Imperial China... Dragons?

Imperial China. They actually had royal dragon caretakers on the payroll. Logic says that this was due to them either having actual dragons (read: dinosaurs), or the Emperor had done off the deep end again. If they really did have dinosaurs they were almost certainly plant eaters … but that doesn’t allow us to imagine T-Rex cavalry fighting alongside stupidly large infantry armies, and that should be it’s own goal.

(#00105)

[AN: Given the nature of actual Chinese Dragons… I doubt they were dinosaurs]

Wen Li had believed he had landed the easiest job in the empire. Imperial Dragon Caretaker. Everyone in the country knew that dragons were invisible, immortal and only sought after the pearl of immortality for fun.

He expected his first day, and all the days after it to be lazy and overpaid. Nevertheless, it did good to show up for ‘work’ early.

The Master of Dragons cast a stern eye on him as he set up large baskets of fish heads. “Early,” he noted. “Good. I have way too many people who come in late thinking that this is one of the emperors’ little fancies.”

“It… isn’t?” asked Li, who had thought it was until the master spoke.

“It isn’t,” said the master. “Grab a basket, you are about to learn.”

There were six baskets and four other caretakers like him. Li lifted his basket and looked around.

“We feed the late boy to the dragon,” said the next-oldest caretaker. “If the dragon spits him out, he is never late again.”

Li managed to summon a chuckle to join the others’ laughter, all the time thanking his luck and the spirits who gave it to him. Yet, at the same time he had to wonder if he wasn’t the subject of some elaborate prank. Perhaps the emperor needed a laugh.

They came to a high wall, but this one was also covered by a gigantic, bamboo cage. Li had seen it from the streets and thought it an aviary of some kind.

But no birds flew here.

The master opened the smaller door in the large gate and ushered them through. He followed, closing the door and locking it.

Li put his basket into the appointed spot, following the lead of his elder caretakers, and stepped back, and gaped.

They were giant snakes, half a league long. With feathery eyebrows and whiskers. And strange, half-legs with five toes. Imperial dragons. Their scales shone like gems in the sunlight.

The master summoned them from the air with a tune on his flute and Li had to wonder how they could fly without wings.

Then, as they snapped up the fish like cats, Li had to wonder why the emperor could keep anything that smelled that bad.

Their long bodies rolled like waves all the time.

“Which one is the water dragon?” he asked. “Which one is fire?”

“Boy,” the master announced, “you have much to learn about real dragons.”

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