Dragon Story Chapter 2: Good and Evil

Click here to read the first chapter

Ayva didn't have much time to daydream; she soon had to prepare for Sindri's arrival. The dinner could sometimes be tedious, but now she was beginning to understand the business of trade, so it became more interesting. She loved hearing stories of the caravan's travels; it had always been one of her dreams to travel with them one day. To her surprise, and secret delight, the conversation was of a huge beast sighted at the boarders of Atereth Goldesh, the main country her father's kingdom was part of. 

"Our scouts saw far above in the distance a huge flying animal. His wingspan must have been 100 feet at least. He was too far away to see much detail, but from their description personally I think if could have been a dragon."

"A dragon?" Ayva heard herself say. "A real dragon on the boarders of Atereth Goldesh? Did you hear reports of any harmed cities, towns, or villages?"

"Well, I cannot be sure it was a dragon. I only said it was a possibility. We have not heard of any place destroyed or harmed by a dragon, not even of sightings. He was seen a league away from the Mountains of Arkaitz near the boarder between N'Stol and Atereth Goldesh. There are not many villages in that region, so I cannot be sure that it was a dragon."

"Do you believe all dragons are evil?" Ayva tried to look and sound innocent and naive.

"Well, I'm not sure." Sindri seemed uncomfortable with the question. "Before this sighting I never had a real grasp on the reality of dragons. I had heard stories of them in by-gone days; it has been a few centuries since the last dragon sighting, at least in these parts. I heard rumors of a possible dragon sighting in Kirdish thirty years ago, and the travelers who claimed to have seen it were known for exaggerating their stories. Dragons were more of a legend, parts of a story. I have trouble believing that this beast is a dragon."

"But do you believe dragons evil? Is there some good in dragons?"

"Ayva," Queen Larissa quietly reprimanded.

"She does not bother me, your majesty. Princess Ayva is rightfully curious. All the maidens of my caravan were of the same character when the news was brought to us. As to your question, my lady," here he paused, as if struggling to put his thoughts into words. "It is the same with all living beings, I believe. You, my lady, are not evil, but, if you will forgive me for stating, your ladyship is not perfect. There is evil in all of us, from the day we are born there is evil. Some allow that evil to take hold, and do not fight back against it; some corral all that is within them and combat with all their heart to hold at bay the evil fighting to take hold; still others struggle to decide which side will win. There is no beast on this earth that does not struggle with the evil, it is just that some allow the evil to take over. Yes, as a general rule some beasts are not friendly to humans, but that does not mean there is no good in them. Perhaps we see dragons from the wrong point of view. To a dragon humans are probably just as much of a terror to them as they are to us. A dog does not usually attack a human unless he sees the need, but do humans ever give dragons a chance? No! As soon as one is sighted brave soldiers are sent to kill it off for fear of 'what it might do'. What if the dragon is just trying to live peacefully?"

"Well said, Sindri." King Ander said. This meant that the conversation was over. 

Ayva sighed. No one could help her. Her plight seemed only to worsen.

This is a map of my story world. In the top right corner you can see Doveate where Beggar Princess is set. In the top-middle you can see a large continent. That is where this story is set. 

Here's a close up of where this story is set. Atereth Goldesh is a country of mini-kingdoms. You can sort of see Salathiel in Atereth Goldesh, and the Mountains of Arkaitz on the boarder. The other countries are Tranfel and Katarak, which was the setting for another story that, sadly, I lost. It was becoming a great story, too!!