The Dragon Rider's Curse

Dominic's Training

I wouldn’t care one way or the other about Dominic being my instructor except, I just seemed to bug him. Was it just me or did he act that way with everyone? Dominic pushed off the fence he was leaning against as I climbed over my side. He wasn't encased in armor this time. He had on a leather sleeveless top that left his arms free. Tattoos skated up both his arms. Some were strange symbols in intricate designs, but there was a tail on one arm and a dragon neck and head on the other that looked like Bain. Maybe the body of the dragon was on his back? A wing tip peeked out on his neck just over the edge of his sleeveless short. The muscles were everywhere, probably coming out of his earlobes too. I hadn't been able to see it with his armor on, but he was massive with arms that looked like they could snap a large tree in half and thighs that looked like massive trees themselves. How did he look bigger without armor? I finished my assessment with his face and stopped walking. His jaw was clenched with a tick in one cheek and his steel eyes-well if looks could kill I would be six feet under by now. That wooden sword couldn't cut right?

Dominic waves an arm beckoning me over as he walked to a wooden post. He jammed the sword into the side of the post shoving it so violently it peaked out the other side, then leaned against it crossing his ankles and arms. I reached him but kept some decent space between us.

"You holding up that post there or just feeling your old age?"

"Old age!" Dominic popped up looking even more annoyed.

"My my. You must be getting up there if you're sensitive about it." I wasn't sure where my sense was. Baiting a dragon rider, one who clearly disliked me, and was my trainer, could be the worst idea I had ever had. But I couldn't help it. Something about him made my claws come out.

Dominc rolled his eyes then went to sit on a stump. "Get the sword out." He drawled eating an apple.

I looked at the sword in the post and pulled. I pulled every which way I could think of but it was all the way through the post and stuck tight.

"Give up?" Dominic asked darkly. "Give up and go home!" He stood up towering over me sitting at the base of the post taking a breather.

"You just said get it out right?" I asked. Dominic lifted an eye brow. He was a big, pigheaded, mean, narcissistic of a man. And way too tall even when I stood up.

"Correct."

I looked around the training grounds and saw exactly what I needed. There were some weapons laying on a weapons stand probably from training earlier today. I noticed I spent almost the whole day in the library and everyone else seemed to be done for the day. I wanted to leave to give the twins a good night kiss and this power-tripping man was keeping me here, for what? To make me feel inadequate, inferior? Make me quit? Not on my watch. There wasn't anything except a gutter and starvation where I came from. He never knew what it was like to starve. I marched over and picked a large broad sword. It was a decent weapon. I knew a lot about swords and farm equipment, working the billows for a smithy for a couple years for a coin or sometimes just food. But then his son was old enough to take over and I lost that job. He did keep me on for a bit, making swords, arrow heads, shield repair, and farm tools but sales went down and by the time they picked back up his son was doing that as well. But I had learned a lot about weapons while I was there. I marched over to the post intending to ram this sword in next to the wooden one and loosen it. But set up to slam the cutting side down on top to let off some steam, my anger at that man, sitting feet away, sizzling in my veins. The hairs on my head would have been standing on end if it wasn't so long. I raised the sword and brought it swinging down on top of the post as every hair stood on end. I lifted the sword to push it into the post next to the wooden one and realized the post was gone. Shattered into pieces, flown as if blasted apart. I stared blankly at the spot the post had been and bent over to pick up the wooden sword. I turned to give it to Dominic when he was in my space in seconds his hand closing around my throat.

"What are you!" He growled his face inches from mine.

"A kitten about to be a tiger if you don't let me go you i***t!" I yelled at him. I turned the sword in my hand trying to get a good angle to cut his arm. I could easily, fatally stab him but I also didn't want to be on trial for murder. I jerked the sword up toward his arm. A blur of motion and his other hand was closed around mine with the sword. I scrabbled at his grip with my other hand and he finally let go of my throat to grab both my wrists and swing me around til my back slammed into another post pinning my hands above my head with one of his hands, his muscles standing out in the moonlight.

"I do not repeat myself." He growled at me again.

"I gave you an answer or are you deaf in your old age too?. I snarled.

Dominic's eyes looked murderous. I should be scared, but I was too mad to let common sense win. I wanted to spit at him. Kicking him in the groin seemed appropriate, but as soon as I tried Dominc leaned in and pinned my legs with his own massive ones. Now he was far too close and I was pinned. The panic and anger amped up til I was nearly vibrating with the strength of the emotions and my blood sizzled under my skin. Dominic looked down at my face his eyes raking every inch of my skin pausing at my lips. Then his gaze moves from my face to examine my hair.

"Get off ME!!!" I screamed at him. Dominic jumped back and was rubbing his hand that had been holding mine.

"Training is over for tonight." Dominic took one last long look at my hair before stomping off. I heard wing beats and seconds later saw him disappearing in the night sky on the back of Bain.

I was breathing hard rubbing my arms, trying to get rid of that creepy crawling feeling under my skin like my blood was still sizzling. Well, I was wasting time here and the twins might even be asleep by now. I tried to remember the way back and it wasn't too hard in the end. Gertty was waiting by the door to let me in.

"How did you?" I started.

"Been doing this a long time dear." Gertty replied. "I also knew you would want to say good night to the twins and happened to see the dragon rider leave the training grounds." Gertty brought me to a hallway lined with doors and we went in the one open door.

"Rose!" Alex sat bolt upright in bed. Alice ran to me and wrapped her little arms around me burying her face in my clothes. They had been bathed and were in new pajamas. They each had a little bed and matching desks. There was a small bookcase and on it were some pictures clearly drawn by the twins. I teared up as I saw pictures of me helping the twins on every picture.

"You guys need to get rest so you can enjoy tomorrow." I told the twins. I gave them each a kiss and a hug. Then I left before they saw the tears. Gertty patted my shoulder as I left for my dorm room and a long bath.