Their Time in Helsingdon

Giving Astra barely a glance he gruffly said, "State your business, Tiranian."

Henri's reply of "Men fear to tread where dragon's nest" meant nothing to Astra but made the guard narrow his eyes in suspicion.

"How do you know this?" His voice fell to a whisper. "It's our current code phrase!"

"I have a friend by the name of Colonel Adressi," Henri said calmly. "Contact him and mention the name 'Henri'. He'll know who I am."

The guard grunted. "Very well, Tiranian. I shall do as you say."

The guard marched back to the post muttering. When the other guard looked up at him, he said, "Whistle for Swiftsure would you? There's someone here by the name of Henri for Colonel Adressi. Oh, and he has some woman with him."

The other guard made to say something, but seeing that his colleague was in a foul mood decided it was best to keep quiet. Instead, he walked to the back of the post and opened a door. He gave a piercing whistle. There was a rustling of wings followed by a blur of red and a small dragon landed close by. He had the demeanour of a dog eager to please. The torrential rain didn't seem to bother him one bit.

The soldier gave the dragon the message and he was off again in another blur of red. Remarking to himself that the speed of that particular species of dragon never ceased to amaze him, he went to the front of the post. He told his companion he had sent the message, but sighed when he saw that the other soldier had no intention of going out into the rain again. Instead, he let the two travellers through the border and informed them what was going on. Henri merely nodded. Nothing new to him. The concept of dragons being a help rather than a hindrance was still alien to Astra regardless of what she had heard so far. The border guard, having a more cheerful disposition to his colleague who was still mumbling to himself in the border post, obligingly explained to her the role of red - or ruby as they were more commonly known - dragons in the Helsingdonian military.

Swiftsure the ruby dragon returned not long after the guard had finished his explanation, though he made sure to land a respectable distance away from the horses so not to spook them.

Excusing himself, the guard walked towards Swiftsure and appeared to have a short conversation. Barely a minute later he walked back to them. "The colonel will be happy to see you," he told Henri, who thanked him. "A pleasure," the guard said. "We don't get that many travellers along this route." Giving them a mock salute, he walked back to his post.

As they made their way along the road, Astra felt she had to clarify something. "So- this colonel is the friend you told me about?"

"Yes," Henri replied. "He and an aide came to the Fort once to observe the training I was giving the soldiers. He seemed impressed and requested I help train some of the soldiers he was responsible for. Seeing this as a means of strengthening the relationship even more, the capital readily agreed to it."

After journeying around five miles they came to the colonel's encampment. One of the gate guards recognised Henri and signalled for the gates to be opened. Once inside the gates they dismounted and allowed their horses to be led away and be looked after.

"Henri!" a voice boomed. Striding towards them was a big bear of a man wearing an immaculate uniform and a well-looked after mane of grey hair. The big man gave Henri a pat on the back that almost knocked him over. He chatted animatedly while guiding Henri towards the officer's mess, leaving Astra standing alone in a sea of activity. Any resentment she might have felt at this seeming abandonment drained away when she set eyes on the largest dragon she had ever seen. Hugely muscled and covered in scars, his scales were translucent white. Seeing Astra staring at him, the mighty beast lumbered over. Astra stood her ground and felt no fear, but it was nothing to do with bravery. Immensely powerful as he no doubt was, he had no threatening air about him. What did shake her, though, was the dragon's voice, which seemed to come from the very depths of the earth itself.

"Greetings, human woman. What brings you here?"

Instead of keeping to events from the attack on the fort to the present time, she told the dragon everything. He kept quiet until she mentioned the guerillas at which point he gave out a bellowing roar that scattered everyone and almost deafened Astra.

A few minutes later he appeared to calm down. "My...apologies," he eventually said. "Mentioning the Esputans brings back painful memories for me." Though as Astra had told him everything, he felt he had to do the same.

He originally came from a country many miles to the west and often flew to yet another to feed and find a mate. Esputa was between these two countries. They considered dragon a delicacy, so dragon had to take a long route around to avoid being attacked. There was one occasion when he was flying with his heavily pregnant mate back home. She had insisted they tried to go through as Esputa as she felt she wouldn't have the energy to take the long route around.

Tragedy struck when Esputans attacked, and brought his mate down with relative ease. They sliced her open while still alive, her unformed young being considered the greatest delicacy of all. He tried to avenge his mate, but it was a futile gesture. Gravely wounded, he managed to limp back to Helsingdon where he was well treated by humans who knew dragons inside and out. He was soon on the road to recovery.

His story was interrupted when the colonel and Henri came up just then, alerted by his bellow of anguish.

The colonel patted him on one of his tree trunk like legs. "Are you okay, Steadfast?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"I am fine, colonel," the dragon said. He gazed down at them. "I know why your friend is here. I am willing to help. You won't have to worry about being investigated over unauthorised gem payments."

"Oh?" Colonel Adressi enquired. "And why is that?"

The Esputans are involved. Striking against them will be payment enough."

This made the colonel curious. He knew the habits of Esputans, but was unaware of Steadfast's dealings with them. When Steadfast eventually told him, the colonel was understandably upset.

"I've known you for forty years, and you never said anything about this before."

"You seem to be forgetting that there's a great deal of similarity between dragons and you humans," came the reply. "Dragons can also have things they'd rather not remember, things they'd rather keep locked up.

"Likewise, it's possible for us to bear grudges. I know you don't like the idea of that, but I want to help. There's not much you can do about it."

"Fine. Have it your way," the colonel grumped. He stalked off, shouting at some unfortunate private who went scurrying off in a panic.

"He hates it when the dragons remind him they only help because they want to," Henri remarked.

1. They collect their horses and are given enough supplies for the journey back to Tirania.

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