Part 7 – They have a fire ball

The flock learnt to move as one. A collective that would strike at the target, each carefully given a code and when spoken or signalled, would strike with a roar to strike fear to all who may hear, followed by the burst of fire on the target and the remains either to be devoured straight away, or be to left to be reviewed spoils of war after the battle. A field would be seen so rich in bounty, that each dragon could explore and see what would be worth their attention to consume.

Rumour, fear or simply myth created by stubbornness. The tales of the flock in force was one that would be told from village to village, town to town. It was to be expected that when an army left and met them on open ground, the end was expected to be the same.

Death.

Or, if a wise leader was able to get there in time, surrender to at least save their army. This would normally cost them in wealth, often land. Sometimes their head.

It is true, the flock would move as one and devour all they found. But to get them to do so was to hold up a piece of food big enough, often a carcass of the latest animal to be slaughtered for their training, and then launch it.

It needed to be thrown. Far and fast. They wild dragons had learnt that to hit a food carrier meant some form of punishment. This could be seen to be held in a cage for a while, being in the shadow of a building appeared to do the most upset, keeping them away from the sun did something a soldier once noticed. But to fire at food that was near the food carrier. This was different. Shouts and screams used to follow but with a growing number of wild dragons in the field, catching which was one did the damage was difficult for the untrained eye.

But each creature had their own markings. Own ways of moving or differences in their wings. Those who trained everyday knew each one by sight. But looking to see them punished was not one they would always support.  

From the food providers point of view, the fire hurt, a lot. So, a series of engines were quickly being developed in their spare time for simply flinging of food far, fast and over the group. These engines would slowly be perfected and were one of the earliest advancements from this time to actually continue to be used into the future. Along with the detachment of engineers that were to be the heart of the army when siege was the tactic deployed in battle. It seemed the drive to stay alive or unburnt was the only motivator needed for the improvement of semi-automatic engines. These would later develop to not just be an accurate method of throwing a heavy weight, but a reliable reload system meaning two teams could feed the engine. It may have first come feeding a larger group of dragons, but later an efficient way to hit an enemy’s defences or even better, the enemy was to come.

The number of dragons slowly grew to 17. It was first thought these were pups that would grow to some potential size to strike fear into anyone by just appearing. This wasn’t the case. But with feeding, and for a longer growth idea, breeding, growth was hoped to be possible. But for growth, food was needed, and for nutrition for an animal that was difficult to motivate to move without food, this generally meant growth around the middle. This called for a better way for exercise. And this meant the flock had to move.

No one is quite sure how, or when, but eventually the planning turned to the fastest animal around. Horses. So, an attempt to get horses involved saw the inevitable set of mixed results for the trainers. One, dragons like horse meat. Two, horses don’t like fire. Three, when the food behind the horse is ignored, the individuals riding the horse begin to make a calculated move when the fire gets close and a small bush is in sight.

Did you know that when a horse gets loose, they tend to run. They can run quite fast, and quite far. This saw the spoils of the Great Expedition find their way charging, or flying to be more precise, after a series of horses who had lost their riders, and each found their own stables for safety as what else is any living thing to do when being chases by a flock of dragons spitting fire at you.

Stables, as most things are, were made of wood. They also have a large supply of hay nearby. Dragons, tend to follow horses when they realise their meat is tasty and they have caught their attention. They also like it more of the well-done side of medium in case it comes up.

The first set of stables were easy to hide and cover up as a training exercise due to them being firmly under the control of the army or those who have graciously given their own grounds over to the training of the Kingdoms next up and coming weapon. Every land owner knew that if they could sit around in a dinner table and boast they had the latest thing trained on their land or built with the very trees that they could see from their home, guests were more likely to think better of you. But as horses became harder to find due to them either being eaten, or so scared that no matter how hard their trainer whipped or bribed them, they were now a stay-at-home horse, eyes had to go further afield to find options. It were these horses, particularly one called ‘7 fields’ after their pace to run 7 fields with ease, ironically why it was chosen, that brought 6 dragons with it one day when it had got loose and came charging into the stables.

The fire began in a semi contained point. Luckily a group of stable boys had water nearby to put it out quickly. Sadly, for them, as the flock of 6 dragons search for food, the fire not only spreads quickly, but has multiple starting points that they were quickly out numbered along with also being surrounded themselves were it not for a stone building they managed to run through.

The village of Ehujti is now seen as a central place for markets with villages coming from far and wide to sell at. This might be because of the range of people who travel there which then brings more to share and find a good item to bring back. Or how there are often small items a person could get to show their love for their partner. But it is far more likely linked to the very generous lack of the King’s taxes on all those who enter and sell, the open trade laws and the ability to police itself allowing the village to keep what they take in from any trading that may happen there. The actions that saw 7 Fields become 7 servings, the damage to village and the near riots that followed when the village found out their own army had stolen their horses, then affectively attacking the with wild animals. To keep the village calm, and to prevent word from reaching the rest of the Kingdom, a generous deal was struck that would last until all was forgiven. With such vague terms all the inhabitants need to is never say ‘I forgive you’ to a representative of the King and it stays. Many have tried and the King has since promised an equally ridiculous reward if anyone can get them to say it with 2 witnesses. 

Since then, the local mayor with the many generations that have passed from the early failing to train the dragons, still stands with his back to the King when they arrive to the village to open the annual opening of the year long market festival. Normally joined with all those in the village as the King leaves.

So it can be said, there was a success for getting a group to be trained to move as one together without the need for food to entice them.