TearsoftheWorld
Radical Dreamer
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2006
- Posts
- 16,005
Long(ish) intro post. If you are interested in joining please send me a PM.
Do not post unless you have been approved
OOC: http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=735405
~ ~ ~
It was early in the afternoon when Aeriana first arrived at the small inn off to the side of the road, and the thin column of curling smoke that issued from its stone chimney told her that the vine-covered tavern was open for business. Although the sun was shining in the clear azure sky, the chilly autumn air forced the young woman to keep her cloak wrapped tightly around her body, providing her with warmth and a slight sense of privacy.
It hadn't rained in the countryside for nearly a week, and Aeriana's soft, fur-lined boots left no visible impressions in the cracked earth where she walked. She kept her hood up over her head until she walked inside the inn and felt the warmth of the fires seep into her body. Moving further inside, Aeriana raised both her hands up to her head and then lowered her hood down until it rested casually against her shoulders. After her keen blue eyes swept over the small crowd gathered near the bar, she took a seat at one of the smaller tables off to the side and waited until one of the servants came and took her order.
Once the servant girl had gone back into the kitchen, Aeriana relaxed in her seat and closed her eyes.
It had been a long journey.
Needless, most would say, but she didn't care.
This was her journey.
In additional to basking in the warmth of the fires, Aeriana took comfort in the warmth of her own thoughts. She was still young, barely twenty years old, but she had a fire inside her that could not be quenched. She slowly opened her eyes and looked out the window next to her. The leaves of the trees in the valley had already started changing colors to mark the transition from summer into winter, and yet for all its beauty and splendor there was a lingering sadness.
It was beautiful and bittersweet.
A period of cold would follow, but beyond that a new spring.
"Here you go."
Aeriana turned around as a hot bowl of soup was placed in front of her, steam rising from its surface while the rich smell of spices invaded her senses.
"Thank you," Aeriana said, and she retrieved a single silver coin from a small pouch hidden inside her cloak and handed it over to the servant girl. She picked up her spoon and dipped it into the soup, but she noticed that the girl was still lingering near her table, and looking up she saw that she was staring at her.
"You're one of them, aren't you?"
Aeriana smiled knowingly and let her spoon rest against the edge of her bowl before she leaned back in her chair.
"Yes," she responded simply, and the younger girls face immediately lit up with a bright smile.
“I knew it! I could see the armor under your cloak and I just knew it! What’s it like?” she proceeded to ask, hastily pulling out a chair and sitting down next to her. She took a furtive glance at her soup and then resigned herself to the fact that it probably wouldn’t be very hot once the girl returned to her duties.
“Well,” Aeriana began, “it’s a lot of hard work but it’s very rewarding. There’s a lot of training involved, but after a few years you start to get the hang of it.”
“And you get to ride a dragon?”
Aeriana nodded silently.
“Is it outside? What color is it? Can I see it?”
A playful smirk spread across the older girls face, and with a crook of her finger she beckoned the younger girl to lean in close so that she could whisper something into her ear.
“Tell you what, if you let me eat this soup before it gets cold I’ll call my dragon down and you can come outside and see it. Deal?”
“Okay,” the younger girl readily agreed, getting up from her seat and pushing her chair in before disappearing inside the kitchen again. Aeriana shook her head back and forth and smiled as she picked up her spoon. She took her time eating, savoring every spoonful until there was hardly anything left inside her bowl, and she used the last half of her flaky biscuit to clean up the sides, soaking it in the broth and washing it all down with a glass of water.
By the time Aeriana was finished more people had wandered into the inn, taking up most of the tables and crowding near the bar as they gathered for an afternoon drink. At first she thought that she might get away unnoticed, but a light touch on her shoulder from behind as she was leaving put an end to any such notions.
“Well you’re very persistent, I have to give you that,” Aeriana said as she turned around. She pushed aside the folds of her cloak, briefly exposing parts of her polished silver armor until she pulled out an ornate horn in the likeness of a dragon and then raised the narrow end to her lips. She took in a deep breath and then blew into it.
The deep sound was carried off into the distance, echoing for a moment before fading away. Naturally her horn drew the attention of most of the men and women inside the tavern, and those that stuck around to find out what was happening were rewarded when a dark shadow soon passed over the inn, and a gust of wind preceded the descent of a large, blue-scaled beast with leathery wings and a long spiked tail. Two large horns protruded from its head and curved up and out, and its wings folded down against its massive body as it settled on the ground.
Aeriana approached the majestic creature and skillfully climbed up onto its back, and once she was secure in her seat the great blue dragon reared up onto its hind legs and spread its wings. With a chilling roar it lifted itself up into the air and then flapped its strong wings several times until it was nearly a hundred feet in the air, once again casting a dark shadow on those gathered below. Some were so alarmed that they quickly ran inside, yet the rest remained outside and watched as Aeriana took to the skies.
Flying higher and higher, Aeriana held on tight as her dragon turned towards the north, beating its wing furiously until it obtained mastery over the winds.
The sun continued to shine high above the clouds, and in the distance Aeriana could see the floating city of Aguro. Her approach was immediately noticed by the guards as they flew around on their own dragons, and although quite fierce in their own right they were considerably smaller than her own.
Aguro was a large city that had been built by wizards long ago, and through the ages it hovered in the skies and served as the home of many kings and queens of old.
Aeriana was its youngest princess, but she often spent more time abroad than she did at home.
She was a dragon rider and though it displeased her father she simply had no love for confined spaces.
Aeriana guided her dragon towards the outer edges of the city where the dragons were stabled and cared for, and not surprisingly she found Commander Poth issuing orders to the knights under his command. He was a tall and proud man that stubbornly refused to give in to the fact that he was starting to get old. Nonetheless he was an imposing figure, and he wore black dragon-scale armor and carried an ornate silver-trimmed mace wherever he went. Through the tiny slits in his helmet he noticed her descent and waited until he dragon had settled down before he approached her. Removing his helm, the dragon Commander held it under one arm and let his graying hair cascade down to his armored shoulders.
"Greetings, Highness. How was your trip?"
Aeriana dismounted and tenderly ran her hand along her dragons scaled side.
"Relaxing, Commander." Aeriana said as she unclasped her cloak and handed it off to a servant. "Is my father busy?"
"His Majesty is currently meeting with a few delegates. Shall I tell him that you've arrived?"
"No, that won't be necessary. I'd prefer to enjoy my freedom before he tells me that I'm never to leave the city... again."
"Very well," Poth said, smiling as he bowed his head.
"New recruits?" Aeriana asked casually when she noticed a few young men sparring with one another.
The older man nodded.
"Yes. The tall one there is Thoden and the other one is..."
Poth folded his arms across his chest and paused, his head once again dropping low as he tried to remember the boys name.
"Damn," he muttered, then lifted his head up and raised a hand to his lips. he blew into his fingers and produced a loud whistling sound, and when the fighters looked up he waved them over. Like obedient animals summoned by their master they quickly ran over and saluted.
Aeriana noticed that they were well trained despite their young age, and their eyes were locked solely on their commander. They had certainly noticed the blue behemoth off to the side, and they had certainly noticed the young princess when she had first arrived, but they did not speak to her or look at her directly.
"Your names."
"Thoden Acaro, sir."
"Pharen Brooks," the younger soldier said, lowering his salute.
"Acaro? Is your father Tiranus Acaro?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Aeriana smiled and looked at Pharen, and she noticed that the red-haired youth had been stealing glances at her.
"Am I making you nervous?"
"No m- No, Your Highness."
"You're excused," Poth said after a moment, and his pupils bowed low before leaving.
"Well, I'm going to go freshen up. Would you care to join me at my father's table for dinner tonight?"
"It would be an honor," the old knight said, bowing low himself until Aeriana had turned and walked away. Although there was no danger to be found anywhere, her dragon waited until she was safely inside before he took off into the skies again. No one was really sure where the great beast went off to when it was not being called upon, but whenever Aeriana blew on her magic horn the majestic creature would turn up moments later, ready to assist its Master with whatever she needed.
Do not post unless you have been approved
OOC: http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=735405
~ ~ ~
It was early in the afternoon when Aeriana first arrived at the small inn off to the side of the road, and the thin column of curling smoke that issued from its stone chimney told her that the vine-covered tavern was open for business. Although the sun was shining in the clear azure sky, the chilly autumn air forced the young woman to keep her cloak wrapped tightly around her body, providing her with warmth and a slight sense of privacy.
It hadn't rained in the countryside for nearly a week, and Aeriana's soft, fur-lined boots left no visible impressions in the cracked earth where she walked. She kept her hood up over her head until she walked inside the inn and felt the warmth of the fires seep into her body. Moving further inside, Aeriana raised both her hands up to her head and then lowered her hood down until it rested casually against her shoulders. After her keen blue eyes swept over the small crowd gathered near the bar, she took a seat at one of the smaller tables off to the side and waited until one of the servants came and took her order.
Once the servant girl had gone back into the kitchen, Aeriana relaxed in her seat and closed her eyes.
It had been a long journey.
Needless, most would say, but she didn't care.
This was her journey.
In additional to basking in the warmth of the fires, Aeriana took comfort in the warmth of her own thoughts. She was still young, barely twenty years old, but she had a fire inside her that could not be quenched. She slowly opened her eyes and looked out the window next to her. The leaves of the trees in the valley had already started changing colors to mark the transition from summer into winter, and yet for all its beauty and splendor there was a lingering sadness.
It was beautiful and bittersweet.
A period of cold would follow, but beyond that a new spring.
"Here you go."
Aeriana turned around as a hot bowl of soup was placed in front of her, steam rising from its surface while the rich smell of spices invaded her senses.
"Thank you," Aeriana said, and she retrieved a single silver coin from a small pouch hidden inside her cloak and handed it over to the servant girl. She picked up her spoon and dipped it into the soup, but she noticed that the girl was still lingering near her table, and looking up she saw that she was staring at her.
"You're one of them, aren't you?"
Aeriana smiled knowingly and let her spoon rest against the edge of her bowl before she leaned back in her chair.
"Yes," she responded simply, and the younger girls face immediately lit up with a bright smile.
“I knew it! I could see the armor under your cloak and I just knew it! What’s it like?” she proceeded to ask, hastily pulling out a chair and sitting down next to her. She took a furtive glance at her soup and then resigned herself to the fact that it probably wouldn’t be very hot once the girl returned to her duties.
“Well,” Aeriana began, “it’s a lot of hard work but it’s very rewarding. There’s a lot of training involved, but after a few years you start to get the hang of it.”
“And you get to ride a dragon?”
Aeriana nodded silently.
“Is it outside? What color is it? Can I see it?”
A playful smirk spread across the older girls face, and with a crook of her finger she beckoned the younger girl to lean in close so that she could whisper something into her ear.
“Tell you what, if you let me eat this soup before it gets cold I’ll call my dragon down and you can come outside and see it. Deal?”
“Okay,” the younger girl readily agreed, getting up from her seat and pushing her chair in before disappearing inside the kitchen again. Aeriana shook her head back and forth and smiled as she picked up her spoon. She took her time eating, savoring every spoonful until there was hardly anything left inside her bowl, and she used the last half of her flaky biscuit to clean up the sides, soaking it in the broth and washing it all down with a glass of water.
By the time Aeriana was finished more people had wandered into the inn, taking up most of the tables and crowding near the bar as they gathered for an afternoon drink. At first she thought that she might get away unnoticed, but a light touch on her shoulder from behind as she was leaving put an end to any such notions.
“Well you’re very persistent, I have to give you that,” Aeriana said as she turned around. She pushed aside the folds of her cloak, briefly exposing parts of her polished silver armor until she pulled out an ornate horn in the likeness of a dragon and then raised the narrow end to her lips. She took in a deep breath and then blew into it.
The deep sound was carried off into the distance, echoing for a moment before fading away. Naturally her horn drew the attention of most of the men and women inside the tavern, and those that stuck around to find out what was happening were rewarded when a dark shadow soon passed over the inn, and a gust of wind preceded the descent of a large, blue-scaled beast with leathery wings and a long spiked tail. Two large horns protruded from its head and curved up and out, and its wings folded down against its massive body as it settled on the ground.
Aeriana approached the majestic creature and skillfully climbed up onto its back, and once she was secure in her seat the great blue dragon reared up onto its hind legs and spread its wings. With a chilling roar it lifted itself up into the air and then flapped its strong wings several times until it was nearly a hundred feet in the air, once again casting a dark shadow on those gathered below. Some were so alarmed that they quickly ran inside, yet the rest remained outside and watched as Aeriana took to the skies.
Flying higher and higher, Aeriana held on tight as her dragon turned towards the north, beating its wing furiously until it obtained mastery over the winds.
The sun continued to shine high above the clouds, and in the distance Aeriana could see the floating city of Aguro. Her approach was immediately noticed by the guards as they flew around on their own dragons, and although quite fierce in their own right they were considerably smaller than her own.
Aguro was a large city that had been built by wizards long ago, and through the ages it hovered in the skies and served as the home of many kings and queens of old.
Aeriana was its youngest princess, but she often spent more time abroad than she did at home.
She was a dragon rider and though it displeased her father she simply had no love for confined spaces.
Aeriana guided her dragon towards the outer edges of the city where the dragons were stabled and cared for, and not surprisingly she found Commander Poth issuing orders to the knights under his command. He was a tall and proud man that stubbornly refused to give in to the fact that he was starting to get old. Nonetheless he was an imposing figure, and he wore black dragon-scale armor and carried an ornate silver-trimmed mace wherever he went. Through the tiny slits in his helmet he noticed her descent and waited until he dragon had settled down before he approached her. Removing his helm, the dragon Commander held it under one arm and let his graying hair cascade down to his armored shoulders.
"Greetings, Highness. How was your trip?"
Aeriana dismounted and tenderly ran her hand along her dragons scaled side.
"Relaxing, Commander." Aeriana said as she unclasped her cloak and handed it off to a servant. "Is my father busy?"
"His Majesty is currently meeting with a few delegates. Shall I tell him that you've arrived?"
"No, that won't be necessary. I'd prefer to enjoy my freedom before he tells me that I'm never to leave the city... again."
"Very well," Poth said, smiling as he bowed his head.
"New recruits?" Aeriana asked casually when she noticed a few young men sparring with one another.
The older man nodded.
"Yes. The tall one there is Thoden and the other one is..."
Poth folded his arms across his chest and paused, his head once again dropping low as he tried to remember the boys name.
"Damn," he muttered, then lifted his head up and raised a hand to his lips. he blew into his fingers and produced a loud whistling sound, and when the fighters looked up he waved them over. Like obedient animals summoned by their master they quickly ran over and saluted.
Aeriana noticed that they were well trained despite their young age, and their eyes were locked solely on their commander. They had certainly noticed the blue behemoth off to the side, and they had certainly noticed the young princess when she had first arrived, but they did not speak to her or look at her directly.
"Your names."
"Thoden Acaro, sir."
"Pharen Brooks," the younger soldier said, lowering his salute.
"Acaro? Is your father Tiranus Acaro?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Aeriana smiled and looked at Pharen, and she noticed that the red-haired youth had been stealing glances at her.
"Am I making you nervous?"
"No m- No, Your Highness."
"You're excused," Poth said after a moment, and his pupils bowed low before leaving.
"Well, I'm going to go freshen up. Would you care to join me at my father's table for dinner tonight?"
"It would be an honor," the old knight said, bowing low himself until Aeriana had turned and walked away. Although there was no danger to be found anywhere, her dragon waited until she was safely inside before he took off into the skies again. No one was really sure where the great beast went off to when it was not being called upon, but whenever Aeriana blew on her magic horn the majestic creature would turn up moments later, ready to assist its Master with whatever she needed.
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