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The man, this Richard looked at the opponent who completely outclassed him with open contempt. I'd made a fool of him this day, but it couldn't have ended any other way, the men had no ranged weapons and we were in a wide open field. The advantage of flight alone was enough to make this fight one-sided. I landed a good distance away and this time, Richard and his horsemen didn't charge. I spared a glance to the spectator I left on the wall. Tobias was watching with a wide grin on his face, clearly impressed. I was happy to deliver as promised.

Taking advantage of the moment of uncertainty, I spoke again loudly, my voice ringing clearly across the distance separating us. "Go inside and fetch Ronald from his hole. I will give him one last chance to accept my terms of surrender. He has five minutes before I begin ripping the house apart log by log." I sat on my haunches and waited.

Slowly, ever so slowly and without a word to his companions, Richard, my brief, but ineffective combatant turned his steaming horse about and trotted it to the nearest door on the manor. Dropping off his horse, he clomped his way inside without bothering to close the door behind him. The rest of the men stared at me, their glances meek and full of fear. Of the men who'd fallen into my trap, six were on the ground nursing injuries. One was either dead or knocked out cold. Seeing as these men too would shortly be coming under my command, I decided to speak again. "You all remember tonight when you are home with your families that I could have easily ended all of your lives today. I am not the sort who throws away life without cause, unlike other certain individuals who would rather kill than negotiate. I am not here to burn or terrorize. I'm here to make a home for myself."

A man shouted, "Why don't you make your home somewhere else, Dragon!"

I grinned toothily, "A fair question, but one that could only be answered with a selfish answer. I came here to prosper and nothing more. Is that any different from most humans? We are not so different I think." Ah, I had progressed far in my days of human interaction. The sweaty men looked almost half convinced by my words. Let them return to their miserable little hovels, I'd say anything to keep them docile for now.

Richard spared me from further speechmaking. Half assisting, half pushing a man out of the house, I finally laid eyes on Sir Ronald. The man was actually not much to look at. I had been half expecting him to be larger than the normal variety of human, as dragon elders grew to massive size in the scope of time. If Sir Ronald were larger, however, it was only in the size of his middle. He did not wear armor, in fact he was dress in nice silk robes, richer and shinier than even Tobias' now ruined uniform. A long black mustache adorned his wide, sweaty face and his eyes darted about to and fro. He almost knocked over Richard when he saw me, attempting to flee back into the manor house. The taller man stood firm and push his liege-lord forward. I got to my feet and walked forward a few steps. Richard was all but restraining the man now as they argued feistily under each other's breath. I stopped short and said, "I would have my charge witness this negotiation." I gestured to the wall where Tobias sat watching the entire affair. "But only if I receive a guarantee of his safety."

The two men wrestled, Richard's hands on Sir Ronald's shoulders. They were both hissing at each other. Sir Ronald grew still and Richard shouted, "Sir Ronald guarentee's Tobias' safety. But if you will, come no closer and allow us to approach."

As an answer, I rested easily onto my belly. The once pristine lawn was torn to shreds by the fight I'd had with the mounted men. Sir Ronald was an incalculable fool for deciding to stay and fight. If he had truly been intent on resisting me, he should have taken his men into the woods and waged guerilla warfare on me as I tried to assert control on the region. Never mind that now, I'd take an easy victory as well as a hard one. The humans approached, Tobias from the field, Richard and Sir Ronald around the house. The horsemen who were able to walk gathered closer as well... but not too close.

With a small twist of my hand, I invited Tobias to come and sit on my wrist. The two noblemen stood at a more respectful distance. I had an odd inclination to call for chairs and refreshments, but I thought that might be too much for my two opponents to handle. Besides I wanted nothing between me and Sir Ronald. My wings were mantled carefully as they had been this morning on my shelf of rock in the forest; I supposed the image might have been ruined somewhat by the black feathered bolt shafts protruding from my hide at various angles.

Sir Ronald stood with his arms crossed. He didn't look at me, but rather at the grass between my feet. I started, "Did you even listen to the terms I had Tobias deliver for me before beating him into a pulp?" My voice came out harsh, I was actually more upset now about the young man's bruises than the steel headed shafts embedded in my flesh; the men who had done that had paid their debts already.

Sir Ronald was quiet for a long time. I realized after a few moments that he was shaking, his hands bundled into fists, either from fear or anger; probably both. Richard sighed and spoke for his lord in a way that suggested he had done it before. "After your... 'display' in the yard, we quickly let Tobias in and he gave the terms you offered..."

"That brat is a traitor to his own kind!" Sir Ronald burst forth. Tobias winced and my teeth flashed, bit Sir Ronald continued, "That... that mongrel had the nerve to come into my house and say such things to my face! He deserves to have his fingernails ripped out and his hands crushed! He...!"

Richard grabbed the chubby noble by the shoulder and spun him around to face him, the lieutenant's eyes darting to my parted fangs. "Now is not the time... my lord..." he said amongst more hushed words. Sir Ronald seemed to calm somewhat.

The Knight brushed off his suit as easily as his apparent temper. "I found your terms to be unacceptable. There is nothing in the village charter that allows succession entirely from the rest of Lyrond."

I was growing tired of talking to this arrogant human. There was only one way for this to end, the man had to know that. "Is that why you deemed fit to send two-dozen crossbowmen to my place of Parley this morning instead of appearing yourself?"

"The laws of Parley do not apply to beasts such as yourself!" Sir Ronald shouted. He seemed ready to launch into another tirade, but I noticed that Richard seemed immediately distracted.

"Twenty-four men..." he muttered. Quick as a flash, he rounded on the Knight-noble and interrupted his hot words. "Which part of the woods did Brian go hunting in this morning?" he asked Sir Ronald with a deadly intensity.

Sir Ronald's eyes were darting about again and he seemed to forget all about the towering dragon in front of him. "Why... why the east woods of course. Why do you ask such a thing at a time like-"

Richard gathered his fist and struck the Knight soundly across the cheek with the exclamation "Liar!" Sir Ronald fell flat on his back and Richard planted his knees on his chest. Tears were streaming from Richard's eyes as he lifted his face up to mine. "Tell me, Beast. What became of the men who attacked you this morning?"

My face was an emotionless slate as I said, "I left none alive."

The howl of anguish started with a whisper, "Then my son is dead..." A low moan, like an animal dying began in the tall man's chest and raised to a terrible roar. Richard's eyes were wild as he turned back to Sir Ronald lying under him. "You sent my son to fight a dragon! You Bastard!" The blows came then one after another, Richard seemingly trying to plant the Knight's head into the ground. I watched, feeling as though I were miles away from the scene. I was wrong, there was another way for this to end after all.