Mareen's heart skipped a beat as she noticed the sign hanging from the doorknob. Although she did not know how to read the glyphs of the dragoken language, the female wolf knew they meant "Privacy requested". On any other door, she would pay it no attention other than return later to tend to the room. Seeing it on the governor\x92s suite, however, it revived the agony she felt last year.

She had struggled to put the thoughts behind, of the day she passed in front of that door, with the sign hanging from the doorknob. Inside, she had heard muffled sounds from some heated argument, followed by a struggle coming out strong. Cracking the door slightly open, she had heard loud slaps, then watched as the governor hit his wife. The governor then dragging his half-conscious wife out of sight; Mareen didn't see what happened, but heard the loud grunts as the governor forced his wife to have sex.

Mareen had kept quiet about the incident. It would have done her no good to confront the governor, or spread the word about what she had heard. She was just a lowly, illiterate maid; her word was worth nothing against a dragoken, much less someone in power. All tenants about "dragoken equality" seemed to stop at the species. He could not only manage to keep the incident hidden, but taint Mareen's name until she would had been forced to move far away.

Still, she had hated herself for not having the courage to do something. Maybe if she had interceded, the governor\x92s wife would had been brave to confront him, rather than accept meekly her fate. The thought filled her with anger. Grating her teeth, she unlocked the door and listened to the sounds coming from within.

Once again she heard the loud grunts from a male taking a female hard, accompanied by the loud gasps and moans from the female.

Arming herself with a broom, Mareen opened the door slowly, and carefully made her way inside the suite. She paused at the entrance of the bedroom. She breathed quick and shallow, gathering her courage. She lifted the broom high in the air, and barged in, ready to hit the governor's skull until either it or the broom handle cracked.

"Leave her alone, you bastard son of --!!"

Mareen paused, jaw agape at the scene playing before her. Truly enough, the male dragoken was furiously pumping his hard meat furiously into the green female underneath him. He pulled his thick, long cock almost all the way out only to push it back in, the bulge of his testes almost flush with the female's slit. The male's wings were almost fully open, flapping from the intensity of his pelvic thrusts. With each trhurst the male drove the female's pelvis down onto the soft bed, only to lift it cleanly off the bed from the suction of his withdrawl, then back down as he thrusted once more.The female screamed loudly at the intensity of the act, at each powerful, savage thrust from the male. Except it was no rape -- her hands were on the male's neck, holding him close to her.

It was then that she noticed the red-skinned, buff male was not the governor, nor was the green-skinned female the governor\x92s wife. Next to the bed, the golden armor of two warriors was piled in a chaotic heap, as if the two had been in a hurry to get into bed. The air was charged with the smell of sweat and pheromones exuded from what could only had been a marathon of passionate sex, and the two dragokens still had a long way from reaching the finish line.

Growling, the male paused, turning to look furiously at Mareen. "What the fuck are you doing here! Are you some fucking illiterate that you can't read a privacy sign?! Or do you get your thrills watching others?"

"My a-apologies... sir! I thought you--!"

The male bared his teeth, saliva dripping from his jaws. He pulled out of the female as he turned to look at the intruding maid. His cock shot straight into the air, pulsing vigrously. The rigid member was thickly coated in secula juices; a tendril of the thick liquid trailed all the way to the slit of the green femal, from which more oozed out. "You thought what? That maybe I could fuck you after I'm done with her?!"

Mareen gasped. "Gods! No, sir... I just--" She took a couple steps back, aghast at the male's vitiated proposition. Still, her eyes were transfixed on the slick member that glistened under the coat of the dragokens' mating juices. She had never seen a male dragoken's member before, but it was quite apparent that this male was quite more endowed than his brethren. He had to be, if he was making the larger female gasp from the force of his thrusts. Mareen could not deny she would really want some meat like that to get her to scream with pleasure, but not in some kind of orgy.

"Strip and wait your turn," the male growled. "Otherwise get the fuck out!"

The green female twitched and gasped, digging her claws deep into the male's lower back as she tried to push his hips downwards and bury his length into her slit. "Goddess... Nemek! Don't... stop!"

The male snorted, then turned his attention back to the female he was screwing. He bit her forcefully on the neck, growling as he savagely plunged his malehood back in as he resumed the penetration even more intensely. The female responded by moaning loudly with intense pleasure as the male pumped into her, harder than before. "Lock the fucking door when you leave," the male said in between grunts.

Mareen gasped, both dragokens obviously uninhibited from putting such a show as they roared in the heat of their passion and savage lovemaking. The maid walked hastily towards the door, closing it just as the male roared what surely was the loudest orgasm from any dragoken male. She had paused to grab her cart and dash towards the nearest exit when the she heard a lock from an adjoining room unlatch.

The rooms were reserved for the governor's entourage. But it was not one of his aides who stepped out. Dressed in night robes, the governor staggered under the doorframe. His besoted face was twisted in an odd mixture of rage and sleeplesness.

"Could you please find someone who can do anything about that noise!" he growled at her as he pointed furiously towards the suite he would have been occupying. "Not only those two fucking Lancers steal my suite, forcing me to sleep in inferior lodging, they have me kept up all night with their loud sex!"

Still breathing fast from the flood of emotions, Mareen turned to look at the governor as she pushed her cleaning cart, walking away. The latter reeled at the intense anger her eyes displayed. "Your highness has more authority than I ever would. He can solve his own damned problem."

The governor stammered, outraged at her words, watching her leave. "Why, you -- I'll have you fired for this!"

Mareen did not turn to look back as she continued, smiling to herself. "Go ahead. The Imperial armies would likely be interested to hear about some bureaucrat who considers himself above them."

The governor growled. His attention turned towards the loud, raucous laughter coming from inside the suite, followed by another set of loud grunts and screams of pleasure from yet one more round of savage screwing. Roaring with anger, he slammed the door as he stormed back inside.

Nemek felt his arms weaken as his body twitched, jerking almost uncontrollably as his cock discharged its intense load yet again inside S'thkra's womb. Panting and gasping, he finally collapsed on top of the female. His body slowly glided sideways from her slippery skin, both dragokens covered in sweat and the fluids from previous matings.

"Goddess... oh, sweet Goddess." He looked at the green female through half-closed eyes, smacking his dry lips. "I need a drink." He held his throbbing flesh inside her, feeling her vaginal contractions sucking every drop out of him. Panting, he pulled out with a loud slurping sound; the suction of his cock as he pulled out drawing a glob of cum. It fell on the bed sheets, adding another stain to the numerous ones already there.

The sensation peaked his tired member, the skin exploding in delightful sensations that almost brought him back into another orgasm.

"Looks like you could use a nice cleaning," S'thkra said gleefully.

"Goddess... S'thkra... no, please," Nemek moaned.

"Hush... private."

Nemek had no time to protest before S'thkra closed her lips on the half-erect member. The male growled as she skillfully coaxed it to become hard once more. Slowly at first, then gradually faster, S'thkra slid he length of her snout against the turgid dragoken shaft. She paused ocasionally to lick the tip of Nemek's cock or nibble tenderly at the sensitive skin.

Nemek gasped, and a slow rumble burst from his throat. He felt powerless to stop the minstrations to his burning flesh. He let himself be ridden by the female's mouth, until he felt himself close to peaking again. He clamped his hands tightly onto S'thkra's brow horns, guiding her faster and faster into sucking him. This time, however, he could only an almost hatchling-like roar as he came, right into the female's gullet. She drank his juices greedily; not even one drop escaped the suction.

Her lips parted, and she tickled the base of his now softening shaft with her tongue. S'thkra slid over the sweaty, cum-soaked chest of her parner, and clamped her jaws onto his. She regurgitated some of Nemek's seed, which Nemek swallowed.

"Nemek juice," she said softly after breaking the strange kiss. "You could make a fortune selling it."

Nemek let out a coarse laugh. "I would turn into a dry husk long before I could make a sale, the way you greedily take almost all of it. You're worse than a canisan bitch."

S'thkra grinned. "Ooohh... that is not nice. Insulting a superior officer carries a hard penalty, you know."

Nemek whimpered. "Goddess... no. We have barely slept in the last two days. And have eaten even less. Other than drinking each other's fluids, that is."

"We Lancers can resist much more, and you know it." S'thkra nuzzled her tired companion, who watched her wearily. "I have to say, your endurance probably rivals that of the late Emperor Nakeema. His sexual prowess was legendary, if you believe half the stories people still make about him."

"There's probably a reason why the official biographies don't go into much detail about his death." Nemek sighed. "I doubt he ever went through something like how you've drained me. I swear, I have left enough cum into you to breed the entire population of the Imperial capital. How is it that you can avoid becoming gravid?"

S'thkra trilled, and nibbled at the male's lips. "My body probably was not made for breeding. Some females are perpetually in heat. They usually are whores." She paused, then continued as Nemek growled softly. "Does that bother you?"

"Not really. But sometimes I wonder what our hatchlings would look like, if we had any. I have a hard time picturing you as a mother, though."

"Really? And what do you seem me like, then?"

"Stupid question. Nothing but my commander... and my loving sex partner." Nemek opened his jaws wide and clamped them on the female's, who corresponded by twining her tongue around his. They remained locked for over a minute, caressing each other's bodies, savoring the intensity of yet another afterglow.

Nemek broke the kiss. He looked into S'thkra's eyes, then burst out gurgling with laughter.

"What's so funny?" S'thkra asked, licking his neck and the underside of his jaw.

"Did you notice the maid who was here earlier today? You should have seen the look in her face when she saw us. I had never seen anyone so embarrassed before, and she was even more flustered when I continued screwing you."

S'thkra nipped the tip of Nemek's snout, playfully tugging the loose skin. "I hope we put in a good show. Makes it worth having taken the room from that governor. I think I heard him raoring with anger at least once during the night. We must have kept him awake." She nuzzled her lover's snout, her nostrils opened, taking his smell. "You stink," she said.

Nemek chuckled. "Really?" He moved again on top of S'thkra, his belly against her, his crotch rubbing hers as he forced her legs spread with his body. "The stench of what?"

"Your sweat. Your pheromones. And that strong smell of a well-used cock."

"Yes, after you have milked almost every drop out of it."

S'thkra nipped Nemek's throat. "Almost? Does that mean you still have more for me?"

Nemek growled with pleasure, but could not help groan a bit. "By the Primal Egg, female. Give me some time to rest. We males can only give so much."

"Wimp," she said, smiling. "And you call yourself a Lancer."

"Now that's a low blow," Nemek said, grinning toothily. "Just for that, your tailhole gets used next." He turned to look at his flaccid, thick meat; he stroked it gently, trying to get himself aroused, then stroking harder when it failed to get hard. Sighing softly, he pulled his organ back inside his genital slit. Folding his wings tightly against his back, he turned to lay on his back to the right of the female. "Whenever I can get it up again, that is."

S'thkra chuckled. "Well, forgive me for wearing you out. The luxury in this room makes me even more horny than usual." She looked at the stained bed sheets. "Do you think the maids will be pissed when they get to clean up this mess we've made?"

"Not as much as that governor was when he found out his suite was taken. Makes it even more worth being a Lancer. Besides guarding our Empire, of course."

S'thkra caressed her male's chest, damp with sweat and mating juices. She caressed his stomach and chest, stopping near the slit. She felt the hard bulge of his cock underneath the skin. "Why did you do it, Nemek?"

"You mean fucking you?"

"No, silly. Becoming a soldier. Was it because you really wanted it, or just an excuse for you to get easy fucks with scores of gorgeous fems?"

Nemek closed his eyes, remaining immobile for a few seconds before opening them again. When he spoke, his voice was somewhat solemn. "When I was but a youngling, I met a young soldier. I promised him I would serve the Empire, with my life if need be, after I saw him in action. As for fems, why look around when I have you?" Nemek nuzzled S'thkra. "Many males still can't get over the idea that I became your brother in arms. Even more when they found out how often we get to fuck."

S'thkra bared her teeth as she smiled, clamping her jaws tenderly on Nemek's throat. "They would hate you even more if they find out you cheated. You watched me practice with a wooden dummy, so you knew what my 'Challenge' routine was going to be."

Nemek grinned. He motioned S'thkra to roll over and lay on her stomach. "A lizard like me, he gets what he wants. Besides, you weren't mad or furious when I told you."

The female smiled, and twisted her tail to the side. She hissed with pleasure as Nemek lifted her hips slightly to explore the skin around her tailhole. "I was a bit miffed for a while. But you had already proven you really deserved to be my brother in arms."

Nemek positioned himself behind S'thkra. He rubbed his hard member against her buttocks, smearing them with his clear precum. "Was it because of my dexterousness with the sword, or the way I perform in bed?"

S'thkra trilled. She propped herself in position, ready to be taken once more. "The first. I don't think I would have found a better warrior to watch my tail. Although the way you wield that cock is a nice second reason to keep you."

Nemek grunted, his cocktip poised on S'thkra's tailhole. "Well, I will have to betray that trust and stab you in the rear with this 'sword' in your tail."

S'thkra smiled and nodded, hissing softly, then louder as he felt her tailhole opened wide and her innards filled with thick dragoken meat.

Nemek stepped out of the steaming pool and walked outside the bathroom, dripping water on the wooden floor. Opening his wings, he shook them quickly several times, sending water droplets flying in all directions before flapping a few times to dry them.

He stood almost motionless for an instant, soaking on the morning summer sunlight that poured from windows and skylights across the suite. As much as he liked messy sex with S'thkra, he relished the sensation of his clean, naked body under the sun.

He grabbed a towel and started drying himself as he walked slowly towards S'thkra. She had left the pool a few minutes before, and was already dressed in her armor.

"Did I ever tell you how prettier you look when you are in armor, S'thkra?"

"Yes, often. Adulation won't save you from having to perform your duties when we return to camp, private."

"Yes, officer," Nemek said, chuckling. "Just don't punish me too hard. After the last two days, I'll need some time before my 'reservoir' is full again."

It was not often that S'thkra pulled rank on him. After all, she was just junior Commander compared to his ordinary private status. Still, rank was something S'thkra enforced only while in official duties, yet even then their camaraderie often negated the difference in rank. However, Nemek would never think of putting their relationship ahead of their responsibilities. Their relationship also ceased to exist whenever they were in the presence of civilians. While they chatted amiably, Nemek would address S'thkra formally, never by her name.

There was only one place where Nemek outranked the female, where she was completely under his power. Hugging her, he rubbed his crotch against her tail as he rested his snout on her back.

"I would fuck this body of yours again if it didn't smell so clean and looked so regal in armor."

S'thkra hissed, and turned to look at him sternly. "Is that what all females are to you? Fuck toys?"

Nemek grinned. "No. They are also to be fucked for babies."

The green female remained still. Only for a second. Nemek gasped as he suddenly found his throat getting slightly choked by her large left hand as she slowly lifted him off the ground. "Is that so?" she said, hissing slightly. "Tell me then, little brother in arms, what would you do if the claw of a much larger female closed around your neck, slowly taking your breath and life away from you?"

Nemek shuddered, holding onto her strong, thick arm with both hands, his legs starting to dangle in the air. His opened his eyes wide, a look of terror building in his face. "I would... *aakkk!* ask her if she..."

"Yessss?"

Nemek's face relaxed, and he smiled. "If she would... let a beautiful cock go to waste."

S'thkra frowned for an instant, then dropped Nemek as she burst out laughing. "Damn, Nemek, you're no fun! I can't scare the shit out of you anymore."

Nemek nodded as he knelt on the ground, coughing as he rubbed his sore throat. "You know better than kill another soldier. Much less your companion."

S'thkra smiled slightly, towering over the male. "Don't you rely on the honor codes too much. I would not hesitate to kill anyone who became a threat to the safety of the squadron. Or leave them behind in order to ensure the survival of others. Even if that happened to be you." She extended her right arm downwards, helping Nemek get on his feet. "Just as I would expect you to sacrifice me if I became a burden."

"Let's not think of such a day," Nemek said, slightly annoyed, as he bent to pick up his armor. He rumbled softly, holding his breastplate at arm's length. He admired the work he had done earlier in the day in polishing the armor, then pressed it against his chest, holding it in position while he latched it into place.

S'thkra sat on a chair, looking at the male as he dressed. "So..." she said as she sheathed her sword. "Where are we going now?"

Nemek rose to stand on his feet, bending as he tightened the straps holding his knee braces in place. "To the one place where I can pay my respects to the soldier I made my promise to."

S'thkra smiled, slightly licking her lips as she stared at the male's rump. "You never mentioned anything when you suggested we ask for a leave from camp. Though I still fail to understand why you asked for me to come along to this city."

Nemek grinned. "Maybe because I'm jealous?"

"Hah! You know very well any soldier who would even insinuate of having sex with me would find their tailbones broken in several places. If they are lucky."

Nemek tightened his vambraces, then stared at his own reflection in a mirror as he donned his head gear. "Well, I didn't ask you to also take a leave just so we could screw; we do that all the time at camp."

"Yes, but never as intense and as long as we've done here." She slapped Nemek's rump.

He laughed. "I just figured you could use the time off as well. Besides, we make a nice pair. I've noticed that female civilians seem to like seeing one of their sex pushing a male around."

S'thkra smiled. She took a few steps towards Nemek, then rested her chin on his left shoulder, looking at her reflection and Nemek's. "Don't give me ideas; I would probably wear you out sooner if I were to outrank you during sex as well."

Nemek fastened his sword and scabbard to his belt, signaling he was ready.

"So what was this promise?" S'thkra asked.

Nemek gestured towards the exit, and followed S'thkra onto the hallway outside the suite. "I was still a small hatchling, just six summers old. Back then, I was living with just my mother. I didn't have a father, nor I would for some time until mother married a farmer..."

I was no different from other hatchlings of my age. Playful, had other friends, and I had just started to be tutored in school. Except, I lived with just my mother. I was old enough to realize that I had only one parent while the other hatchlings had two. My mother had said that my father was still alive, but strong circumstances forced her to leave him. Though it didn't bother me much back then.

She was always a busy dragoken. She tended to the rooms at a local hospice, while I spent time with other hatchlings and getting tutored. It meant she didn't have much money to get us anything besides our food. We didn't have much, but I was happy. My mother loved me, and I meant a lot to her, perhaps more than my love for her.

The most mundane outings were very special to us. One particular morning, she went to the market to buy food, like she had done countless times before. And like as many times, I tagged along. Being a youngling, I hoped she could buy me a treat, though I was aware she wasn't always able to afford them.

It was summer, and the weather on that day was quite a bit hotter than usual. Mother looked at what the merchants had to offer, scouting their merchandise, not buying anything until she could see all that was available for buying. It meant we never got the best quality on everything, but Mother could never afford the best. I glimpsed a fruit vendor some distance away, at the other side of a street. He had several kinds, but the best of all were the decanas.

"Mom!" I shouted, tugging frantically at her leggings. "Look, fruit!"

"Yes, dear," she said softly as she tried not to trip from my jumping in front of her and incessant pulling of her dress.

I let go of her dress and looked straight in her eyes. "Can I have one? Please?"

She paused for a second, looking inside her small money sack. I imagine she probably was weighing her options, thinking what she would not buy so her hatchling could get a treat. It probably wasn't anything important, for she smiled as she handed me a coin.

"Here. But just one apple. Mom still has other things to buy, and I don't want you to ruin your appetite."

I still remember the look of that coin. It wasn't worth much, but it was money. After admiring it for a moment, I dashed towards the vendor. So happy I was that I forgot to pay attention where I was going. I was halfway through crossing the street when I heard my mother crying out in terror.

"NEMEK!!!"

The scream froze me, and I noticed I had stepped in the path of two horses pulling a carriage. The handler pulled hard on the reins as he screamed to halt the beasts, but they were too close, just scant meters from running over me.

I didn't even get to scream. Barely a second had passed when I saw a silver glow launch itself towards me. I gasped from the impact, and myself and some other dragoken hit the ground with some force. But I was far from hurt, not even a scratch. I noticed that an armored dragoken holding me close to him, and a small crowd that had gathered, looking at us. Just then my mind registered that I had been close to dying, and I started crying loudly from the scare.

I saw my mother dashing towards me, just as my savior caressed my snout horn. "Come on, eggling. Nothing to be scared about."

Mother knelt and pulled me away from the arms of the soldier, yelling furiously, which only increased the intensity of my crying. "What have I told you many times! Don't you ever do that again, you hear me?!"

"Easy, lady," a calm voice said from the ground. "I think the little one knows very well what he did."

Mother calmed down, and held me close to her chest as she rocked me reassuringly. "Goddess... I'm so sorry, officer. He means so much to me. Thank you so much for saving him, sir."

In between tears, I turned to face the voice of the calm male. The first thing I noticed was his armor; very polished and splendid. The soldier smiled as he rose to his feet, wiping dirt from his body and armor.

"My duty and pleasure, my lady." He knelt and looked straight into my eyes, his mouth curled in a gentle smile. "Are you all right, eggling?"

I nodded, teary-eyed. "I... wanted fruit," I said in between sobs as I wiped my eyes with my hands.

The soldier smiled. "Wait here," he said before he turned to walk away. Mother tried to calm me, talking in reassuring tones as she cleansed my face and wings with a small cloth. A moment later, the soldier returned with three decanas. "Here you go."

I shrilled, tears giving way to a smile of joy. Decanas were always more than what Mother could afford to buy. "Thanks!" He patted my head as I grabbed one of the fruits and clamped my greedily jaws on it. "But you have to share them with your mom, and promise me that you will be more careful from now on."

"By the Primal Egg, sir,"Mother stammered. "You really should not had bothered! Thank you," she added, humbled.

"My duty is to all citizens of the Empire, my lady. I'm glad to make the hatchling feel better."

With those words, he bowed to my mother and walked away. I watched him, fascinated by the glow of his silver armor under the bright sun. He bowed corteously to several other dragoken who praised his actions, and then he was gone, mingling with the crowd.

I was almost finished with the first decana, though I probably had smeared more of it around my snout than I had actually eaten. I was about to start with the second one when Mother grabbed the two that were left and put them in her shopping basket. I pouted and wimpered, but Mother remained impassive as she cleansed me once more.

"We will save these for dessert later tonight. And you heard what the good soldier said. You share them with your mother, right?"

I nodded and remained quiet. I knew Mother would not change her mind, no matter how much or how loud I begged.

It would take some time before she finished her shopping. The crowds in the market were starting to dissipate as the noon passed and the sun started its slow descent towards the horizon. It was the best moment for Mother to haggle a bit about prices, since merchants had a smaller crowd to deal with, and all their best produce was already gone. I was not hungry, but all I could think of were the decanas in Mother's basket.

We were -- finally! -- heading back to our home when I saw two soldiers standing in a corner, watching over the citizens that walked around them. Both were dressed in the silver armor; one of them, slightly taller, wore slightly more ornamental armor. The other, holding a spear in his left hand, I recognized as the same soldier that had saved me earlier in the day.

I tugged at Mother's leggings again, this time pointing at the soldiers as I jumped with excitement. "There's that good man again, Mom! Can we say hello?"

"Yes, dear," Mother said, smiling. "But watch as you cross the street. We don't want him to think we are not cautious."

I nodded. After looking everywhere to make sure there was no danger, I walked fast towards the soldiers. I was about halfway from him when he noticed me, and opened his jaws in a big toothy grin.

"Well, look who's here! Eggling!"

The other male turned to look at me, then smiled. "I presume this is the youngster you were talking about earlier, Kanth."

"He sure is, sir. And look at that -- he was very careful crossing the street! Good job!" He knelt to look at me. "Did you like the fruit, little one?"

I nodded vigorously. "Yes! It was good! Thank you!"

Mother finally covered the distance, as she walked slowly towards them. The higher-ranked soldier, the one with the more ornamented armor turned to look at her, bowing respectfully as he pressed his right forearm against his chest. "And you must be the hatchling's mother. I am sergeant Dromek, my lady. Of the 12th. Regiment of the Imperial Armies. And the soldier is private Kanth. He told me what happened earlier."

"I'm so sorry about it," Mother said, apologetically. "He's a storm in a hatchling at times."

Kanth laughed as he playfully held my head down. "Weren't we all as hatchlings?"

I pulled away, giggling, turning to look at them. "Are you soldiers?"

"Yes we are, my young boy," Dromek said as he bowed to me. "It is our duty to watch for the safety of the Empire's citizens, in war and peace."

Mother snorted softly. "It would take a whole squadron to look after this little troublemaker. He's got so much energy in him. He..." Mother paused, somewhat hesitant. "He is much like his father."

"Oh... don't say that," Dromek said. "He probably was too eager to get his fruit. I'm sure he's very well behaved, because he has such a good mother to look after him." I was much too young to understand, but I could not help notice his eyes gleam slightly as he looked at my Mother, like an explorer who had uncovered some small treasure. He barely took his eyes off her while he talked.

Mother lowered her snout, bashful. "Ohh... I try... the Goddess knows."

Kanth hissed softly, looking a bit uneasy. He squatted so his head was at the same level as mine. "I would be glad to take him off your hands for an hour, my lady, if you would like. I'm sure he would be no trouble at all."

Mother stammered. "You really don't need to. Surely you have some really important duties to carry out."

Dromek smiled. "It will give the private something to do. Other than saving the hatchling, it has been a very quiet day, lady. We are preparing for the Emperor's visit --"

"The Emperor?" Mother interrupted, somewhat surprised.

"Indeed. Nothing to be worried about. He has been traveling across the Empire, paying visits to the provincial governors, making sure all provinces are well protected. His majesty has even talked with the citizens. He is very eager to know what they need so the Empire can better provide for them." Dromek bowed again. "It would be a pleasure if I could invite you to some tea while the private takes care of your son."

Mother blushed. "Please... you should not bother."

I was wholly unaware of the attraction the sergeant had for my mother. Still, I was not to give her a chance to ruin the adventures I sensed lied ahead if I went along with Kanth. I held fast to Kanth's right leg, then looked straight into her eyes as I put my best begging face. "Can I, mom? Please?"

Mother sighed slightly, smiled, then nodded. "Very well, Nemek." She then pointed an accussing finger at me. "But you do as he tells you, or I'll be very annoyed and disappointed."

I shrilled with joy, jumping and flapping my wings. Kanth laughed. "Whoa, now don't you go flying on me, little one. I won't be able to follow if you do." He bent over to pick me up so I could sit on his shoulders. I held tight to his brow horns as he bowed to his superior. "We will be back in an hour, sir."

Dromek nodded, then dismissed Kanth. "No rush there, private. We will be at the Fire Lizards inn.

Kanth saluted the sergeant, then grabbed my legs to hold me tight, while I put my arms around his neck. "All right, eggling! You're now my honorary scout!" I screamed with joy as Kanth took off, wings half open as he jogged leisurely, spear in hand. "Watch out, evil doers! Nemek and Kanth are on patrol!"

I turned my head back to look at my Mother, and saw her and Dromek walking away from the corner. They soon disappeared as Kanth turned around a corner, and I went back to my appointed scout duty.

The whole experience was overtly fascinating and enjoyable. I was fascinated at the respect Kanth seemed to command by his mere presence, even from some dragoken dressed in regal clothes, the kind my mother would never be able to buy even in her dreams. Kanth showed me several renowned sculptures around the central plaza while giving me some history of the people and events behind them. We toured a court, and we walked close to where the Emperor was to live while he visited the city. I wanted to see the inside, but Kanth calmly explained the site was off-limits, even to him as a soldier.

"Only very important people get very close to the Emperor," he said.

"But you are very important!" I said. "You saved me today!"

Kanth laughed. "Yes, I'm sure of that." He knelt down, allowing me to step down from his shoulders. He tugged teasingly at my small brow horns before he addressed me, his voice somewhat solemn. "There... are some people who are very, very bad, Nemek. And unfortunately, some of those bad guys are also dragoken, like you and me. They don't want the good people to be happy, so they try to hurt us as much as they can."

"You mean, like those bigger kids that took my candy one day?"

"Somewhat like that, yes. But these people want to take everyone's candy. They want to hurt everyone. And they try to do so by pretending they are nice people, so they can get close to the Emperor. And if they do... they could hurt him. And that would make the good people very sad."

I cocked my head, puzzled. "But you are not a mean person. And I am just a small boy."

Kanth nodded. "Yes, we are. But the bad people, they lie. They pretend they are good people. So the soldiers who protect the Emperor have to be very, very cautious. So they have to turn away good people they don't know, like you and me, to make sure the Emperor is safe. You understand?"

"I think so."

The soldier smiled, then turned to look at the sky. "The sun is a bit low, Nemek. Your mother is probably wondering what kind of mischief you got me into."

I puffed my chest as I walked next to him. "None! I'm a good hatchling! One day I will be guarding her!"

"A brave hatchling like you should have no problems, I'm sure. Your dad will be proud."

"I don't have a father," I said matter-of-factly.

Kanth hissed, seemingly apprehensive of having stepped in some sensitive territory. "I'm sorry, Nemek. I know it is hard to lose someone."

I shrugged. "I've never met him, and Mom doesn't want to talk about it. She says she had to walk away before I hatched, because she wanted to protect me from him. It's like you said; mean people like to hurt others."

Kanth nodded, visibly uneasy. "I understand."

Kanth and I were fairly close to the inn where we would find my Mother and his superior, when he suddenly stopped. He bowed respectfully as a small group of soldiers marched down the street. Unlike Kanth, they wore golden armor, adorned with purple jewels that shone even brighter than Kanth's silver armor. And they attracted an even bigger sense of admiration from all other citizens on the street.

I turned to look at him, and I saw his eyes gleam, much like mine had done when I had first looked at him.

"One day it will be my turn to wear that armor," he muttered almost to himself.

"But you are a soldier. What is so special about them?"

He knelt to speak to me. "Yes, and I am very proud of serving the Empire." He pointed at the marching soldiers, already a block away. "But those are called Lancers. They are the best of soldiers of all the Imperial Armies. You have to be very good and very tough to be one of them. Many try to become Lancers, but only a few make it." "But you already have a lance," I said innocently, pointing at his weapon.

"Yes," he said softly at the same time he casted a slight disappointing glance at his lance. "Theirs is a very magnificent, weapon. Much larger and heavier. And to be able to take to the air... almost like dragons," he finished, some slight sadness in his voice.

I kept staring at them, not sure what Kanth saw. To me, he already was the best. "Have you tried to be one of them?"

"Not yet. I have been a soldier for a few years, and I've always done my best. Still doesn't seem to be enough."

"Don't worry," I said, trying to cheer him like he had done earlier with the decanas. "I will tell the Goddess tonight that you saved me. She will help you." Nemek smiled and looked at me, his eyes a bit misted. "Thanks, eggling. I'm sure the Goddess is busy with the world, but I've heard she loves to hear when little kids pray to Her." "Do you think She would let me be a Lancer too?"

"Oh, sure. But you have to grow up first, and you must always listen to what your mother says. Soldiers must always obey their superiors." He grinned, and I pouted somewhat, knowing where he was heading.

"I guess I can't be a soldier, then," I said sheepishly.

We made our way to the inn. The place was quite large, decorated with a few paintings of winged lizards belching fire, along with a few rusted weapons and shields that undoubtely had seen lots of action. Logs burned on a fireplace to the right, near the entrance. Some steps away from it, a curved staircase led to a few rooms on the upper level.

The inn was quiet; only the crackling of the fireplace and the soft murmur of quiet conversation as only a few customers sat around the tables. I looked around, but none of them happened to be my Mother or the sergeant.

I turned to look at Kanth, slightly confused and worried. The soldier looked at me reassuringly, but I saw him sigh, curling his lips slightly as if trying to figure out how to tell me whatever troubled his mind. He pulled a chair from one of the tables, and asked me to sit and wait while he turned to talk to the innkeeper.

"Excuse me, sir. I am looking for this child's mother. I was supposed to meet her here along with my senior officer."

The innkeeper bowed. "Yes, there was a couple here some two hours ago. They sat near the fireplace and ordered a few drinks, before... they went upstairs." The barkeeper chuckled. "Haven't left the room ever since. Lots of noise, too, if you catch my drift."

Upon hearing this, I jumped from my seat and began climbing up the stairs, calling out for my mother. "Mom?"

"Eggling? Come here, please," Kanth ordered.

Suddenly, I heard someone moaning. "Mom!" I shouted, climbing even faster.

"Shit! Nemek!" I heard loud footsteps as Kanth raced after me. I continued my frantic search, following the sounds I had heard. They came from a door not far from the staircase. I raced towards it and pushed it open.

Inside, I saw my mother lying on a bed, her wings open. The sergeant was lying on top of her. Both were naked, her clothes and his armor on the floor. I remember it seemed at the time as if he was doing push ups on top of her, except that his lower body was the one that moved, and quite fast at that. There was some loud slapping noises as his loins hit hers. He grounted and growled loudly, to which Mother replied with loud gasps and moans. And then I saw the one thing that froze me cold.

I saw it for a whole two seconds before Kanth pulled me by my shirt and closed the door quietly. He turned to look at me very sternly.

"That was a bad thing to do, Nemek! Don't run away from me again--" Suddenly, both Mother and the sergeant roared. I tried to run back into the room, but Kanth held fast to my tail and pulled me back.

"What are they doing?" I asked, terrified. "Is he... hurting my mom? She is screaming!"

The grunts and moans continued while the speechless Kanth forced a sheepish smile. I could notice that he was extremely embarrased. Grabbing my hand, he led me towards the staircase. "It may seem like that, Nemek. But believe me... your mom is enjoying it very much. It's... well, they are playing. Something adults do sometimes."

I grunted, somewhat disgusted. "But he was putting his piss thing inside her! Why would he want to pee inside my mom?"

Kanth could not help chuckle a little. He lifted me, carrying me downstairs on his shoulders, and towards a table. "Someday, eggling, you will know."

S'thkra chuckled. "I guess I can see your lust may be something you inherited."

Nemek curled his lips, feeling slightly insulted at the remark. "It would be a few more years before I finally understood what I had seen. Learned it a few years later, at the farm. I saw two horses mating, and I asked my stepfather what they were doing."

S'thkra gurgled with laughter. "Did you ever tell her what you saw?"

"Yes, at the dinner table, in front of my step family, when I asked her why she didn't have any babies from her mating with that soldier. Needless to say, it was a very embarrassing moment."

Nemek continued after a pause. "My stepfather knew about my mother's past; he had accepted her despite it. Both took me to my room, and they gave me a lecture about sex and why adults often do it for pleasure, even when they are not mated. It was a painful moment for me, for I realized why I had never seen my natural father. I was born as the result of another such encounter."

Nemek sighed. "Whoever my mother did it with, she would get very defensive whenever I wanted to speak about it, even after I insisted I did not hate her for what she had done."

S'thkra placed her left arm on his right shoulder pad. "Did you consider that maybe... she was raped? Or maybe... um..."

Nemek lifted a hand in a gesture to ask her to say no more. "A whore? Who knows. But I didn't blame her then, nor I do now. It must had been hard for her to raise me, not having a male to rely on when she needed it. Not to mention not having someone who would love her. And..." He smiled somewhat sheepishly. "She probably felt a bit eager to have some sex again that day."

Nemek slowed down as he noticed the gentle slope ahead of him. The path continued straight ahead; on both sides of it, stones of different sizes were arranged in lines, gently set on the soft grass. "Come on," he told S'thkra. "We're almost there."

After that incident, Kanth figured I could be hungry from having walked around with him, so he bought food for both of us. I still remember the taste and smell of it. I had never eaten anything that good before. Mother never had the money to buy anything but the basic staples. It only made my admiration for him grow larger, and I thought for an instant that being a soldier had to be very good if they got to eat so well. Upstairs, I could hear the muffled grunts and some laughter as my mother and her suitor continued their lustful games.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash outside the inn, followed by several people screaming. Instinctively, Kanth grabbed his spear and raced for the exit. He stopped there for a second, then turned to look at me. His whole body was tense; his wings didn't even flutter as he moved. He raced back up the stairs and barged inside the room where MOther and the sergeant were still going strong. After some loud exchange of words, he rushed down the stairs and back outside, not even stopping as he shouted to me.

"Nemek, stay there! Don't move until your mother gets down!"

I did. For maybe an instant. I walked to the entrance, and saw something I had never seen before then.

Kamogrons.

It would be later determined, after interrogating some of the stinky lizards, that they had fooled our defenses by crawling through the sewers. Like Kanth had told me before, some dragokens bent on hurting the Emperor had led them to the city, where they were to hide until the Emperor arrived, and attempt to assassinate him. But apparently the smell of meat being smoked over a grill had proved too strong, and one Kamogron had been unable to waitany longer. Coming out of the sewers, he was quickly discovered when he tried to steal the meat.

The noise from the terrified people only worked to draw out two more of his companions out of the hole. Like cornered animals, they started lashing at anything that moved close. They had already dispatched a couple of foolish but brave civilians who had tried to confront them. I was awestruck at the apparent disregard he held for his safety as he tried to get the Kamogrons to fight him and away from the terrified civilians. "Get the hell out of here!" he shouted at the citizens. "Call the other soldiers!"

Holding his spear, Kanth ran towards the closest one. The Kamogron hissed as it brandished its sword in a defensive posture. Growling, Kanth feigned several attacks with his spear, until he finally saw an opening in the lizard's defenses. Roaring, he thrust his spear forward, hitting the Kamogron in the stomach. The beast howled in pain, then fell to ground, the spear still impaled.

Kanth dropped the other end of the weapon and unsheated his sword, running towards the second Kamogron. For several seconds the two exchanged mutual blows, each time blocking the other. Kanth growled and opened his wings. Flapping them furiously, he managed to lift himself a meter off the ground at the same time he blowed dirt on the Kamogron. The confused lizard swung at Kanth, but he only struck empty air, exposing his back to the soldier. Kanth dropped to the ground and quickly impaled his sword on the Kamogron's back. The beast shrieked before it fell to the ground twitching as it died.

I was watching the whole scene when a sudden, powerful stench assailed my nostrils. I turned to look behind me... and saw another Kamogron standing behind me. His natural stench combined with the waste from the sewers caused me to gag and cough. He stood there for an instant, seemingly studying me before he let out a crazed scream. The scuffle of Kanth's fight all but died, as the other Kamogron turned to look at my attacker.

Through watery eyes, I saw the beast lift his sword.

"Eggling!!"

Once again I saw the silvery shape of Kanth racing towards me, pushing me aside. This time, however, he had no time to protect me from the fall. Nor did he protect himself. We hit the ground with force, knocking the air out of both of us. The Kamogron turned and thrust his sword came down, right in the small of Kanth's back. Horrified, I saw the sword pierce his armor, then continue to go deeper. Kanth screamed.

The Kamogron pulled the bloodstained sword high in the air, and fixed his eyes on me as he prepared to deliver another killing blow. He never got to. A volley of arrows struck him in the chest, face and throat, and he fell lifeless to the ground.

The arrows were followed by several soldiers in silver and golden armor rushing to the scene. Several of them looked at the open sewer grates, and after a quick discussion, jumped feet first into the depths, as more soldiers appeared.

"Nemek!! Nemek!!"

I turned to see my mother, slightly disheveled, screaming as she rushed towards me. Some distance away I saw Dromek, adjusting some straps from his armor as he raced towards the soldiers. She quickly lifted me from the floor, holding me thight and close to her chest. "Oh, Goddess!! Nemek, what the hell where you thinking! You want to kill me from despair? Are you all right!!?"

I twisted in her arms, trying to break free. "Mom!! Kanth got hurt!"

"It's... all right, eggling," Kanth said weakly as he attempted to stand up. "I... aaahhhkk!"

Kanth gasped and fell hard on his knees. Blood flowed from his stomach, running underneath his armor and staining the ground, as it became evident the Kamogron's sword had gone cleanly through him.

Mother and I screamed as loud as we could, calling for help. Almost immediately, a few civilians rushed towards the fallen soldier. After lifting him carefully onto a stretcher, they raced towards the nearest clinic.

The moons were barely visible over the cloud-covered sky, perhaps unwilling to shine upon what had transpired hours before. The streets were still somewhat in a turmoil, but only from citizens talking excitedly about the events. By then, the Imperial soldiers had found all the Kamogrons that still remained in the sewers, and had either routed them to where they could be captured, or killed those who refused to surrender.

My mother and I made our way to one of the clinics. I walked slowly, carrying two decanas in my short arms, while mother walked slowly behind me. I had never entered a clinic before, other than a couple times before when I had been sick. She asked one of the assistants for directions, and we continued down a hallway until we entered a large room. Several patients were there, most of them recovering very well from their ailments. I looked around, searching for Kanth.

Mother tapped me in the shoulder and pointed to a bed in a corner. A priest of the Goddess had finished blessing its occupant, while Dromek stood close by, watching silently. The priest bowed to the sergeant and walked away, revealing the wounded occupant. Kanth was lying on the bed, naked, his stomach bandaged yet blood stained. Dried blood coated his nostrils and pillow where his head rested. He remained completely unresponsive to what happened around him.

Mother walked towards the sergeant, and he bowed and saluted her. "How is he?" she asked. Dromek said nothing, but shook his head slowly in a negative fashion. Mother gasped slightly, then assented.

I made my way slowly towards the injured soldier. His eyes were closed, but he opened them weakly as he sensed my presence.

"Eggling..." he whispered coarsely. I could notice he was in pain, yet he extended a hand to pat my head.

"How are you?" I asked.

A faint smile formed in his snout. "Have felt better. Pain will end... very soon." He coughed, adding another blood stain to the pillow

"I... brought you these," I said, and put the decanas on the bed, close to his chest.

Mother bowed slightly to Kanth. "He would not eat them, and instead insisted in giving them back to you. He... says you deserve them more."

Kanth coughed, moaning as pain shoot through his chest. "Thank you, little one. But you... can keep them. I won't be needing them where I am going. But if there is food to be enjoyed there... it won't taste as good to me as these will to you."

I walked to stand next to his bed, then held to his right hand with both of mine. "Will you be on patrol soon, then?"

He smiled. "Not in this city, I'm afraid. I'm leaving... for a much peaceful place. My days as Imperial soldier are over."

I looked at him, slightly sad at the thought he would be leaving for another town, like a few of my playmates had done before. "But you said you wanted to be one of those Lancers. Are you scared now?"

"A little, yes. But only about what I will find where I am going."

"Can I visit you here before you leave?"

He shook his head slightly, even as pain shot through his neck. "I'm... afraid that won't be possible. I will be leaving today, eggling. The Mother Goddess has already called me."

I looked at him, somewhat happy. "She heard you? Maybe you will be a Lancer now!"

He smiled again, and extended his right hand to rest it on my head. "You're too young to understand. But soldiers... not all get to live to have our wishes fulfilled."

He coughed again. Groaning with pain, his left wing suddenly opened up, stretched rigid as if he were about to take to flight, and scaring me back to my Mother's refuge. He looked up for a few seconds, and lifted his left arm as high as he could. He smiled, his eyes fixed on something outside the room. Tears formed in his eyes, and he shook as if he had been washed over with pure ecstasy. His face seemed to glow, as if all his pains had been suddenly lifted away. I felt a sudden, strong sense of peace and unimaginable power washing over me, as well as Mother and the sergeant.

"Goddess..." he said, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I-- I never imagined..." He cried, with what I can only describe as sheer joy. "Me? A d-- drag-- Oh, my sweet Mother Goddess... thank you! Thank you!"

I looked around, wondering who he was speaking to, before I heard him call me. "Nemek, I am very happy that my path crossed yours." Kanth spasmed slightly. His wing folded as he slowly lowered his arm. "Take care... of your mom." He then turned to look at Dromek, and attempted a salute. "I'm proud to have served you, sir."

I turned to look at my mother. Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she sobbed quietly. Next to her, Dromek stood at attention, his right forearm pressed on his armor, wings fully open in a salute to one of exceptionally high rank. His eyes misted, and his voice was close to breaking as he spoke. "Safe flight, warrior. May you hatch brightly at the Goddess' side."

I took two steps towards Kanth's bed, then tried my best to salute as I had seen him salute, my right arm on my chest. "Kanth... I will become a Lancer for you. I promise."

Kanth spasmed slightly. He closed his eyes one last time, and rested his head on the pillows. "Yes... eggling. You will... and more..."

His chest pulsed two more times before he exhaled with a long, peaceful sigh, then stood completely still, as if his body were totally at peace.

"I made it, Kanth. As I promised I would do for you."

Nemek paused, looking at the glyphs on the rock laying in front of him. He traced Kanth's name with one finger before standing at attention for a full minute. He thumped his arm and vambrace on his armored chest in salute to one of highest rank. He bowed, then knelt in front of the tombstone. "Thanks for inspiring me. I wish it had been you who wore this armor rather than I. But I'm sure the one you are wearing next to the Goddess far outshines anything I could ever achieve as a Lancer."

Rising to his feet, he unsheathed his sword. He held it straight up for several seconds before lowering it down to touch the grave. "Until we meet again at the Goddess' side."

Sheathing the sword back into the scabbard, he bowed again and turned to walk away from the grave and to where S'thkra awaited. "Time to head back," he said.

She nodded, then walked after him. "What happened after he died?"

"Mother left the city five days after. She said it was time for us to move away from all the commotion, and for her to get a real husband. She sold most of our possessions and bought a ride in a stagecoach. All the time I wailed and complained about the rush, but she said she could never endure all the festivities from the Emperor's visit.

"Some time during our ride she met the one who would become my stepfather. They seemed to hit it off right from the start, and he invited her to spend a few nights in his house. He worked a farm with his own parents, and these gentle old couple were quite happy to welcome us into their lives. They even loved me as if I were their own flesh and blood grandson. Shortly after my mother married the farmer, and together they had a few children of their own. I could sense mother loved my stepfather, but it was as if part were missing." Nemek stopped, as if trying to get his bearings to where the hotel was located.

"Maybe because you, her first son, had been born out of a liaison?"

Nemek nodded. "One day I will go back to the farm and ask her."

The two Lancers had walked a few blocks when Nemek saw a sign hanging above a door. "What do you know? The Fire Lizards inn is still standing! How about some dinner, officer?" he asked, bowing slightly to her, following protocol.

"I accept, private," S'thkra said, nodding with a short bow. He opened the door for her, and followed right after. They stood waiting for only a few seconds before the innkeeper noticed their presence. He immediately dropped everything he was doing, shockingly pleased to see two Lancers in his inn. Nemek smiled; he doubted the innkeeper remembered the little eggling from years ago. The innkeeper led them to a good seat, then raced towards the rear, returning a few moments later with two mugs of his best ale.

S'thkra drained the contents in one swig. She turned to look at Nemek. "After this we should head back to the hotel and start packing. We were left a message earlier today. The High Command has assigned us to the station at Drukel Point. Kamogrons have been reported in the area."

Nemek groaned. "I bet you ten gold coins commander Dravenkar just wants us out of his life. Drukel Point is in the middle of fucking nowhere! Not even the Kamogrons are that stupid."

S'thkra grinned. "Well, we probably have given them enough sleepless nights. But you know what's the best part? Kreenok will be our commander."

Nemek laughed. "Are you serious? Goddess, he's gonna die when he sees me there!"

"So I have heard. Tell me, what did you do to gain that reputation?"

"Easier to ask me what I didn't do! Shall I tell you another story?"

S'thkra smiled, then bent over to whisper in his ear. "Not before you give me more of your meat."

Nemek grinned. "As you command, officer! Think we'll get clean sheets back at the hotel?"

"Hopefully," S'thkra said." The clerk at the counter didn't seem too happy when you mentioned the mess we made."

The sun had almost set by the time they left the inn. Around them, other dragoken where on the streets, while a few more lighted the oil lamps around the city. Nemek smiled as he saluted the citizens. Some of them were struck with awe, pleased to see two Lancers walking leisurely in the city streets. More than once he noticed some hatchling looking at him wide eyed, fascinated at the sight of a warrior.

Nemek beamed with pride. The next generation of soldiers was on its way.