Divided Morale

Seth stared at the last paragraph along with the remaining page, left half empty in disbelief. That was how the story ended? "How…stupid," he muttered as he turned the page. Reading the title out loud, he pinched his brows together in annoyance. "Prince of the Stars." He had heard this story before. There was nothing related to Titania in it, at least he assumed as much from what he remembered about it. "Why would the story just end there?" He wondered.

Seth's train of thought was derailed when his wyvern suddenly snorted a foul, heavy breath from above. It reached down and nipped at him, trying to playfully bite his head, catching his dreadlocks between its large fangs.

"H-hey! Not now," Seth snapped, trying to push his mount away. Too late. Once caught in his jaws Hyde it was impossible to escape unless Seth finally gave the attention he wanted. He sighed as he shut the book and carefully placed it in his satchel. "Fine. You want attention that bad?" He asked as clasped his hands on Hyde's jaw once more, this time scratching at his chin.

Being one of the few spots of a wyvern that was soft and leathery, their jaws were particularly sensitive. Those who a wyvern didn't trust would commonly snap at them out of self-protective measures, especially if a sensitive nerve was plucked or stabbed, even by accident. Yet Seth always seemed to know the right areas. He listened to Hyde grumble and felt the vibration in his throat and he when he felt a rapid churning sensation he knew he had found the area that was irritating him. "There you go, buddy. Nice and easy now," he muttered.

Hyde grumbled and nipped at Seth's dreadlocks again before lightly clamping his jaw over the top of his entire head as though he were about to decapitate him. Seth made no motion to escape. Wyverns were not known for being playful normally, but Seth's wasn't anything like a "normal" wyvern. He was obedient from their first meeting some odd number of years ago when Seth was still an apprentice.

He was a northern black wyvern, which meant they were prone to a slightly more playful nature than most. This had been what Seth and everyone had always said about Hyde. Yet the truth was even for northern black wyverns, Hyde was more friendly than the stable masters had ever seen, and only to Seth for that matter. That was the only formidable thing about him. He wasn't very large, nor a wide wingspan, large claws or fangs. By appearance, he seemed like any other black wyvern they'd see circling the northern skies. Atop its head were two twisted horns and its tail spiked at the end with a stinger. Poison. And strong enough to kill a man almost instantly.

"My, my. Seems you're due to have your teeth brushed," he teased, voice muffled inside Hyde's jaws. A soft slap at his neck and he immediately released him. "Alright. Let's get moving. Today we're patrolling the skies in the eastern ward of the city." Seth hoisted a saddle onto his wyvern's back and fastened it tight under his belly.

"You going to start behaving?" He asked as grabbed his helmet. Seth, he tugged at the reigns and guided him from the stable. Hyde snorted and shook his head about. He bucked his hind legs once outside.

"No? That's too bad. I guess that means no rabbit tossed into your meal tonight. Hmm?"

Hyde snorted and sank to the ground as though he understood every word. He lowered his wings, leaving no obstacle for Seth to climb onto his back.

"That's better." Seth tucked his book into a leather satchel on the saddle and made certain the buckle was tightly fastened before taking the reigns. With just a light tap of his heels, Hyde stood, flapped his wings and soon enough they were airborne.

Today was sky patrol for Seth. Given the state of the world, they weren't looking for the potential threat of invaders, but instead to keep their eyes on the clouds, the warmth and strength of the winds, and the sights of dangerous galesclaws. Such creatures were known to be particularly excited during the summer. Such creatures were usually invisible to the naked eye. Soldiers were commonly trained in ways to identify them when the winds shifted violently, sporadically, and too frequently to be natural weather occurrences. So far their tactics had a thirty percent success rate. However, when the wind sliced across an exposed cheek and left a scar and blood, it became abundantly clear that a galeclaw was in their midst.

On that day Seth could rest easy on the winds, feeling nothing but a gentle breeze as he glided over the kingdom. Within seconds the entire world shrank below him. Vey so often he'd glance down to assure nothing suspicious was happening in the city streets and then he'd let his mind clear away to a polished state. Hyde climbed high on the wind and then soared.

Most wyverns were stubborn and slow but Seth and Hyde flew like they were the same. He could steer Hyde through almost any obstacle, over the castle watchtowers, around the sharpest turret, and dash across the city and the sea. His nose was bombarded by the sharp sting of salt and ocean water as he dived closer to the waves. Seth reached a hand over, attempting to touch the surface, and almost fell over when Hyde gave a playful jerk.

"Trying the drown me?" He shouted.

Hyde grumbled in response.

He wasn't patrolling. Seth admitted as much to himself. Right now, he was taking advantage of his assigned position to play, to feel the wind in his face, and let his worries be washed away in the tide. This was the only chance he'd have. Ever since their kingdom had closed it's gates, no one was allowed outside their home, let alone on pleasantry flights or voyages. It'd felt like the entire world had come to a screeching halt even if it was still rotating.

Just a minute longer and then he tugged on Hyde's reigns, steering him back towards land.

Seth saw the woods in the distance and his mind went to Sin. He could fly over there, quickly. Perhaps he'd be awake. Would it matter if Hyde was with him? It wasn't like his wyvern could speak. And if he could see him, then what harm would it be? Seth's mind wandered, imagining Hyde being stubborn and neglectful towards him, but surely he'd warm up to Sin soon enough. They could go flying together. Just the thought of it made the dragoon's heart flutter. He felt lighter.

What a sight it'd be - a naked man hitching a ride on a wyvern, holding himself around a dragoon in full armor, twisting and ducking through the trees until they spearheaded into the clouds. Maybe Sin would be able to play a song or two. He smiled at the thought: both of them sitting on the back of his wyvern, gliding peacefully over the clouds, facing each other as Sin played on his harp or violin.

He wanted to fly to the river right then to see him. Just as he hitched his heels up, ready to send Hyde speeding away until his concentration was broken by shouts from below. Seth forced hesitation, tugged at the reigns, and nearly tumbled as he looked over the side. He was flying over the city streets, empty save for the guard in pursuit of two people in tattered clothes.

"Damnit. Well- duty calls." He didn't know the full situation, but he was a royal guard with an oath to upkeep. Seth straightened himself up, pulled the shield of his helmet over his face, and steered Hyde.

They dived.

His lance was at the ready in his left hand and he gave a firm pat to Hyde's head with his right. "Let's go, Hyde." As soon as they were close enough, he jumped. Seth's body rocketed into the sky, spinning and twirling in the wind. He spun his lance in a display of acrobatics and then plummeted down. He saw Hyde land first, cutting off the two's path forward. His wyvern roar and beat its wings, pushing them back with a booming force.

Right on cue, they turned to run back. That was when Seth's spear penetrated the stone street and created an explosion of dust and rubble.

He heard the screams of two people being pursued, and their attempt to flee back only to see they were caught between a dragoon, the knights, and a wyvern. There was nowhere for them to run. "Sorry to drop in," he said as the dust began to clear. "What do we have here?" So long as these two children cooperated then nothing would get ugly.

Wait.

Seth blinked, puzzled by it all now he saw clearly who was being detained. They were only children, now cowering in fear of being killed.

The knights caught up, swords were drawn and shields at the ready for combat. Whatever was going on here was surely being blown out of proportion. He stepped forward and stabbed the spear into the ground twice. "Hyde!" Two more stabs echoed. It was a signal that told his wyvern to calm down. Seth stepped forward. The steel of his boots clicked against the ruble of destroyed stone as he approached the two kids.

"Sir Seth!" The leader of the guards called out from behind. "Thank you for your help in capturing these pesky criminals.

Criminals? Seth raised a brow, looked at the two, then back to the guard, and then back to the kids again. "Really? And…" his eyes scanned them, noting the wooden pales they had. Their contents had since been dumped into the street. It was only water by the looks of it. "What was their crime?"

"These two are out during restricted hours. Citizens were ordered to stay in their homes at certain hours depending on the district. This area is off-limits. Our orders and punishment were made absolute. They are to be detained and imprisoned!"

Seth turned to face the captain of the guards. His grip tightened on his lance, furious. These two kids were only retrieving water. For themselves? Family? It didn't matter the reason. Whatever it was, if they knew the risk of being caught out in the open then it must have been worse than being in jail. Even still, to detain a child as though they were adults for something so trivial as this…

He turned back to the children and knelt beside them to offer his hand. "Tell me, where do you both live? Are you siblings?" Neither of them answered, too frightened of already-promised punishment. Seth paused and then reached down to pick up the two buckets. "If you tell me I'll swing by later with both of these full. That's all. I promise."

"What in the name- Sir Seth!" The captain raised his weapon and stepped forward.

Hyde immediately stomped and snorted. He spread his wings and leapt forward, dividing the rode and shielding Seth and the kids from knights if they dared to take another step.

Seth glanced behind him and mentally sighed. He'd be getting in trouble for all this. Possibly more than the kids would have been if he had just detained them right away. Still, he turned back towards them and nodded his head. He tugged the shield of his helmet back to show his face and then slowly held his hand out. "Here. Take the buckets and get home, okay? I'll let this slide just this once."

Again, the children remained silent with fear until the shorter of the two timidly stretched a hand out. Then, he pulled back. "Um…" he gulped. "The…the Murky Fishtail."

Seth tiled his head, a bit confused. He knew the place. It was one of the most popular taverns in town. Is that where they lived? Were they the owner's children? That would explain why the needed the water so bad. It was probably for the parent's business. Seth nodded his head and swung the two pales over his shoulder. "You got it. Now both of you, run along home, okay?"

They nodded and quickly scurried off.

"You insolent little-"

Hyde snapped. He swept his tail, tripping the knights. "Down, boy!" Seth ordered with a quick jab with his spear at the ground. "Heel!" Hyde obeyed and slithered quickly to the dragoon's side. As he tied the two buckets to his saddle, the knights got back on their feet.

"I should have your spear and helmet for this," the Captain roared. "You are a dragoon of Scaleshire and are to uphold his Majesty's authority! Give me one reason I shouldn't take your head for this right now."

"I swore no loyalty to the king or the law," Seth spat without hesitation.

"You are to uphold the law of the land. Failure to do so will cost you your honor and dignity. Give me one reason I shouldn't take that spear from you this instant."

Seth glared at the captain, but after a short, deep breath, he calmed his nerves and began.

"With hearts as free as the sky and minds as solid as the earth, a dragoon's duty is to preserve the dignity and peace of the nation. I will cast aside selfishness and wealth in place of generosity and kindness. I will defend those who cannot defend themselves and uphold justice by being fair to all. Hold faith in love and loyalty to friends. Cast aside pride and cherish humility. Let it be a teacher. Forgive those just as I'd hope to be forgiven in my own mistakes. Speak with honesty and keep my word, always. By this oath, I swear to all and take up this lance for the greater good of Scaleshire."

The very oath he had sworn just a few years ago. Seth's voice was firm. His face was stern. Inside he was free of guilt or shame. He knew he had done nothing wrong like this knight argued. "I swore an oath to protect the peace and to defend the innocent. There is nothing in the dragoon's code about detaining children for wanting water, nor anything about upholding the law His Majesty decrees. But there was talk of forgiveness, generosity, honesty, and keeping promises. All of this I have done and will continue to do."

The children were trespassing. He let them go so long as they agreed to go straight home. He saw their need for water and promised to deliver it to them, himself. Help those in need. Keep his word. Seth didn't want to spend another moment in the knights' company.

"Hold it." The captain barked as Seth was about to hoist himself back onto his saddle.

Seth ignored the man and tugged at Hyde's reigns.

"Sir Seth, I'm warning you. Leave now and risk being charged with treason!"

Seth looked down at the captain. Hyde snarled. Smoke fumed from his nostrils. "Should such a judgment come to pass then let it be my highest honor." He took to the sky and scouted for the closest city well.