MIR, the sentient Wyvern.

Stables

Before me stood the huge gate of Winter Fort.

It was night now and dozens of torches were lighting up the walls of the fortress with fire. It was impressive.

I was more curious than terrified, but Krator was watching over me, at dad's request.

On his black steed, Romas had his back to us and was more worried about us than about us.

That is, he was hoping that some idiot wouldn't have the bad idea to shoot arrows at us.

He raised his right hand and a drawbridge descended.

The door was a decoy, the real one was behind the drawbridge.

Click click made the chains and counterweights.

I was excited to see a medieval fortress up close, in operation with all those soldiers.

For a moment, I had even forgotten that I was a wyvern...

Jack had given me the translation pendant as a thank you for saving his life twice. The gem was attached to a tin-plated steel chain and was just right around my neck.

"The drawbridge is beautiful, Romas."

He was surprised at my speaking in common. and he noticed immediately, the gem that glowed when I spoke or listened.

"You know how to use the artifact..Mir?"

"Yes, it's handy. A thousand times more convenient."

The bridge fit into the notch and I could see with my amplified senses that there were archers watching us through the 2 loopholes.

"Kratos, Kroa, Kri and Kra... don't move ok? No sudden moves.."

I got a nasal sigh from Krator in response.

The portcullis went up.

It was protocol at night to close off access. After all, the empire was at war.

We crossed the portcullis and found ourselves in front of a square with a tower and annex buildings, and all around the square, different buildings. Some were residences, others were shops, stables, everything you need in a mountain town.

But everything was closed. Only the lanterns illuminated the coats of arms and inscriptions of the trades.

Romas: "Wait here!"

Kratos then lay down and we went to seek shelter between his paws and tail, but I was raised anyway, impatient and we listened to the whispers. It was interesting and fun at the same time.

With the orb, the whispers were translated too.

"Look at the monster! I've never seen a dragon that big!"

"do you think it will attack?"

"It must be spitting flames!"

"No, silly, it has crystals between its horns... It's a winter snake! It must spit cold".

"I heard it's worse than fire!" The stone falls in dust, the metal and the shields too"

"He is crazy romas to have brought these monsters here!"

What I felt most of all was fear.

Soldiers with torches opened the doors to a passageway leading down under the fortress, a bit like an underground dungeon. And Romas invited Krator to follow him.

We stood up and watched as the courtyard filled with soldiers, some in armor, but all in coats of mail. They were not aggressive but wary.

Their surcoat was red with a sword and a wyvern impaled on it... it was charming for us.

A large room with straw was prepared and Romas asked us to settle here for the night. The doors would not be locked, but these were stables for trained dragons. Old and unused for years.

We were safe from the cold and a fireplace had been lit so we could have some warmth.

It was true that we were starting to shiver.

I closed the doors to keep the heat in and the humans couldn't believe their eyes.

A cart was brought in with raw meat, bread and water.

When the door was opened, the men had run out, and the cart was pulled in, the doors were closed, and the holes were caulked with hay that was lying around.

Then we all squeezed each other to save heat.

The cold was numbing us and the fire was only symbolic.

Maybe it was on purpose?

I would have done the same...in their place.

We spent the night like that and, thanks to Kratos, we didn't catch the flu.

The rooster woke us up at sunrise.