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Spring, 1424
The Dagan settlement lay hidden in a small wooded valley, underground bunkers and zemlyanka lying almost completely hidden in the underbrush. Specially designed fire pits gently dissipated cooking smoke into the trees.
Hundreds of eyes looked out from dugouts and thickets, warily watching the newcomers file in. Guards, some armed with old naginatas and daos, kept ready for any unwelcome surprises. As the weary and battered Arcadian army arrived and set up camp to rest, individuals cautiously appeared, offering food and water as well as items to trade. Soon the two groups began intermingling and settling down.
Then Mera proudly strode into the settlement, causing some commotion as the cautious fled and the curious gathered. The dragon quickly found a comfortable spot in a clearing near a rocky outcropping and curled up to rest. After a brief hesitation Mera was presented with food and water as well, which he cheerfully accepted. The dragon would keep the peace between the two groups.
Meanwhile Jayna and Chagraff, along with Cutler and a dozen hand-picked guards, followed Sir Roderc over to a large timber bunker. The structure was impressive, its importance unable to be properly concealed, with guards standing at their posts in front of a sturdy gate, opening to a corridor leading to an antechamber and finally opening to a stone-lined great hall with ornately carved beams and a blazing hearth in the middle. The crackling fireplace was surrounded by tables filled with Dagani leadership, who got up at the arrival of the newcomers and gazed upon them through the smoky haze. In general, Jayna thought that the leaders looked tough and sinewy, as though sculpted by the winds and the rains of the mountains themselves. There was a lean and hungry air about them, though also a mix of patience and even hope. Led by Sir Roderc, the Arcadians silently went through the crowd to the other side of the hearth. There, sitting upon the largest and most ornate seat- almost a throne-was an old man, his long beard completely white, looking worn down from decades of struggle.
The young warrior went over and bowed to the Dagani ruler.
“Father, I have brought back the rebels, as you requested.”
“Welcome Arcadians.” The old man beckoned to Jayna's company. “I know that all of you have gone through many trials to reach us, and I bid you rest and supplies, in exchange for a request and a proposal.”
Jayna and Chagraff bowed in return. “We thank you for your generosity, lord-”
“Lord Bragg.”
“We thank you for your generosity, Lord Bragg, as well as the guidance of your son, Sir Roderc, and we would be interested in your request and proposal.”
“My request is simple, for no one to divulge the location of my people and my settlements until my affirmation.” The lord said slowly, almost painfully. "We must protect ourselves from the eyes of our enemies."
“We will honor your request without reservation. That is but a small thing in exchange for your kindness.” Jayna replied.
The old man smiled. “My proposal is also simple, to ally with your cause and to fight for Arcadia.”
Jayna and Chagraff both paused.
Finally the Rutherian replied, slightly hesitantly. “I beg your pardon, Lord Bragg, but that proposal is also very helpful to us, which makes us question it. What do you gain from this?”
“We are not greedy. We only hope to gain back what has once been lost to us by a quirk of fate.”
Jayna picked up the question. “Why did you help us? Don’t you know that supporting us could lead to your death from the Empire’s agents?”
Lord Bragg sighed. “I know what it is like to be hunted." He swept his arm over the smoky room. "For my entire life I and my people have hidden in these mountains."
"What happened?"
"My grandfather was a great man, one of the greatest lords of Auxia, the king assigned him the Commander of the Northern defenses. He fought bravely but was defeated at Divna against overwhelming odds. After the Other Men overran the North, the head of the Tassurian Empire told him to remain in power, to help establish a peace between the defeated Auxians and the Other Men. My father thought that he could help the people of Nalbin in its hour of greatest need, to mediate between the Northerners and the decrepit kings who had dragged us into a ruinous war. And for that he was forever labeled a traitor.”
Jayna and Chagraff stopped. They slowly turned to look at each other.
The old man was becoming more animated, standing up with great effort. “The Other Men mismanaged the fickle great wyrms, and we all suffered for it. After Auxia won, King Owin was unforgiving to my father, and wanted him and all our people dead. He died, and we fled. Even though the Walker Kings are gone and the Dominion is now in charge, still the black mark hangs over our heads.”
“You guys betrayed your own people.” Chagraff uttered, almost to himself.
“We thought the new world had come, where all of Nalbin’s people could live together. Was that hope for the future the price we were willing to risk in working with the Other Men? Yes. The world will be made better, if it needs to arise from the ashes of the old. We had long awaited for the day that our actions could be seen as positively justified, that we could be allowed to return. One day we will strike back and right these wrongs committed against us."
Lord Bragg pointed at Jayna. "Now your forces are here. Your legendary dragon is here. This is a sign! The injustices of Auxia grow greater. And tomorrow its crimes will destroy it!” Despite his previously infirm appearance, Lord Bragg had transformed, seemingly appearing as a new, powerful warlord, ranting about victories to come. “We will return to our old homeland of Capena on the back of a great wyrm! Together our forces can stand a chance against the-”
“No!”
Jayna loudly interrupted the Dagani leader, shooting up from her seat. “We are not alike! We are fighting for the freedom of Auxians, not to help others enslave them! You people are traitors, who deserve everything that you suffered.”
The illusion of the room was shattered. The Dagani leaders looked furious. Chagraff looked frustrated. The guards all looked nervously at each other. Cutler's hand was on his sword hilt. Lord Bragg suddenly seemed tired and weary again. “And your people do not?”
The young Arcadian turned around and stormed off. “Call up our men, Chagraff, we are leaving this cursed place!”
The Rutherian shook his head. “Jayna. Our troops are exhausted and hungry. They need food and rest, or they’ll fall apart. We need to stay, at least for a night or two.”
“And let these traitors corrupt our cause?” Jayna retorted without looking back. “Humans who joined with the enemies of man to fight our own people! To allow them to rule over us!”
Chagraff ran over, grabbing his commander by the hand in the corridor while Cutler’s guards rushed to join them.
“Calm down, Jayna. People will do what they need to do to survive.” The Rutherian sighed. “In a way, I pity them.”
“Don’t spare pity on those scum!”
“I’m not going to disparage their motives. Perhaps they truly believed that the Other Men would win, and everyone would just have to learn to live under them.”
“They presided over the occupation. They supported the invaders with arms against their neighbors. They stood on one side while Tassurians raped and looted and murdered us.”
“Perhaps they were blinded by fear or by desire for the benefits of the invaders to overlook their crimes.”
“They let themselves get wooed by flattery into betraying everything they even stood for.”
“That may be true. Both statements could be true at the same time.”
“They backed the wrong people.”
“That they did Jayna.” Chagraff nodded. “And in the end, motives are irrelevant. Only consequences matter.”
“And what about us?” Jayna suddenly asked, shaking. “Are we in the wrong?”
“What?”
Brushing aside the guards, Arcadian and Dagani, Jayna stormed out of the building. Before anyone else could react, she had mounted Anabasis and galloped out of camp.
***
“Jayna left the army.” Chagraff sighed.
“What?” The assembled Arcadian officers were astonished. Few knew what happened, only that a flap had occurred between the Arcadian and Dagani leadership, and as a result the townsfolk had become more weary and distant as abruptly as they had been friendly and welcoming. Awkwardly, cautiously, Chagraff had ended the parley soon after Jayna fled, paid their hosts, and returned to the troops, increasing the guard in the process. This meeting had been called immediately afterwards.
“She packed up, mounted Anabasis, and left camp before sunrise. The guards said she headed West.”
“Should we go after her?”
The Rutherian thought for a second, then shook his head.
"No, I think she needs some time alone. This revolution is greater than any one of us, and the cause is hanging by a thread. We will rest and regroup and march out as soon as we are able to."
"I'll go look for her." The dragon suddenly interrupted.
“Things are too risky right now for you to leave. We need to rely upon your protection, Mera.” The Arcadian Chief of Staff replied. The dragon snorted in response.
“I joined this war to protect Jayna Durham. I have no other reason to fight.”
The Arcadian leadership fell silent. Chagraff ran his hand through his hair. He breathed deeply. “Very well then, we will fortify and hunker down, while you look for her.”
***
Jayna fled.
There was no real direction, she just galloped away as fast as she could. Nothing but dark thoughts chased after her, but they were in her head, and she could not escape them.
The Daganis had dug up an existential question: Was the Arcadian Revolution right?
Had she been wrong? Was everything she believed in incorrect? Was she evil?
The world passed by in a blur. The sun seemed to pursue, tauntingly, before slowing down and descending into apathy.
Finally, both mount and rider tired, and Anabasis slowed to a walk. A village soon appeared over the hill. Dagani or Overmountainer, the Arcadian knew not. It was early afternoon, and with most chores and meals seemingly completed, many folks were lounging around in the shade of porches chatting, gambling or just relaxing, while children were playing in the streets. Jayna left the road and went through the hills, keeping her distance from anyone, but continued onwards, certain that no one at the settlement knew who she was or saw her as hostile. The townsfolk stared in surprise at a woman knight passing on a canter in the distance, but honored her wishes: no one got up to question or confront her. It was just as well: they were people, trying to live their lives. There was no reason to parse out further details.
Of course, the Arcadian thought, these were once Sabine lands, and to ignore that would be to ignore the horror of their presence underneath the facade.
In the distance, children stopped their games to stare at her in wonder. Some waved at her.
Jayna waved back, with a small smile.
Children were innocent. It was no more fair to them to blame them for their presence, here in the former forest of the Sabines than it was to blame flowers for growing after a fire. The Arcadian slowed her mount again as she continued past.
Here, here was reality. Here was what Jayna was fighting for. Anything she did or did not do, would bring suffering to them, but at least she knew that she herself would try her best to make these people’s lives better.
Eventually the village disappeared behind Jayna and the afternoon sun began descending when she reached a large grassy field.
Anabasis abruptly reared and shied away as a large dragon landed thunderously upon his hind legs a short distance away, the look of worry plastered across his face.
“Mera!” The rider called, bringing her mount under control.
The dragon remained on his hind legs, flapping his wings to keep balance.
“Jayna! Are you alright?” Mera called out.
The rider looked away. “I don’t know…”
“I understand.”
The dragon fully descended, before walking up to Jayna and gently wrapping a wing around her.
Both were silent for a long time.
“How do you have faith when the world always disappoints you?” The human asked.
“The world is what it is, Jayna Durham.” The dragon replied quietly. “It can be good. It can be crap. I've seen too much of both.” Mera stopped to turn and stare deeply into the Arcadian’s eyes. “Sometimes, you just gotta keep up hope. That’s all you have and all you can do.” The dragon gave a small smile. “And sometimes that hope pans out. It’s better than despair.”
Jayna remained silent, as the two companions continued down that path.
“Do you think I’m doing the right thing, leading this revolution?”
“You asked the same question at Teruel's Tooth and at Royal Pass. The situation still doesn’t change. People suffer whatever we do.”
“I did not. Now I am asking for your personal opinion.”
The dragon didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, you are doing the right thing.”
“You seem pretty certain.”
“The fact that you are questioning yourself means you won’t fool yourself into excusing your crimes. You are not personally above your own standards. That is a personality I can respect, because it means you will do your best to help as many people as possible, for as long as possible. If that is not good, then I don’t know what is.”
“And what do others think about it?”
Mera snorted. “Screw what others think about it. They can inform, they can provide feedback, but ultimately you will do what you believe is correct, and suffer the consequences. Your grandfather did that and became my friend.” The dragon paused. “And so did your father, who ended everything.”
There was another long silence. “These decisions can be very painful.” Mera slowly started again. “I can understand your father, even if I can never forgive him. And I can work with you. You are not your father, nor your grandfather. You, Jayna Durham, are yourself, and I put my trust in you.”
Jayna sighed as she leaned back upon her saddle. “Trust is a hard thing, especially for yourself.”
“I can trust innocence. Especially with the willingness to learn from others. That is wisdom, for you learn without needing to survive your own mistakes.”
The Arcadian stopped. “Are you saying I'm innocent?”
“Yes.”
“Children are innocent.”
“That they are. And that always means hope and opportunity that things will get better.”
The dragon smiled as he gently patted the human on the head. “You, Jayna Durham, are still a child, and you are innocent, and that is beautiful. You also have what it takes to fight for your dreams, and that is rarer still.”
Jayna burst out laughing. “I guess I will always be a child to an elder dragon. But I mean well, and I work at it. Thank you, Meratezatgh.”
She patted Anabasis on the neck and turned the horse around.
“I don’t know where I am, nor where I am not. Show me the way to a nice campsite near our forces, Mera. I won’t return to the Dagani, but you can let Chagraff know that I’ll be meeting the army when he sets out again.”
The dragon beckoned to the left. “We’re a good thirty miles from where you were this morning. There’s a nice riverbank we can settle in for the night.”
“That’s fine.”
Mera nodded, before smiling. “Will you be alright, Jayna?”
“Yes, I’m better than I have been in a long time.”
“Good. Chin up, there's still a revolution to be won.”
Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer
From
Chickenzaur!
Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/60479973/
The Dagan settlement lay hidden in a small wooded valley, underground bunkers and zemlyanka lying almost completely hidden in the underbrush. Specially designed fire pits gently dissipated cooking smoke into the trees.
Hundreds of eyes looked out from dugouts and thickets, warily watching the newcomers file in. Guards, some armed with old naginatas and daos, kept ready for any unwelcome surprises. As the weary and battered Arcadian army arrived and set up camp to rest, individuals cautiously appeared, offering food and water as well as items to trade. Soon the two groups began intermingling and settling down.
Then Mera proudly strode into the settlement, causing some commotion as the cautious fled and the curious gathered. The dragon quickly found a comfortable spot in a clearing near a rocky outcropping and curled up to rest. After a brief hesitation Mera was presented with food and water as well, which he cheerfully accepted. The dragon would keep the peace between the two groups.
Meanwhile Jayna and Chagraff, along with Cutler and a dozen hand-picked guards, followed Sir Roderc over to a large timber bunker. The structure was impressive, its importance unable to be properly concealed, with guards standing at their posts in front of a sturdy gate, opening to a corridor leading to an antechamber and finally opening to a stone-lined great hall with ornately carved beams and a blazing hearth in the middle. The crackling fireplace was surrounded by tables filled with Dagani leadership, who got up at the arrival of the newcomers and gazed upon them through the smoky haze. In general, Jayna thought that the leaders looked tough and sinewy, as though sculpted by the winds and the rains of the mountains themselves. There was a lean and hungry air about them, though also a mix of patience and even hope. Led by Sir Roderc, the Arcadians silently went through the crowd to the other side of the hearth. There, sitting upon the largest and most ornate seat- almost a throne-was an old man, his long beard completely white, looking worn down from decades of struggle.
The young warrior went over and bowed to the Dagani ruler.
“Father, I have brought back the rebels, as you requested.”
“Welcome Arcadians.” The old man beckoned to Jayna's company. “I know that all of you have gone through many trials to reach us, and I bid you rest and supplies, in exchange for a request and a proposal.”
Jayna and Chagraff bowed in return. “We thank you for your generosity, lord-”
“Lord Bragg.”
“We thank you for your generosity, Lord Bragg, as well as the guidance of your son, Sir Roderc, and we would be interested in your request and proposal.”
“My request is simple, for no one to divulge the location of my people and my settlements until my affirmation.” The lord said slowly, almost painfully. "We must protect ourselves from the eyes of our enemies."
“We will honor your request without reservation. That is but a small thing in exchange for your kindness.” Jayna replied.
The old man smiled. “My proposal is also simple, to ally with your cause and to fight for Arcadia.”
Jayna and Chagraff both paused.
Finally the Rutherian replied, slightly hesitantly. “I beg your pardon, Lord Bragg, but that proposal is also very helpful to us, which makes us question it. What do you gain from this?”
“We are not greedy. We only hope to gain back what has once been lost to us by a quirk of fate.”
Jayna picked up the question. “Why did you help us? Don’t you know that supporting us could lead to your death from the Empire’s agents?”
Lord Bragg sighed. “I know what it is like to be hunted." He swept his arm over the smoky room. "For my entire life I and my people have hidden in these mountains."
"What happened?"
"My grandfather was a great man, one of the greatest lords of Auxia, the king assigned him the Commander of the Northern defenses. He fought bravely but was defeated at Divna against overwhelming odds. After the Other Men overran the North, the head of the Tassurian Empire told him to remain in power, to help establish a peace between the defeated Auxians and the Other Men. My father thought that he could help the people of Nalbin in its hour of greatest need, to mediate between the Northerners and the decrepit kings who had dragged us into a ruinous war. And for that he was forever labeled a traitor.”
Jayna and Chagraff stopped. They slowly turned to look at each other.
The old man was becoming more animated, standing up with great effort. “The Other Men mismanaged the fickle great wyrms, and we all suffered for it. After Auxia won, King Owin was unforgiving to my father, and wanted him and all our people dead. He died, and we fled. Even though the Walker Kings are gone and the Dominion is now in charge, still the black mark hangs over our heads.”
“You guys betrayed your own people.” Chagraff uttered, almost to himself.
“We thought the new world had come, where all of Nalbin’s people could live together. Was that hope for the future the price we were willing to risk in working with the Other Men? Yes. The world will be made better, if it needs to arise from the ashes of the old. We had long awaited for the day that our actions could be seen as positively justified, that we could be allowed to return. One day we will strike back and right these wrongs committed against us."
Lord Bragg pointed at Jayna. "Now your forces are here. Your legendary dragon is here. This is a sign! The injustices of Auxia grow greater. And tomorrow its crimes will destroy it!” Despite his previously infirm appearance, Lord Bragg had transformed, seemingly appearing as a new, powerful warlord, ranting about victories to come. “We will return to our old homeland of Capena on the back of a great wyrm! Together our forces can stand a chance against the-”
“No!”
Jayna loudly interrupted the Dagani leader, shooting up from her seat. “We are not alike! We are fighting for the freedom of Auxians, not to help others enslave them! You people are traitors, who deserve everything that you suffered.”
The illusion of the room was shattered. The Dagani leaders looked furious. Chagraff looked frustrated. The guards all looked nervously at each other. Cutler's hand was on his sword hilt. Lord Bragg suddenly seemed tired and weary again. “And your people do not?”
The young Arcadian turned around and stormed off. “Call up our men, Chagraff, we are leaving this cursed place!”
The Rutherian shook his head. “Jayna. Our troops are exhausted and hungry. They need food and rest, or they’ll fall apart. We need to stay, at least for a night or two.”
“And let these traitors corrupt our cause?” Jayna retorted without looking back. “Humans who joined with the enemies of man to fight our own people! To allow them to rule over us!”
Chagraff ran over, grabbing his commander by the hand in the corridor while Cutler’s guards rushed to join them.
“Calm down, Jayna. People will do what they need to do to survive.” The Rutherian sighed. “In a way, I pity them.”
“Don’t spare pity on those scum!”
“I’m not going to disparage their motives. Perhaps they truly believed that the Other Men would win, and everyone would just have to learn to live under them.”
“They presided over the occupation. They supported the invaders with arms against their neighbors. They stood on one side while Tassurians raped and looted and murdered us.”
“Perhaps they were blinded by fear or by desire for the benefits of the invaders to overlook their crimes.”
“They let themselves get wooed by flattery into betraying everything they even stood for.”
“That may be true. Both statements could be true at the same time.”
“They backed the wrong people.”
“That they did Jayna.” Chagraff nodded. “And in the end, motives are irrelevant. Only consequences matter.”
“And what about us?” Jayna suddenly asked, shaking. “Are we in the wrong?”
“What?”
Brushing aside the guards, Arcadian and Dagani, Jayna stormed out of the building. Before anyone else could react, she had mounted Anabasis and galloped out of camp.
***
“Jayna left the army.” Chagraff sighed.
“What?” The assembled Arcadian officers were astonished. Few knew what happened, only that a flap had occurred between the Arcadian and Dagani leadership, and as a result the townsfolk had become more weary and distant as abruptly as they had been friendly and welcoming. Awkwardly, cautiously, Chagraff had ended the parley soon after Jayna fled, paid their hosts, and returned to the troops, increasing the guard in the process. This meeting had been called immediately afterwards.
“She packed up, mounted Anabasis, and left camp before sunrise. The guards said she headed West.”
“Should we go after her?”
The Rutherian thought for a second, then shook his head.
"No, I think she needs some time alone. This revolution is greater than any one of us, and the cause is hanging by a thread. We will rest and regroup and march out as soon as we are able to."
"I'll go look for her." The dragon suddenly interrupted.
“Things are too risky right now for you to leave. We need to rely upon your protection, Mera.” The Arcadian Chief of Staff replied. The dragon snorted in response.
“I joined this war to protect Jayna Durham. I have no other reason to fight.”
The Arcadian leadership fell silent. Chagraff ran his hand through his hair. He breathed deeply. “Very well then, we will fortify and hunker down, while you look for her.”
***
Jayna fled.
There was no real direction, she just galloped away as fast as she could. Nothing but dark thoughts chased after her, but they were in her head, and she could not escape them.
The Daganis had dug up an existential question: Was the Arcadian Revolution right?
Had she been wrong? Was everything she believed in incorrect? Was she evil?
The world passed by in a blur. The sun seemed to pursue, tauntingly, before slowing down and descending into apathy.
Finally, both mount and rider tired, and Anabasis slowed to a walk. A village soon appeared over the hill. Dagani or Overmountainer, the Arcadian knew not. It was early afternoon, and with most chores and meals seemingly completed, many folks were lounging around in the shade of porches chatting, gambling or just relaxing, while children were playing in the streets. Jayna left the road and went through the hills, keeping her distance from anyone, but continued onwards, certain that no one at the settlement knew who she was or saw her as hostile. The townsfolk stared in surprise at a woman knight passing on a canter in the distance, but honored her wishes: no one got up to question or confront her. It was just as well: they were people, trying to live their lives. There was no reason to parse out further details.
Of course, the Arcadian thought, these were once Sabine lands, and to ignore that would be to ignore the horror of their presence underneath the facade.
In the distance, children stopped their games to stare at her in wonder. Some waved at her.
Jayna waved back, with a small smile.
Children were innocent. It was no more fair to them to blame them for their presence, here in the former forest of the Sabines than it was to blame flowers for growing after a fire. The Arcadian slowed her mount again as she continued past.
Here, here was reality. Here was what Jayna was fighting for. Anything she did or did not do, would bring suffering to them, but at least she knew that she herself would try her best to make these people’s lives better.
Eventually the village disappeared behind Jayna and the afternoon sun began descending when she reached a large grassy field.
Anabasis abruptly reared and shied away as a large dragon landed thunderously upon his hind legs a short distance away, the look of worry plastered across his face.
“Mera!” The rider called, bringing her mount under control.
The dragon remained on his hind legs, flapping his wings to keep balance.
“Jayna! Are you alright?” Mera called out.
The rider looked away. “I don’t know…”
“I understand.”
The dragon fully descended, before walking up to Jayna and gently wrapping a wing around her.
Both were silent for a long time.
“How do you have faith when the world always disappoints you?” The human asked.
“The world is what it is, Jayna Durham.” The dragon replied quietly. “It can be good. It can be crap. I've seen too much of both.” Mera stopped to turn and stare deeply into the Arcadian’s eyes. “Sometimes, you just gotta keep up hope. That’s all you have and all you can do.” The dragon gave a small smile. “And sometimes that hope pans out. It’s better than despair.”
Jayna remained silent, as the two companions continued down that path.
“Do you think I’m doing the right thing, leading this revolution?”
“You asked the same question at Teruel's Tooth and at Royal Pass. The situation still doesn’t change. People suffer whatever we do.”
“I did not. Now I am asking for your personal opinion.”
The dragon didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, you are doing the right thing.”
“You seem pretty certain.”
“The fact that you are questioning yourself means you won’t fool yourself into excusing your crimes. You are not personally above your own standards. That is a personality I can respect, because it means you will do your best to help as many people as possible, for as long as possible. If that is not good, then I don’t know what is.”
“And what do others think about it?”
Mera snorted. “Screw what others think about it. They can inform, they can provide feedback, but ultimately you will do what you believe is correct, and suffer the consequences. Your grandfather did that and became my friend.” The dragon paused. “And so did your father, who ended everything.”
There was another long silence. “These decisions can be very painful.” Mera slowly started again. “I can understand your father, even if I can never forgive him. And I can work with you. You are not your father, nor your grandfather. You, Jayna Durham, are yourself, and I put my trust in you.”
Jayna sighed as she leaned back upon her saddle. “Trust is a hard thing, especially for yourself.”
“I can trust innocence. Especially with the willingness to learn from others. That is wisdom, for you learn without needing to survive your own mistakes.”
The Arcadian stopped. “Are you saying I'm innocent?”
“Yes.”
“Children are innocent.”
“That they are. And that always means hope and opportunity that things will get better.”
The dragon smiled as he gently patted the human on the head. “You, Jayna Durham, are still a child, and you are innocent, and that is beautiful. You also have what it takes to fight for your dreams, and that is rarer still.”
Jayna burst out laughing. “I guess I will always be a child to an elder dragon. But I mean well, and I work at it. Thank you, Meratezatgh.”
She patted Anabasis on the neck and turned the horse around.
“I don’t know where I am, nor where I am not. Show me the way to a nice campsite near our forces, Mera. I won’t return to the Dagani, but you can let Chagraff know that I’ll be meeting the army when he sets out again.”
The dragon beckoned to the left. “We’re a good thirty miles from where you were this morning. There’s a nice riverbank we can settle in for the night.”
“That’s fine.”
Mera nodded, before smiling. “Will you be alright, Jayna?”
“Yes, I’m better than I have been in a long time.”
“Good. Chin up, there's still a revolution to be won.”
Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer
From
Chickenzaur!Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/60479973/
Category Artwork (Traditional) / Fantasy
Species Western Dragon
Size 2498 x 3319px
File Size 1.28 MB
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