“As you should be aware, my kind are not known for our generosity. I did say before I would ask for your fealty, but you may wonder exactly what that would entail.”

  Despite the dragon's words, Ves could see the crowd growing increasingly optimistic. As Senotraxia had said, dragons were not known for generosity. Many stories and old legends spelled that out clear as day. It was a given that there would be a catch, at least now they would know what it was.

  “First off, I have my own duties, so the day-to-day leadership would not change all that much. I would ask Elder Setsu and Farren to maintain their respective roles in offering direction and guidance to all of you.

  There are many people in similar situations to yourselves. Build a place to welcome them—a refuge to the lost and displaced.

  I wish for my flight to begin to reestablish connections to the outside world. So I would ask the community you build here to be that bridge.”

  ‘Why would she ask more people be invited to live here?’

  Ves thought on that for a moment, ‘My best guess would be two reasons. First, if she truly wants us to be a bridge with the outside world, that will take manpower for any level of meaningful trade etc.’

  ‘And the second?’

  ‘To be a shield, the more bodies we have here, the stronger the bulwark to defend and keep an eye on the western side of the mountains.’

  “Some of you may worry that this will only attract more attention. That of brutish thieves like the ones that drove you here to begin with.”

  Ves could see this getting nods and murmurs from the crowd.

  ‘With the largest shield being us.’

  “To protect you in my stead, I have decided to take a consort. Together, you will turn this place into a fortress, and they will be your defender.”

  That news got the crowd stirred up and caused Ves to cradle her head. She could see many of them giving Taythes glances, it should have been a safe assumption. If only they knew it wouldn’t be a dragon, let alone her.

  ‘Ready?’ Nell asked.

  ‘no…’

  “In turn, let me introduce you to my consort-to-be!” Senotraxia looked down at Ves, offering her hand to pull Ves onto the stage. She could see the confused looks, especially from the dragonewts, as she slowly reached out for the dragon’s offered hand. Was this really alright? She had already said yes, but standing here now, affirming it in front of everyone. Well, it gave her pause.

  Before she could give it, another thought, though Senotraxia grasped her hand and pulled her onto the stage with a strength that caught Ves off guard and sent her stumbling, only to be pulled into the dragon's embrace as she tenderly wrapped her arm around Ves’s waist.

  “Everyone, I give you my consorts to be, Ves & Nell.”

  The announcement was met with confused stares and dead silence. Ves swore even the sounds of the forest stopped. Not missing a beat, though, Senotraxia continued.

  “I can tell from your expressions that you are confused by this choice. It’s a choice most of my kin question as well. But I see in them a potential. Potential I wish for them to cultivate. One I will not allow to fall into the hands of any other. Let alone the king of Kohdessia, as his brand so contemptuously mares their flesh. So, I take them as my own.

  I know many of you have seen their strength for yourself. But their personal strength is not the potential I speak of. So, to give a taste, I asked them to provide a demonstration. To show that one day they can become legion. A legion that will stand guard and protect these lands from any so foolish as to try and drive you from your homes ever again.”

  Ves whispered to the dragon, whose arm was still snugly wrapped around her waist, “You sure this is a good idea?”

  Quietly responding, “They need proof to see what I see. Give it to them, bring forth… what was its name again?”

  “Bu”

  Ves could hear the dragon pause, take a deep breath, and sigh. For better or worse, no one noticed as the crowd's attention was now directed towards the sound of a lumbering beast walking through the trees. Ves knew the damn bear could be quiet, but he was putting on a show for his big debut.

  As the great pitch black bear broke through the trees into full view of the crowd, Ves could see people start to panic and begin to step away. Seeing this reaction, she was glad they decided to hold back on introducing the drones. Today has had enough surprises already for the residents.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Be not alarmed, this beast is but part of the potential I spoke of. I give you my consort-to-be’s first creation.” In a far quieter voice, she followed up with “bu…”

  The dragon then let Ves go and gave her a gentle push on the back, prodding her forward to take center stage. This was to be her moment, to try and sell them on the absurdity of the situation.

  ***

  Even having met the great beast before, Setsu still felt nervous in its presence. The reassurances of Lady Senotraxia were likely the only thing keeping the onlookers from fleeing. For better or worse, it did serve as a distraction as everyone tried to digest the news that Lady Senotraxia planned to take Ves as her consort.

  At the end of the day, she knew most of her people would accept it if for no other reason than their reverence for dragon kind. But that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be friction, many in the group were still wary of Ves, let alone the non-dragonewt residents. Adding in the approaching bear did not help matters.

  “No need to be afraid, this here is Bu. His job is to protect all of you.”

  Setsu turned her attention away from the bear to look at Ves, who was hopping off the stage and walking casually towards the bear. Even on all fours, the bear easily dwarfed the young woman. Setsu could even hear a few gasps from the crowd and murmurs of concern that Ves was getting too close. The concern turned to surprise as the massive beast lowered its head and began to nuzzle Ves’s face, only for her to follow suit and scratch the bear behind the ear.

  “As you can see, he is actually a big softy and loves getting attention.”

  Seeing this, the crowd calmed down a little, at least enough for the questions to start. “Even if it's acting like this now, is it really safe to have such a large wild animal so near the village?”

  “I can speak to that,” someone spoke up. Setsu turned to see it was Ryuko. “I don’t really get the details myself, by that bear has absolute obedience to Ves. It will never harm us and would die to protect us.”

  “Are you sure? Even a tamer wouldn’t have that level of control,” another asked.

  “Yes, I’ve been helping Ves & Nell with the bear under Lady Setsu’s orders. We wouldn’t let it come this close unless we were certain. This bear has been living around the outskirts of our territory for a while now. Just its presence alone has drastically lowered the number of dangerous beasts myself and the other hunters have had to drive off. I can say for certain our village is safer thanks to its presence.”

  “Ves & Nell were able to turn a normal bear into such a powerful guardian, and this is just the start. I hope after seeing this, you are able to start to see what I see in them and why I chose to take them as my consorts.” With Lady Senotraxia speaking again, the crowd looked back.

  “A part of me wishes to simply whisk them away and keep them safe from a world that will surely seek to use them.” Setsu grimaced, hearing that, she knew the dragon herself just wanted to use them. Having only let them choose between yet another soul tethering, nay, irremovable bond, or a cage.

  “But I know they could never flourish in such an environment. So, this is my ask to you all build a community here from which my consorts can flourish. In turn, as they grow into their own, they can protect you as they have already done time and time again.

  So please take some time to think on my words. Please convey your decision or concerns to Elder Setsu. For now, to end things off, how about a little demonstration and entertainment?” The dragon turned to Ves, “Ves, my dear, would be so kind to engage in a friendly spar with Bu?”

  Setsu could see Ves sigh as she and the bear walked towards a nearby open spot. She didn’t look at all surprised. Not to say the same for the crowd, nervous whispers broke all around her. To anyone who hadn’t gotten a good look at the woman fighting, this looked completely one-sided. Even on four legs, the bear towered over her. Its paws alone looked capable of removing her head in one swipe.

  If the goal was to get everyone used to the bear, she wasn’t sure how watching it fight would help at all. But she would trust the dragon.

  “Ves, please don’t ruin your clothes this time!” a cheerfully shouted broke through the crowd. Setsu didn’t even have to look to know it was Ryuko.

  “Hear that, Bu, watch the clothes. Rather not expose myself to everyone.”

  Setsu swore she could see the bear roll its eyes in response.

  As soon as they were in position, they began, the bear wasting no time in swiping its massive paw at Ves's side. The crowd gasped only for her to block with her own arm, but instead of being sent flying, she simply skidded across the ground.

  She responded with a punch of her own from her clawed arm right into the bear's shoulder. The blow was enough to send the beast staggering.

  The fight continued like this, back and forth. Both simply battering each other. Everyone stood watching, completely entranced, only for a voice to her side breaking Setsu out of her own trance.

  “This is pretty dull, isn’t it?” Setsu looked up to see a bored-looking Ryuko frowning.

  “What do you mean?”

  “They are both holding back. I’ve seen them properly spar before. As they can both heal so easily, they are normally far more vicious with each other and both bloody by the end.”

  “This is holding back?!” a dragonewt man standing near them asked in shock. Setsu could see a few others nearby trying to listen in.

  “Yeah, Ves is good at cutting, that claw isn’t great for punching. As for Bu, he is a bear, but notice how he hasn’t tried to bite her at all. And despite his claws, Ves is only bruised, no scratches at all. That’s not how bears fight. This has to feel very awkward and unnatural for him.”

  “What is the point then?” a woman asked.

  “I see a few of you have started to catch on. The point isn’t to show how strong they are but rather how in control. That even in a fight where his instincts should take over, Bu can follow orders. Even a tamer couldn’t trust a beast to fight in such a careful and deliberate manner.

  I know many of you may be wary of my consort-to-be and outright fearful of the bear. But they can be trusted, and they will protect you.” Without anyone noticing, Senotraxia had gotten off the stage and was now nearly standing among the crowd.

  Now, half the crowd was looking towards the dragon, despite the fight before them. The dragon simply had a presence about her that captivated attention when she spoke.

  “Now keep watching, I think this fight is almost over”. At the dragon's words, Setsu turned to see that she was indeed right. Ves and the bear charge one another. Ves went in arms stretched, ready to grapple, but the bear had other plans. He simply reared up on his black legs and body slammed her. After the dust settled, they could see the bear stretching as Ves lay trapped beneath. Try as she may, she was pinned and couldn’t free herself.

  Adding insult to injury, the bear turned its head to the side and began to lick her face. This got a laugh from the crowd, and as the tension broke, Setsu turned to see a triumphant smile on the dragon’s face.