All that gold does not glitter

For some three years I felt somewhat settled, my will for adventure more or less at rest, probably for the diversity of my tasks in Arne's sawmill, what remained probably channeled in the Messenger who I kept meeting regularly, at least once every month. The work was good, my salary wasn't much, but passable since I neither needed a lot of money out there. I actually sent a good share of it home, to Mother, who reluctantly, but accepted. Not like I didn't have a few wishes deep within even then, but ration could override them, to not strive for something prohibitively expensive or unnecessary in my situation.

One day visiting the city, however, I got to feel something strange in the air, something off the usual routine. Before I could decide to inquire someone or to just settle in a tavern for a few drinks catching gossip, I noticed a flier. It announced the visit of the Chancellor of Ursus two weeks from then, requesting citizen to prepare for showing their respect. Surprised over what this could mean, I visited the post office even though it wasn't delivery day.

There a clerk shortly explained that the Chancellor's staff and guards were going to arrive by a caravan some ten to twelve days from then, while he would fly on dragonback, three dragons, the exact date would be sent by the Ursus Messenger. A grand parade would be held to commemorate this event. His two guards would be billeted in Cerva and Rhode, our air force station being too small to accommodate them all, however his personal gold wyvern would stay, anticipating offers as he pleases.

That was sure some grand event! Tikira during my entire life hadn't seen any other dragon than its two guardians which never landed within the city and those brass wyverns of the Messengers! Why the Ursus Chancellor suddenly had to pay a visit was extraordinary, although I doubt any of the townsfolk thought about this shaded by the prospect of having this huge parade. It barely occurred to me either then. To see a gold wyvern, the magnificent creature I only heard about from traveler's tales was something I couldn't miss, hazing my mind!

Work however intervened, and honestly neither did I press it much. I didn't really like the idea of crowding on the town square just to catch a glimpse of them landing, thinking about organizing a longer visit during the Chancellor's stay hoping for some better opportunity.

Thankfully it coincided with a mail Arne wanted to send to Drino along with a few minor things to obtain from the market, so he let me go by a lumber cart late Monday afternoon to return with another Wednesday.

I met Mother, then on Tuesday morning I set out for the city in anticipation. In my bag, as usual, there was a streak of bacon intended for the Drino Messenger which I left there along with everything else even though this wasn't the day.

As I was walking towards the town square, through the rather empty winding streets and alleyways a bit lost in my thoughts, suddenly I almost ran into him! By no doubt, that was the Chancellor's gold wyvern which padded down towards me!

The magnificence, the pure beauty of that slender dragon was simply impossible to describe. His entire skin sparkled reflecting the sunlight, motion sent rainbows down his features, barely showing the supposed green and gold colors! His head and neck was adorned by some impressive ridge of what appeared to be a mixture of long needles, even laid back flat it suggested something of unfathomable splendor, something regal! I was mesmerized by his movements, the ripples of the glazing skin shifting his tones, confusing, almost hypnotizing me! A dream, magic came alive right down from the skies!

Before I could notice, he was already towering over me, examining. I could barely recover myself from the overwhelming impression to realize the situation, to realize that it was all reality, that a huge, live flesh being was indeed there, investigating me!

I didn't really have anything to offer to him, at least I couldn't yet inquire what I should since I was just on the way there to do so. I tried to politely back away, making sure to give him ample space to continue wherever he was going, however he kept turning towards me, flicking tongue. I realized I probably couldn't get away without improvising something, so, knowing the bacon was in my bag, I unwrapped and held up that hoping he would appreciate.

He yanked it off of my hands, gulping it down in a moment, apparently ceasing to pay any further attention to me, continuing his walk further down. I looked after him in confusion as he passed. Then, unexpectedly, he twisted his head back a bit. I could meet an eye for a moment before a terrible jolt crushed my lungs, a hit on the head hurled me past the border of the darkness of eternal pain.

Pats on my face woke me up. A passer-by, thankfully someone who cared, and not one who would turn my condition to his advantage. I managed to sit up, my chest shooting pain in objection. He asked whether I was all right. I felt for the back of my skull, numb pain, but at least seemed intact. "I will live". Looking through my belongings I acknowledged that to my luck he was the first to find me.

He helped me to my legs, then somehow I limped home with my throbbing chest. Mother was appalled by my condition, I admitted I had an incident with the Chancellor's wyvern despite knowing she might assume I tried to touch him. I really wasn't in the state to reason or think.

By morning I could assess my situation not being so severe we thought. The pain concentrated on two ribs which didn't feel dislodged or broken, likely only cracked. Mother offered to go to the town square to do my duties for Arne, however I insisted I need to go since she didn't have the proficiencies for those. I agreed and appreciated her helping me though.

So later we got to the market successful. We choose a longer route through more populated streets to avoid encountering the wyvern. Despite the pain, I went through bargaining all the stuff Arne needed, then bought a gift for the Drino Messenger from a real butcher. These being done, we settled at the post office, waiting for his arrival.

Timely before noon, his shape appeared on the sky, descending with a graceful glide. However, soon, something else launched over the rooftops, rising with powerful wingflaps towards him! What was that?! I could see the bewildered faces around us, everyone staring dumbfounded! Sparkling rainbows ran down the rising shape, the shape of a gold wyvern, the Chancellor's dragon!

He gained height over the Messenger, and struck down, hard. The Messenger couldn't do anything but dodge, banking, so the attacker missed only scraping each other's bodies. He didn't stop. With a narrow circle, he again raised over to swoop down. There was no chance, the mail bag's weight bogged down the brass who could only try to avoid, biting in a very short, useless range.

The Chancellor's wyvern continued the storm, the brass dodged, barely saving himself from crushing, snapping his jaws in despair. It went on for minutes above all the scared people who were waiting for the Messenger, and all the others who were just happened to witness the unfair battle!

The brass couldn't keep this on after his long flight, he had to land, it was beyond hope for him to break even. Finally, the inevitable happened, while his dodge didn't fail, the gold's slam crushed on the mail bag, tearing it off of his neck! A few post officers woke up from their bewildered stupor for the falling equipment, two jumped on their horses and stormed off, a few more continuing.

The struggle in the air however continued! The gold wyvern didn't feel that enough, and attempted another storm, however now the brass also gathered his strength! He tricked his adversary by a bank, sending him down hardly scraping his side, then, folding up his wings, he took the dive! The gold didn't seem to realize the massive danger behind, leading himself out in the same smooth curve like before, so the brass managed to land his entire crushing mass on his shoulders!

For a moment both were falling, the Messenger concealed by the gold's glimmering contorted wings, however he promptly led himself off from the dive into a smooth glide. It seemed like the Chancellor's wyvern would plunge to his death, however he also managed to recover just before he would disappear from our sight. More so, he again started to flap hard for a rise!

After a circle, the brass turned away from us, soaring without much effort to raise, seemingly not caring about the gold. Soon, the latter was above him, we could see him making notions for a swoop, but he didn't try for real anymore. They almost flew out of sight before the Chancellor's wyvern gave up, and glided back, descending somewhere in the outskirts.

It crushed me. I felt I could cry. Why this had to happen?! Looking up I could see sorrow, some even removed their straw hats, to place over the chest, mourning. Something, a certainty to hold on, the Messenger's everlasting dedication to perform his duty week after week, always on time, always here, broke today. It was unfair. I still couldn't fathom it was Wednesday, and he wouldn't be here as always, forever. I dreaded of the future, next week.

Life however had to go on. Late afternoon I caught the lumber wagon which was supposed to take me back to the sawmill, still with my mother, and I told the teamster I am simply not in a condition to go back. However I passed the wares bought for Arne along with the remnants of the money he trusted me with, also writing a short note on my cracked ribs hoping he would understand.

For a few days my world got mostly constrained to my bed, alone at home as Mother kept on doing her work, plodding on the fields. One evening hearing a knock, I stumbled to open the door, and to my surprise, I met Caron. He shortly assured me that Arne is not angry at me, and the news of the disaster with the Drino Messenger arrived even there. He passed me a cloth concealing a moderate streak of bacon, "let's hope he will return", also noting I shouldn't forget about the mail if possible, and if I feel able, should take a cart only then. Finally, he suggested me to stay low about anything concerning the Chancellor and his dragon, for there are "strange things going on", but at least he was going to leave by Sunday.

These weren't exactly reassuring with all this haziness, but at least my position didn't suffer. I determined I will take that cart no matter what state I was in.

I didn't go to the city until Wednesday, I simply couldn't care less for the Chancellor or anything, until Sunday I didn't even poke my face out of the door lest I happened to stumble upon that foul wyvern again. I felt my injury getting better, so when the day came, by my resolution, I bid farewell to Mother, hoping things will just get back to normal.

The town square around the post office was way more crowded than usual. The thought warmed me that all these people are waiting for the Drino Messenger, that so many are missing him, dreading of the thought he would never come again. I wasn't unlike them. I expected to have everything happening just as always, my mind shutting out the grim possibility of seeing no wyvern.

Then a hand pointed towards the sky. There was it, something approaching! The shape grew larger, gracefully soaring, descending until we could make out the features, until we could see clear he is coming alone without a rider. Someone shouted in elation, then the crowd let out a massive cheer! The Messenger was back!

This welcome startled him, causing him breaking his descend to rise a bit. Everyone suddenly grew silent realizing they might have scared him away right then. However, as they calmed down, after doing a low circle he finally touched down, just somewhat away from the usual position.

Finally, things were really back to how they were supposed to be. The mail officers starting their usual work, the Messenger relieved from his bag drinking from the barrel, then padding away to settle down to welcome his attendants of whom there were a lot this day.

I waited for a half hour, or probably even more until things calmed down a bit, then approached. He seemed to recognize me. I unwrapped the bacon got from Caron to offer him, however he pulled away otherwise not showing rejection. Wondering, I turned the meat around, smelled it, but it didn't feel like having any problem, just fine, something I would eat without hesitation. Suddenly I felt his muzzle pushing to my head, down in my face.

I understood, he just didn't want to eat, probably just being full for the previous rush. I put it away to stroke him, allowing him to lick my hands meanwhile, still appreciating the taste. Then, as usual, he presented his ridge for me to groom.

I was relieved to find his adornments intact, although one of the spikes slightly bent out from the line. I examined, but didn't press, knowing the state of my own chest, it was sore enough without teasing. A few scratches disturbed the scales of his neck and shoulders, but all appeared to be superficial, not even cutting in the skin. He fought well, I thought, to get out with so few injuries from that horrible unfair battle! Sure that foul gold got something more substantial in its back!

Two small kids caught my attention, waiting a bit away, a little boy and a girl, the latter weeping. I approached them, crouching down, asking what was the matter. The girl could barely tell me she was scared. It made me wonder a bit, then why visit the Messenger, but then with a sudden thought reflecting the past week's events, I rather tried to comfort her, then holding her little hand, slowly leading to the resting wyvern's muzzle.

To my surprise, a few moments after I carefully placed her palm between the nostrils, she hugged the entire face and started weeping again. I sat by the side of the Messenger's head, with one hand caressing behind his ornaments, seeing this all the boy also got a bit of courage, and told me what happened.

"We were on the street and suddenly there was a huge sparkly dragon! Father said this was the surprise he wanted to show. He gave it meat, it ate it, and walked away..." the boy started crying as he finished "his tail scared us... threw Father to the ground..."

I asked if he is all right. "He is home, Mother cares him". I responded him, reassuring he will get better. The girl meanwhile got off of the wyvern's face to sit by it, tears still running down her cheeks, her little hand stroking the muzzle. With a sudden thought, removing my hand from under the ridge to place on the top of his head, I spoke. "You know, Messenger spanked that sparkly dragon good". They both looked at me in awe, "Really?". "Really really good!". At last their lips pulled to a small grin, both stroking their new hero's cheeks.

The time to leave eventually came. We got up, I lead the two children away following the other people clearing out from the wyvern's path after he got his mail bag reattached. He made the run, three strides, then started flapping, but couldn't take off! Embarrassed by his failure, he padded back, and tried again only to meet the same fate.

He lumbered back with faltering movement, I so wanted to rush to him to see what happened not unlike a few other people. Suddenly he started to retch, a man ran away just before he threw up. A lot, an impressive amount of barely digested meat. He turned away in apparent disgust, still dizzy, but made his run once again, which he succeeded with terrible struggle.

It was bizarre, I just hoped he was all right and could make his journey back to Drino. All the people here welcoming him back, they likely overfed the poor wyvern with their gifts, nobody thinking about he would have to fly shortly after! It was even more bizarre how he tried, how he didn't care of his state until his body revolted! Harsh reality one again mercilessly trampled in my ideals, the majestic being of the sky bogged down in the swamp of mundane shattering his dignity. I could only feel very sorry for him.

I staggered towards the market with my ribs again in pain, hazing my sullen mind, until my eyes caught two fliers on the side of a deserted stand. An older, torn one stated that the postal service is sorry for not being able to deliver the Drino mail due to an incident caused by "material fatigue" of the Messenger's bag. Someone underlined the words of "material fatigue" twice. The newer one partly affixed over it declared that anyone spreading disrespecting foul gossip and lies of the Chancellor or his dragon was going to be penalized by public flogging. Someone again underlined a word, the word "dragon".

So those were the "strange things going on". I suddenly felt worried for the two little kids who I cheered up telling that tale, hoping that maybe they simply didn't believe it after seeing Messenger's struggle, lest they got in trouble for that.

Wandering aimlessly in the market to toss my time until I should catch my ride back to the sawmill, finally I could witness something what lifted my mood a bit. It was the "Wyvern treats" stand, which was now running under the more elaborate title "Brass wyvern treats", and as I could see, the owner had a quite stiff back as he was laboriously packing up his crap.

Arne was abashed witnessing my state for real, and asked what exactly I did to get this. I shortly, without consideration, replied that if I told my sorry butt would also get quite sore. In other circumstances this might have been quite weird, but apparently news reached the sawmill too, Arne reflecting whether I had some unintended situation with the Chancellor's wyvern, which I admitted I had.

We exchanged a few words over the events, him worrying that this all might not end with these. He didn't have too many connections with Drino or the lands around, however those were important, so the regular mail exchange. The most critical parts of the sawmill's machinery were only manufactured there including the characteristic circular saws.

Drino was ruled by the Antarans, part of the kingdom, but always quite autonomous. They were the Dragon Lords who opposed attempts for centralization since many hundred years having firm grasp of their lands, at times even unsettling other regions. They didn't hesitate to ally with the neighboring Ugaros in need, so every struggle ending in a stalemate. The past fifty years however there was peace. Our history studies demanded reciting their lineage along with the royal family's. Their coat of arms displayed two intertwined dragons, a brass and a gold, I assumed that was why they were known as "Dragon Lords", or maybe their relentless opposition in the past.

We could only speculate. Arne told he heard that the Chancellor had to fly away on one of the brass wyverns since his gold's back was mauled bad. It was an outrageous humiliation which wouldn't probably pass without reprehension, but it was quite hazy how it would work out, how the Antarans related. Normally the Messenger could be punished making a clearer situation, however here there wasn't even a rider.

This uncertainty took its toll on me. As my ribs got better I started to pick up my regular duties, however I kept listening to the news, whether anything was going on. Nothing, I heard the Drino Messenger arrived next week as normal without complications, and after a few weeks everything seemed to be silent again.