Slave-Girl of the Dragon Rider, Lisa Skydla [mobile ebook reader .txt] 📗

us it is not necessary to wear the uniform of a slave.” Darina grinned broadly, it was just as she had thought, her master saw something special in the little one. Now he only had to take away her distrust.
“Think you can find the way back alone? I have work to do” he stated in a tone which tolerated no dissent. Sinja nodded obediently although she was not actually sure at all, but could probably ask for directions. Artyom disappeared so quickly she had the impression he could no longer tolerate her presence. Concerned, she bowed her head and sighed softly. “Don’t take it personally, our master has his own story” comforted Darina. Sinja raised a smile, and looked inquisitively at the older woman. “Can you tell me something about him? He hasn’t assigned me a task, and I’m afraid he’s already regretting his purchase and will sell me again” she said, pouring out her heart to the seamstress, who laughed out loud and briefly hugged the little nomad against her motherly form. “Your fears are totally unfounded dearest. So far he hasn’t sold or sent anyone away” the older slave explained calmingly. “I won’t say much about him because I know he doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like anyone gossiping about him, but if you could trust him just a little bit, it would help you both” Darina advised thoughtfully. Sinja took a deep breath, her sad eyes filling with tears, which she frantically tried to blink away. She felt completely lost, as if on stage in a play where everyone knew their lines; except her. Once again, the elderly woman hugged Sinja against her, and winked encouragingly. “Maybe you should look around a bit, or go and talk to Drakoij. He has introduced you to his dragon, hasn’t he?” she asked. The nomad nodded quickly, said goodbye, and made her way back to the great hall. With surprise she found her master had left the torch there for her so she could find her way more easily.
In the hall she called softly for Drakoij and waited to see whether he would come to her, as he had promised. It didn’t take long before he trundled out from a hallway left of the steps, sniffed, and winked. “What I can do for you little one?” he asked, as softly as a dragon could. Sinja shrugged her shoulders with a sigh, looking up to him helplessly. Before she could formulate a response, the huge animal gestured with his sizeable head to the passage from which he had appeared. “Just come along with me, and then we can talk in peace. Artyom surely has his nose in his papers again; he will not be needing you” the dragon suggested. She looked at him gratefully with a little nod. Drakoij turned himself around to go back to his den, Sinja following him at some distance, not to be accidentally knocked aside by his long swishing tail. She peered carefully into the completely dark corridor, and hoped she wouldn’t walk into a wall, but at that moment a stream of flame burst brightly forth from his maw, and lit all the torches mounted along the walls of the passage. Sinja yelped, startled, but then gave Drakoij a smile and followed him. She was curious, as apart from the many myths, she didn’t know how dragons actually lived; up to now she had believed they either lived in a cave, or some kind of stable.
They went along a stretch of passageway, which expanded into a hall-like room. There was a sooty black fireplace, some chairs, and a rather large lounger, which the dragon laid himself onto. “Please, take a seat” he asked politely. Carefully, she followed his suggestion, only to sigh once more. “May I ask your name?” enquired Drakoij cordially. “Of course, I’m Sinja. Sorry, but I’m so confused I forget the simplest things” she added quickly. “Sinja, such a pretty name, and an even more beautiful girl” muttered the dragon deeply as he looked at her. “I see Artyom has removed that horrible collar, and also taken care of your wounds” he stated matter-of-factly. “Yes, only I don’t get it. As a slave I’m not worth him wasting his powers on me” she whispered. The dragon’s heavy laughter echoed through the room as he shook his huge head. “That is only what those brutes beat into you; you should quickly forget about all that. A beautiful woman with such feelings as you is definitely not worthless” Drakoij comforted her. “But I am a slave, and he is my owner. I don’t know my way in his world, and I’ve never been in a city before. I feel completely alone, and ignorant” she admitted with heavy heart. This the dragon understood only too well, and made a mental note to speak with his master so he would take a little more care of his little one. On the other hand, he was convinced Artyom would indeed do just that over the next few days, he just had to find a way to sort out his own feelings. “You will get used to this place quickly, and there are no slaves in this palace. Artyom treats everyone equally, and no one has to suffer. He would not want you to feel like a slave” the dragon told her. She looked at him amazed, with eyebrows raised. “But then why does he buy the people if he doesn’t want to keep them as slaves?” she enquired curiously. “Can you not answer that for yourself? He is not able to stand against the laws of the ruler, only in this way can he help at least some people to lead a reasonably normal life” came the reply. Sinja nodded understandingly, and gave the dragon a pleading look. “Please, tell me more about him. It’s difficult for me to weigh him up, and I don’t know what he expects of me” she begged. Drakoij studied her for a moment before slowly shaking his head. “I am sorry little one, but I cannot and will not go behind his back in such a way. He must tell his story himself, as well as what he intends to do with you. There is no need to be afraid, he is patient, and fair. He will definitely not sell you, or send you away, that much I can even promise” stated the dragon, trying to allay her fears. This was not what she had hoped for, but the assurance from the dragon helped to calm her down. At least she did not have to fear an awful fate, but again the thought crept up that he hadn’t bought a virgin for nothing. “Is the master bound to a woman?” she dared to ask. Drakoij laughed again. “No, he is not, but that could change if you learn to trust him” he replied with a wink. Trust was something she had forgotten, and she didn’t know how she could do that, the way she had been torn from her former life also left no way for her to get her nightmares under control. “Give yourself some time, and him too” the dragon advised. She nodded slowly, but smiled at him sadly. “Thank you for your consideration” she said as she got up to leave, but at that moment she heard Artyom calling his friend. “Please, stay a moment” her host requested. “Artyom, come over, I am in here” Drakoij replied to the call of his master.
Shortly afterwards the dragon rider entered the room and, relieved, looked at Sinja, who immediately leapt up. “I’m sorry master, I will leave immediately, I did not want to keep him from his duties” she stuttered and turned toward the exit, but before she could take a step Artyom grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him. He looked her over inquisitively, saw the sadness in her eyes and felt how she was quaking with fear. “I was looking for you, not for Drakoij” he explained softly. Sinja’s heart pounded even faster and she gulped in fear. They had made absolutely clear to her what would happen if she was not constantly available to her master. “Please, I didn’t know that you needed me. I just felt alone” she managed to get out. Her master simply lifted her from the ground in his arms and sat down with her together in one of the comfortable chairs, positioning her on his lap and holding her in a gentle embrace. “Calm down, my little rose of the steppe, everything is going to be alright. I was only worried you had perhaps got lost when I did not find you in your room” he assured her. She looked at him in amazement again, all the while being very aware of his close proximity. She felt the warmth of his body through her clothing germinating a feeling of security in her again. “I told you he will not sell you; - my little rose of the steppe” muttered Drakoij, grinning at Artyom, who looked back at him questioningly, but the dragon only shook his head. He would speak with Artyom later. “It is getting late, and you must be tired after a busy day. Come, I will take you to your room” her master ordered. She wanted to obediently slip down from his lap, but he held her firmly, carrying her from Drakoij’s den and up the stairs. Only as he was standing before her bed did he put her down, looking deeply into royal blue eyes, whispering “Have no fear, I take very good care of my property.” Embarrassed, she nodded and bowed her head; at the moment everything was just too confusing. Artyom kissed her on the forehead, and left her alone in her room. Wearily, she untangled the clothes from her body, carefully laid them together, and fell into bed. A glance through the window revealed the moon already beaming turquoise rays over the land. She had not noticed how quickly time had passed, and before she could conjecture any further, she fell asleep, still exhausted. Chapter 3 - Confused Feelings

 Sinja stared into the darkness. She had heard a noise, but could see absolutely nothing. A fire suddenly lit up and she recognised the burning red pupils of a zjerta, approaching her with a sickening grin, and carrying her father’s head in his claw-like fingers as a trophy. His stench enveloped her, his other claw reaching out for her. She screamed in terror, flailing about, defending herself as best she could. Artyom’s voice sounded in her dream, and she woke up drenched in sweat, her heart racing, looking directly into the face of her master. He was kneeling over her, holding her arms together above her head with one hand, pressing her into the mattress with his weight, while tenderly stroking her cheek with the other. “It is only a dream” he calmed quietly. She looked at him completely distraught, remembering the dream and a shudder of fear shook through her. The dragon rider slowly let her hands go, climbing down from her and the bed, but as he stood she reached timidly for his hand. “Please master, stay awhile” she whispered fearfully.