You never get used to a life of perpetually indentured servitude. Especially when you're constantly being bartered off in bulk shipments to your next master as tribute, bargaining chips, or worst of all, "payment".

Payment. It was a cruel inside joke amongst the slaves, servants, and labourers as they were unceremoniously shipped to whatever fresh Hell awaited them. Sure the paperwork said they were just being used to pay off some noble’s long-standing debt, but they knew what it meant. Who willingly accepts people as currency in such an enlightened age?

Archibald knew he was going to be sacrificed, or maybe eaten. Did it really make a difference? He and the other miserable forms in the wooden shipping container were as good as dead upon arrival. Two other humans muttered about the rise of blood magic in the South while a catwoman sobbed in the corner.

Then everyone stumbled as the vehicle jerked to a stop. The glare of sunlight burst in as the doors groaned open and an armed courier waved the miserable crowd out to their destiny.

“You’re gorgeous.” Wheezed Archibald before he caught himself.

Fortunately his new master didn’t notice as she signed off on a dwindling stack of papers. His compatriots were too stunned or horrified to have noticed. At least three pairs of knees had given out while the sobbing in the back of the crowd had intensified.

An inky talon performed a final flourish and the couriers scurried wordlessly off to their next destination.

Was it her crimson scales? Perhaps it was the ease at which she controlled the precise movements of that armoured tail. She had her wings tucked in but Archibald knew they’d be just as magnificent as the rest of her.

“It has to be her eyes.” Thought Archibald as he was herded single-file past. Obsidian orbs with flecks of emerald. The way they pierced through his soul, even when she wasn’t directly looking at him.

Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad, having a dragon as his master.

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He and the others were treated surprisingly well. Four to a room, meals twice a day, and personal time after the sun had set. Given his experience as an attendant to a number of high lords Archibald was delegated to serve in her outer chambers. Deliciously close but yet, painfully far away.

Every day he ushered in magistrates, warriors, and on occasion, other dragons into her personal inner chamber. Of course, none were as ravishing as she was but it was an uncomfortable reminder of his lowly status.

So far as he could tell she was alone, and the lack of suitors were both worrisome and a blessing. He hadn’t been able to discern much about his new employer and had he not seen her upon arrival, he could have easily confused her behaviours for that of an eccentric bookkeeper.

“I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with it.” Remarked Archibald’s upper bunkmate later that evening, “They don’t have souls like you and I, ya know?”

“She.” Corrected Archibald, as he rolled over to grab a small notebook, “And SHE hasn’t done us wrong yet so I’m not sure why the hostility.”

“Because the rest of us don’t want to fuck her, dragonfucker.” The snickers grew to uncomfortable levels in the room.

“Obscene, rude, and also untrue.” Archibald’s notes weren’t big enough to cover his reddening face but fortunately no one was paying attention. “I’m just saying that it might be in our best interest to be on her good side.”

“Yeah, it likes you so much it’ll eat you last.” The sniggering was impossible to ignore so again, Archibald gave up and tried to focus on what he knew.

Dragons like treasure, right? Precious gems and metals, gold and platinum. Out of the question for whatever constituted as a salary for him. He never had any formal education so enchanting an item was also out of his area of expertise. Dragons eat, just hopefully not servants. But how much cattle could she eat? Would it even be filling? Enjoyable? What about something exotic?

“What about figuring out its name first you fucking idiot?”

The furred face of Archibald’s bunkmate leered over the edge of bunk while the rest of the room roared with laughter. Frustrated, Archibald threw his book at the possum and stormed out, the taunts of “dragonfucker” chasing him down the hall.

Most of the magical flames that provided lighting had dimmed by this point but it didn’t matter, Archibald aimlessly wandered down the halls to clear his mind, in hopes of an answer. Security was lax within the stone fortress with automatons patrolling the outer perimeter. Not that he’d ever want to leave, but at least he didn’t have to be worried about being carted off into the night against his will again.

And then he saw it, a glint in the moonlight.

At first it looked like a shard of glass embedded in the carpet, but there were no windows here. Plus, the maids would never have been so careless. Archibald crouched and gingerly plucked the curiosity out of the plush threads.

Jade? No, perhaps peridot. It was difficult to determine was exactly the pendant was made of, but the glowing sigil in the center immediately denoted the item as enchanted. Its purpose unclear, but in that moment Archibald knew he had found an opportunity.

Clutching the gemstone in his fist he hustled to the inner chamber though his breathing was ragged for different reasons. He nervously tapped at the massive oak doors of the inner chamber before winding up for a single loud knock.

“Enter.”

The doors almost flattened him as they billowed open. Archibald scampered to the side before darting through the closing gap.

And there she was, just as graceful as the first time he had seen. Lounging on a rug made from an indeterminate giant mammal she craned her head down to get a better look at Archibald.

“Yes?”

Even that single word had so much force. At least, that’s what Archibald told himself. The pendant had begun to dig into his palms as his knuckles went white. His heart was pounding in his throat as he struggled to form thoughts let alone words.

“I, I uh, found, um. Thought you’d ah, be needing, be interesting. Interested.” Archibald feverishly attempted his best smile as he revealed the sweat-soaked gem. The dragon quizzically tilted her head and gently scooped it up for closer inspection.

“Hope, I hope that, uh, that’ll be useful. Um, upstairs, found uh, found it.”

“Just a bauble.”

Archibald froze as he watched her shrug. Can dragons shrug? Well, yes, she clearly did. How did she shrug? His mind panicking as she tossed the pendant to the side, the shattering revealing the “stone” to be nothing more than green glass.

“Welltheniwillbegoing.” The breaking glass kickstarted something in his brain and Archibald began shuffle to the door before he felt his arm suddenly and firmly being gripped. Then that same arm began to slowly heat up as Archibald’s mind raced.

“This is the end, this is how I die. Maybe I should have listened to the guys in the dorm. Well, this isn’t a bad way to die, I mean, oh god what am I talking abou-“

“Done.”

He stopped panicking as his arm was released. Archibald also remembered to resume breathing as he turned to face the dragon who had propped herself up.

“You must have cut yourself.” Had he? Archibald hadn’t noticed as he turned his hand over and inspected it. There was no visible scaring, and were it not for the dried blood in his palm there would never have been any reason to suspect an injury.

“Regardless of its worth, your honesty is rare. Not many would have been so forthcoming. Tell me your name human.”

“Uh, uh, Arch-Archiba-“

“Starting tomorrow you will report directly to my chambers Archie.” Was that a smirk? Could dragons smirk? How did she smirk? All Archibald could do was nod curtly as he began to turn around but suddenly stopped.

“Wait.”

“Hm?” The dragon lifted her head up and those same piercing eyes focused on Archibald.

“Could you be so kind as to tell me your name?” Archibald silently congratulated himself for not stumbling as the dragon considered his words.

“You may call me Issenth. And I shall see you early tomorrow morning”

“Good night Issenth.” He bowed his head low and quietly exited the room.