Dragon Pit - Daenya, Elseyris, and the Tyroshi Ambassador

"I will feel safer outside. The dragons will surely know I am an intruder," Master Mathoris replied. "I value my own skin, my ladies. Dragons are not a common sight in Tyrosh."

"We will return in a moment then, Ambassador."

Elseyris dashed off behind Daenya, splitting off down a different tunnel, to fetch Nenyan.

After hurriedly saddling him for the second time that evening, to his confused delight, she led him into the central chamber, and awaited Daenya, as she was not allowed to command the guards to open the doors herself.

Elseyris nodded;

"Ready!"

Elseyris, marvelling at Vandaras' grace in flight, stayed on the ground, leading Nenyan out of the doors by his reins, so that she could introduce the Ambassador gently. Nenyan was very calm and good-natured, this seemed like the safest way to gain the Ambassador's trust. She stood at a slight distance for a few moments, allowing him to watch Daenya's display.

As she saw Daenya coming down to land, she gestured for him to come closer, staying next to Nenyan's head, which was as long as she was tall, stroking his small bronze-coloured horns, and scratching under his chin. She whispered to him; "Nenyan, this is a friend, be good."

She looked back up at the Ambassador with an encouraging smile.

"This is Nenyan, Ambassador, my dragon. He is very young, so is quite small. He is very friendly, you can stroke him, if you like."

"He'll only bite if Elsie tells him to bite you!" Daenya said, hopping off Vandaras' back. The dragon huffed some smoke from his nostrils and stretched himself out on the ground.

"Vandaras can be a bit grumpy and he keeps to himself, though you can stroke him," Daenya said, patting the dragon's flank. "Stay away from his neck though, he doesn't like people touching it."

The beast's red eyes looked up at the ambassador, studying him with mild disinterest, before closing.

Daenya laughed. "He isn't in the best mood today. I woke him up, so he is acting a little stroppy."

"Vandaras won't do harm anyone unless I tell him to," Daenya said, stroking the dragon's head and whispering something to him in Valyrian.

"There is room on my saddle for two, Ambassador. I hear the Tyroshi like adventure," she said cheerfully.

She nodded respectfully;

"Well, firstly, I would strongly advise that you secure about your person, or leave down here, anything that a strong wind would blow away. Watch how I climb into the saddle, then I will have Nenyan lower himself, and you just do the same, and sit behind me. I will hold your arm and help you up. You then can either hold onto the pommel on the front of the saddle, or just hold onto me, whichever is more comfortable for you. The pommel may require more leaning forward than would be comfortable for a man of your height. You have my word that you will be safe, I am very good at this. If you want to stop at any point, just say, and I will bring us back down. Your safety and enjoyment are paramount to me in this matter."

Although she was being serious, almost business-like, she was speaking with a warm smile. While she was awkward and nervous at court, she was now in her element, in her place of confidence and authority, and it showed in her voice and bearing.

She patted Nenyan's neck gently, whispering to him, and he tucked his front legs under himself, lowering the saddle a little towards the ground, and she climbed up, deliberately slowing her movements slightly, so that the Ambassador would know how to follow. She then held the reins, and shifted herself forward in the large saddle, and held down her slender, yet strong arm for him to grasp.

"Absolutely, very slowly and gently," she said, stroking Nenyan reassuringly. While she knew him to be a very calm and easy-going dragon, she wanted to make absolutely sure this went well, as it had been a while since he had carried two people.