“But Mooooom, Dad isn’t back yet,” Jarix protested, jogging just to keep up with his mother as she made her way to her stables.

“I know, but I have been told I have to go and that is that,” she dismissed him, almost out of hand.

“But-”

“There is no ‘But.’ You are staying here in the city, and when I return you best not have caused any trouble not worthy of a story, understand?” Her words carried a finality; there would be no discussion at all. She didn’t even look back at him.

“Uuuh… Dad says to not cause trouble at all.”

“And I am your mother, act like it,” she said before making her way into the shade where a few of her friends were playing cards. They stood up and gave her salutes as she started telling them important things.

Jarix nodded slowly, but she didn’t see. That was good, since he wasn’t sure he knew what she meant. It was the first time in a long time that he had been staying with her without his father around. But Archeon said he needed to go do something that was dangerous, so Jarix wasn’t allowed to come along. And they were already in the city, so Jarix went to stay with his mom instead. It had been a bit strange, and lots of fun, sometimes. His mother did seem quite busy even though she said she wasn’t doing anything. But there were so many other interesting people around. 

Dragons training to be soldiers, dragonettes telling all kinds of stories his dad said he wasn’t allowed to hear. And his mum didn’t tell him no, even if he asked. It would be fun, he thought to himself. Even if he wasn’t quite sure about her not being here. He didn’t know anyone else here that well. He would have to make real friends, but everyone was so much older too.

“So… where do I go? Stay here?”

“What? No, of course you aren’t staying here,” Glira dismissed before turning to her captain, talking some military talk Jarix didn’t really understand.  

Jarix stared at her a bit, thinking she was going to say where he was then gonna go. But no answer came. “Muuum, where do I go then? Am I coming with you?”

“Dear gods no. Your father would have a fit, much as you could do with some practical education, even if you aren’t much good at flying yet… No, you are staying at the carers of course.”

“The carers?” Jarix knew what the word meant, but he’d never heard of these carers before. 

“Yes, the day care. Or week or month, however long it will be.”

“Oh… where is that?” Jarix questioned innocently. He didn’t know anything about a daycare. He wouldn’t know anyone there, and that didn’t sound like much fun. He would be alone. He didn’t think he’d ever been really alone before.

“A little further into the city. I shall drop you off before we make ready to depart. The ground commander will let your father know in case he is back before me.”

“How long is that?” Jarix was starting to feel like this wasn’t something he wanted to do. But if there was one thing he did know, it was that his mother was a scary woman. He did not want to cross her. You could say no to dad and it would be fine, though he might insist. Jarix didn’t know what would happen if he said no to mum. But he had heard what happened when others did so.

“They didn’t bother telling me, so I can’t tell you either. A few weeks, maybe a month I would guess. And they are paying through the nose to cancel my leave, useless bums can’t catch a damn thing.” She leaned down to Jarix’s eye level, her head almost as big as he was. “Never ask a green to do a blue’s job. Remember that. One day you’ll hunt down bastards all across the kingdom, I know it. Even if your father doesn’t.”

She stood back up again, and Jarix gave a cautious nod. “Now, pack what things you want to bring. “Ariel, help him out, would you? One sack should do.”

---

Inside the thick wooden walls of the Annhauge Carehome– often referred to as the Anthill – things were going smooth as ever. Tatiana was crying following a tug of war with a fellow red which had led to a triumphant Adler chewing on the toy’s head. Gorel and Vitu, the pair of blues some 12 years of age, were playing tag in the rafters, something Miss Ann herself had told them repeatedly they were too old for by now.

Luckily the place had been built with unruly draconics in mind, and not of the dragonette variant. No beam measured less than 12 inches on the cross, yet the various incidents kept the carpenters busy. Endari was still wearing a muzzle following last week’s attempt at smoking a leg of boar at the table. She would soon be too old for the home. It wouldn’t be long before she would truly be able to breathe fire, rather than producing a few drops of the incendiary goo.

In the young girl’s defence, the smoke produced was quite delightful. She had apparently filled her mouth with wood chips of her own making, using what fire she did possess to kindle them in her maw and breathing upon the meat. Ann was certain she would make a fine chef one day. Assuming one wasn’t squeamish.

Drisa was still staying with the physicians out in the sandpits outside of the city while her sickness persisted, the poor little thing. Ulri was quite upset about losing his best playmate. Most of the others were older than the measly 3 summers he sported under his wings. Hopefully someone young would come by to lighten up his day. Or, even better, poor Drisa could shed her sickness.

With so many dragons it was tireless work to keep them all fed, entertained, and at least vaguely orderly. Many a dragon entrusted not just their young’s temporary safety to homes such as Annhauge’s but much of the raising as well. To that end the home employed many carers selected for not just their amenable demeanor but also physical prowess. Tangling with 150 kilos of young dragon intent on not going to bed yet took a certain kind of person. 

Gardinia was one such carer, labouring under the watchful gaze of headmistress Ann. Tending to the future of the kingdom was no trivial task, nor was it one they took lightly. All too often they were alone in this belief inside the house’s walls. The children certainly did not see it that way, and often their parents regrettably agreed.

Today seemed set to prove the notion as Gardinia stood for a moment staring up at the quite venerable blue dragon sporting not just armor but a set with a multitude of scars and dents, denoting her as a veteran of many battles beyond mere lip service. Curiously there was even a large warhammer looking device affixed to her tail. 

The home was only for members of the Royal Guard. They were often away from home for lengthy periods of time, and the guard could ill afford them taking years away from the service to rear any young that may come along, least of all as a result of any unsanctioned deployment activities. Gardinia certainly had plenty in her care who were essentially raised at the home for one reason or another. It pained her to know that Tatiana’s parents were still in the city, and yet they hadn’t even visited the home all week.

She silently wondered if she had perhaps forgotten something as the older drake remained unmoving and unspeaking. She did not know the dragon, and she was quite certain they did not have any young who were awaiting pickup. Then from behind what she assumed to be the mother came a quite young blue indeed. Head held low, he meekly plodded forwards. She didn’t take him for much more than 3 years of age, maybe 4 at a push. It could be tricky to tell with blues when they were young, though the degree of chubbyness was often a good indicator.

“Took you long enough,” the warrior dragon grumbled as her spawn trotted forth.

“Sorry mum,” the youngling answered as he went to stand in front of Gardinia, seeming confused at what to do now. Behind him came a soldier carrying a sack of what must be belongings, setting it down beside the young child.

“Just a few bits and bobs, something to chew on, that sorta stuff,” the gruff woman explained with amusement. At least the soldier’s heartplate denoted her as a member of the royal guard, something the dragon seemingly lacked.

Gardinia nodded, though she still looked at the dragon with some confusion. “I am terribly sorry, but I am afraid I have not made your acquaintance yet.”

“Glira, 3rd wing capital garrison, soon to be first patrol wing Fort Hosin. I need you to look after him for some time. His father will be back in a few weeks, or perhaps a month.”

She waited for a moment for any further explanation, even simply the name of her son, but nothing was forthcoming. Gardinia sighed, but she nodded. “Of course, whatever you require. We shall ensure his safekeeping.”

Often the parents of their charges would be overly nosey, wanting a say in every matter of child rearing except being there. But there were depressingly many who seemed to care little at all. Especially under arms. 

“Any special requests?” It was the best she could come up with for what would clearly be a brief handover.

“Try not to baby him. I need him strong and fierce. Not simply strong like his father,” the gruff blue replied.

“Of course, ma’am. I am sure he shall find plenty of rough and tumble company here.” It was no unusual request, and at least it was something beyond “Whatever, just don’t bother me about it.” And judging by the redeployment it did seem like this was as unplanned to the mother as it was the home. ‘Let us try not to judge the pudding before the tasting, you never know. She may simply have a lot on her back at the moment.’

“Oh and do not punish him for showing a bit of spine. He could use some,” she was quick to add with a nod of finality.

Flashbacks came unbidden of young drakes stealing each other’s food, bedding, toys, or trying to escape. Even the few cases they had of young dragons trying to use force against the staff. Or, much worse, using their nascent breath to try and stir up trouble when they were older. Such cases were not tolerated at the home and would see the offender banished to the sand pits where they may be disciplined by their own kind until an understanding of the responsibilities they carried could be instilled.

“We will be sure to keep it in mind,” Gardinia replied with her finest smile. She had no intention of assisting in raising some undisciplined brat. But of course that was not the same as raising a pushover. Looking at the young kid perhaps there was truth to the matter. He did seem overly meek. Then again, she imagined most might be so in the presence of a drake like this Glira.

The older blue gave a curt nod then looked to the little one. “Well then, Jarix. I will be back at some point. Try not to do anything I wouldn’t be proud of.”

The cautious nod from the kid betrayed that he didn’t know what that might mean. ‘There is hope for us yet little one.’ 

---

As the door shut behind them, Jarix spied his mother already walking down the street with her back turned as she talked to her crew, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart as the slit closed up, leaving him staring at nothing but some old dark oak.

‘Why does she always have to go do things…’ He sighed audibly, lowering his head. ‘It’s because I’m scared and little… isn’t it?… It’s not my fault I’m small.’ He let out a sniff just as the woman behind him spoke up quite loudly as she sat down his sack of things.

“There we are.” 

He turned around to face her, surprised by the outburst as she brushed herself off. Maybe the sack was dirty.

“Welcome to Annhauge’s, I am Gardinia. And who might you be, young man?” she carried on, loud and energetic.

Jarix was quite taken aback as he struggled to answer. “J-Jarix.”

“It is jolly nice to meet you, Jarix. Now, what do you say we go and say hi to some of all your new friends? Have you ever been to a carehome before?”

“N-no.” Jarix wasn’t quite sure about any of this. What if it was a bunch of larger kids? Wouldn’t they just bully him? Chester did that when he stayed at the trading guild with dad. Wait, was that a home for dragons? Normally he would just run around the guild hall, he might have been wrong. “Oh, sorry. Uhm. Yes?”

“Really now, which one?” Gardinia was quick to ask as she crouched down in front of him, meeting him on his eye level.

“I uhm… The trading guild?” Jarix tried, hoping it was the right answer.

“Oh I see. Might your father be a trader then?”

“Oh yes,” Jarix replied quickly, giving a nod. “But he is far away right now, going somewhere dangerous, so he said I had to stay with mum.”

“Well no need to worry, I am sure you will have lots of fun here until he is back. You wouldn’t be the only one here with parents in both the guard and the trading guild, you know?”

“I’m not I… huh.” Jarix didn’t know if that was in any way special, but she sure did make it sound like it. 

“Yes, I know Tatiana has a mother who is a trader. You don’t often see reds like that.” The woman stood and turned to head further inside the building, Jarix looking up after her. “Come along now, let us go say hello.”

Jarix was quick to start plodding after her to see where she was going.

They emerged into a large tall room, with many thick rafters criss crossing the ceiling and little rooms built in between them all. Like many little caves almost. His mother had a cave, and it was quite nice. But these were dragonette sized caves. He had never seen that before.

As he looked around there were people and dragons. Maybe as many as 10 dragons. And at least that many dragonettes, too. Most of the dragons were bigger than him, which did worry him a little bit. But there were some who didn’t look that much older. One even waved at him, a black dragon. He waved back, feeling a little unsure. 

“Now everyone! Gather round. We are meeting someone new today,” the nice woman called out, all the activity in the room coming to a halt as they all turned to stare at Jarix. He felt himself shrink under their gazes but remembered what mum had told him. He had to make her proud. He knew she was cool. He needed to be cool too. So he straightened his back and raised his head, almost all the way up to the woman’s stomach.

“Good, thank you. Oh. Adler put that down please, it isn’t yours. I am sure we can find a rope for you if your teeth are itching… Thank you. Yes, now everyone say hello to Jarix. He is Glira’s son. Do any of you know her?”

“Hoooo big scary hammer lady, daddy talked about her. She’s mean as fuck,” another blue dragon said aloud, sounding proud of what he had to say. 

“You know very well we don’t talk like that. Shall we have to wash your mouth with soap?” Gardinia corrected in a tone that sounded almost like Jarix’s father when he did something he shouldn’t, like that one time he was playing with all the deer skins to make a cave in his fathers stall.

“Fuck that.”

“Very well, that does it. Ginli, hot water please.”

The look on the young blue’s face betrayed the threat was probably serious as a dragonette nodded and walked through a door to what Jarix could only presume was some sort of torture chamber. 

“Nuh uh, I only said it once,” the young blue protested. Jarix thought he might be 10 or 12 years old. He was much bigger than Jarix for sure. He looked cool. Glira definitely wanted him to say ‘fuck.’ But dad would be very mad probably. And Gardinia would, too. ‘I will say fuck later… I wonder what it means?’

“No Vitu, running will not help,” Gardinia said, Jarix’s attention snapping back to the young blue who was now trying to climb the rafters up as high as he could go. Jarix looked to the woman then back to Vitu, who kept climbing yet no one seemed to be going up after him.

It didn’t seem to bother Gardinia much as she looked to the other dragons. Some were on the floor, with another blue laying on a rafter looking down at him. 

“Well I suppose someone shall have a hard time tasting dinner tonight. To the rest of you, I trust you will behave and make young Jarix here feel welcome. 

“Hey kid, is it true that your mother ate another dragon alive?” the blue already up in the rafters asked. He looked to be about the same age as Vitu. Jarix just stared at him, mouth hanging open a little bit. He had never heard anyone say that before. And his mother did like to tell everyone about what she had done. “Go on, spill it. I bet she smells like blood, she’s wicked.”

Jarix nodded cautiously. If they thought his mother was cool, maybe that would help him. It couldn’t hurt, could it?

“Now Gorel, I am sure she has done no such thing. We do not cater to brigands here, and such a crime would surely see you ousted from any sort of posting with the guard.”

The young blue just smirked, making himself comfortable.

“Miss Gadi?” the young black that looked to be about Jarix’s age questioned.

“Yes Ulri?”

“Do we still get to go to the forge tomorrow?” 

“Please, I wanna try being a blacksmith,” an older red pleaded. Not that much older, though. Perhaps 7 years of age.

“No need to worry, we will be going of course. You could all use some fresh air. Though someone might not be coming.” Gardinia looked up into the rafters. “Hear that Vitu? Are you sure you are gonna remain in hiding?”

After a moment of silence she looked back down to the assembled dragons and staff. “Apparently so. Very well. Now, Jarix, why don’t you and Ulri see if you cannot have some fun with the building blocks? In about an hour it will be time to go outside for some fresh air, then we are going to be having lessons. Just stick with Ulri for today, you will be just fine.”

“Oh, okay,” Jarix replied with a nod before looking to the black who was about his age. The other dragon smiled warmly and even did a little shake before running off towards a big pile of colorful wooden blocks.

“Go on then, don’t leave him waiting.”

“Oh right, hey wait up!”

---

“The process takes several hours. As it drips to the bottom you pick up the drops with the iron rod, and throw it back inside to pass through once more,” the nice man explained. He was covered from head to toe in black dust, but no one seemed to mind, though one of the dragonettes that was with them didn’t seem very happy when she got some of it on her skirt. Jarix didn’t mind. He had never seen a place like this before. It was all so very wild. Even the big dragons thought it was cool. 

He liked it here so far. They got to go and see things, there were always so many people around, and Ulri was very nice. He was currently trying to stand up against the furnace to get a better look before one of the carers pulled him back.

“No now Ulri, be careful. It is very hot.”

“Aye, don’t wanna get yah snout burned off.”

“But it feels warm.” The little black dragon pleaded, snout getting a little closer before he was pulled back to safety.

“Sir! siiiir. When it has gone through enough times, is it steel?” Jarix questioned. One thing he knew for sure from both his mother and father, steel was important. And good steel was very expensive, and even rare. 

“No, sadly it is not so easy. This be iron when we done.”

“But it was iron before, too?”

“Yeah, I heard you say it was iron that started.”

“Pig iron little ones. Hard and brittle. What comes out be bloom iron. No good for nothing yet. That is what is taken over there where yee friends are to be worked with the big hammers so it becomes soft and ductile. That be called wrought iron. No good for arms’n armor though. But worry not, we make the steel here as well.” 

“How do you make steel? Is it very difficult?”

“My mother really likes steel.”

“Oh I’m sure she does.” The man chuckled warmly. “Come along, I’ll show yah. And ye can say hi to Karl, Otto, Wallo, and Finner. They be the reds that work the crucible forge and our hammers.”

Ulri and Jarix were quick to move after the man as he started to walk off, soon overtaking him. Ulri got a bit distracted by a big pile of charcoal. Enough that he proceeded to jump into it.

“Ulri!” one of the carers shouted, Jarix turning around in shock at the loud noise. A confused looking black dragon’s head soon popped up out of the pile. “Urhg, we just got you clean this morning. What is it with you and dirt?”

“It’s not dirt, it’s coal. He said so.”

“But you will be all covered in soot and dust.”

Ulri looked down at himself, seeing nothing wrong. “No I’m not?”

“If it helps, ma’am, we do have some baths for dealing with the contaminants. No one works in a furnace without getting dirty. Mark of the trade, probably should have left the white scarf at home.”

“It’s miss,” the carer corrected a touch coldly, though that did not seem to upset the man at all. He just grinned and kept walking. “Come along boys, you’ll like this, trust me.”

He wasn’t lying. They got to see the big hammers, which were very loud. Though it seemed very boring to be walking around all day to pull the big wooden beam thingies to make the hammers go up and down. The nice man explained that the dragons were Wallo and Finner, and they couldn’t say hi right now as they couldn’t hear anything. Their ears were plugged to make the hammers less annoying. 

“And here is the crucible forge. We take the wrought iron and pack it with charcoal inside a crucible. These two lovely gentlemen then take turns blowing the forge till it all melts together into lovely, lovely steel. Ain’t that right, boys?”

“Sure do,” one of the big reds replied, looking down at the gaggle of kids. Adler and Tatiana had joined them while the older boys were still at the hammers where it looked like they may have some sort of competition going on. Jarix was happy to be here, though. He would never win against them.

Jarix was about to ask a question when the red drew a deep breath and blew into the large pipe that stuck out of the forge, the other drake pulling his head away to look at them all. He was a big dragon. Not the biggest Jarix had ever seen, but he was very large. And quite old. Older than his mother for sure. 

“What have we here, then? Heino, did you bring some new apprentices?” he jested, eyes looking to Adler, who started to wobble with excitement.

“Yes!” 

“Oh I see an excited one. Tell me, have you gotten your fire yet?”

“No, but I will soon. I’m seven. It won’t be long.”

“Ahr very good”. 

With that the dragon went back to blowing and the first red pulled back, looking to them once more. “Apologies, we must keep the temperature quite constant or it won’t work. We make only the finest steels here, even when we have visitors.”

“Is it hard, blowing that much? It is a lot of fire.”

“Oh yes, it is difficult work. We try to do two firings a day. Wallo and Finner do another two. For the rest of the day we work the hammer or carry our things to and fro. Wallo’s furnace requires quite a lot of charcoal, you see.”

“Wallo made the big furnace with the drippy stuff?” Adler questioned, clearly intrigued.

“No, no he did not. But he was the one who decided how it should be done. It is not his first one, and his father taught him before that. A dragon can remember for many years, you see.”

“I can’t remember what I had for breakfast.”

“We didn’t have breakfast, Adler,” Ulri was quick to note.

“Oooooh.”

The dragons switched once more, the older and larger one speaking up. “And we take the day off if it is raining. We have been wondering about getting a roof. But we quite like the days off.”

“Oh that sounds fun, what do you do on your days off?”

“Sleep mostly.”

“Oh.”

---

“Is this what it is always like?” Jarix asked Ulri enthusiastically.

“No, today was a special day. We don’t have enough special days,” the little black responded as they padded along down the street.

It was very busy and they weren’t all as fast as the older kids, so the carers were making sure everyone stuck together in a big group. Jarix had been out and about many times, mostly with his dad. But he wouldn’t be walking by himself. It felt strange to look up at all the people going about when out on the streets. 

“When is the next special day? I don’t know how long I will be here for?”

“Miss Tartar, when is the next special day?” Ulri questioned the carer who was keeping up the right rear of the safety box full of young dragons.

“I believe we have a field trip planned in another 5 days. We are going to be visiting some spinning halls out north of the city you see. They may not employ dragons there, but others like it do.”

“What do they do at a spinning hall?” Jarix questioned, tilting his head. “Do they walk in circles like they did at the hammers and the big sticks?”

“No no, they spin yarn and threads there. For clothing.”

“Ooooh, I thought you made clothing from dinner?” Ulri questioned, eyes big with wonder. 

“Yes that is called leather, dear. I am sure we shall visit a tannery as well some time… hopefully followed by a thorough bath.”

“Is it because you think I will get all black but like, more blacker again?”

“No, no Ulri, they do not use coal in such places. But it is awfully smelly.”

“Ooohhh. My daddy said if dinner is smelly you shouldn’t eat it.”

“Yes the chefs are still quite upset with you for calling their lovely pork roasts smelly and refusing to eat them.”

“But they were smelly?”

“They smelled of herbs and delightful spices. Not rot and decay.”

“I don’t like herbs. Or vegetales”

“Yes we know dear, but one must eat a balanced diet to grow big and strong.”

“My father always said the same thing,” Jarix added with a sage nod. His dad had been very particular about what one should and should not eat. Especially in the stall he had. Tartar did seem relieved by his announcement, which made him quite happy as he looked ahead to the bigger boys and girls. “If it smells, don’t eat it. It could be bad, or worse Expensive.”

“Oh look look it’s Tarek! Quick Jarix come on, you have to meet Tarek,” Ulri then broke out, snatching Jarix’s attention away as up in front the others had come to a stop. A young blue dragon was standing in the road, the other dragons starting to array around him. “It’s Gorel and Vitu’s big brother.”

He looked older, maybe 20 or 25 years so he towered over them and there was a dragonette sitting on his back in a saddle. He had some really cool looking harness as well, and a bunch of bags and satchels. Jarix wanted that, too. He couldn’t carry anything around that was his unless it was in his mouth, and that sucked.

“Yeah, I just came back from the Grey Peaks up north. Had to fly through a storm, it was totally gnarly,” the young blue spoke as the children all listened with reverence. “But we got the shit and got paid, so I’m gonna go get a side of tirox for dinner I think.”

“Tarek we would appreciate a slightly more appropriate tone around the young, please,” Gardinia pleaded. She was in charge of the special day out and had been leading them all. 

“What?” the blue responded with a tilt of the head. 

“You said shit,” Ulri helpfully pointed out from the back of the pack.

“Oh, hah, sooooryyyy,” the big blue dragon mocked in reply. Gardinia didn’t seem to like that one bit. “Where is Vitu at? Did he break a leg again?” he then questioned, looking to Gorel, the oldest blue dragon at the home right now.

“Nah man, he got like totally in trouble for saying fu- something he’s not allowed to,” the blue dutifully reported.

Tarek started laughing at that. “Fucking idiot, everyone knows you get your mouth washed with soap for shit like that.” The smug grin he gave Gardinia as she stood there fuming almost had Jarix repeating ‘fuck’ aloud on sheer reflex. He was so cool. In a few years maybe Jarix would be just like him. Tarek had to be a courier of some kind. His father wanted him to be a courier too when he was old enough. It sounded fun. You just get to fly around all day every day.

“Oh don’t you look at me like that Gardi, I ain’t yours anymore. Hey Jako, get the thing would you?” Tarek requested, throwing his head back towards his rider. Said rider slipped down from the saddle in a fluid motion and went to rummage through one of the saddle bags, producing a package. “For the pair of ’em.” 

The rider handed over the package to Gardinia. “Might help make him behave for a little bit.”

Gardinia’s expression did soften as she nodded to the older drake. “I shall be sure to deliver it once he has repented.”

“You evil woman.” The drake chuckled as the rider got back on. He didn’t even seem to care that there was someone climbing on him. Jarix was still small enough to be picked up by a dragonette. It was totally unfair, it meant he couldn’t even decide when he needed to take a bath.

“Just because we didn’t do such a standup job with you, Tarek, does not make me evil.”

“Nah miss, the soap makes you evil.” He chuckled again. 

Jarix was so confused. Did they not like each other? If so, why did he seem happy?

“There is no harm in strict discipline. We do not raise brigands or roaming poachers here. You seem to have turned out… well enough.”

“I’m fucking killing it. See yah,” he went with a wink, turning about. He gave Gorel a quick salute and after a single stride he leaped into the air. Banking right and flying low over the crowd he vanished behind a building, leaving many young dragons staring up in awe.

“Woaaa… That’s gonna be me one day…”