The large, silvery dragon swooped through the morning illuminated clouds, as Karl Bolthar clutched tightly to her reins. The dragon's name was Lunarathrax, but Karl usually just called her 'Luna' for her silvery, moonlight-like opalescent scales. Weeks after Karl was born, and Luna hatched, the infants were paired together during development. A powerful psychic connection was fostered between the two disparate creatures, formed by arcane rituals conducted by the high priests of the Calrodian kingdom. An inseparable link of mind, emotion, and physical state connected Luna and Karl, as they were both honed for their future roles. The unlikely pair shared everything together, every secret, tribulation, and success. The dragon and human shared an ability to share their thoughts and speak wordlessly to each other, their bodies perfectly synchronizing as they diligently trained for the difficult disciplines they must master.
The two were chosen to serve in the kingdom's feared dragon cavalry. Luna was trained to fly with total precision under any weather conditions, and Karl trained to fight with a lance from atop his dragon mount's back. King Calrod had first formed the kingdom through war, and his descendants also lacked the finesse to rule through any other means than violence. Fearsome dragons and their riders, like Karl and Luna, enforced the will of King Calrod the Fourth as he tried to keep his ancestor's lands intact. Rebellions had weakened and scattered the kingdom's ground armies, as a determined foe reared up from their southern borders.
Armed with gunpowder cannons, the southern tribes of Amur had invaded their lands, and prepared for the coming dragon riders. The first few battles were a disaster for the Calrodian armies, even their mighty dragons unprepared for the new forms of weaponry unleashed upon them, numerous great drakes felled by clouds of grapeshot shrapnel and accurate cannon fire. Though many Amurian invaders died when courageous dragon riders strafed their gunpowder supplies with fire-breath, the Calrodians were systematically routed and scattered across the vast, under-developed, forest kingdom.
Karl and Luna had barely escaped from a recent battle, striking at the supply lines of the persistent invaders to slow them down. Luna's wing was injured by cannon shot, and she was close to starving after weeks of fighting. Karl couldn't tell his own hunger from his dragon's, such was the power of their mental bond. Flying high, looking for somewhere to supply and rest, Karl spotted a hidden village among the deep forests of their land. Swooping low, unsteady from injury as she descends, the silver-scaled dragon manages to successfully land right in the center of the small village. Karl heaves off his dragon mount to inspect the town and locals.
Karl quickly surmised it was an isolated Elf village, one of the kingdom's more unruly subject species. The village looked half-dilapidated, as a miserly old crone-elf waddled out to speak to him. "Eeyyy, what brings a dragon rider here? Your army already rode through, press-ganged all the males into their levies, and took everything edible. We have nothing left for yee!" she spat out. Karl could see a few big, scared eyes staring at him from the dirty windows around the village, as he answered "I need a place to stable my injured mount, Lunarathrax. I invoke the King's right to quarter, and ask for the location of your nearest suitable lodging." Karl yelled out to her imperiously, his voice muffled from his large helmet. "We have no stables, but yee dragon may fit in yon barn!" the old elf woman answered dryly, pointing to a large barn with huge, rickety doors.
Luna had to settle into an uncomfortable, awkward position in the small barn, as she licked and nursed at her wounded wing, trying to help the membrane mend. Her smooth, even voice whispered into his head <Karl, my wounds are healing slowly because my metabolism is so low. I need to eat. You heard the village leader, there is nothing edible here, except of course for--> Karl interrupted her train of thought <Really Luna? Are we resorting to that already? Isn't it a bit unsavory to eat Elves? I heard they bring bad luck, and I imagine there's just a few bone-skinny waifs left in those hovels.>
<It's either that or die, Karl. My body has not been fed properly since the war began. I can't sustain myself without food. My wound's aren't healing quickly enough, I need fresh meat.> Karl grimaced at her soundless words in his head, as he mentally responded <I hate when you refer to them as 'fresh meat', these are subjects of the Kingdom, and they are providing a noble service to the realm, just as their menfolk are on the frontline.> Luna answered with a soft mental sigh. <They may be subjects of our kingdom, I cannot deny my needs, especially since we are the last few surviving dragon cavalry. We must honor these elven women's sacrifices, but all the same I need to fill my belly, my wounds don't heal on their own.> Karl sighed deeply before responding, <Fine then, but make these women count, I'm sure they'd much rather be servicing the kingdom in other ways.>
As if in response to their deliberations, there was a low rap on the barn door, as Karl sauntered over to answer. Huddled in rags before him, was a petite elven woman, bearing a meager proffering of porridge and a jug of water. Gulping anxiously, Karl bade her "Come in, you look cold, rest in here a spell," as his dragon murmured approvingly. The elf woman seemed nervous as she noticed Luna, Luna appraising the small elf girl far more confidently as Karl's low fire illuminated her soft features. The elf girl looked up at him shyly, her green eyes sparkling in the dim light of the barn. She timidly approached him, her hands shaking as she held out the bowl of porridge. Karl nodded at her, almost absently taking the offering and setting it aside. She appeared to shrink before his gaze, as he asked in a gruff tone "What's your name, elf?"
"My name is Chaylene, milord." The lanky elf girl said, and then blushed beet red. "Well Chaylene, you're about to serve the kingdom. Take your clothes off."
Chaylene's face paled, and she stared at Karl and Luna in astonishment. A blush spread across her cheeks as she nervously tugged at the hem of her simple dress, revealing a pair of tight-fitting breeches underneath. Heaving a sigh, Karl pushed Chaylene towards Luna, who hissed softly at her. <Please Luna, take care of this young lady, and um... try to be gentle...> Karl trailed off, and the dragon slithered forward to gently inspect the elf girl's body. Reaching out with her mind, Luna probed the girl's consciousness, as Karl watched the two females converse silently. After a moment, Luna announced <She's quite pure of heart, and has no memory of anything unseemly. I will enjoy this.> as the dragoness patiently waited for Chaylene to disrobe.
In less than a minute, Chaylene was naked, standing before Luna with her hands clasped behind her back, her pink nipples poking out due to the cold draft in the air, her creamy skin prickling. As the dragon circled her, she let her red hair fall down to cover her breasts, biting her lip nervously.