The Dragon’s Song

Chapter Six Ma

I entered the schoolhouse, my golden scale gleaming proudly across my chest. The raucous chatter ceased at once. Silence fell so heavily that a pin dropping would have echoed. All eyes fixed on me.

“She must be the youngest General in history,” someone whispered.

“Who’s taking her place as Captain?” asked another.

I walked steadily to the front of the room, Captain Mitchell following close behind.

“Before we begin the Choosing Ceremony,” I said, my voice carrying through the silence, “I have a few announcements.”

I let the pause linger. “First—the obvious. Early this morning, I received a messenger directly from King Ronald II—”

“Long live the king!” voices rang out across the hall. The affection in their cry reminded me just how beloved he was.

“As I was saying,” I continued once the voices quieted, “His Majesty has appointed me as the new General of the 7th Quadrant. I hold his written decree here, should anyone wish to question the appointment.”

No one moved. To challenge the king’s decision would not only brand one as a traitor but also bring ruin upon their family. None dared.

“So mote it be, and forever hold your peace,” I said, completing the ceremonial phrase. “Along with this decree came the appointment of my successor as Captain of Susanna’s dragon warriors. I present Captain Curtis Mitchell.”

I turned and, with all formality, placed the red scale in Captain Mitchell’s hands.

Suddenly, the schoolhouse doors burst open with a thunderous slam. A collective gasp spread through the crowd. Standing in the doorway was Mr. John Pillard—one of the wealthiest men in the quadrant. His toad-like face, dominated by an oversized nose and beady eyes, twisted into a smug smile. He was not well loved; many believed him responsible for hostile takeovers of small businesses throughout the kingdom. He pushed through the crowd, waddling forward until he stood before me.

“General,” he said, voice thick with sarcasm, “congratulations on your appointment.” His tone dripped with disdain. Pillard had long believed women belonged in kitchens, not battlefields. “But I must object to this… upstart’s appointment as Captain. Surely my son Jonathan is better suited to the post.”

I resisted the urge to sigh. Jonathan Pillard was a wastrel, infamous for shirking his patrols. I often wondered why Helena, his dragon partner, had chosen him at all during his ceremony five years ago. Should he become Captain, his father would wield him like a puppet, tightening his grasp on power.

“I’m afraid your objection is noted but irrelevant, Mr. Pillard,” I replied evenly. “This appointment, too, comes directly from the king. Here is the letter of confirmation, bearing his seal.”

He snatched the document from my hand, holding it up to the light. The watermark and royal coat of arms glimmered faintly in the parchment, proof undeniable. His squinting eyes traced the lines, and after a long moment, his mouth twisted in disgust.

“Traditionally,” he sneered, “Captains are chosen from among seasoned dragon warriors.”

“As you say—tradition. Not law,” I returned, then turned to Captain Mitchell. “Would you care to share your qualifications, Captain?”

Mitchell stepped forward, shoulders squared. “Indeed, General. It is true I was only recently chosen by my partner, Jessalinda. But before that, I served as brigade leader in the king’s foot army. As you know, foot soldiers support dragon warriors in the field, carrying supplies, providing medical aid, and engaging where dragons cannot maneuver—dense forests, cliffs, city streets.”

His voice grew thick with emotion. “Not long ago, I was recovering from an injury when we received word that some of my men were trapped behind enemy lines in the woods. Jessalinda, riderless at the time, volunteered to help. She could move swiftly under the canopy where others could not. I knew those woods well and, against doctors’ orders, guided her through vantage points. She sang her battle song, and—by some miracle—I heard it. Together, we freed my men. When the fighting ended, she offered me her bond.”

Murmurs rippled through the room. A Choosing outside of the formal ceremony was rare, but not unheard of in war.

I stepped forward again. “The king has also instructed that I may establish my headquarters here in Susanna, given its central position in the quadrant. I will remain available to Captain Mitchell and to any who seek guidance.” My gaze swept the crowd, then settled back on Pillard. “Does that satisfy you, Mr. Pillard?”

His jaw clenched. “Yes, General,” he spat reluctantly. He shoved the parchment back into my hand and stormed toward the door.

I turned back to the room. “Does anyone else have concerns?”

Only silence answered me.

“Then let us proceed to the main event,” I said, lifting my chin.