“Two Kings”

Author’s Note: This is a Take Ten to Write story and has not been proofread for errors. If I feel inspired or if there’s interest in the story, I’ll post a revised, edited, and extended version at a later date. Happy reading!

He peered over the hill, listening attentively for the telltale sound of wingbeats. At first, there was nothing. Only a light wind blew through his hair, mussing it up after he had combed it to perfection that morning. He let out a grunt of annoyance and smoothed the strands back down.

As soon as the last hair was back in its proper place, a roar blew over him. He stumbled backward, falling on his butt, and knocking the back of his head against the ground. But this time, his hand didn’t dare move to fix those errant strands. All his focus was on the creature rising in front of him.

It was one thing to expect the arrival of a magnificent beast. It was quite another to actually witness it.

He could only stare, jaw hanging and eyes wide, as the creature rose above the hill. His only thought was of how the legends didn’t do it justice; it was so much more beautiful, more elegant, more ferocious, more powerful than any story he had ever read.

The creature hovered before him, nostrils flaring and tongue flickering in and out. It fixed him in its gaze before giving a curt nod. A sign of respect, king-to-king.

Final Comments: I wish I’d given the man a crown at the beginning… Then again maybe he decided to not wear a crown because he was going to meet the dragon. Maybe it was because he didn’t want the dragon to know that he was a king. Or maybe because he didn’t want the dragon to steal his crown. Huh, so many possibilities…

Overall Rating: 😄