I walked down the stairs with a headache. Anise following behind me. Wizard raised an inquisitive eyebrow, but said nothing. I wasn’t bothered. I don’t think bloody maries were a thing, but I’ll try. I scribbled out a recipe on a piece of paper. And handed it to one of the barmaids as she walked past.

“Two please.”

She nodded and hurried into the kitchen.

“We are going to do some training today, we’ll break for lunch. And then Cleric and I have some stuff to do.”

Lily comes out with the little whelp in her hands. He is chewing on a piece of wood with nails tacked into it. Llewellyn seems to have curbed his appetite. Just idly chewing instead of outright devouring everything. Lily tucked him into my arms. I looked into Llewellyns eyes, and felt that strange faucet feeling again.

Raise your claws

I said into my mind. The little dragon tilted it’s head for a second looking at me. Hmmmm, maybe…

I thought the act of raising my arms, flexing the muscle like exercising the muscles in my mind. Llewellyn lifted his arms. Then I thought about singing, Don’t stop believing, specifically.

Llewellyn tilts his head, and furrows his brow. He makes a noise like he is trying to clear his throat. Then opens his mouth. Everyone stares at the little dragon. He proceeds to make the most horrendous noise I’ve ever heard. Like 1000 of nails scraping chalkboards, tires screeching, babies wailing. I clasp my hands over my ears. All at once the noise stops. I look around, and notice all noise has stopped.

The other people in the room look around lifting their hands from their ears. Some energy pulses from Anises hands, bathing a 40 foot area in silence. I quickly order Llewellyn to stop. He looks both pleased with himself, and intrigued about the silence. I nod thanks to her, and she drops the spell.

“BROGIRS BUSHY BEARD, WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!”

Marnie shouted. Everyone looks at Llewellyn, and then at me.

“Why am I the one that everyone blames? I mean it was my fault but really?”

I let out an exasperated sigh.

“I tried to get Llewellyn to sing.”

“I’d rather listen to cats being flayed alive than that sound ever again.”

Marnie says.

“Well I’m not gonna ask Llewellyn to sing anymore now, am I?”

I retort. Marnie lets out a sigh.

“As long as it doesn’t happen again.”

I sit back down, and watch as the orcs walk down stairs their sleep interrupted by the noise. The kid what was his name Thock? Thod? Thog, that was it, lets out a yawn. One of the guys Ralic, I think says something in what I assume is orcish. A weird mix of harsh letters, and grunting or snorting. He gives Thog a nuggy and the guys laugh, the women letting out a giggle. Thog says something back, and gives Ralic a playful shove, a smile on his lips. Thelia grabs a nearby chair, and whips it around to the table. She straddles the back of it and picks some hash off my plate.

“Drania above what was that noise?”

Thelia asks. I chuckle sheepishly.

“Sorry, I tried to see if the little whelp could sing.”

I playfully rough house with Llewellyns belly. He curls up, and grabs his feet in his claws, and rocks back and forth.

“What is it a Psuedo-dragon? Or a baby drake? I’ve never seen one with scales this green.”

Thelia reaches out a hand to touch him, and he grabs one of her fingers, and suckles on it.

“No,”

I reply.

“He is a baby dragon. His name is Llewellyn.”

Thelia nods, and then whips her head around her body seems to ripple with muscles, getting ready to strike. Llewellyn, seeming to sense the electricity, looks at Thelia with wide eyes, and let out a mix between a coo and a purr. I toss a piece of meat towards Llewellyn, and without breaking eye contact with Thelia he tilts his head and grabs it out of the air.

“He is young yet no need to get all tense around the whelp.”

I tell Thelia, she nods. Relaxing slightly, but keeping an eye on the dragon the whole time. I notice that the other orcs keep their weapons in arms reach. They crowd around a nearby table.

I nudge my plate a little closer to Thelia. The other orcs seem to be doing the same thing she does. Ordering a plate of their own food, but picking off the others plates without batting an eye.

“We are going to do some training today, you are welcome to come join.”

I smile, and give a nod of thanks to one of the barmaids who brings out the bloody marys. It could be a little spicier, but is good nevertheless. Cleric seems to like it, and sips at hers while she eats.

“Training for what?”

Thelia asks, she takes a sip of from her mug giving her a foamy mustache.

“Just training stuff people do back home. Keeps you strong, fit, and healthy. Suicides, calisthenics, push ups, that sort of thing.”

She gives me an odd look.

“No sword swinging, or combat? Then what's the point?”

She replies.

“Well to work on things you normally wouldn’t do in a regular day of combat. A person who wields a Claymore might spend the day practicing dexterity, and finesse. While someone who uses a rapier might lift heavy weights so their weapon feels like a feather in their hand.”

She nods thinking.

“I could see the merit in that.”

I smile at her.

“Even if you don’t participate you should come along. You can see it at least.”

I step away from the table, and head upstairs. I change into some shirts, and a T-shirt. I head back down stairs.

“You ready to set out?”

I get weird stares. I look at my shirt, a stylized image of Tiamat, from D&D. The five headed evil dragon queen.

“Well this is a little awkward,”

I say, with a nervous chuckle. Thelia bursts into laughter.

“Only a dragon slayer would wear the image of the dragon god.”

Too late to change now.

“Well we better get ready, the walk over will give our stomachs some time to rest.”

The party didn’t need their packs so they left them in their rooms, and I lead the group and the orcs to the courtyard outside of the constabulary. I get odd looks the entire way their, but I ignore them. Some people come up to me, and give me trinkets, or clasp my hands with misty eyes.

Most of it is small goods flower crowns enchanted to no wilt, loaves of hard bread in sturdy wicker baskets, and poorly carved dragon skulls. Most of the time it’s children who hand me these things. Their parents wait smiling as they watch them hand me the souvenirs.

I smile and thank them, nodding to the parents.

A kid dirtier than the others darts out of an alley, at first glance I think they are a boy, since they have short hair. The soft faced, and scrawny girl holds up some rocks. Her dirty hands are nicked with fresh cuts, and old scabs. The rocks are smooth river stones, the rocks are pretty with coloured bands of different minerals.

I look her parents, and see a couple of other scrawny kids standing in the alley she came from. I smile and take the rocks but hold her hand. She looks at me a little frightened.

“I don’t know if I can accept these pretty rocks for free.”

I say, tapping a finger to my chin.

“Aha! Can I trade you some of this bread for them?”

She glances back at the alley, and then nods her head a smile on her face.

I kneel down a little, and peel back the cloth wrapping so she can reach in and grab some of the loaves. She touches one of the warm loaves in surprise, and then quickly grabs 3 of the 8 and runs back with a smile on her face. She gives me a wave, and disappears into the alley.

“The dragon slayer has a heart too.”

Thelia says, a playful smirk on her face. I wave a hand.

“Yeah yeah joke all you want.”

One of the male orcs says something, and Thelia replies. He begins another sentence, but Thelia snaps at him and cuts him off. I ignore the exchange.

“Thelia,”

I ask.

“I’m unfamiliar with orc customs, is there anything else i should be mindful of? I grew up a long way from here, and only around humans. We had stories, and myths but many were embellished, and likely untrue, so feel free to correct me if I speak out of turn.”

Thelia raises her eyebrows in mild surprise.

“So where are you from? If you don’t mind me asking.”

I smile,

“Somewhere past Avalon abouts.”

That causes her to stumble a bit but she rights herself. I chuckle to myself that won’t get old.

“Yes that is quite far away.”

Thelia says regaining her composure.

“Not many people would share something like that. I suppose a Dragon slayer isn’t like other people though.”

I smile,

“No I suppose not.”

The training yard was connected to the constabulary, but gated off. High walls that were dotted with nooks for archers to fire, lined the top of the wall. A portcullis made of criss cross steel sheets bolted together was opened. The yard was empty, and quite. With the threat of a dragon gone our town would be more open to riads so I would likely have to conscript new guards men. Optimally however we could rest on our laurels, and have sheer strength, and reputation ward off all but the most dire of threats. That meant permanent palisades around the town, and perhaps a number of wizard types.

A few dummies, which were just straw filled shirts on wooden poles stood to one side. They had shields and swords lifted in various defensive positions. Some targets for archers, and a large what looked like cannon pointed downwards. The ground was covered in soot beneath it.

I knocked on the door to the constabulary, Damien comes out with an older looking fellow. His face is shaved clean, but pock marked with scars. His hair salt and peppered.

“Oh Jon, I’ve seen you brought your orcish friends, to the training grounds, in the constabulary, wonderful. This is Sue he is our Armourer, and fletcher. He will show you wear the training gear is stored, and make sure it all gets returned to its proper place.”

Damien says.

“Aye,”

Sue adds.

“About my small friend.”

I nod past Damien.

“Yes, yes you can get the runt.”

Sue and I step past each other. He heads to the weapons shed, and I to the cells. In the back corner of the cell is the huddled mass of Arthur. Some half-filled food bowls, and a gross looking chamber pot sit in the opposite corner. I unlock the cell, and Arthur's head swivels up to look at me. He winces when he looks at me.

“Come little one our work begins.”

I say, and stand beside the cell door. He stands shakily to his feet, and stumbles forward. He seems thinner than before. He will learn to eat more, to finish his meals. I lead him through the constabulary. He looks at the guards as we walk past, with wide frightened eyes.

We step into the courtyard. One of the orcs elbows Thelia who isn’t looking, and points over. Her eyes widen, and she walks over.

“Didn’t expect you to consort with Goblins.”

She says, her eyes seem to pierce the goblin.

“Consider this an experiment, testing the limits of a goblin."

Thelia nods.

“Will this be a problem?”

I ask her. She shakes her head.

“No, no it won't be. You just get stranger, and stranger.”

I scratch my chin.

“Yes I suppose so.”

I step into the field, and take a look around. Fighter uses a short sword, and a shield made of wood, and weighted with metal rings. Beating back an invisible opponent as he moves through forms. Wizard has started to study her book, away from most people. She carefully measures out materials, and her hands flash with fire, and electricity, as she corrects mathemagical equations. Rogue is juggling his daggers, and Anise lifts a wooden club, and swings it downward onto a dummies shield.

I look at Arthur he should be proficient with sword, and daggers. I'm debating whether he should have a freehand, or not. Dirty Fighting would be the best form for him to learn. I put my fingers to my lips, and whistle. Everyone turns to look at me. I gesture for them to come closer.

They walk swiftly across the grounds.

“Alright we are going to start off today with some running. Let's do 5 laps around the courtyard.”

I say. The training yard was about a basketball court and a half long, and twice as wide. I drew a line in the dirt at the midpoint of the outside.

“Follow along the wall, and pace yourselves. 3. 2. 1.”

And I take off with them in tow. Arthur, and Rogue took to it like fish to water, and maintained a steady but fast pace. Fighter, I, and Thelia kept around the same pace as each other. Wizard was winded before the second lap was over. All of the orcs and Anise lagged but kept steady. Arthur finished first, Rogue began to tire about halfway through, and slowed to a jog. Arthur however maintained his fast pace the entire time. A slightly scared look on his face. Rogue came in third after Thelia, who began to increase her pace, ending in a dead sprint. Fighter finished next followed by me, Anise, the orcs, and Wizard last. Wizards face was beat read, and she sucked in air like it was going out of style.

I immediately moved into stretches, which the others followed somewhat reluctantly. I coached the orcs during pushups, the burning sensation seemed to be something they enjoyed, and was a sign of prowess, I learned. I demonstrated a few other exercises, like sit ups, squats, burpees. They started a competition on who could do the most and I lost them there. I mean of course the orcs are muscle heads. It shouldn’t have been a surprise considering they all had the physique of Olympic bodybuilders. I shouldn’t bring that up to them should I.

I felt kinda bad for Wizard who laboured after everyone else but appreciated her effort. While doing pushups I explained the burning sensation she felt in her muscles. She got lost in questions with me about different muscle groups, and was done before she knew it.

Rogue, Fighter, and Anise were fairly proficient and worked through the sets at a good pace. Helping each other out, and rotating. I oversaw Arthurs exercise, which he did well for his awkward body shape.

After the warm up I moved onto the meat of the training.

“Wizard you must learn how to cast spells with no materials. Obviously some stuff with costly components is different, but the egg shells and feathers you use, shouldn’t be necessary.

Fighter continue what you were doing moving through the forms of sword and shield. Slowly increase the weight of the practice sword, and shield.

Rogue I want you to spar with the Arthur, actually Wizard cast prestidigitation on him to clean him up, then spar with him Rogue. He should train with daggers, and to fight dirty. Throw sand in his eyes, kick his groin, etc.

Cleric you should continue your faux spar as well. We will have our private training together.

I am going to sit and temper myself somewhat I trust you all to make wise decisions, so don’t bother me.”

With that I sit down in the shade. I plug my earbuds in and play some instrumental music, Berceuse In D Flat, OP.57. I sit comfortably with my legs crossed and my hands on my lap. My solar charger basking in the sun, and charging my phone. I close my eyes, and enter the white space.