Mind Games & Market Forces

(Disclaimer: All creatures in Elderia pass the Harkness Test)
After cleaning herself up and changing, Bixi escorted me to the Praetorix's office where the elder Jefferton was looking over a map of coastal communities that had been raided with attacks by Andea's crusaders marked in blue and vikings from Kaldgrim marked in red. The number of small flags was depressingly numerous.
When Bushrod looked up to see me slithering about in mid-air the Praetorix's eyes turned cold. "I thought I made it clear that I wanted..."
Bixi cut her human employer by raising her hand. "My lord." She said very carefully. "You made your intentions quite clear, however. Your granddaughter was not wrong. She and the dragon are magically bonded. Should the connection be severed, were this dragon to die, the consequences to Ilithyia would be catastrophic, likely fatal." The old man's complexion turned ashen as he sat back in his chair and stared off into the distance. "My lord. This is not bad news. The dragon is on the submissive end of the bond. Your granddaughter can control this beast, it is incapable of acting outside of her interests and feels compelled to obey her will." Bixi explained. "As far as the dragon is concerned, Ilithyia is the dragon's domina and the dragon will die for her." As the gnome spoke, I reached out with my mana and began to massage the mortal's mind. Enthralling the Praetorix was childishly easy.

"So. You are saying that we have nothing to fear from this dragon, and that, for all intents and purposes, it is domesticated?" The Praetorix asked.

Bixi smirked. "I am saying that, after examining this dragon's nature and properties. It is safe to say that your granddaughter's pet here." Bixi stroked my head and I am not ashamed to admit it, I purred. "Is without question one of the most valuable creatures in all of Elderia. A creature of producing unfathomable wealth for whoever owns this dragon." Bixi said with a self satisfied smirk.

"When you say 'unfathomable wealth' you are not talking about trying to turn lead into gold or any nonsense like that?" The elder Jefferton asked.
Bixi laughed. "No my lord. Nothing so silly. Perhaps a demonstration is in order."

***

"You are sure." The ranger asked Bixi. "Because these arrows have some heavy duty enchantments on them."
"If you are willing to use an explosive arrow, all the better." Bixi responded. "The nastier the better."
"Alright" The ranger said. "Goodbye."

There was an thunderous BOOM which sent stones and dust flying through the air. Bixi stood there, unharmed and smiling, the protective aura shimmering around her. "Again." She said.

The ranger fired arrows of frost, fire, and thunder, expending a dozen enchanted projectiles. None of which could penetrate Bixi's protective shield bracelet. "Amazing." the archer said. "and it is self casting?"

Bixi pointed to the eye shaped gemstone on her bracelet, the gemstone blinked. "If it sees the attack coming, it will try to block it. But this is only the beginning." Bixi said. "The dragon created this wonder of managineering in a few minutes. There is no telling what other self casting enchantments the dragon is capable of producing." Bixi turned away from the ranger and got closer to Bushrod. "But my lord. This is nothing compared to the beast's real value. As you are aware, most dragons are infertile. Among their kind there are exceptional specimens who are capable of producing exceptional offspring at will, molded to fit the desires of their draconic progenitor." The gnome mage had the biggest grin on her face as she informed the Praetorix that "after thorough examination and careful study, I can certify that your granddaughter's pet is a prime breeder."

"You are joking." Bushrod said.

"Not at all. Let me show you the results of my experiments."

I opened a portal from my pocket dimension. Out of the swirling vortex a hulking scalespawn led two horses by their bridals. It took the Praetorix a few moments to realize that the horses defined gravity as easily as I did. I cannot blame him, the elder Jefferton was distracted by the sight of the two naked blonde nubiles riding bareback on the flying horses.

The two horses landed and knelt to let their riders dismount. The two girls looked like sisters, even if they were not of the same species. One girl was a tall statuesque scaleborn. The blue and gold scales that adrorned her body in various places matched her hair. Her sister shared the same blue and blonde hair, but otherwise looked just like Bixi. The scaleling, scaleborn, and scalespawn all knelt at Bushrod Jefferton's feet. """Master.""" They said in unison.

"Master!?!" Bushrod asked. "Bixi, are these your..."
"Not the horses. Those are Lilyclop's and Butternut's" Bixi said as if it explained everything. "What matters is that yesterday they did not exist and today they are fully grown, highly trained, magically gifted, and legally your granddaughter's property."
I could see the lust, greed, and temptation in the Praetorix's face as he looked at the half-dragons. I could also see the awe and wonder at the flying horses.
"Perhaps my lord would like to have one of these girls saddled. Take the filly for a flight before getting to know your new slaves a bit better." Bixi suggested. "I can have the girls prepared and waiting for you when you get back."

Bushrod did not need my magic to think that this was a good idea. "Capital!" He exclaimed before turning to the scalespawn "fetch my saddle and riding crop." The Praetorix commanded.

"Riding crop!" One horse said. "Please Master. I will be a good girl. I can run really fast without getting hit."
"Don't be such a foal. If Master wants to smack my ass, he can do it all day long." the other horse said.

Everyone present except Bixi and I were shocked. "They talk!?!" The Praetorix asked in a tone which sounded both rhetorical while still demanding an answer.
"These two do." Bixi answered. "The dragon chose to give them the gift of speech along with flight. Is it a problem?"

"No." Bushrod said. "Just shocking. If they are trained and broken..."
"""We are. We know it is our place to serve The Master Race.""" The two flying horses said in unison.
"...If they are properly domesticated, then their ability to speak might prove to be a novelty." Bushrod said.

The Scalespawn brought the saddle and placed it on the chestnut haired masochist. Bushrod mounted his newest, most magical of chattels and took to the skies with shouts of elation and joy.