Page 15 of Training my Human

“Not one bit. Bossy, too.”

“You do realize if word gets out about him, you’ll have trouble.”

“Then you best not speak of me in taverns, lest the hunters find out I am here,” Little Fella chimed in, showing he was still listening.

“I won’t say a word,” Maddox promised. “However, it just takes the wrong person seeing or hearing him and you’ll have more than just the curious on your doorstep. I wouldn’t be surprised if the government swoops in to confiscate him.”

“Assuming he’s not first kidnapped and sold to some rich person who’s always wanted a pet dragon,” I added, because that had been my first thought. “I honestly don’t know what to do.”

“Once again, you will serve me, and my new male servant shall protect me until such a time as I can do so myself,” Little Fella stated matter-of-factly.

“Hold on a second, what do you mean protect?” Maddox questioned.

Little Fella rolled from his warm perch to waddle close. “It is customary for dragons to have a retinue made up of humans. Some as servants to tend to my needs, and others as guards to protect my wellbeing from ne’er-do-wells. As the latter, you shall have to outfit yourself in armor and acquire some weapons. From what I’ve observed of current fighting methods, you’ll need some firearms.”

“Listen here, bud, I am not shooting people,” Maddox declared.

“If guns aren’t your preferred choice of weaponry, then, by all means, use a sword, but my understanding of guns is that their projectiles can travel great distances.”

Seeing Maddox overwhelmed, I chose to step in and divert the conversation. “How is it you know so much stuff? I mean, I can kind of wrap my head around you learning English by watching television, but you know all kinds of other things, things about dragons that you shouldn’t. Like the thing about them having a retinue or how many sheds before your wings will pop out.”

“We are hatched with the knowledge of our maternal progenitor.”

My eyes widened. “You have your mom’s memories?”

“No. Personal incidences and interactions are not passed down, but anything they learned is. Language, customs and culture, the facts of our biology. It is all there for us to access.”

“Genetic memories,” Maddox murmured. “I know there’s been some studies on certain species that seem to indicate it’s possible, but not to this extent.”

“That is because dragons are much more evolved than the rest of the beasts in this world.” Little Fella puffed his chest. “Now, after such a fine meal, I must evacuate and rest.” With that, he waddled to the trailer door and waited for me to open it.

But I had a question. “Exactly where are you planning to shit? Because I’m telling you right now, I am not cleaning up after you.”

Little Fella eyed me with annoyance. “I am not an untrained animal. I use a chamber pot of course.”

“Chamber pot being?”

“That thing you call a toilet. Now, open the door, woman.”

Without hesitation, I let him inside only to silently curse.

Fuck me. He had me trained as his butler already. I returned to the fire and a stunned-looking Maddox, who remained standing and staring at the trailer.

“Holy shit,” the man exhaled. “Never thought I’d meet a talking lizard.”

“Don’t you mean dragon?”

“No fucking way.”

“Is what I said.” I inclined my head towards the fire. “Time for another beer?”

“Might need more than one,” Maddox muttered as he flopped back in his seat. “This is some insane stuff.”

“You don’t say,” I replied, handing him a bottle from the cooler filled with ice.

“Do you really think he’s a dragon?”

“Who knows?” I took a swig and swallowed before adding, “Doesn’t seem so far-fetched when you consider everything else. I mean, he literally hatched in fire.”

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