Duel

         In many years I hadn’t had such a difficult task as this one; but it was not impossible to complete. All I needed was a good deal of patience, which I had. I also had a lot of time to spare.

         With some trouble, I sat down on a rock to watch my opponent. I sighed, annoyed; this body wasn’t very comfortable. I was old, and this time I looked old, too. The simple people of these small towns would not trust a beautiful young sorceress, but they always welcomed one who looked like a granny.

         To the dragon in front of me, my appearance could not matter less.

         He was younger than me, but not young enough to mistake a sorceress for a simple mortal. He would have felt my magic even if I hadn’t used it- and I had. The invisible ties that bound him weren’t exactly making him happy. But I hadn’t had any choice; I couldn’t just let him fly around the town, terrifying its inhabitants and eating their flocks.

         We spent hours like that, in perfect silence, staring into each other’s eyes. He wouldn’t talk, and I was determined to let him be the first to do so. If he wanted to stay this way for days, so be it. I wasn’t in a hurry.

         But dragons are restless, and even the proudest of them can’t stand too much time without moving. It was evening when he gave up.

         "You have no right to treat me like this," he grumbled. His voice was like thunder.

         "You have no right to steal these people’s animals," I answered calmly. He let out a mirthless laugh.

         "Humans think everything belongs to them."

         "These flocks do. They have put time and effort into them," I said. "Not all humans are like you imagine."

         "Not all dragons are like they imagine."

         "Of course not. It is the ones like you who give your kin a bad name."

         That was a bit too much, I had to admit. His silvery eyes flashed with anger, and he would have pounced on me if he had been able to move. He could have turned me into ashes with one breath, but I didn’t fear that; I was the one who had bound him and he knew only I could release him.

         "You don’t know what you speak of," he said. "What do you want me to do? There are no animals in the wild that I can feed from, not in this land - and it was humans, humans, who finished them! They should be grateful that I eat their flocks and not their children."

         "You wouldn’t do that," I said. If his Big Bad Dragon act was meant to frighten me, it wasn’t working. "But there are other places where you can go, with wild animals to hunt and no humans to disturb you. I could give you a place in my land."

         "Your disguise does not fool me like those peasants, sorceress," he replied, looking at me with distrust. "Those of your kind always want something for themselves."

         "Company," I admitted. "My land is wide and lonely, and I am tired of traveling around."

         "I will not be the pet of a sorceress!" he roared, his eyes shining again with silver light. I shook my head and smiled.

         "I would be a fool to go to a dragon if I was looking for a pet," I said. "What I want is an equal."

         He still didn’t look convinced, but that calmed him a little. Without ever taking his eyes off me, he seemed to be considering the offer.

         "And what if I go and then I decide I don’t like your land?" he asked at last.

         "You will be free to leave," I told him; he gave me a doubtful look. "You have my word."

         The word of a sorceress was enough even for a dragon. He closed his eyes and bowed his head.

         "Then we have an agreement."

         I finally released my bind on him, smiling. I was satisfied with the results: it was good for the town, for my opponent, and for myself. The dragon stretched its legs, relieved, and flapped his fan-like wings. Free and strong again, he was beautiful.

         "So, what is your name?" he asked conversationally.

         "You can call me Idara," I replied.

         "That is not your real name."

         He was no fool, this dragon. I couldn’t suppress a smile.

         "Don’t ask for my name and I won’t ask for yours," I said. Now his doubtful look was back.

         "You will want to call me something," he said.

         I looked at him thoughtfully and made my decision.

         "Pride," I named him.

         "Is that a compliment or an insult?"

         "You decide."