing from where it had been covering his face. “Stop it Darjza.” Raj yawned, exposing his dual rows of curved fangs.
“Kaj? Your awake?” I asked looked up to the massive dragon; massive purely because of his heritage, he was less than a quarter century older than me.
“Not really.” I heard him say, yawning again.
“Oh come on. Wake up Kaj. You said we would fight if I were strong enough and I sure feel strong enough now.” I said happily.
I heard him sigh, his scaled jowls lifted a bit and flapped with the force of his breath. “Feeling strong and being strong are two completely different things.” he said, leaning forward with his claws on the edge of his perch.
“Kaj… Please?” I begged. I thought about mentioning that I could tell his superior that he was napping on the job again, but I would never do that to Kaj and the big dragon knew it.
“No.” He stated firmly and withdrew from the edge, putting his head back down on the stone supporting his considerable bulk.
“Why not? I fought my share of battles and won.” I said proudly puffing out my chest despite the fact that Kaj was no longer looking.
“Oh good for you. You beat up your whole family and a few stragglers and some young short-lives, that’s so Wonderful.” He said with extreme sarcasm. “Look I’m one of many you haven’t battled and I know you like fighting so much I say to you, find someone else. Hell, you like to fight so much why not find a partner and join the Knights. I’m sure one of the other Knights is willing and able. Go ask them, can’t you see that I’m very busy?” He explained.
It took me a short time to decide he was right, and I said farewell for now to him and started back up the wide, paved road. Kaj sighed in relief, as I turned away from him. “You have to admit though, I’m a lot bigger then I was a few months ago.” I said.
“I truly can’t tell, everyone is small or tiny to me.” Kaj said jokingly, his tone finally lighter. He waved to me with his wing as I passed back under the large stone archway.
As I walked back to the place I lived, I pondered the words that Kaj spoke. Find a Partner, Join the Knights. I never thought of ever doing that but if I did I could be in fight after fight. That would definitely prove worthwhile, but would they accept as young as myself? I heard of them accepting hatchlings but that was because those dragons had been bred to be Knights, their lives prearranged by their parents and the scryers while they still lay in the egg. However, I was definitely capable of fighting; I did it whenever I got the chance, but that was it. I knew nothing on what it meant to really be a Knight.
I was half way home when I stopped and decided to...
**Edited by Shalion**
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