Wanderling's Choice

by D C McLaughlin

  The dragon just stood there motionless and staring. Then it began to blink very quickly as it digested the information.

  "You want me to be king in your stead?" the dragon said slowly.

  "Yes!" said Rhi and Shayne at once.

  The dragon blinked some more. "But…what will the people say?"

  Rhi smiled and laughed a little. "If they were any other people and any other dragon, I would think they'd have quite a lot to say! But they aren't. They are people who suffered the same ill treatment as you. You both come from the same place emotionally. Would they trust any dragon? No, of course not. Would they trust you specifically? Yes!"

  The dragon blinked a few more times and looked from Rhi to Shayne and back again.

  "It is a temporary position, is it not? How long a time are we talking about here?"

  Shayne replied. "We would go away and return may times."

  The dragon muttered as it thought. "Many times meaning plural times, correct?"

  "Summers you would rule while we were away and winters we would return," Rhi said.

  "You would be free to stay the winters if you like," added Shayne.

  "Hmmm," muttered the dragon considering. "Give me a moment to think about this."

  As the dragon said this, it sprang into the air and they watched as it climbed high into the afternoon sky. After becoming a tiny red speck in the blue, they watched as it circle an area of sky. It circled several times and then folded its wings and came plummeting back to earth. Just before it seemed the beast would crash into the ground, it spread its wings and landed as lightly as a sparrow.

  "I think better when flying," it explained.

  "Well? What is your answer?" Rhi said breathlessly.

  The dragon bowed low to the Shayne. "I humbly accept the appointment of regent of the realm. I will endeavor to rule your kingdom with wisdom, justice and fairness in all manners pertaining to the post of office you have laid at my feet. And when you return, I will calmly and willingly relinquish my duties to the proper lord and king of the realm."

  Shayne smiled. "I am so happy you accepted."

  The dragon looked up and winked smugly at the both of them. "I bet you are! Now you two can run off together and have more adventures! You truly are wanderlings at heart."

  Rhi beamed at them both. "May your rule be peaceful until we return, dragon."

  The dragon bowed its head. "And may the road before you be smooth. May your adventures be just exciting enough to give your life zest but not so perilous it puts your lives in jeopardy. Travel far, come back soon and in one piece."

  Shayne looked at Rhi. She was beaming at him. She sidestepped Falcon closer to his horse and leaning halfway out of the saddle, planted a passionate kiss on his mouth.

  The dragon made a sound of disgust. "Must you do that in front of me? Blech! Human relations are so…sloppy!"

  But they only laughed at his reaction.

  Shayne and Rhi turned their horses about and took their leave of the dragon. They left the realm and traveled onwards together and free.

  THE END

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