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Everyone knew where Sir Ronald lived, according to Tobias. The lad had explained that the knight's estate was once an outpost when the area had been pure wilderness. It was still pretty much in the middle of nowhere and as close as anyone would willingly live to the so-called "Dragon Wastes" as the human boy termed my country. Considering its history, it was not surprising to find that it was the only fortified structure for a hundred miles in any direction. Tobias had said that a chest high stone wall encompassed the estate, one of the first additions when the area had first been colonized to the old outpost. Tobias knew nothing of the interior of the estate which was not surprising given his own limited contact with the other villagers. He only knew that, in case of emergency, the estate was the place to gather should the village itself become unsafe.

From up high, it was easy to see that whatever defense the estate offered, it would not be adequate to fend against a dragon, even one much smaller than myself. Behind the wall, there were subdivisions of the fields, two seemed to be in use for planting while the rest of the space had animals roaming across it, horses mostly, but also some sheep; they were left to intermingle. As for the estate building, Tobias had described it as though it were the peak of opulence and I supposed it was... for a frontier shack. Three stories tall, the wooden building was cleanly built and had only small windows. The manor was expansive, though I doubted there was, in fact, enough room for all the humans in the village in case of true emergency. The roof was not thatch at least. I occupied myself as we flew off to the side with the image of the place burning to the ground and a more suitable den being constructed in its place.

As I touched down in the woods outside the wall, I could not help but let out a hiss as Tobias jostled the bolt in my hand as he jumped down. He muttered an apology I barely heard. When I was down, I crouched, my paw to my face and gnawed at the bolt, worrying it with my teeth like a splinter; which was an apt comparison. However while the shaft quickly split, the head remained buried in my palm. I cursed the fact that I had not eaten the man who'd caused me this pain.

"Uh-oh..." I heard Tobias say and immediately, I wanted to vent my frustration on the boy.

"What is it?" I snapped, smoke curling from my nostrils.

My display was enough to make Tobias back off a few steps. "I... I'm sorry, but I've got blood on me... your blood."

I snorted with a sharp intake of breath, immediately focused. "Come here." I said with some urgency and the boy complied. With a quick sniff, I smelled the blood - my dragon-blood - splattered over his dress trousers. The bright red glistened as if freshly spilled, the metallic specks sparkling despite the gloom under the trees. "Hold still." I said and extended my tongue. If it was unnerving to have a large, hot - and probably smelly - tongue the size of your body slick across your legs, the boy shut his eyes and showed no sign of it. In one stroke, the trousers were left completely clean, if a little damp.

Tobias shook the loose pants which were the right length, if rather large about the waist for him. He said with wide eyes, "That's amazing, I thought they were stained for good..."

I snorted again and said out of hand, "Like seeks like. My blood knows where it belongs."

The lad rubbed his chin which was scruffy with incomplete growth of his brown hair. "They say that a man who drinks dragon blood with become twice as strong as an ox."

I rolled my eyes, "They say a lot of things about dragon blood." I turned my gaze down on the small human and raised a claw, pushing against his chest with the smooth side of one talon. "But all you need to know is that if I hadn't just removed my blood from you, it would have poisoned you by nightfall. I wouldn't be surprised if you have a fever tonight just from that little exposure."

Tobias quickly removed his hands from his trousers. "Really?" he asked.

For once, I was more than happy to assure him. "Absolutely." I lied. I knew for a fact that my blood was not poisonous to humans... in the traditional sense of the term. But dragon-blood had deeply misunderstood properties and it was just best to leave it were it belonged. Dark were those who tinkered with it, be they alchemist, mage or even dragon himself. Besides, humans did not need another reason to attempt to kill dragons.

I was about to begin elaborating what I wanted Tobias to do, when he spoke first. "I saw you having trouble with Father's bolt. Would you mind if I tried to remove it for you?"

I looked at the boy guardedly, but then laid my palm out for him. I knew that with his tiny little hands, each of which was far more nimble than my own clumsy paws, he stood a good chance of removing the biting splinter where I'd failed. Tobias hopped up onto my claw and knelt beside the wound, cautiously distance of the small pool of dragon blood at the base of the shaft.

"Damn..." the boy soon cursed after a quick tug on the remaining shaft. He cleaned his hand with alacrity, using a small handkerchief. "My father used a steel serrated edge. I'll have to make a small cut to get it out."

"Leave it." I said, "I can deal with it later. Let's-"

Tobias interrupted me, yelling over my deep, forceful voice. "Please! Let me help you."

I answered by relaxing my shoulders and peering off into the woods. I noticed however, when the boy drew the sword at his hip from the decorative scabbard. My eye widened in surprise. Again noticing my reaction, Tobias said, "It's the only thing I have... It's just a decorative sword, but my Pa sharpens anything in the house with an edge on it. Just look away a moment, I've done this before..." I rested my head on the ground away from the operation. I heard Tobias mutter under his breath, "...on deer carcasses." I sighed raggedly and closed my eyes.

I felt pressure as Tobias first tried cutting against the scale, but evidently my armor defeated the blade because he withdrew without tugging on the bolt head. He then manipulated the cut and I felt a fresh stab of pain as he inserted the blade along a crack in the scale. It was a monumental effort to keep my hand still. No one had ever treated any of my wounds since I had emerged from my egg. It was an alien experience and, surprisingly, a little frightening. "Just hold still. I'm pulling it out!" shouted Tobias. I clenched my teeth and saw stars beneath my heavy eye lids. I hissed and growled and pulled my hand away, but Tobias was already clear. I saw him chuck the bloody bolt head into the woods and wipe his hands again on his cloth. I took a few deep breaths and flexed my hand, the pain was already fading. The blood, though liquid, densely clung to the small wound and it would scab nicely. The single broken scale would fall out and be replaced without any visible sign in time. I grunted in acknowledgement to my improved state. "Come close and I shall tell you what you are to do..." I said.