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Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies

Chapter 19: Guarded

Veledar had always considered himself a good flier, if not the very best. It came with being a dragon obviously. His wings were vast, powerful and allowed him a greater freedom then all of his earth-bound companions. They always got him out of situations, he could weave through canyons with a little practice. So, when Voidwing passed him his blood in his veins boiled.

How could this be? He snorted, pushing himself harder to pound frantically at the air with his outstretched wings. Eyes narrowed on those black and silver tipped feathers as his heart pumped strongly in his ears. True he had Krotos to fly with him and the gryphon had been slightly faster then he, but Veledar had the stamina, the endurance to carry through and achieve victory.

Voidwing to his utter frustration had both. The gryphon couldn't even glance back to tease him with a wink or boast of his skill like a proper dragon or gryphon would. His feathered foe instead drifted along with a neutral face, staring out to the mountains like he didn't have a care in the world nor a dragon currently chasing after his tail. He snarled in the back of his throat as he knew the blue kittybird would have made a lewd comment about that, and this was no time for that. He had a gryphon to defeat.

Breaths came heavier as his wings started to protest with the frequency of his flaps. Each one sent rippling sensations through his powerful limbs with the urge to at least stop and glide. How could he stop though with the faster gryphon just out of his reach? All he had to do was keep pushing himself until he passed him. Just until they reached the smooth dark rock on the horizon that they had set as the finish line.

The countryside they soared over was dotted with streets that had seen many wagons in their time. Thin lines marked their passing that were not overgrown with thick limbed plants. It was like nature was trying swallow whole what the mortals had built. Part of him relished at the idea, but there was a more rational part that realized the problem. It meant that no one had been this way in a long while. That was when he almost hit a treetop with his forepaw.

At the time of the race he had said they should do this for fun, would be exhilarating to watch everything whip by them as they kept up the pace. Course now he was regretting such a choice. He now had to twist and turn at mere moments to avoid the pointy tops of trees that tried to ram into him.

"What's the matter red scales? Like da look of dat gryphon's bum?" Merlia laughed loudly from behind him. "I know I be getting a nice view!"

Don't focus on how close they are. Keep your eyes on the prize. He growled in the back of his throat, once more listening to the phantom gryphon's laugh about how his prize was watching Voidwing's rear sway back and forth as they flew. Not that. But the ability to lord it over the other gryphons...Remind them that dragons were the best fliers.

With a snort, air laced with hints of ice filled his lungs. They tingled from the effort, his second wind suddenly flowing into the rest of his limbs, and things that had been tired suddenly didn't seem so anymore. It was as if someone had healed him or had him swallow healing potions.

"Think you can beat him?" Arcturus' voice was filled with a tad more worry than the dragon would have liked. Did this human think he was going to lose? That _his_dragon could be bested by two feathery cats in a display who rightfully owned the sky? It was dragons who ruled the sky!

"Of course I can!" He roared, closing in on Voidwing in a manner of moments. His human's cheer to egg him on only brought more power into each movement, he could almost taste sweet victory close at claw. All he had to do was narrow the last small gap between them, then push beyond that. Although, to his dismay that's when the gryphon suddenly shot forward.

He had been playing with him. There was no other explanation for it. While Veledar had been pushing himself to catch the feathered bird, the gryphon had been lazily drifting along. With a final burst of speed, the black gryphon sped towards the rock with a joyous chirp.

No! Veledar tried to roar his frustration but breath soon failed him as that black and silver wing tipped gryphon passed the smooth rock below and achieved victory that should have been rightfully his. The red dragon tilted his wing and circled the jagged stone of granite that seemed to be some beasts scratching post if the sections that had been torn away were any indication. Probably a dragon if he had to guess. After all what could be greater?

That Gryphon's flight skills obviously.

He narrowed his eyes on the pleased with himself gryphon who was getting cheers and pats from his princess of how great he was. How magnificent his wings were. Better than that red dragon. Veledar snorted his frustration into the air with a long breath. Arcturus' touch upon his neck was nearly forgotten with his next flap of his wings to stay steady and sway of his frilled tail.

"Hey you did good, You can stop looking so miserable now. You can't win at everything."

"Oh please." He rolled his eyes, angling his wings and soaring for a blue glimmer he had spied overhead as they flew. He passed over a series of thick branched trees with white and brown bark that looked like someone had wrapped the poor thing in layers upon layers of cloth. He rumbled as a lake appeared before him, nestled within the forest and surrounded by a sandy looking beach. He spiraled downwards, landing on the soft ground with a bumpy trot, refolding his wings only briefly as he strolled over to the water's edge. He dipped his head with a deep spine-tingling sigh before lapping at the cool liquid with little grumbles every now and then as he thought about the kitty birds method of embarrassing him in front of all his mortals. Despite Arcturus' continued use of soothing and kind words, Veledar didn't register them as his friends gathered around him with cheery smiles and squawks. It was if they had _fun_with the whole contest, and it wasn't a serious matter of pride.

"I am not mounting him dwarf! Honestly I'd rein your thoughts in sometimes!" Voidwing scamped over to the water's edge, kicking up some sand before bounding beside the dragon and joining him in his lapping drink.

"Aw but what be da price o losin den? Ya can't go tellin me it was jus fer fun!" Merlia crossed her arms across her chest as Krotos gave her a glare.

"That's what I'm saying!" Voidwing's voice cracked as his ears splayed widely on either side of his heat ina cute way that made Veledar chuckle into the water in amusement.

Good. Let him be embarrassed. It's what he deserves. "As fun as it would be to see two gryphons go at it like horny wolves I must protest. We need to stay focused on the adventure at claw." He pulled his head to full height, water dripping down in copious amounts from either side of his snout. Veledar spun around in the sand, stretching his wings wide and wiggled his tail. Even Arcturus ran a hand along his neck which made him want to wiggle even more as a rumble began to work its way from the base of his neck to the top.

"Sounds like to me someone doesn't want to admit that the bleedin gryphon was a better flier!" Lyndis laughter grated on his senses as he turned away from her, grumbling to himself when it spread to the others.

"That is what you'd think little elf is it not? Truth be told that I let the gryphon win." He clenched his muzzle, grinding his sharp teeth.

That sounds good.

"He looked rather dissatisfied with his own self, so I figured in my great humbleness that I'd let him experience a moment of victory. What better way then by besting a dragon in flight?" He gave a fake sigh, closing his eyes and being rather pleased with himself at such a humble reply. Surely, they would appreciate his good manners. He curled his neck to Voidwing, offering the head tilted gryphon a gently and gracious bow. "You're most welcome gryphon. No words need to be shared to express your gratitude. I can see by your flicking tail that you are simply brimming at the seams with wonder and awe for yours truly." He placed a claw firmly to his scaled chest, lifting his lips and putting on his stunning teeth on full display. He swayed his snout so that they all would get a good look. Give them something to lighten their spirits for the day ahead.

"Hogwash!" Lyndis shouted, shaking her fist at him. "

"Aye!" Merlia added, throwing her head back into a hearty laugh. "Dat be one of da longest yarns a dung ya ever spun dragon! Ya actually had me dere." She doubled over, smacking her leg with her gloved hand. "Let him win he says." She gasped.

Her sounds made his frills ache to the point of shaking his snout to clear his mind. When Arcturus of all people joined in the laughter, he almost flung the human off for his utter rebellion. It was enough to ruffle his demeanor. Lucky for the metal wearing male he rather liked him on his back, not to mention having his heart. So, he told the man so and that shut him up quick. Apologies soon poured from the man's mouth and were like sweet symphonies to Veledar's ears. Unfortunately for the dragon the others would not be so dissuaded of their laughter so easily. He tossed his head, galloping across the sand with gritted teeth. Veledar jumped into the sky, rippling the water beneath them as he ascended with a tight spiral into the cloud laden blue expanse above.

Let's see them laugh away and keep up with me. He curled his head and made a mental note to charge them even more coins at the end of this little adventure. Their shocked faces when he displayed the itemized list would surely bring delight to his heart that would shine like the sun. Pride coursed through his veins as his companions that had been so busy with their laughter now scrambled to get into the air and give chase after his tail. It was almost as if they had expected him to longue around like they weren't on an adventure or something. He pushed it from his mind as easily as he traversed the currents, bringing he and the handsome human on his back swiftly above the branches and leaving the drab world of the land behind.

Though his wings were a tad sore he didn't admit it. Better he pushed through then grovel and complain like a newly hatched little one. Besides, it would make the touch of the paladin so much sweeter when they _did_relax for the day. He closed his eyes as they entered a glide, sweet images and sensations of his mate's soft and delicate hands massaging every curve of him and not letting a single glorious scale go unattended to. Such a good mate Arcturus was, he above all the others deserved his great love and affection. He snuck a peak back to his helmeted mate, wishing he could see that joy filled expression that always left him all tingly and warm. He sighed at the shining metal that seemed to wink at him in the sunlight, grumbling that he had to settle with how his heart thumped and radiated like the sun in his chest at their combined feelings of bliss.

"And you say I can't stop looking at you?" Arcturus rose a glove, pointing right into the dragon's eyes before the red turned his snout back into the wind with a snort. "I can see you peaking every now and then dragon. I do say that it is you that can't keep their eyes off me."

"You'd be right about that." He rumbled, tilting his wing slightly and following the current over the sprawling forest below them. "Better to look to you than that smug grin of our gryphon friends." His eyes followed a breaking point in the multicolored forest, where great rocks the size of dogs were upturned and covered in layers of brown and green moss that threatened to consume them. It looked to be part of some forgotten wall made by humans, but where the house it probably protected still stood he had no idea. He glanced quickly around and could not spy a single trace of it. From the wall rose up the green and yellow hills that flowed like the earth was breathing. From that grassy sea rose great fields of violet flowers, dancing in the breeze to an unknown beat. He shook his head as the cold winds wrapped around them, tracing every scale intimately, then raking his membranes like icy talons.

When Arcturus' leg tightened up at the cold he couldn't resist snickering. He assured the human that they would snuggle for warmth when the time was right, and that no amount of cold would prevent his heat from flowing into that of his mate. This pleased the paladin, a longful sigh escaping his mouth and making the dragon ever more excited to put this leg of the journey to end, at least for the day. The night would be filled with nuzzles and warm feelings if he got his way. When they passed over a series of thick bushes filled to the brim with little yellow spheres he gave them a narrowed glare. His stomach lurched, remembering the time with the dragon bane berries that had plagued him in the forest of despair. He snorted once, trying to forget the snickering laughter of the green drake responsible.

"You should really be letting us lead you know!" Lyndis shouted as the purple carpet came gliding over, rippling like a manta ray along the wind. Asterion was meditating away, his tail flapping in the wind as if he didn't realize they were flying. Shandalar was kneeled and neutral faced like she always was, and Feku was a bright green, waving away towards the dragon like a kobold possessed.

Did I really slow down that much for them to catch me? He tilted his head to the side, giving the rogue a searching look as she glanced down to the map held tightly within her hands. "Do tell me why that is the first conclusion that I'd come to?" His eyes focused on the ever-growing black fortress on the horizon. It looked more and more like an eyesore than the rest of the countryside. The way it seemed to flow out of the mountains, if anything it still looked to be attached to them. Like it was simply molded out from them.

"Because you scaled beast! Think the soldiers there are going to like talkin to a Drenedarian or a pompous dragon? I think they'll get the impression we're all arrogant beasts filled with two much focken hot air for their own good!"

"That so?" He rumbled, rising his scaly ride, his claws itching with his next flap of his wings. "They should feel proud that one such as I grace their little fortress." He smiled when the half-elf through up her hands, still clutching the map.

"How about you go focken telling that to the pegasus knights when they force you to land dragon! How about that? Going to dazzle them into complacency with your scales?"

"I think that might actually be his plan!" Arcturus shouted against the wind.

"See? My mate understands the situation. How could you not?" He tilted his head towards her, enjoying the way her face scrunched up as she tried to think about it too hard. He would have to remember to bring that up later in one of his tales. The tale of the twisted faced rogue and her benevolent and most dashing overlord. His good cheer started to erode as his gaze lingered on the fortress nestled between the mountains like some dried raisin. That was when he noticed the grey smoke starting to rise from the dark brown earth in the distance. When he focused his eyes on the base of such things he took note that they were from darkened piles with specks of what he figured were mortals throwing other specks into them. Though the longer they traveled he noticed they were not just any piles smoking away, they must have been something else entirely. The gryphons with him had even started to make worried sounds as he gazed away at the working mortals. Another thing that was odd was the ground itself. While the countryside had been grass covered with trees, this was different. The dull greens and yellows were nearly dominated by large swaths of brown and grey. Rocks the size of human heads dotted the area of ripped up earth. Trees were uprooted and tossed at strange angles as if by some unruly child during play. Unease built in his chest like a sickness, fighting the gnawing sense of dread with a growl.

Questions abounded from the gryphon's beaks. What that was, why smoke was billowing from them, and if it was possible that the undead had made it this far. This was all put to rest rather quickly as they hovered in the air and scanned the earth.Large blue banners hung blackened metal poles in the ground, fluttering in the wind. They were like signals to anyone that the living still held this place.

"It's nothing!" He happily warbled, partially disappointed but at the same time relieved. He was about to slow his wing-beats and start wondering what everything was when specs suddenly shot up from the fortress. He counted two dozen in total, and when they got closer, he could make out feathery wings like that of great birds. Though what they were made him groan.

"Pegasai!" Krotos shouted out in happiness and relief, probably at having to not fight more undead monsters..

Great The dragon groaned, glaring at the flying mounts as they sped right towards them with steady beats of their wings.Flying horses.

"So who feels like bein friendly? I could always break out a wee bottle and offer our friends a drink!" Merlia chuckled as the group started to fly carefully towards them.

"We don't have to worry." Lyndis sighed, "These are my people. Drenedarians." She gestured to the rapidly approaching mounts with a wave of her hand. "We just have to explain calmly and they'll let us bloody through..No need for your bribes!"

"Hopefully they don't mind letting in a few Lumarians." Arcturus nodded to Nivra, Voidwing, and Krotos. "These are the ones that stayed to fight our people after all. What if they think we are spies or something?"

"Shandalar's a spy!" Feku clacked her claws happily with a wiggle of her tail. "We should tell them yes?" She was instantly met with a series of harsh "Nos"

Veledar eyed the tight formation of winged horses as they glode through the sky. Instead of white wings like that of the stories they had more horse like colors. Browns, chestnuts, black, mahogany, he even saw one that had black spots dotting its wings. The riders on their backs were equally as diverse with their colors. Each mortal was clad in silver chainmail that glittered like gems within the sun's rays. Tabards of varying colors and patrons adorned every breast, not even one being exactly the same. Brilliant crimsons, striking greens, he even saw some rather regal looking gold trimmings on others. Upon all these tabards were the symbols of various animals, no doubt the noble houses that they belonged to. The riders spread themselves out as they neared, enough so that there were at least ten horse lengths between each of them. He rose an eye ridge as his companions started discussing how to converse with their newfound flying friends.

"Looks like all of Drenadarian's houses have come to greet us. Not the sort of welcome that I'd request, but it's a start at least." He rumbled as the winged mounts and riders came to a hover a safe distance away. One adorned in a bright blue and gold tabard in a square pattern bid their mount to the front. They opened their helmet's visor to reveal the fair face of an elf, who had pressed a chain gloved finger to her throat and spoke words he couldn't hear. It reminded him of many spells, none of them hostile by any means. It helped fight off the glimmer of worry rattling around in his chest at so many armed mortals. From their rune engraved armors to their fur lined cloaks. They looked as though they might be well equipped and know how to fight. Coupled with the sure speed of their mounts it would pose a significant problem if they were to come to blows. Though he was certain they would overcome them it was only a manner of when they would.

"Greetings fair travelers. What brings you towards Struport?" The woman gestured out to her knights with a casual wave. "I would like to stress that any actions that are deemed ill will be responded to with force. Even if you have a dragon with you."

Was she not talking to him? The fact they didn't think he was in charge was a tad insulting to him. He felt a flash of anger rise in his stomach, spread it's warmth to his legs and settle in his paws. He snorted his reply as he threatened to growl his frustration on the wind. Why would they always disregard him? He was a dragon, and a mighty one at that.

They must be scared or intimidated. Say anything to appear brave.

That had to be it. Why else would they show such disregard for him being there? The fact they might be superior fighters didn't occur to him. He curled his tail in the air, frills fluttering as a cold wind brushed against his scales. He mimicked the elven women with the prestigitation spell, pressing a talon to his throat. When he did there was a brief trembling of the air around him, a purple spark of magic that would have been impossible to see from this distance.

"Fear not elven rider of smelly horse like beasts with wings."

"Pegasai." Lyndis groaned from behind, smacking her head with her palm. "They're focken Pegasai."

Veledar rolled his eyes and continued. "We come to visit your city of Struport on a noble quest! One that will surely be worth praise or song. So, make sure to pay attention after we complete it! I expect at least eight volumes on the subject!"

He grinned and waited for a reply. That had sounded rather good, he liked it. Sent a ripple of pride through him, his companion's sighs and groans were inconsequence. They just didn't appreciate elegance. At least Arcturus wasn't groaning. Instead the man was locked onto the elven woman, looking more like a statue made of silver than anything else. The only movement on him was the flickering of his red cloak as it rippled with the wind's caress.

"Then you will submit to a search of you and your companions before we let you into our lands!" The elves voice was rather warm, even losing the harshness that he had expected. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but these are dire times. Even if you are not looking like our foes we must be ever vigilant."

"Do we look like da undead lass?" Merlia shouted with cupped hands. "Granted some of us do like to take of da flesh now and den, but not eaten it!"

"I get it!" Feku clacked her claws happily as Lyndis held the bridge of her nose.

Talk was had about the knights offer, everyone soon coming to an agreement they had little to no choice. They had to get into Struport and this was certainly a way to do it. When Veledar suggested they sneak into the place like they had done Entis it was surprisingly Lyndis that shot his idea down. She claimed to his irritation that it didn't sit well with her, she had not come this far to simply pull the hat over her people's eyes. When he pointed out they had helmets and not hats she glared daggers at him and he replied with a rumbling warble. The knights opposite of them had to his credit not died of boredom, they must have had the attention span of saints for they were still hovering away with helmets heads locked onto their position. Another point of comfort was that none of them had grabbed their long slender spears that were tipped with thick looking black sections before the gleaming heads. or appeared to be twitchy, they were a delightful calm that lended evidence that this wouldn't go terribly. He watched them rise and fall for a moment on the wing beats of their mounts. His snout wrinkled at them. They looked to be an attempt on mocking a dragon if he ever saw one. Even a mockery to the kittybirds that he called his friends. The pegasai looked like some half-drunk wizard had just stitched together a great pair of wings on horses. They lacked the intelligence to comprehend that they could fly. They were just stupid flying horses with wings. Such an utter waste of potential.

"So, what say you adventurers?" The elf shouted again with a finger held forcefully to her throat. "Or will you be turning around and heading back wence you came? While I do enjoy doing my duty throughout the day. I do have better things to do then wait around for a group of strangers to figure out what they're doing. If you haven't noticed you're in undead territory." The elf cocked her head to the ground towards the mounds of mis-shaped forms. It occurred to the dragon that they had not been simply things laying around to be cleared. The more he focused he saw limbs jutting out of rotted flesh at odd angles. Black and sickly looking green flesh that had been coated in thick layers of dried blood. That was a pile of bodies.

Mortals were picking up more of the twisted looking limbs and tossing them onto the flames that were slowly devouring the large pits. Turning what had been corrupted into grey and blackened ash. That's when he also took in the over turned ground, uprooted rocks that had crashed into the earth, sections of dirt that had been rended open as if by a giant claw. Trees were knocked over, displaying their noodle like roots in the open air. This large dirt covered field had been a battlefield, recent if the figure was implying correctly. That explained the increased wariness and guarded stare that the elf was giving him.

"We shall comply to your demands elf." He voiced before his friends could reply. "But first I would like to know who is it that I'm dealing with. I would rather know how to refer to you in the future. Though _elf_I suppose is sufficient though."

"Milalee." The woman thrust a finger towards the ground. "We can walk the rest of the way to the fort." Her lips curled into a grin as she rested her eyes onto the dragon. "And who might be the arrogant dragon that I am talking to?"

He grinned, loving the attention as all the sets of eyes turned to him. He flashed them all a smile, placing a claw proudly to his chest with glorious pride. "I am the magnificent Crimson Sky. Easy to say and pleasing to the eye. Upon my back sits a knight of no equal, one that always keeps his word, wit as sharp as his enchanted sword." He finished with a lingering snap of his jaws, then rumbling a purr in his throat. He had really enjoyed adding the last part. Felt even better when he noticed the small faint trembles of his mate's embarrassment shared with him from the bond. When Arcturus didn't protest in any fashioned he only rumbled louder.

"Wonderful." The elf sighed, "Now if you would we can get this over with. I'm sure you have much more important things to do than share words with a stranger."

Veledar nodded, why would he not? What she spoke was truth. With a tilt of his wings and quick warble he was spiraling downwards towards the ground with an angled wing. He soon landed with an extension of his hinds, his paw pads loving softening his landing when he brought them carefully to the ground. He refolded his wings against his back and wiggled his tail, setting his sights onto the form of the knights following after them like they were his shadows. His companions landed all around him in a tight formation, with warry eyes glancing back and forth to the collective knights. He knew not why they were suddenly on edge, but he took it as nerves. He gave a lingering snort and kneaded the ground beneath his paws until Milalee landed before them.

The brown feathered equine snorted as its hooves touched the ground. If the dragon wasn't mistaken that was a show of pride. The damned horse thought it was better than its smelly kin. He wrinkled his snout for a moment before righting it. No need to spook the elf who probably didn't have an understanding of a dragon's face. She would probably think he was going to attack her or something, and he really didn't want to put up with that kind of irritation.

"Behave you." Arcturus whispered, tapping his scales lightly as if reprimanding a disobedient child.

"I am behaving." He rumbled back, wiggling his body and internally laughing as the human held onto his scales for dear life. "Perhaps you should choose your words more carefully whilst you ride upon my back?" He rose a scaly ridge, grinning to the no doubt red faced male.

Milalee's pegasus trotted over, the wing creature carrying itself with an upmost grace with its head held high. "So you're on a quest you claim." The elf eyed them all carefully as the horse circled them.

"That is what we told you yes." Shandalar nodded. "You need not remind us of that. We don't have the memory of a goldfish you know."

"Fine. What is this quest that brings you into our lands? Especially one that includes a dragon and has you brave the undead riddled lands. No longer are they safe." Milalee shook her mounts leather reins bidding it to start walking towards the fortress that stood atop the sloped terrain. "We may not have magical methods of our grand city but we certainly have more mundane ways for searching you."

"Hey, I'm not going to complain if you want to get a good look at me." Krotos chuckled, fluffing up his feathers with a lewd smirk. "Just make sure the one who's doing the searching has warm hands."

Chuckling, Veledar trotted after the elf with a sway of his tail. If the gryphon had not made that suggestion, he would have been the one to do it. They carried on the ruined makeshift path. One that seemed to only been made by the passing of hooves over the overturned earth.

"What are you looking for anyway? We don't carry any contraband of any kind." Arcturus shifted his weight as the ground started to rise and fall in jagged sections. It looked like someone had pummeled this section with mighty fists. Course what could be that size and do this sent a tremor of concern coursing through the dragon's scales. Course he'd never tell the others that. They needed their brave and strong dragon to set the tone.

"Undead spies if you must know Lumarian. Our foe are not just shambling corpses. They are highly intelligent and posses dark magics to aid in their pillaging of our lands and people." Her eyes flashed with a brown fire towards his mortal. One that made Veledar's scales itch. "Or Lumarian spies trying to rid our last bastion of defense."

"He's no spy little elf." The dragon's eyes narrowed as his voice grew taught. "My paladin is one of the most trustworthy mortals you could find. If he wanted to do away with you, he'd do it to your face. Or at least sneak up on you when you're sleeping.

"Hey!"

"It happened!" He snapped back, rolling his eyes with a chuckle. "Regardless. It is Lyndis' job to actually stab you in the back."

"Have some bloody tact dragon!" Lyndis groaned, smacking her head with her palm. "He means I'm a rogue. Someone who doesn't have the brute strength so yes, I do from time to time literally stab some foes of ours in the back."

"Nor did I think you were one." The elves brow rose as her eyes darted between his knight and scales. "You'll notice how I have not called my knights to have your knight in chains."

"And why is that elf?" He lowered his neck as his frills trembled slightly in anticipation. He didn't like the look in her eyes, it made him think she was up to something. Some dark plan that involved the lot of them.

"Wasn't it obvious?" She gestured to his scales. "Lumarian's traveling with a dragon? That oddity alone is enough to give me pause. So, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now."

"Hmmph." He hated being read that easily. "What do you think you know about dragons? Perhaps they have enslaved me, and I'm forced to do their bidding? Did you think about that miss pointed ears?"

"You a slave?" Merlia cackled from behind him, joined in with Krotos' nervous laughter. "Dat be da day I be waitin ta see."

"What kind of collar would you like?' The blue feathered kitty bird cocked his head. "I know someone in Entis that loves making leather collars."

Veledar rose his ridge, giving the gryphon a curiosity fueled stare. He smirked as several scenarios played in his head. "Why do _you_know about someone who makes leather collars?"

"Various reasons." The gryphon's beak opened as his eyes filled with lewd intent.

"For your question dragon." Milalee spoke louder to cut off whatever lewd idea that Krotos had lingering in his mind. "I certainly know more than you'd think." She smirked, secrets lingering beneath the surface of her mind. Another time Veledar would press her for such information. She turned her head away from him, following the now curving path around a large blackened rock that was at least twice his size and cracked and worn away as if struck with large mallets of some kind.

He came to a stop as he fixated on the pile of charred corpses now filling the air with thick plumes of smoke. Scents that could kill an ox were wafting on the breeze and made him gag and fight to keep his stomach from wrenching up its contents. Odd angles of limbs made him queasy, not to mention how many different ones he counted. Each a living soul before being turned into such a mockery of life. He shook his head and instead focused on the torn-up land. Curiosity bubbled to the surface of his mind as they walked. What exactly had befallen to this land to leave it in such disarray? So, he asked her the question when he strode next to her.

"The weather was on our side." Milalee stated matter of factly, gesturing up to the towering walls just up the road. Atop the imposing looking structure was a large flat area. Perfect the dragon thought for sprawling out and enjoying the sun's rays on warm days. Heck by the looks of it, it even looked perfect to fit a creature even larger than he. "Wait." He snapped his snout back away from the fortress to the elven knight. "You're saying that you_were controlling the weather?" His voice grew tight as irritation boiled to the surface from the other day. "It was because of _you that I was forced to walk up that filthy mountain instead of using my wonderful wings?" He flared out his membranes, making sure whoever looked got a good hard glance at his beautiful form.

" Hah." The woman let out a hard laugh. "I do not have the power to do such a thing. I am a simple green knight of the goddess Rilliphane. The person you're looking for is the illustrious Fremra. She is the one that can control such things." One of the knight's hands curled into a fist as she stared out into the sky, watching as thin strands of swirling clouds coiled overhead even higher then Veledar could fly. "You can imagine how beneficial it is to have the very elements on your side? Powerful winds, tornados, earthquakes to shatter enemy formations. These are but tastes_of what she can do." She pointed to a shattered corpse of a wooden cart sticking out from the piles of loosened earth. "This _used to the staging area for an undead army. Then she came and easily bested them with her spells. It was truly an awe-inspiring experience to behold. Many of my knights were left speechless at her magical feats.

He stood sort of dumbstruck. Jokingly they had spoken about controlling the weather in their little adventure, but here was someone who could not just keep a calm about the area, but someone who could command the sky to rip the ground asunder. His tail curled around him as he took in the natural carnage, smiling as he pictured undead bodies being tossed around like ragdolls. Their giant horde put to an end by winds and rain. His eyes traced one cart, two, three, various weapons sticking from the ground. This _one_person had singlehandedly stopped an army of hundreds. That was to be respected, admired. And how it made him jealous. "She did all this?"

"All you see here was from a tornado she brought down upon their heads. Skulls scattered like dirt as it ripped into their ranks. Too bad for them they didn't have single caster or archer in range to try and distract her. She had all the time and focus required to mess with their ranks. Although she did have to do some planning ahead. It took her several hours to get the weather in just the right conditions to bring down the tornado."

"She certainly sounds powerful. Probably a master in these natural magical arts. It would be delightful for one such as myself to introduce her to me. Is she waiting at the fort for us?" He perked up his head, practically prancing forward. Who knew agreeing to answer some mortal's questions would have them meeting such a powerful magician? Even if they were a simple mortal, this was pure art in the magical sense.

"Hmmm." Milalee gave him a knowing smile, one that made his scales twitch. "I'm sure if she was here she'd have come and gotten you herself. She can be mighty...persuasive when she wants to be. Heck. When you get to the city she will probably find you out and talk your ears off. Might even offer to share some tea and play music with you. I hear she fancies the harp."

"I like violins!" Feku scurried over, grinning from ear to ear as her scales shifted a bright emerald. She tapped the one strapped to her back. "Perhaps this Fremra can play with me and we can be friends?"

"That is possible." Milalee replied warmly. "I have not known for her to hate Kobolds. I think she referred to your people as "Cute."

"Yay!"

Milalee's eyes went to the fortresses towering wooden gate trimmed with golden beams. She lingered there for a moment, silence surrounding her as if she were remembering some pleased memory that she wasn't going to share. She took in a heavy breath, letting out a sigh as they started to stride among her people.

They were muted garbed individuals carrying dead and mangled bodies to toss into the fires. Each bore colors of brown and grey with various leather garments to adorn them. Some had belts lined with metal dots, sword holsters, backpacks. All races of Drenedar could be found among them, save the Siigonis of course. Their faces were grim and tired, half of them seemingly in shock as they carried about their task. Course Veledar sympathized with them on a level. His snout wrinkled at the idea of touching all that undead flesh, worried that he might catch some sickness from all the rotten meat. Even if_dragons were resilient against that sort of thing he wouldn't want to risk it like _this. He spied mismatched leather armors, some even a tad too big for the person wearing it. Like it was loaned to them from ancestor or another. Some even only had cream colored gambesons and metal shinguards to protect them. These were the people protecting Struport?

Veledar curled his neck back to the knights that were following behind them. How much more capable they looked in their well-maintained armor and weapons. He wondered if that's how all the city defenders were going to be like. Would make sense in a way. The ones on top were more well equipped than those near the bottom. He rolled his eyes and made note that the only uniting factor of all these races and armored people was that each one had a bit of aquamarine and seafoam teal on their person. Some wore sashes, others had skirts or tabards. Those that did not have even these had splashes of those colors painted onto their leathers with a simple brushstroke or two.

"You know, I was expecting more from the sapphire guardians." He rumbled, looking to a man with holes in his cloak. "I heard tales about you fighting back the undead and I am understandably disappointed with how ill equipped you seem to be." He cast a curious stare to Milalee with his head cocked to the side. "You look more to be a rag tag group of mercenaries than a proper fighting force." He wrinkled his snout out of instinct as the scent of death struck at him like a sword. It actually made him want to burry his snout into a horse's fur and take a large sniff.

"You are correct...in a way." Milalee's voice came calmly as she admired the working men and woman before them. "We have many militia from Struport within our ranks. People that just want to protect their homes and land. Often, they just pick up what they have and come to us. The nobles can provide some_weapons and armor, but not on the grand scale of _everyone. Course looking around you wouldn't think much." She waved out towards the piles of death. "You don't really need swords and other weapons to move piles of corpses."

"Why burns the bodies?" Feku skipped forward, her eyes locked on the piles of mangled humanoid limbs. "Seems like waste when bodies decompose."

"Corpses are a fuel for them. They can keep bringing back those that they lose if you give them the time. So, after fighting with them we burn the bodies, and those they kill. Just in case a wight got them." When Veledar cocked his head in question she backtracked her words. "Wight. An undead creature that drains life with its hands and makes zombies of those it kills."

That didn't sound pleasant at all. He pulled his head up into an S, nearly choking on some smoke and diving his neck back down for some fresh air. He spent the next few minutes hacking and coughing up the arid air from his lungs. When he was done they had already passed most of the way towards the fortresses black as midnight walls that seemed to soak in all the light around them. Near the base of the large gate was a detachment of many humanoids all wearing gleaming breastplates of silver with blue and teal sashes around the middle. He lost count after two dozen, but they all carried more of those dragon fire rifles in their hands. Thankfully they were all resting with the butt end on the ground while the approached. He saw flickers of worry within their eyes, that they were unsure of what was coming their way. He snorted at this. Do they not know allies when they see them?

From the pack of weapon equipped mortals came an elf clad in nearly form fitting silver metals that seemed to wink in the sunlight. They were engraved with various golden runes that seemed to be pictures of vines and trees than anything else. Her mahogany eyes were locked onto them, hard and a tingling of coldness that he had not seen in an elf before. She brushed her shoulder length black hair to the side as a breeze started to whip it around. She stepped forward, folding her hands behind her back as her dark brown cloak lined with furs fluttered in the wind.

"Milalee." Spoke the elf, her voice just as hard as her eyes. She cocked her head upwards to Veledar, staring right at him without a hint of fear. "What is your assessment of them?"

"Seem fair enough." The knight elf sighed. "Kinda an odd bunch but I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. Came here without much of a fuss."

"I will take that into consideration then." She paced before the group, leather gloved hand rising to caress her pointed chin in thought. "Is this one like Storm?" For a moment she sounded hopeful. That made the red dragon smile.

"Milalee turned to him, brow raising as her eyes seemed to trace ever scale that lined his body. He wiggled his neck, grinning at the attention with a low rumble from his throat. "Sadly no." She sighed. "Though there are few that can live up to him anyway."

What? His moment of pride soon faded, replaced with a flickering flame within his belly. How dare this elf not see how great he was. He had traversed the undead! Saved scores of mortals from certain death, had to walk more than he'd liked. He was going to give her a piece of his mind, but Arcturus hands soothed the fire stirring within. Sometimes I hate him....Can't even let me get properly mad. He narrowed his eyes instead, snorting defiantly in the air as his tail curled and flicked behind him.

"Don't worry. You always mean much to me." Arcturus leaned forward and whispered as the cold elf and Milalee shared more words about his companions. She told them slightly about their quest, or at least what they had told her. Plus, how odd it was to have a Lumarians traveling with a dragon. He rumbled his approval as Arcturus continued to massage his neck scales. He nearly wanted to close his eyes and bask away with a loud purr but held back. They needed to focus and having him blissed out in pleasure would do them no good.

"Ya know we didn't catch ya name lass." Merlia placed her hands to her hips, eyes widening as she looked to the gate. "Do ya got yerself a gaggle of dwarves back dere? Cause ya got a fine looking gate here!"

The commander snapped to her, returning the dwarf's kind question with another icy glare. "My name is Soliana of the house Liavaris." She held her head higher for the last bit then glancing slightly to the wall. She rose a hand, palm outstretched towards the blackened stone. "No dwarf. This wasn't built by your people's clumsy hands. It was crafted with the fine spells of the elven people, a beautiful and functional work of art that of course dwarves could not replicate."

"Ya coulda jus said no ya pomous, arrogant, knife eared, soft skinned spawn of a fairy. Didn ya prancing father teach ya some manners?"

Veledar felt the tension linger in the air like a dark cloud as the elf glared intensely at his dwarven friend. It was like the air between them was about to ignite as flames sprung to the elf's eyes. His muscles tensed as he watched her and the guard's nervous faces. He was amazed that she maintained her composure, seemingly biting her lip and answering with a taught voice.

"You'd best watch that tone dwarf. Or I shall have you whisked away into my dungeons until I deem you fit to leave. The fact you seem to not understand the pecking order of our stations is most galling."

Veledar chuckled, he couldn't let that one pass. "I was not aware you were a dragon little miss elf." He grinned, "Or are you simply shape changed and I had no idea?" He loved when that glare was focused on him, but it flowed off his scales easily as if water. "Oh please, that little stare you're giving me doesn't intimidate me in the slightest. I agree with the dwarf here."

Soliana didn't seem to have an answer to that. Her mouth remained shut and silence found her. She snapped around on her heels, her cloak fluttering angrily behind her. She rose a hand forcefully towards the gate and flicked her fingers one at a time as the guardsman watched on with awkward coughs being exchanged between them.

"Still a nice gate." Nivra said sweetly, leaning over to Merlia with a smile.

"Thank ya lass! Ya didn have anyting like this in Entis!"

He listened half heartily as the ranger spoke in length about the strength of the stone and how it was superior to that of Entis' wall. What good were walls for dragons anyway? Just pick a place where no-one without wings could reach and you'd be set for your life. He decided to humor them and admire all the little things that Merlia was pointing out. His tail swayed as his eyes lingered on the numerous arrow slits that lined the walls, He grumbled when Lyndis made mention that those were there for rifleman to shoot out of against any attackers. His snout wrinkled when he spotted a larger one and Lyndis made mention of metal spewing cannons. Yet another excellent invention by mortals to slay his kin. He was just about to snort his annoyance when a loud crack rang through the air and the sound of stone grinding against stone sounded out like thunder.

Ground suddenly came to life with intense vibrations that sent tremors through his paw pads. It reminded him of the earth elemental warrior and made all his nerves stand on edge, his teeth grit and his tail flick in waiting. He almost leaped back as the ground shook but held his composure. If his companions could do that then so could he in the face of such a grandeur movement. He snapped his jaw several times, hoping no one saw his momentarily raising of his paws and took it as weakness. Arcturus' hands moved its way along his neck as if the metal faced knight knew all along.

Of course he did.

The gate suddenly broke open as if a block of wood meeting a woodsman's ax. Dust burst free from the base in one great cloud before rushing out violently towards them. Cloaks ruffled, hair danced across faces and his friends coughed as their worlds were consumed by the thick dirt cloud. The commander shouted something from her mouth, and the cloud was soon whisked away by a violent gust of wind. He groaned when mouths fell open in awe at the towering structures movement, as if they didn't already have an awe-inspiring being handsomely standing before them. He watched with a mild interest as the great gate pulled back it's surface as rocks rumbled beneath his paws. It finally came to a stop with a loud clunk that made him wince. What lay inside was far less awe inspiring as the large gate.

He spied training dummies of hay nestled outside a white and brown wooden building with a grey shingled rood. There was a stable for the pegsai that was packed with straw and a wooden sign hanging from the wall with the picture of one of the flying horses on it. There was another gate on the far side, similar to the one that had just opened. To their left was a secondary wall of near polished stone where a keep poked its windows over to gaze down upon them like a menacing giant. Stairs were on each section of the wall where one could climb lined with unlit torches and bags filled with dragonfire power. He spied numerous men and woman walking along the walls, each bearing more dragonfire rifles on their backs and cutlasses at their sides. Some were standing at attention, peering over in interest at the party of adventurers looking back at them. Some were training by the dummies, holding swords tight as their superiors instructed them on various ways to do cutting. He wiggled his toes as the sound of numerous voices came to his senses. They seemed to think this was some sort of great place, to him it just looked the same as any human like fort. Heck it wasn't even as big as the one they had assaulted. What did stand out among this elven made structure was the large tree in the center of the stone. It looked unnatural to have grown here, or at least the fortress would have had to have been formed around it. The brown trunked tree stood at twice his height, with branches longer than his wings on either side. It's leaves were a bright green, not a single one having any hint of the passing of the seasons. On the bark was carved a symbol with beautiful curving lines that looked to have been drawn by a creature's claw.

He took a large whiff of the air, getting traces of oil mixed with the sharp tang of metal. His tail wiggled as he lowered himself, letting Arcturus slide off and his boots touch the ground with a faint thud. With a rumble building in his chest he nuzzled the man when he removed his head and placed it into one of the many pouches lining the dragon's harness. No one said anything about it, which he liked. Their attention to focused on the soldiers and facilities before them. That's when on his next breath he caught a familiar scent. One that made him tilt his head to the side and his frills flare out in interest. Among all the scents of humans, wolven and elf, the unmistakable scent of a dragon came to him. Not any dragon by any means. But a dragoness of all things. It smelled like the sea, a sweet thing that brought life to the dull scent of stone.

Soliana waved for them to follow without a word, her face still red from being spoken to in such a manner. Her soldiers followed suit in an orderly fashion, though when Milalee tried to follow she was waved off. She and her knights were instructed to continue their patrols of the area. Search for anything else that might be approaching. Especially if any undead had followed in their wake. The elven knight nodded, warmly giving them good byes before willing her mount to pounce into the air with a whiney.

"Soliana?" He asked, padding after the elven commander with a near bounce in his step. If there was a dragoness here he wanted to at least meet her. He didn't really like this woman's demeanor to him or his friends but if she was the only connection he had to at least ask. He would forget it later with drink or a certain paladin's touch caressing his scales. When she turned to take him in he swallowed the growl that wound in his throat at her anger filled glare.

"Yes?" Her voice came like a sword slicing through the air. She rose one of her brow, brushing her hair from her eyes. "What words of wisdom do you wish to share with me now dragon?"

"When was a dragoness here? I can smell her." He narrowed his gaze at the woman. If she wanted to stare down a dragon then he of course would oblige her. "I can smell her scent lingering on the stone like some perfume you mortals pamper yourselves with, so don't lie to me."

"Dragoness?" Krotos suddenly chirped with curiosity lingering in his words. "That's what I was smelling?" The bird chuckled happily, closing his eyes and taking a long whiff of the air. "That's delightful." He got a dwarven smack to the back of his head which honestly made Veledar struggle to maintain his composure and not burst out laughing. The stern dwarven curse that came from Merlia telling him to pay attention and not just think about his spear and eggs was icing on the proverbial cake.

"She already has a mate dragon. You need not worry about sowing any seed with any of your kind." Soliana replied harshly. "And honestly gryphon. I don't think she has any interest in your kind. Keep the bloodline pure as it were." She turned back to Veledar. "But yes, we had a dragoness here."

Cocking his head to the side he followed.

If that was true..She was the one who controlled the weather. It just had to be. He pondered away with swaying tail as his friends bombarded the commander with questions about the dragoness. Her scale color, her temperament, where they could find her, and if she liked violins. They were told each one in turn. Teal, fair, Struport, and yes she did in fact like violins. That last one made Feku nearly scream out in happiness and make the elf grit her teeth and wince as if in great pain. Veledar smiled at that one as the Kobold practically bounced around his tail. Although that meant if she was the one controlling the weather she was a powerful spell caster in her own right. He just hoped that she wasn't like the emerald lady in her temperament. Course by the sound of this commander she seemed to be fine. Course with the delightful temperament of this elf that could be just about anything.

When she looked back to him her eyes were still filled with irritation, like even being in their presence brought about her pain. That was fine, like he wanted to remain in her presence anyway. He snorted, rolling his eyes with a flick of his tail. "How much longer are we going to be elf? I and by proxy the rest of my companions have much better places to be. People to see, dragons to meet. You and this little abode that you call a fort are a mere stepping stone on our path to glory and well told stories in our name. If you would be so kind as to point the way when you're done that would be a most wonderful thing you could do. Maybe even earn yourself a line or two in the story that is my life." He let the words soak into her eyes, loving every single flicker of the fire burning behind her spheres. It just warmed his heart in a most delightful manner, practically gave pleased rumble. "So, let's get your little inspection underway shall we?" He held up his head, flaring out his wings slowly to give everyone a nice good look as his scales shined in the sunlight. His chest swelled as he rose the front half of his body higher than the rest, grinning as his scales clinked ever so softly against one another. "Besides, you have two gryphons to feel up!"

"Two gryphons to feel up eh Voidwing?' Krotos smirked, nudging the black gryphon with a wing. "Give them nice plump pair to feel around. Make them all jealous." The blue bird only chuckled and ruffled his feathers as the black gryphon splayed his ears and shied away with a weakened mumble of words.

"You heard the dragon."Soliana waved towards a group of three human guards adorned in leathers and blue tabards hanging off them. "Sooner they get out of here the sooner I can forget this ever happened." The elf shot him an instance scowl, one that practically stitched her two brows together and wrinkled the rest of her face. Veledar half expected her to start snarling and spitting fire if she continued holding such a hatred fueled glare.

He puffed out his chest as the guards got closer, their eyes nervously wandering over his scales and to his wing joints, just where they connected to his back. They took a few hesitant steps forward, and he held his head confidently. He had nothing to hide after all. His tail swayed happily behind him as the three inspectors moved down his flank, each curve of his body something new for them to awe over. "Get a good look humans." He rumbled softly in a growly sort of way. "You will remember this day. The time that you laid your eyes upon the living legend Crimson Sky."

"Who by da sound o his words has an ego da size of da moon!" Merlia laughed, crossing her arms against her chest as the guards started looking down his tail.

He curled his neck around to give the smiling dwarf a piece of his mind. Perhaps make fun of the white furred part of her armor for good measure and how it made her look like a yeti with a growth stunting. Though Lyndis had already beaten him to the punch.

"Now Merlia. Wait a bleedin moment. That's not particularly accurate. Nor is it fair to our resident dragon, whose scales shine the brightest during the day. His ego is not the size of a bloody moon. You've seen the size of it!"

"Thank you rogue." He smiled at how quick his friend was to leap to his defense. He always knew he liked her. From the very moment he laid eyes upon her he knew that one day she would be-

"It's the size of a focken planet! Hells, maybe even as large as the outer domains of the deities!"

Damn her. His eyes narrowed with a curl of his tail as the collection of mortals he deemed his friends snickered away at his expense. He grumbled to himself as even some of the guards tried to hold in their giggling and failed. He snorted at one who had placed a hand to their mouth to shield their outburst, nervously scurrying away from his eyes the moment their gazes met. The other guard's laughter was silenced by Soliana, whose demeanor was that of a steel wall against the wind. She chastised the guards with a harsh voice.

"See what I must put up with?" He placed a claw to his chest, tilting his head slightly to appear to be injured. "It amazes myself that I allow myself to put up with them. I honestly don't know how I don't go literally insane."

"Dragon's clean." One guard said loudly, giving the elf behind him a thumbs up.

Merlia snorted, drawing Veledar's stare as his neck curled to meet her. She glared back at him with a slight smirk on the edge of her lips, spreading her arms wide as the guards approached her next. Honestly, he liked these little bouts with her. It always got under his scales and brought hints of joy to him. Especially making her angry as well. "You're one to talk dwarf." He grinned, "Or perhaps I don't recognize you without your glaze of gryphon?"

"Enough of that." The elven commander snapped, her voice getting louder as she confidently strode towards the group. She gestured to some of the soldiers on the walls, letting them know she was fine. "This quest you've mentioned. I've heard it mentioned before. Pray tell me what is so curious that a mighty dragon such as yourself have embarked such a concern? You'll forgive my ignorance, but you don't hear of many adventuring dragons. Not even the grand Swirling Storm embarked on the tomb hunting exploits that often profile people of your..." Her lips curled into a sneer. "Profession."

He glared at her, anger slowly building within his chest like a smoldering flame. She had said the word mighty with such tightness in her voice he thought her whole body was going to snap from the strain. Did she think he some weak wyrmling that couldn't even fly nor cast a spell to defend himself? Did she think that his claws were for show? His teeth not capable of piercing flesh and armor? Did she think he some adorable mascot or pet to the mortals before her? Each of these outcomes was worse than the rest and made those flickers burn ever brighter with every sway of his tail. He knew she enjoyed watching the reaction as well, for the little hint of smirk had found its way to her lips the longer she watched his snout.

"Fifteen actually." Lyndis replied casually, leaning slightly onto one side. "Some dungeons too, caves..." She held out her fingers as she counted each one. Her eyes drifted to the sky as if she didn't even have a care they were being searched. "One time with this fort, burned it to the ground. Hey and there was an airship!"

"There was two actually!" Feku bounced happily as a guard walked over to her. "I got to shoot offa one!"

"I didn't really enjoy the second one." Asterion snorted, crossing his arms with a flick of his tail. Veledar almost jumped with the harsh words. The cleric had been rather silent up until this point. He might have even forgotten he was there.

Really should get a bell for him. Maybe tell him it's a special gift from Korde and will help him win battles. Hang it right around his neck so it rattles whenever he moves...Never lose him again.

"Quite." The commander nodded, starting to stride around them as if she were a cat on the prowl. Like she had everything under control as the guards moved from person to person with inquisitive eyes. She crossed her arms harshly, flashing the dragon daggers with renewed strength.

He rumbled at the question she presented. Held up his head to appear regaler, remind this pompous knife eared elf who the real_better dragon was. "So glad that you asked that little one." He grinned, loving watching her bite her lip. "Now while I can't tell you _all the details of our little journey. I can say that it has the fate of not only your country within its confines but that of the entire continent. We seek to put an end to the war that has gripped your peoples for numerous years. Surely that is a deed worth of song and stories!"

That grabbed at her interest. Soliana's demeanor actually softened for a moment as her brow rose. If he wasn't mistaken, she was actually intrigued by his words. Wouldn't that be nice?

"How do you exactly go about doing that? And why did _you_even tag along? What could _you_possibly care about the fate of non-dragons?"

"I have a rather..." His frills drooped slightly as he recalled his mother's message from the cave. Coldness started to lap away at his scales, curling around each one like a malevolent force. "Personal stake in all of this. Besides, I was dragon-napped by my paladin over there. He threatened me."

"Hey!" Arcturus laughed, thrusting a finger towards Veledar's snout. "You didn't seem to mind when I made the offer!"

"Semantics." He snorted, tossing his head away from the paladin. "But really in the end it boils down to me wanting to save lives. I'd rather see your people saved then turned into undead food or minions. Is it really that strange to hear? I know that we....as in dragons are one of the best species in the world, but that doesn't mean the plight of your people goes upon deaf ears."

"You still haven't mentioned how you're going to go about doing that." Soliana snapped, cutting right to the chase as her stance shifted back to a hardened one. As if she was suffering a cold wind.

"We plan on destroying their crystals that they use to power their ships and weapons." Shandalar strode over calmly, her back straight and giving brief thanks to the inspectors.

"Oh, I guess we're just telling everyone our quest now is it?" He rolled his eyes, tapping his paw against the stone as irritation flickered across his scales. "I just thought it was a secret. Perhaps I should just go blabbering about how I adore my human mate then? Just randomly spew out facts of all of you that would turn all your cheeks redder than my scales?" He grinned at the last one, watching the mortals he cared for squirm and give him worried looks. Although by the look Lyndis was giving him it appeared like she would have a few retorts for him as well. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to start sharing. Who knows what she could bring up about him. It might even ruin the wonderful image that he was doing such an excellent job of painting about himself. To distract himself and the others he curled his head to Arcturus and gave the human a forceful yet affectionate nuzzle with a soft purr.

While he was doing that he half listened as Shandalar shared all they had learned thus far with the elven commander. Her demeanor didn't shift the entire time, it remained just as hard and stern. It was like she was made from a different stuff then the others. Like they were a simple wood and she like that of a stone fortress with magical enchantments to aid it. The guards had almost finished their inspections as he returned his head to its rightful position over everyone. The inspectors made their way to Nivra and Asterion, pleasantries being exchange before both held out their arms expectantly.

Curious eyes lingered on the guards around the walls, watching their careful movements as they went about their routines. Some had stopped to watch what was going on, but for a good number of them they stayed facing out towards the way they just came, some shielding their eyes with hands before the glaring sun. The ones that were watching had looks of worry plastered on their faces. That made him wrinkle his snout and give a harsh snort on the air. Didn't they see a glorious ally when they saw him? He knew that he could be a rather _imposing_dragon when he tried to be, but he didn't even roar or blow fire at them! How could some of them be shaking even now as if they were about to wet themselves. He rolled his eyes at the idea. Lumara might have been a horrible place filled with atrocities that shook him to the core, but at least their soldiers had been brave for the most part. They waited _until_he was breathing fire and roaring to be afraid. His muscles tensed as the worry hung in the air like a cloud. He could feel his own breath getting thinner as it threatened to even sink into his bones.

He rumbled softly, trying to appear less threatening by swaying his tail. After all, it only took one stupidly scared mortal to make everything incredibly much worse. One pull of those rifle things and it could lead to a battle of some sorts. Or someone would get hit by one of the bullet things. He wondered just what had set all these mortals on edge. Course, it could just be fighting undead for so long had left them all shaken and worried at everything. He was certain if he was as weak and frail as they were, he might be scared of the shambling horrors just as much as they seemed to be. Lucky for him dragons were much studier than that.

Maybe it was the dragoness? Maybe she is a suspicious old wrym that doesn't like visitors? That could always be an answer he didn't consider. He cocked his head, pondering what she could have said to set them all on edge. The idea she might be like the emerald lady didn't seem so far fetched when he looked into every set of worry filled eyes. His snout wrinkled at the idea. He shook his next to try and clear his mind of it.

Preposterous, it just had to be.

What was he going to start thinking next? That there were spies all around them looking to do them in? No, he just had to focus on the here and now and not about whatever phantom plans might be brewing beyond their knowledge. There was no one else coming to chase after them. He took a calming breath before drifting his snout back to the heated conversation being exchanged between the two elves. For a moment he thought there was an argument going on, his blood even started to get faster at the mere thought. He would have routed for Shandalar of course. Despite her stern nature she was still part of his team and deserved his loyalty.

"That is quite the tall tale there Rothdellian. It sounds positively good. Suspiciously too good to be true some would say." She nodded to the Lumarians in their midst. "Yet you come here with several of my enemies within your charge. To what? Help bring down their very nation?" The woman snorted, brushing her hair from her eyes as the wind seemed determined to blind her. "You do realize how far fetched this sounds right? Let's not forget the dragon you have standing behind you trying to look innocent. How possibly did you get him to accompany you? What force did you require to extort that beast into helping? Was it bribery? Or perhaps you forced him into it."

"He was convinced with human kisses and cuddles!" Feku blurted out sweetly, instantly her claws going to clamp her mouth shut as the dragon gave her a stare. "But she asked." Her next words came meekly, several men around them annoying chuckled at such a proclamation. Their little chuckles starting to warm the dragon's blood.

"That a problem for you mortals?" He found himself growling more menacingly than he intended. Even his tail had stopped it's playful swaying to instead flick behind him as it did when he was hunting. The two guards instantly shut their mouths and turned their head around as if nothing had happened.

"Enough." The elf sighed, yelling at the men to mind their work. "I suppose that is a good reason as any. I have heard tales that some dragon's libidos could rival that of a normal gryphon. This one apparently just prefers the company of male knights. Although, I had heard the tales of them preferring princesses and females instead."

"It is true." He curled his neck towards Arcturus as he felt the man's heart pound in embarrassment within his chest. His cheeks had flushed a bright vermillion as his eyes darted between the two guards. The dragon whined softly, lowering his snout to his mate, letting him know he was there, and everything was right with the world. Screw those dumb little human's snickers. He would just snarl and growl at them until they shut their stupid mouths. He rumbled his approval as Arcturus' hands found their way to his snout and began to caress his leathery nose. He swayed his tail happily as a smile came to the man's face before getting pushed away and told to pay attention. That's when Nivra suddenly screamed out like a banshee.

"Unhand her your brute!" Came the defensive cry of her gryphon body guard along with the sound of a grunt of pain.

Veledar snapped his head around to see that one of the guards was tossed back onto the ground, holding his hands defensively as Voidwing stood triumphantly over him. The gryphon's fur was fluffed up, his breaths coming quicker as his eyes filled with purpose. He snapped his silver lined beak to the other guard who backed away with raised hands. "I said not to touch her."

Rifles from around the fort suddenly cocked to attention. Once shaking hands now steeled themselves as a deadly silence lingered in the air. Veledar's veins sprang to life, a snarl worked its way from his throat as he glared at all the mortals around them.

"I'd be careful before doing that." The commander gestured to the others on the wall and some who were around the fort. Where once they had been training or performing chores were now holding weapons at the ready. "You are in our forth. I give but a signal and you all will be riddled with holes faster than you can think."

His eyes narrowed at her confidant look. Blood boiled within his being as talons raked against the stone beneath his paws. "You hurt my companions elf and you'll regret it." He growled, baring his teeth to give her a nice long look. Let her soak in what power awaited her.

"Don't try to intimidate me dragon. I deal with _three_on a normal basis. One of which is even bigger than you."

To his frustration her eyes went not to him but to that of the human guard who was pushing himself off the ground. "Hortak. What happened?"

The brown eyed man coughed into his fist, nervous eyes lingering on the puffed up gryphon. "Asked the standard questions maem. Said her name was Ruth, just a traveler from Lumara. Sounded fishy. I know when someone's lying to me."

What? Veledar's tail flicked. She had to lie? They didn't have to! He glanced to the princess, whose eyes were wide and darting to all the guard's gleaming rifles held at the ready. It looked like the was counting them one by one, figuring out their chances before the situation tumbled over the hill into an area they could not recover it from.

Arcturus was the first one to try and defuse the temper flaring behind the elven commander's eyes. "Now lets just wait one moment. I'm sure that this was all a misunderstanding between the two."

Soliana held up her hand, cutting off the paladin with an icy stare. One that seemed to freeze the air between them. "Would you stake your life on it Rutak?"

Rutak looked up to Veledar,and gave the commander a single nod.

Quick as lightning the elf rose her hand high as it could go. Weapons were held tight as the soldiers prepared to fire. Sounds of worry radiated from his companions, from gryphon whines to kobold eeps to the lingering snort of Asterion. "Now you're going to tell me who exactly you are. I suggest you start telling me before I give the order and dispose of you and your so-called companions."

"You're just going to kill us?" He growled like a rumbling storm. "You act as though we'll just let that happen."

"Such is the time we live in dragon. I have no time for people who lie to get through our borders. We face foes most treacherous and seek to annihilate us in our entirety. For the safety for my soldiers and my family I'll easily sleep easy after exterminating any threats to them.

He flared his vast wings out, stepping forcefully towards Arcturus. Numerous spells sprung to mind of what to do. Various ones that would aid in their escape_. Stoneskin_, that would have to be the first one. It would make those little bullets little more than a tickle as they made their escape.

"You're making a large mistake commander." Shandalar's hands rose together, entering a martial pose. "We have numerous magical defenses at our disposal. Such that we are very likely to survive your attack and take _numerous_soldiers of yours down in the process."

"If it stops the likes of your kin from attacking my city then I am glad to lay down my life for it." She snapped to Nivra, "Who are you and what are you doing in my country?"

"I'm Nivra. The princess and heir to throne of Lumara." Nivra's voice was a practiced calm, it was almost like she wasn't being held at rifle point. "I am most sorry for lying to you fair Soliana. I am used to such inquiries or stares that I simply felt it was easier to lie about myself." She eyed the guards with a biting or her lip. "Clearly that was not the wisest choice given our current predicament."

"And why are you here?"

"I am on a mission of peace. I seek to end the war between my people and that of Rothdell, while at the same time atoning for my people's sins. One of my first tasks was to seek out the way to end our mana crystals once and for all."

Veledar's eyes lingered on the steel like demeanor of the commander. How her eyes stared at Nivra with the same cold fury the entire time. Seconds seemed to pass by at a crawl as the dragon felt every rapid pulse of his heart coursing through him. Instinct screamed in his mind as he yearned to start casting spells. Get this over with.

"That sounds utterly ridiculous. Especially after that hogwash of a story that you told us about. Clearly, you're still lying, and this girl is simply the weak chain in your link."

"Not true!" Veledar snarled, black fumes leaking from his nostrils as fire built in his throat. One breath, that's all it would take to rid this woman from the world. The woman who threatened not only himself but his mate and friends. "I swear by the scales that line my body that this woman is of royal birth elf. We interrogated her through a zone of truth spell. If you still won't believe the truth spoken from my lovely maw, then summon up a cleric of your own to preform the deed." He swung his head up, glaring down at the woman with a swelling of his chest.

There, let her choke on those words. He wiggled his tail at the small amount of gratification he felt sinking into him. He met the woman's stare with one of his own. The kind of glare that Shandalar wished she could give him. He grinned malevolently at her, making sure to show off each and every sharpened tooth.

"Hmmph." The commander crossed her arms, a stiff breeze fluttering her fur lined cloak behind her. Guns lowered all in unison as faces breathed sighs of relief. Though not the dragon.

Veledar's scales still itched something fierce as he maintained his stare on the elven woman. "Good, I thought that you were going to make a terrible mistake this day."

"Even if that is the truth it doesn't change what I have in mind. Rutak, go get the chains. We're taking them into custody. We can sort out this nonsense with what is or isn't the truth when we send word for a cleric. I will not let the undead or whatever Lumarian trick they are trying to play be pulled over our eyes." She gave Nivra an odd smile. "Will be interesting to have the princess of our enemy here."

That's not going to happen. He rippled his wings with a harsh hiss the moment Rutak went to carry out his commander's orders. He flicked his tail as he spoke the words for stone skin like a rumbling mountain. His scales, once the brightest crimson started to dull and fade as grey islands sprouted out from his sea of red. One by one they popped into existence until he was completely encased in grey. He felt the coldness of the air start lessen, even the biting wind lost its teeth. "I will not be taken into custody. I've already been down that avenue before and it doesn't end well for me. Some reason I don't think I can enchant the commander here to let us go." He cast a quick look to Arcturus, glad to see that the spell that now protected him was wrapped around the human as well. He almost expected himself to be the only one to react to the commander's proclamation in the way he did. He after all didn't want to be sentenced to death if that was the outcome. The others all readied for action, and it warmed his hide they had his scales.

Feku had pulled out her violin with its bow as the scales lining her body shifted red. Both gryphons flared up their wings, issuing cries of warning so all could hear. Asterion's snorted harshly into the air, eyes shifted to a glowing red as his hammer dripped with the same magical power. Merlia undid her bow, laughing about not expecting dis to happen.

Before the rifles around them could be fired, Shandalar put on the final touching of their rebuttal. She stomped her left foot hard on the ground, raising her hands as if lifting a heavy object. Even her legs wobbled for a moment and looked as they were about to buckle. Runes suddenly sprung to life on her fingertips as she shouted the spells words.

Shots fired from their right, but not before a stone wall four times larger than the dragon sprouted up and blocked the shots. It flowed around them like water, absorbing more shots as it squared off around them, eventually meeting up with the first part to form one giant box. One that only had them, the commander, and the two inspection guards from before. Shouts came from outside the wall, confusion getting thrown around like a ball.

He grinned, feeling bravado fill his scales. It was nice to see a plan that Arcturus had thought of since they had been surrounded at the castle. To lock themselves off with an empowered stone wall spell to give them protection while they used other spells to fly out the roof. Preferably ones that would create false images or draw enemy attention away from them. Delight tickled at his soul as the two guards had started to scratch away at the stone as if desperate for their lives. "It appears as though the tables have turned to be even more in our favor." He growled, his tail coiling behind him. To his irritation the elf looked unphased. Not even a single glimmer of dissatisfaction or terror coming to her eyes. Instead she regarded him as one might to a casual breeze tickling at their cheeks. His insides burned at the mere audacity that she was not following the rules. Even Shandalar would break and show emotion at being so thoroughly outsmarted.

"Commander?" Came an amplified voice from beyond the magical constructed wall. "

"My men will fire upon this spot if they don't get a reply you know." The elves words came calmly. "If that fails to produce results, they will get our own mage to dispel this wall. You've bought yourselves minutes at best."

"Minutes better spend escaping rather than rotting in a jail cell." Shandalar's tongue struck like a sword before gesturing to Nivra with a casual wave. "I saw the contempt you had in your eyes commander. I no doubt believe our time here would not go without a little bit of added "reprisal." For her countries deeds against your own."

"Why are you even defending her Rothdellian?" Soliana hissed. "Her people are at war with yours."

"I know she's a good soul. Something that you will learn in time. She came to help put an end to this bloodshed and even to go further and put an end to the evil practices of her nation. Yet when spoken such truths you spit at her words and say to lock her up. What plan did you hope to concoct with such a deed? That you would ransom her off to end the war?"

Veledar growled at the idea of the horrible things they could do to her. His mind drifting to the Lumarian fort, the ground stained and caked with layers of dried blood. Painted that way with the remains of human misery. His stomach lurched just thinking about it. It took all his effort to push down the urge to vomit by snapping his jaws at the air. It didn't do anything to her demeanor, but it certainly made him feel better.

"Its better than doing nothing. Nothing like the _honorable_king and queen that surrendered our lands without a fight! At least we're doing something while they remain safe within their castle. What should you expect me to do? I see a way to go about peace, so I have taken it. To do otherwise would be foolish!"

"What then?" Arcturus voice came like a forceful tide, strong and full of purpose. "What comes next when they won't surrender to you?" The paladin rose his brow, his emerald eyes that Veledar loved burning hot with green fire that made his tail wiggle. "Would you kill her?" His lips curled into a sneer as he thrust a finger back towards the human princess. "She could put an end to bloodshed in the right way. If you build peace on bloodshed and threats it will never last commander. All you really do is prolong it until someone feels they are in a better position for power."

That set the elf off. Her demeanor that had been so strong seemed to crack as she regarded the paladin's words with a lingering stare. "I can't let you simply pass by out lands on that excuse you know. I have my duty to defend this place. You say she's here to do no harm, but she _lied_knight. How can you as a noble being defend that course of action?"

"Easy." Veledar snorted, taking a powerful stride towards his mate with a rumbling sound. "Look what you've caused her to admit the truth. She did enlighten you elf or had you forgotten? So, let her in and we can do this peace thing the right way. Let her converse with your superiors. Then perhaps _something_can be achieved." He grinned at her, priding filling his heart when Arcturus' hand leaned against his shoulder. "Think Commander, you can be on the right side of time today."

When she didn't seem to shift Arcturus sighed. "How about this. You send an escort with us to Struport. You inform who you need to that we're coming. Instruct them they we have not only the princess of Lumara but of Drenedar as well. Once this undead mess is handled, I think your whole country is going to need some reorganizing, and it just so happens we have the best chance to do it."

"You expect me to believe that story?" The commander scoffed, disbelief heavy in her words. "I could believe the other parts, but now you expect me to think that you have not only one princess but two? What sort of wet eared child do you take me for?"

"One dat keeps soundin like an ass if I say so meself." Merlia mumbled, elbowing Krotos with a grin. "Am I right?"

"That she is." Veledar rumbled, swaying his tail in amusement as shouts from beyond the wall called out for the wizard to be fetched. Something about using a spell to rid themselves of the stone walls giving them so much trouble. Shots soon started to ring through the air, small clinks upon the stone as thunderous clacks of rifles joined them.

Arcturus didn't seem phased by the commander's words. He carried on with another sigh and glance to the dragon he held dear. "I do intend for you to believe that story. We didn't have to come here and be polite. In fact, it wasn't the dragon here's idea. We thought if we simply explained you'd understand and let us through. Not try and keep us captive for a bargaining chip."

"And trust me elf." Veledar lowered his snout, puffing out a plume of black smoke into the woman's face. When she coughed loudly, he grinned. "I have two princesses within my party, clearly the envy of any dragon in this world." He nearly trilled when she glared at him with a fury to match a maelstrom and clenched her fists.

"I have no choice it seems but to comply with your demands."

"See?" He flared out his wings. "You can teach an elf a thing or two if you try hard enough, and I'd not really call them demands you know. More like compromises. "

"And if it helps, we can wait here for your cleric." Arcturus' arms crossed firmly against his armored chest. "But we won't be remaining in chains."

Defiance still lingered in the elf's mahogany eyes as his wonderful mate made some fine points about escorting them, reminding her of the dragon's words. Veledar placed his head next to the knight, grinning and nodding at a few points to help the man's words have the intended weight he wanted behind them. However, despite this it seemed that Soliana almost was going to refuse simply out of spite.

"Fine." The commander grit her teeth. "You can have a team of my guards to escort you to Struport. We'll send word to the keep that you will be arriving. You'll be meeting with our most powerful cleric in there to interrogate you." The elf jabbed a finger towards his mate with a sneer to the point Veledar almost snapped at her finger. "But if you do get there and something fishy happens, I'll make sure that they hunt you down, tie you up, and ensure you're drawn and quartered. Do I make myself clear?"

Draw and quarter me? He snorted in amusement as the elf maintained the aura that she had some semblance of control of the situation. He nodded with a roll of his eyes, " I doubt if I really tried woman, you'd even have a chance of catching me. So you'll understand why I don't take your threat seriously." He gave her a growly chuckle, Krotos laughed at his boast, and Lyndis was left groaning as the commander shook with clenched fists. This was going to be a wonderful rest of the day.

* * * * * * *

Thanks for following along in this journey with me to Struport! Looking to start Nano in the next few weeks, so don't panic at not getting any SaH updates. I have not forgotten about my dragon friends ;3. If you like this chapter don't forget to favorite or vote it up, let other people know you liked it! If you feel like being awesome just leave a comment below. I adore to read them and see conversations get brought up about plot points. Just like to say thanks to those that have been commenting. It's you that keep me typing this tale up! Anyway, have a great dragon filled day!