The Last Story

 Well, the only true story anyway. I've told a lot of untrue stories (I'm really good at those); but this story, this is the one and only true story I'll ever tell. It's not because I don't like the truth or anything, I've just never felt the need. Why tell the truth when a lie is so much more fun? The challenge that comes with building and building on it. The rush you get when you know someone has fallen for your lie. It's a kind of drug. This time however, the truth is important. Lives are at stake. Not mine, mine is already lost; but the lives of those who need this truth. Those who are unaware of what hides not only in the dark, but also in the light. So, I tell this last, true story for them in the hopes that they can do what I could not.

To Die For Love and Freedom

They were words that spoke of rebellion and freedom. Rebellion against those who had oppressed us for centuries and freedom to do and be what we wanted. They were words what promised a better life for ourselves and those who came after us. I fell in love with those words and with the man who spoke them. Those inspiring words from an inspiring man. Now, I stand condemned to death. Doomed to die for fighting for a better life, for rising up against those who would keep me down. He stands beside me, my lover and commander, along with many others who rose up with us. I pray our sacrifice will not be in vain. I pray that others will hear his words and fall in love with them and the desire for freedom.

Hawksrising Part 1: Dragon Knights 5

     Aylin repeated the word a few times to herself, associating it as the dragon's name. "I like it. I think is suits you." she finally said.
     "Thank you." he replied.
     Silence reigned once again. This time, it was Thunder who broke it.
     "Where will you go? The induction is a month away."
     Aylin gave him a sheepish look, "I didn't think that far ahead. I just took off. I didn't even think about what would happen if I wasn't chosen."
     The dragon gave a huff, blowing  smoke out of his nostrils. Apparently her recklessness did not surprise him.
     They sat in silence again, watching the setting sun.
     "What about Hawksrising?"
     Aylin gave the dragon a puzzled look. "What about it?"
     "Did you not say that is where you are from? Why not stay there?"
     Aylin looked down at her feet. She quietly replied, "I've never been there. I don't even know were it is."
     She felt Thunder's eyes on her, but refused to look at him. She heard him move, a quiet rustle of scales and the click of claws.
     "Then I shall show you where it is."
     At this, she glanced up at him, a look of hope lighting her face. "Really?" she asked. "You know where it is?"
     "Every dragon knows where the home of the Dragonfriend is."
     "How will we get there?"
     Thunder looked at her, and Aylin could have sworn in was a look of frustration. "I will fly you there."
     She looked at him for a moment. "You can do that? I thought you had to be older for someone to ride you. How will I stay on?"
     "I am old enough to carry a small rider and we can rest if I need to. Do you know how to ride a horse bare-back? 
      "I've done it once or twice."
      "Then that will have to suffice. Do not worry, if you fall, I will catch you."
     Aylin stared at him in silence for another moment and then got to her feet. Thunder lowered himself so she could climb onto his back. She found the hollow where his neck met his chest and situated herself. While not exactly comfrotable, the spot did offer some stability, and she gripped his neck with her knees. She leaned into his neck and found that she could grip the edges his scales by slightly pulling them up. Unlike a snakes, they had ridges and offered a fairly good grip.
    "Are you ready?" the dragon asked after she had stopped fidgeting.
    "Here goes nothing."
     She felt Thunder tense for a moment and then he sprung from the balcony. Aylin almost lost her grip. She felt the scales bite into her hands and hoped they had not cut them. A moment later, there was a jolt and a feeling of weightlessness as Thunder spread his wings leveled out.  He circled the citadel once, and then headed south-east.

**If you are interested in reading the ongoing continuation of this story, please follow this link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/66057351-dragon-knights
Thanks!
    

Thunder: Dragon Knights 4

     Aylin sighed in contentment. She was finally coming down from the euphoria of the morning. After she and the black dragon, her dragon, had taken their places with the other chosen children, the gong that had started the ceremony rang three times, signaling the end of the Choosing.
     The children who had not been chosen were ushered out of the hall. Those who had been chosen remained with their dragons. The children's height and weight were measured and recorded, as well as their measurements for clothing. Although there were fifteen children, it all happened quickly, the process made efficient from years of execution.
     Lunch was served afterward and many of the children left and headed for home. The official ceremony presenting the newest generation of Dragon Knights would not take place for another month. This gave the rulers of the various nations that comprised the Six Lands time to prepare and travel to Storm Hold, the home of the Dragon Knights.
      Aylin had been too excited to eat. Instead, after arranging for the Baron's son David to take the horse she had ridden here back to Sandorne, she had wandered around the citadel. Eventually, she found herself sitting, legs pulled to her chest, on an large balcony overlooking the city.
     The balcony had no railing and offered an amazing view of the city and the countryside surrounding it. It was evening now, and the sun was setting over the mountains that formed the borders between Estrana and Draurhiel. She sat, mesmerized by the colors painted by the sunset.
     "Why are you still here?" a deep, male voice asked. "The others from your home left hours ago."
     Aylin gave a small start and glanced to look at the speaker. Her dragon was standing behind her, staring. She noticed that although his scales and horns were a deep black, his eyes were a bright, reptilian green. Turning back to the sunset, she replied, "Castle Sandorne is not my home."
     "Is that not where you were raised?" the dragon asked, confusion in his voice.
     Aylin gave a small laugh of derision, "Yes, but that doesn't make it home. Now that I've escaped, I'm never going back. Besides, I don't think the baroness would let me anyway."
     "I see." the dragon replied, although his tone gave the impression he was still confused. He stretched himself out across the balcony, curling himself around her and positioning himself so that his head sat just past where Aylin sat.
     They sat in silence for a while as the sun sank lower. Eventually, Aylin broke the silence with a question, "What's your name?"
     They dragon's green eye looked back at her, but he did not otherwise move. Neither did he answer.
     "What? You already know mine. What harm would it be for me to know yours?"
    The dragon looked back out over the city. After a moment's silence, his voice sounded in her head, speaking a single word, "Thunder."

The Choosing Part 3: Dragon Knights 3

     Aylin lay underneath the dragon listening to the voices above her. She couldn't understand what they were saying, they were speaking in dragon, but she knew they were talking about her. The conversation seemed to go on for hours. Finally, the scales above her shifted and she curled into a ball, trying to make her self as small as possible in hopes of not being crushed.
      "Stand up child." a voice behind her commanded.
     Aylin looked up to see that the dragon had moved from above her to beside her. She stood up and faced the direction the voice had come from. She was now facing the brown dragon who had found her earlier, two citadel priests-an older and a younger, and two citadel guards. They were all staring at her.
     The older priest, who had spoken earlier, spoke again. "What is your name, child?"
     Aylin glanced at the dragon standing beside her without answering. The dragons participating in the Choosing were not told the names of the children so it would not influence them in their decisions. Being the child of a Dragon Knight did not guarantee that you became one.
     "The dragon has already chosen as his Knight." the priest stated, "It is all right to tell us your name."
     She turned back to the priest and said, "Aylin-"
     The younger priest interrupted her, "Aylin of Sandorne, Baron Ambrose's daughter. I've seen you before."
     "No. Aylin of Hawksrising." she replied. "The Baron and his wife are not my parents."
     The priests gave her a strange look, but did not speak. Instead, the brown dragon did. His voice was deep and strong, "Then who your parents?"
     Aylin looked at the dragon, "My mother's name was Salyne. My father was Sir Edward Dragonfriend. I was given to Baron Ambrose after my mother died in labor."
     "You are Sir Edward's daughter?" the older priest asked, mild surprise in his voice. "Why was your name not on the list from Sandorne?"
     Aylin was silent for a moment. Finally she replied in a matter of fact tone, "Because the baroness refused to put my name on the list. She despises my father and would rather marry me off than see me follow in his footsteps."
     All were silent for a moment. "We will need to verify your story with Baron Ambrose," the older priest stated, "but for now, please take your place with the rest of the chosen."

      Ayline and  the black dragon took their places beside the others. Her heart was pounding. Her dream had come true. She was to become a Dragon Knight, just like her father.

**To be continued as time and inspiration allow.**

The Choosing Part 2: Dragon Knights 2

     The pillar Aylin was hiding behind was above the floor where the Choosing was taking place. A long staircase that ran the length of that side of the room lead down to the main floor. From where she hid, she could see all the participants, both dragon and human.
    There about thirty kids of various backgrounds. All of the nation's that comprised the Six Lands were allowed to send their children. The Dragon Knights held the peace between the Six Lands and defended it against its enemies. A Knight was only beholden to his birth country if it did not conflict with the laws and directives of the Dragon Knights.
     Aylin watched as the first dragon walked the line of children. While some of the children stood at military attention while the dragon passed,  a few stood with their arms crossed and in a self-important stance. One girl, Aylin noticed,  stood out from the rest. She was of average height, but thin. She was shaking. 

     As the dragon passed in front of her, it stopped and turned to face her. The dragon, small by dragon standard, had two horns on it's head and pure white scales. It stared at the girl for a moment and the gently tapped her head with its snout. The dragon had chosen it's Knight.
     The girl almost fainted at the dragon's touch, but managed to stay upright. She and the dragon walked to the left side of the hall and stood together. After they had taken their place, the next dragon, a green one with golden horns began to walk the line.
     The Choosing continued in this manner until all but one of the fifteen dragons had chosen a child. The remaining dragon was midnight black. It's scales reflected the light with a midnight blue. Two horns rose from its head and a line of spikes ran halfway down its neck, almost like a mane. Lean and muscular, it was larger than the other dragons who had been part of The Choosing, but was still smaller than the older dragons who had escorted them here. It gave off an air of confidence and power.

     Aylin had heard of this dragon. According to the Baron's son Cedric, who was only a little older than her, this dragon had been at several Choosings and had yet to select a child. While not entirely unheard of, it was rare. This would explain why it was bigger than all the other dragons participating.
     She was so absorbed in staring at the dragon below that she did not hear the one approaching from behind her. She heard a low growl and turned around to face a large brown dragon. It had a scar running over its right eye and the horn above it had been partially cut off. She tried to dash away, but the dragon move faster than her and blocked her way.
     Gently nudging with its snout, it ushered her between the pillars and down the stairs. She was aware that everyone was staring at her. As she descended, she was so busy trying not to imagine what punishment she would endure for spying on The Choosing that she tripped on the last few steps and unceremoniously rolled onto the hall floor.
     She rolled to a stop, dazed. She was aware of feet rushing towards her, temple guards she assumed, and tried to get up. Before she could however, a dark shadow fell over her and a loud boom echoed through the hall. She looked up and was met with a roof of night black scales. The black dragon she had been watching had jumped across the hall and as now standing over her.

The Choosing- Part 1: Dragon Knights 1

     Aylin ducked back behind the pillar and prayed that she hadn't been spotted. Even though she technically had every right to be here, she had been expressly forbidden from coming. She was supposed to be back at Castle Sandorne, locked in her chambers. She was not supposed to be at the citadel in Braewood, watching The Choosing.
     She held her breath as a priest walked by. If she was caught, she would be severely punished. Every three years, the Choosing was held. All eligible children of noble birth we're allowed to attend the choosing, the time when the dragons who had come of age would choose a child and they would become Dragon Knights. Only a few were chosen every year.
     Aylin was an orphan. While not a disqualifying fact in and of itself, it did complicate matters. Aylin's father,  Sir Edward of Hawksrising,  had been a noble He had also been one of the greatest Dragon Knights that had be seen in centuries, earning the coveted title- Dragonfriend. During the last war, he and his dragon had been killed. Wen his pregnant wife Salyne heard the news, she had immediately gone until labor. She died the next night from heartbreak and the rigours of the labor. The baby girl, Alyin, was given to a fellow Dragon Knight to be raised as his own.
     Baron Ambrose was a decent man, when he was sober; and only slightly less when he was drunk. The baroness on the other hand, had nothing but harsh words for Aylin. She had hated Sir Edward for not choosing her as his wife and had despised Lady Salyne. Her hate was so that she refused to tell Aylin anything about her parents and forbidden her from asking about them.
     It was during one of the Baron's rare visits home that she learned the truth. She had been bringing his dinner to him when he had remarked that she had her father's eyes. Even though he was obviously drunk, she still asked if he jab known him. He preceded to tell her that he had served with her father during the war and of how she came to Castle Sandorne.
     Aylin had kept the conversation to herself, never telling anyone. She had quietly researched her father and had grown to respect him and desire to follow in his footsteps. That was why, against her better judgment,  she had attempted to steal the letter containing the names of those from Castle Sandorne who would be attending The Choosing and add her name. She had been caught and beaten. Her back still hurt where the whip had struck it.
     After the beating, the Baroness had ordered her to be locked in her chambers until the Choosing was over. What made this worse was that after this Choosing, Aylin would be too old to participate. So, with the help of a friend in the stables, she had sneaked out and ridden to Braewood. Posing as a servant girl and miraculously making her way to the grand hall.
     A loud gong rung three times, snapping Aylin out of her memories. The Choosing was starting.