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Chapter 12: Dragon in a Dungeon

Swirling clouds dotted the endless blackened void, pushed by an unseen claw, commanded by fractured whispers that meandered through the air. Lightning cleaved the darkness in twain, rivers of cascading brightness to end the night. The misty forest lay nestled on the horizon, its darkened, snow dusted branches swaying invitingly in the wind.

Cordenth's frills trembled at the unearthly chill, silent anticipation coursing through his icy blood. Wide eyes waited patiently, never leaving the ruffled feathers lined with gold.

The phoenix from his vision swayed with the trees like one of their own. It paid no mind to anything else, merely returning a piercing glare. It's wing curled out, gesturing the older dragon to follow. Words slipped from it's slender beak, radiating with power. "Find, reborn, unite." It whispered, racing off into the underbrush. Cordenth's name came soon after, bounced endless across the darkened landscape before him.

"What do you want?" He shouted into nothing, fluttering about the lightning filled skies. No answer came, save the thunderous crash around him.

*

Inky tendrils of the blackened void were chased from his eyes by groggy blinks and length yawns. Ones that fully displayed his sharpened teeth to any foolish enough to stare. He groaned with eyes closed, aching in at least a hundred places over his whole body. Silently he hissed, even the slightest shift of his frill brought ways of discomfort. That however wasn't the most pressing concern.

The dragon found himself bound firmly to a cold stone floor. Manacles of leather and darkened metal draped over him like a cruel dress. The walls of pristine granite pressed in at his sides, the simplistic ceiling teased his roped-up wings. Even his tail was held up, supported over a sizable hole, fashioned to his wing manacles. If any dragons could see him now, he'd never hear the end of it. Bound up by humans and placed tail up over a shitter. No one was to know. Especially Veledar of all dragons.

Where was he though? Was he still in the castle? He groaned and tried to shift within his bindings but found them like sandpaper against his scales. Whoever had fastened them clearly didn't know how, or were intentionally trying to wear away his hide until blood was to flow. Defeated he slumped, grumbling as he stared daggers at the iron bars mocking him so. If only he could move an inch, his shape change would instead prove them useless. Though that was probably the point, curse these humans craftiness.

He growled and tried to search around, getting tastes of fresh leather and metallic oil with every breath. Along the hall were brass coated lanterns engraved with wolves, their oil well stocked and waiting. Sunlight filtered from an unbound window in an adjacent cell, painting every speck of stone and metal with beautiful reds and oranges. If not for the burning and aching about him, he might have enjoyed the moment. Instead he was left to hiss and glare at the Elthian fellow who dwelled within that place.

The rag wearing elf was pressed tight against the wall, his blanket from his cot used to soften the floor. The elf was cross-legged, eyes closed and silently humming. If he dragon had to guess, he was in one of those elven trances they did instead of sleeping. The elf almost look calm, simply at peace regarding his surroundings. Didn't he know that he was supposed to be trying to escape? It was like he'd simply given up on the prospect. This place had no reason to hold them both. One because the queen was crazy, and two, his own mother was crazy.

Speaking of his mother, his breaths became slower as warmth bubbled along his muscles. Months of blissful travel with friends and allies was undone in a matter of moments. That viridian dragoness liked to give the illusion he had some sort of choice, but his destiny it seemed was still being guided by her. He should have expected she'd try something so underhanded, even in Lyndis' home of all places. He sat and stewed, wondering how many agents she had wandering about the continent. Would anywhere be safe from her reach?

Again he started to press and pull against his restraints. Leather and chain worked in tandem, whining at his effort but never yielding. Muscles burned and teeth grit, until Cordenth slumped against the floor. Did they really have to hold up his tail in such a humiliating manner? His eyes traced binding, wincing at the obvious meaning. Was he no better than a beast in his eye, not deserving of some sort of pride?

Though it almost pained him to shout, he called for whatever form of guard was to be keeping him prisoner. They_would answer for this. "Humans!" He growled like poison on the air. "Why am I being held here? I have no qualms with you, why do you work for a man that pays allegiance to my mother? Where is princess Lynalla, and _why are my accommodations so poor? Surely an esteemed guest of myself deserves better than the squalor filled cages were you shove common criminals!"

Out came a fair hand, wiggling in hello. What came with it was a voice he'd only had a passing listen. The elven guard from his initial stroll through the city. "One, ya be wrong ya know dragon. More than just mayflies be guarden your cage!" Keerle slid into the hall, her silvered scale mail sparkling like the sun. She tossed back her golden hair, fixing him with a brow raised smirk. "Two, ifn you were paying attention you smacked and clawed those monks good. Three, Ryder works for both of em. Four, they didn't wan't ta waste the coin on ya." Her arms crossed against her chest. "Wee bit o trust issues wit ya for the moment."

"I'm the untrustworthy one?" He laughed mockingly, "How quickly they forget they backstabbed me. How does Ryder keep his position when he answers to the call of another?"

"Bastard serves them both." Keerla crossed her arms, "They be conspiring together, heard em not a few night ago." She flicked her the knife shaped ears of her own. "You'd think they'd remember I was an elf."

"So you're saying-"

"Correct Radiant Sunshine, you're here by royal proclimation of the queen. So lucky you, ya won the pot o coin at the end of the rainbow. You'll be understanding if there isn't a trumpet to announce such a joyous occasion."

"Its Radiant Star." He hissed.

Her eyes just rolled. "That should be the least of yer concerns. Besides, I doubt ya even remember mine."

"That's easy it was..." He trailed off, frills fluttering as he strung off a series of answers. Each of them proving falser than the last. Eventually he gave in and she was forced to tell him.

"And so ya make my point." She tapped the bars of his cell. "Until ya be provin to be a nice dragon, you'll be wrapped up tighter than a vine blight's hug."

"You think?" He scowled at her snarky replies. If not for his bindings he might have enjoyed in the ribbing. It sounded as though she agreed with his capture, was she not supposed to be Jeriah's friend? Someone they could trust within this place? Or was she merely using her connections to one up like the man was? He eyed along the stone, not finding a hint of runes or magical arts left upon the surface. "Why didn't they just toss me in an antimagic cell?" He snorted, "I'm almost insulted they didn't find me worth the effort."

Keerla leaned against the wall, "You'd think that wouldn't ya? But they did talk of it, in the end they opted for the mundane route." She eyed the bindings, a glimmer of pride flickering across her blue pools. "Since ya beasties can summon magic with a flick of the tail or swirl of the paw, I made sure ya couldn't move nothing."

So it was her. Warmth became a flickering fire within, slowly chewing through his bones. It took all his effort to not fill the air with terrible growls, but that didn't mean he didn't glare at her. Even now, if he were able, the very air would catch aflame. Yet she remained unphased, almost laughing to herself.

"Oh don't be given me dat look. Yer as helpless as a babe right now. Plus it not great ta be convincing me ya safe. Truthfully makes me wanna lock ya up tighter." She fished through the leather pouches around her waist, spinning a ring of keys around her finger. "Not a smart move Radiant Sunshine. Until I say otherwise that's where ya stay. Yer not going tabe catchin us like a couple of blind mayflies."

"Undo these bindings and I'll show you just how helpless I can be." He growled, pulling against the leather till it creaked at the effort, widening the elf's eyes.

The moment passed when he slumped, and she was left chuckling till the dragon's blood was close to boiling. "What did I just finish sayin? Keep dat up that nonsense and we'll best friends fer a long time." She rapt her knuckles against the wall. "Guess that be makin ya our resident dragon in the dungeon." She smirked, "Think it has a nice ring to it?"

He tried to thrash his tail but it came as a weakened wiggle, "You can save the stories for another soul. Countless lives rest perilously on the edge of a blade. You can bet elf that I will be free. Just will take some finesse is all."

She pocketed the keys, leaning through the bars. "Destiny and fate have strange ways of playin out Sunshine. Long as ya have that grump about ya, you be stayin just as ya are. Might not be the best strategy ta tell yer warden ya plan to escape." She thumbed her chest. "Figure I be the only one trusted enough to watch over ya fairly."

"Fairly?" He laughed to himself, "You call being bound so undignified as this, fair?"

"Fairer than the idea they turned down." She shrugged.

"Do tell what that was."

"Gagging ya o course. Figured we put an end to that silver tongue ye supposed to have. Lucky fer me turns out yer an ass." She gave him a wink. "Try not to squirm too much, unless you like the idea of bein burned." The blonde haired elf slipped away, parting with a casual wave.

Cordenth groaned and renewed his escape, not content to simply rest while the sounds of merriment reached his ears. By the sounds of the tankards clinking and ever loudening conversation, it seemed they were playing some sort of card game. Four guards if he counted the different voices correctly. If only he could slip free, he could handle the lot of them!

Minutes trickled by like a steady stream, filled with rubbing scales and grunts of pain. He slumped as his muscles ached, unable to burst free of these well-built bindings. If only he had seen his mother's plot coming. Who would have guessed that Ryder was within his mother's pouch? He grumbled and tried to relax, free his mind of such infuriating thoughts. With a breath his eyes drifted closed, and he dwelled upon the misty forest from his visions.

It wasn't a place he'd ever visited that was for sure, was it still in Drenedar? He pictured the wiggling mist, reaching up to coil around his paws. Was it some other distant land, across the sea? He forced the images, dragged himself back to that solitary moment, surrounded by the void. Yet as he dwelled, something else emerged from beyond the darkened treetops, a pair of draconic eyes rising like a beacon. Twin golden orbs wreathed in fire staring intently through his scales. They were gone with but a shake of his head and a heavy snort, but it left him staring at the wall, shivering as icy talons dragged their way along his flank.

"Damned cold." He groaned, chattering his teeth. He was left shivering and scowling at the stone. "Why didn't they enchant this place for warmth? It's practically torture."

Because they don't care about your comfort.

"Of course not." He glared at the darkened hallway, only touched by a oil lantern's radiance. Somehow his meditation had lasted the day, the sun itself had already slipped below the horizon. Cordenth's heart chilled, he hadn't even heard them come or go. Was he so deep in thought that he hadn't even seen them? He shook his head, trying not to dwell on what he'd seen. He'd had a tiring ordeal, just losing track of time was all.

Or you're simply going mad.

"No one asked you." He hissed, fuming at the continued conversation from beyond his cell. Was this how all prisoners were kept? Simply stuck here with nothing to do? This injustice had to be rectified! Especially when he was supposed to be trying to escape and rescue Lyndis! Perhaps he could win the guards over with some of that silver tongue Keerla was going on about.

"Come on Keerla and what I assume are humans. You can't leave me to rot away in boredom! My bindings are terrible_and the floor is woefully cold. If someone doesn't come rectify this, well I'm just going to start singing. At least _one of you can keep me company, it will do wonders for when I'm king of this place you know." What would Lyndis add to get his point across? "Stop being a pawful of cunts!"

The table beyond was dragged with a screech across the floor, followed by the sounds of chairs toppling over and apologies being uttered. The dragon's frills fluttered in silence as heavy boots marched down the hall.

In strolled the queen, her royal blue robes aflutter. Gold winked in the lantern light as she set the dragon with a stern look. Fire swirled behind her amber pools, bringing life to the ghostly white of her face. On either side of her rested guards in pristine full plate mail, blue tabards adorned with pegasai wrapped around their breastplates. They regarded him with the same sharpness of their spears.

"So this is the tone of which you speak to me?" Elizabeth sneered, "And to think I was going to apologize for this circumstance."

"It was meant for your jailors." He hissed, not dare backing down. Not after the indignity he was being subjected to. She was lucky they needed her, and that she was Lyndis' mother. Otherwise, if these bars were not here, this would be a most different conversation. "Though I knew you were coming, I'd have added a few more insults_just_ for you."

"What a shame, I rather liked the other night. You were quite the talker, nor the brute or lewd fiend the tales said you might be."

"And yet none of that saved me from this fate. It seems you're just as gullible as all the others your grace. What deluded promise did my mother offer you? Must have been something valuable to betray your daughter. You're no better than the Lumarians in which you hate."

She rested a hand against the bar with a heavy sigh. "And there you are ruining that façade. Why couldn't things have remained peaceful?"

"It ended when you had your soldiers attack me." He snarled, "Perhaps you shouldn't do that to your guests. Though why wait until morning if you were so brazen? Why not kidnap us in our sleep? Would have saved the bruises and blood of the monks sent to capture me."

"And the half or so dozen men that got kicked in the balls."

"Excuse me?"

She silenced him with a raised palm. "We did consider that. For your mother's message arrived before you did. Though when I saw that look upon my daughter's face, how could I imprison her and her betrothed that night? I'm not heartless you know."

"Should I be proud of you for that?" He snarled, pulling at the bindings with such strength that the guards readied their spears. "That you waited a few hours later to throw me and your daughter into chains? How arrogant of you to think I'd accept your empty apology. So unwind your tongue, what promise did the devil give?"

Elizabeth stood upright, hands folded behind her back, an aura of absolute calm. "Why the protection of Drenedar of course. She would personally attest to it's safety. Can you offer assurances like that? With your meddling our whole kingdom was at risk. Even if she weren't insisting, I'd have taken measures to ensure you didn't leave."

"But we can help! You've only doomed your sister city to it's fate. What happens when they're finished picking the bones from their corpses before coming here? Will my mother help then?"

"As long as we have you within our dungeons." Elizabeth smirked; eyes gleaming with malicious intent. "And by my guess, she isn't heartless enough to see the death of her beloved son."

She wasn't that crazy was she? To threaten his life to his mother? He let the words bounce around in his skull, possibly for far too long considering the questionable look she was giving him. He recovered with a cough and a laugh. "That you think my mother would let you live after making that threat is laughable. While mother can threaten my freedom, any who question my life usually end up dead. So bravo I might say, if your goal is to leave your daughter with zero parents."

"She won't dare." Elizabeth sneered, her confidence not even shaking. "Not with our might, and that of you as our bargaining chip. Any move she makes would lead only to one end. She won't make that call."

He laughed again, setting the rest of the jailblock in silence. To which he cleaved with his threat. "She'll play the long game then queen. Dragons have the years in which to do it, in which she won't be idle. This game you play will be paid in blood, and the slightest mistake will mean your life."

Like an adamantite shield she didn't break, "Then she will be found and clapped in irons. We have no time for dragons that lie and plot against us."

"And that's the being you placed your fate in." He rolled his eyes with a snort, "Instead of the plan me and your daughter presented. Cause that makes sense."

"Her help is slightly more tolerable, and our kingdom will have a chance. What you speak of is madness and death. Just look how easily you were dispatched."

"Which won't happen again." He rattled the chains with a snarl as flickering fuzziness swept about the base of his skull. "You can guarantee I won't hold back next time. Those men that tried to imprison me will be dead, and I'll be roaring my victory over their broken corpses."

"Hmm...How the noble dragon that my daughter says you are crumbles under the slightest bit of hardship. What would she think to hear you swear death so easily?"

"You spoke with her?" For a moment, the fuzziness dulled and the only thing that remained was his concern for her.

"At length." The queen sighed, "Both of you refuse to see the bigger picture. To focused on the here and now to think about the ramifications of your actions." She gave a heavy sigh, the strength seemingly leaving her brow. "No matter, it is these times that leaders are challenged. You'll see in time that what we've done was the correct choice. Hopefully, you needn't spent the rest of your days in chains."

"Ah yes, to play the part of your tamed, captured dragon. Follow the script and get my reward." He hissed, narrowing his gaze. "Where are you keeping my beloved? A cell like mine?"

"With her ability to pick locks?" Elizabeth chuckled, "No, she's got plenty of magical runes around her_room. Not to mention taking anything that could be even used as a lock pick. Can you bloody believe she has the things stashed _everywhere?"

He smirked, that was Lyndis alright. Hopefully she'd had a few stashed where no one would find them. Then it would only be a matter of waiting until she came bursting in like the adventurer she was. Not the story usually told, but if it got him freed, he hardly cared in the slightest. Though if they retold the tale, he wouldn't be this helpless. Certainly not with his tail raised and readied to be mounted. "So you just turned her room into a prison cell? How typical."

"Oh, its nothing like these horrid arrangements." The queen traced a finger along the steel, scrunching her nose. She made the same deal that Keerla had made, implying that if he and her daughter were able to rut out their tension, they'd be more docile.

"How considerate of you." He growled, "I'll try to remember that as I rest here with my tail strung up."

"That was the idea." Elizabeth waved, gesturing to the guards to depart with her. "Try to not squirm too much dragon. I've heard the bindings can do terrible things to scale and skin alike. I await word of your improvement."

Stay here and let his friends rot beyond these walls? Hardly a choice that he would make, nor one that he'd simply rest here. Not when there could be things to be done." He squirmed and shook, snarling as the bindings bit and pinched all around him. Still he persisted through the gritted teeth, almost certain he could squeeze his forepaw out of the restraints. His bones cracked in agony at the effort, leaving him whining and hissing in pain. What else was he to do? He couldn't just sit here!

"Ya know Sunshine..." Keerla returned, flipping a gold coin through her fingers. "Sounds perfect if ya be askin me. Fluffy beds, pillows, and the princess ta hump as ya please. Maybe yer luck took a turn for the better?"

"Hardly," He hissed, fighting the lewd thoughts circling his lower regions. It would be terribly annoying to sprout at a time like this. "How many times must I hiss I've friends waiting for me in Struport!"

She leaned in, her posture softening as her eyes swirled with curiosity. "Friends of the humanoid sort or the dragony sort?"

"Both." He snorted. "What's it matter their species?"

She stood without a word, eyes traveling across his sea of leather and steel. Quietly she approached, laying a hand upon one such strap. "Ya know, that's the right bit of answer I'd been wanting."

He eyed her with questions. Wasn't she supposed to be his warden? His adversary paid for by the queen? His brow rose. "What do you mean?"

"Heard you were the Lady's son. Then ya cracked a few of those monk boy's skulls." Keerla drifted back, crossing her arms. "Didn't expect you of all dragons be caring about us two leggers."

"How is that surprising? Did you not have stories of the Swirling st-" He squirmed and the steel bit at him, turning his counter into a painful hiss.

"Problem?"

"Yes!" His eyes burned. "Your bindings bite worse than a snap jawed tortoise. Did you have to pick the _worst_bindings possible? Last time I was wrapped up by humans it wasn't this painful!"

"You've been tied up before?" He chuckled, fishing through her pouch. "Take it it wasn't anything kinky?"

"Dragon hunters." He snorted, "Brother had a bit of heroism to help a female."

She pulled free the keys, cautiously giving them a glance over. "Guess it's the same with dragons. Males like to impress." Her eyes locked to his, steeled and without fear. In a way it was comforting. "I got ta have your word. Otherwise ye won't be free." She wagged her finger before he uttered a word. "And if you go against it, by thunder you'll pay."

"Like I'm the one you need worry of lying. I'm not the one laying ambushes for their offspring and guests." He rolled his eyes when she didn't laugh. "Damned it all. You may have my word elf. Now if you would..."

She nodded, leaning in, careful fingers finding the locks that secured the bindings. "That's a good dragon. See? Knew with a wee bit of shoving we can teach ya some humility."

"Just loosen the bindings." He hissed, "You needn't brag."

"But where's the fun in that?" she undid the first lock, loosening the leather that lay beneath.

In an instant the tightness in a single limb was gone. Though he still couldn't make any progress to escape or cast spells, at there were not snapping at him with leather teeth. By the time she'd gone to each binding he was practically purring in delight, humming with his eyes closed.

"Would ya look at dat. Happier than a badger mole." Keerla chuckled, finishing with a clap of her hands. "Hope that buys us a wee bit of peace."

"You're better than the queen." He hissed, eyeing the woman up and down. "But why even grant me a reprieve? Is this not treason?"

"It may be." Keerla looked left and right before leaning in, whispering in his ear. "But not all agree with the ambush of ya. Think it mayhaps be a tad cowardly. Princess has the right idea o course, count this as a rebellion of sorts."

He'd misjudged her. In silence he watched as she winked, resting a fair hand between his horns. Who'd have thought being trapped he'd run into some sort of ally?

"Keerla!" A manly voice called from down the hall. "What ya doin? Smoochin the dragon? Come on girl, back to the bloody game!"

She perked up, eyes traveling to her unseen mates and that of Cordenth's scales.

"Go to your blasted cards." He said softly, flicking his frills. "It's not like I'm going anywhere."

Keerla just grinned, petting him softly along the snout. Her fingers brought a tenderness he didn't expect from one with pointed ears. "We'll figure out something Sunshine, don't you worry none. Want somethin and I'll see about gettin it ya?"

He nodded. "How about out of here?"

"Anything but that." She chuckled, giving him a final pat before sprinting away.

Left to his thoughts the dragon returned inward. If they were going to go about trying to secure his freedom, he might as well do his part and illuminate why this misty forest was drawing him in. Part of him shivered at the thought of gold, hesitant to take the final plunge. Yet as the card game drew quiet, his courage grew and he found himself tentatively dipping in his mind.

*

The days passed him by without a hint on the why. It stayed just as mysterious as it had ever done, the dragon always retreating when any semblance of gold pierced the sky. He'd awaken each time in a cold sweat if he _could_sweat that was. Those golden eyes were always there, watching, waiting, hungry for him make the tiniest of mistakes. In the more quiet moments he could almost hear their whisper, seductively promising him power. He was certain they were getting faster with ever venture, but surely that had to be just his nerves? He didn't want to find out.

Boredom gripped him whenever he wasn't risking his life, little else was left to do. Only Keera paid him any mind, the other guards of the day hastily waddled through the prison. He'd counted all the tiles of his cell by the end of the week, made note of every tarnished bar, even the daily schedule of the flight's of pegasai passing beyond the window.

Conversation was lost on him, the guards nor his prison mate Elthian proved fruitful in that regard. The humans just gave him worried looks, eyes filled with dread. He bet they were simply guilty, thankful for those bars between them. Elthian was another story entirely, no fear was held within him. The slickened haired elf merely look insulted that a dragon was even talking to him. No matter the poking and calling to his knife eared self, the elf was always the same. Calm and distant, residing himself to trance away.

Thankfully Keerla would always return by her evening shift, even taking extra ones during the week. What began as her playing cards or doing the rounds, now saw her leaning up against the corridor and chatting at his side. She was always quick with a joke or story, chuckling at any inconvenience or slight that Jeriah had made the previous day. His favorite story was of a time she passed through a portal to fight scores of demon like creatures. When he insisted that sounded fantastical, she was merely a guard. She gave him a wink.

"Things aren't always what they appear ta be. Always expect to be surprised."

She wasn't wrong in that regard, as she was practically bending over backwards for him. She'd pass along whatever kind words Lyndis had left when she could, perhaps slip a bit of jelly tarts in with his evening gruel. Whenever she filed her paperwork with the queen, she'd always mention the dragon needed to be moved to better quarters. He'd questioned her on her truthfulness, but the elf was all too clever.

"See it's right here ya right bastard." She thrust the parchment one night to his nose. Right there, clear as ink, written in her lovely, flowing hand. "She's just not listenin ta reason. Trust me, we're getting rightfully cross about the whole ting."

He didn't know which was worse, being held captive by two separate mothers, or the fact this one wasn't even listening to her warden's recommendations. He was left perplexed, glaring at the stone and pondering if he was to be simply left here forgotten. It was on the eighth afternoon when a break in the monotony reared its ugly head.

Just as a breeze started whistling through the bars to an old tune, the rocks along his cell wall began to crumble and shift. What was smooth had began to crack and splinter, small chasms chased one another as they spread like a wildfire. A dragon's snout began to take shape of hardened scales, complete with flaring nostrils. He would have pulled back in alarm if given the chance, but he was forced to remain bound as the draconic visage slowly ripped itself from the wall.

Sunken eyes of motor and stone set upon him, the cracked stone frills slowly shifting. He knew that piercing look no matter the color of those scales. It may have been crude but there was no mistaking, this was the snout and neck of his mother.

The neck shifted like a stone snake, setting the hallow eyes upon him with a lengthy hiss of distain. "Must you force me to resort to contacting you in such a matter? It's considered rude to ignore a sending spell you know."

"So that's what that was." He rolled his eyes, knowing full well what the slight ping at the base of his skull the past few days had been. "I'd thought it was a fly that I couldn't reach. Though I wonder why bothered even trying. Take your leave and waste not what time I have with talk." He averted his gaze to the window beyond, "You're no mother of mine."

"Oh, how your stubbornness has grown. I knew I should have enchanted you at hatch. But no, Croesus was against it. Well this is the reason. This streak of rebellion and draconic selfishness." She leaned in till their snouts almost touched. "Can you not see the path you've chosen with this is destruction? Of not just yourself but all those you hold dear? Every dragon that walks this earth will be injured by your selfish desire to save your friends. Be glad that I've corrected this course of action."

Had she not tried this before? To beat down his walls with accusations of selfishness and childishness? She was the one not looking for another way. She played with lives and sacrificed innocent people to get to these crossroads. "Silence that wagging tongue Ossai." He hissed, staring daggers at her stony hide. "Even though your minions have me bound, I shall not be won with sharpened words. Mark my words, when I am freed from this place, I'll return to my path. You won't stop me Ossai. We'll take charge of our own destiny, not be manipulated by a cruel dragon playing god."

"Such arrogance. Have you thought to the others that might die because of your decisions? How are you any less cruel than I?" She merely sneered; her flames painted on her stone snout. "But no, you're right. I was only thinking of myself and what _I_was to gain." Stone yielded to sharpened claws. "You'd think you'd more greatful. Most proud of the future paved for you. Any dragon would _kill_to have what's in store. A princess on one paw, a kingdom on the other, setting a shining example for peace between our kind and theirs. You'd throw that all away for a group of friends you just met?"

How dare she speak to him of such boons. Grateful? He nearly laughed. "Gifts from a snake and born in blood. If these people knew the lengths in which you manipulated them to achieve this great future, they'd rebel at the first inkling."

She merely growled, rising her head. "They'd never know. In time they would only know the peace and prosperity that has born fruit."

"And yet...If you're future were to pass." He looked away. "I wouldn't live with myself."

"Yes you could. I've foreseen it."

"Possible future as you've said." He hissed, "You couldn't predict Fremra, or our departure. Here you are trying to win me over when I refuse." His voice rose like the tide as fire nestled beneath his scales. "But here you are, chastising me for seizing my destiny when that's all you've ever wanted! Well here is me seizing it! Just not the one you planned eh?" Though silent she remained it only fueled him, years of her systematic rule over him came flooding from his lips like water. "And if you've only stayed to convince me to side with you, you've failed again. Leave and never return to my sight."

The Emerald Lady stirred, her head slowly drifting around the cell. It appeared as though no one could hear their private conversation. When she looked back her expression had softened, her frills tentatively twitching. "You die at the end of this you know." Her voice was flat. "To the Queen of Eternal Flame."

What? He couldn't believe she dragged out that excuse. "Oh please Ossai. Don't think an obvious play at my heart will sway me." He rolled his eyes. "Your crocodile tears won't work on me this time."

"I understand." She stared passed him, watching something he could not see. "But It's true." Her head dipped, "Slashed to pieces on a forest floor. Just a way to strike at her intended target."

"And who would that be?"

"Me."

He blew air in her direction. How may plots or schemes had she woven with such dishonest words? This was no different. "As a dear love of mine would say. Piss off. You're just spewing tons of bollocks. You never loved my brother or I. We were mere tools like the rest."

The air stilled as the stone dragon gave pause. His words had hit home in a way he thought they couldn't. Stone eyes looked upon his bindings, touching upon every scale to his tail. He couldn't explain it, but she looked smaller. "How have your visions been? Have you foolishly progressed further despite my warning?"

Back was the commanding tone. "It's not foolish for me to care about others." He scoffed, "And no thanks to you, yes. It would appear like that time you tossed me from your back...I have to fly on my own." He averted his gaze, not to be suckered in by her mournful display. "Guess you should have worked with me and saved my friends, instead of expecting me to sacrifice them."

Icy glares she gave him would have stilled any heart, but not his.

"Very well." She snorted, starting to retreat into the wall. " We'll see how differently you feel after I arrive. The future will happen how I see fit. You will be the bright future, you are the puppet that needs to dance its dance. My years of planning will not be undone by an ungrateful brat. Think on that while you lay bound like a common mule." Like a turtle she slipped back into the wall, every stone resealing back into place. In a breath there was no sign that the emerald dragoness had even been there.

"That's right!" He snarled, relishing his victory. "Take that you uppity...Cunt!" Was that the word? It sounded right. Either way it summoned the near silent pattering of his elven warden down the hall. Just in time for her evening shift. Time had passed by so quickly?

Keerla slipped to the bars, half leaning inside with a clever smirk about her lips. "Ya know Sunshine, you're not supposed to go mad in a matter o weeks." She chuckled, "Oh I be getting ya. Ole draconic pride, have to be doing everything better, even going bonkers."

"I don't make a habit of talking to nothing." He hissed, fixing her with a glare.

"Then what do you call that? Seems to me you're barking mad."

He merely grumbled into his bindings. "It was my mother, using a spell to contact me. Perhaps you should reconsider the runes to line my cell."

"And the queen will ignore em." Keerla leaned, taking out an apple in one hand and a knife in the other. "Never thought yer mother be that controlling. Hopefully, it wasn't the escape ye be planning?" The elf gave him a sly wink before starting to slice apart the red skin. "Then I might have ta stop ya."

"It wasn't that. Just more of her same demented logic." He huffed, his insides still simmering. "Whispers of a future that she desires, willing to do anything to achieve it."

"Best be careful ya know. Terrible things be done with determination like that. She tells the future?"

He nodded.

"Next time she comes a calling, feel free ta ask her about my next night at the pub. Plan to make a killin."

He merely chuckled tiredly at the thought of her preforming such parlor tricks. Perhaps they could drape her in long rags to match? "Unfortunately, she doesn't do that sort of thing. Its more manipulating everyone like pieces on a chessboard, played against an unknown individual. Though If I were to bet, I have my suspicions."

This Emperor.

"Shame that. Bet she'd make a killing. Guess she isn't like all the other dragons? Thought ya beasts had a raging boner fer da coin?"

He rolled his eyes till she laughed. "She considers other treasures much more valuable."

"Ah, collector of art and things. Got ya. Here I'm picturing a wee old lady, wrinkled as a prune. Wee shack in da middle of the wood, surrounded by cats. Am I wrong?"

Keerla's smirk was all too infectious, practically dragging a chuckle from his throat. "So, I'm right? Damn I'm good."

"Replace the cats with humanoids and you have a close idea." He chuckled, flittering his frills as she began her usual inspections of the hall. When Keerla returned he was already asking about Lyndis.

"And I'll repeat that's not my job." She brought in a bowl, dumping a waterskin worth of water inside.

"You're the one who brings the messages." He grumbled, having a staring contest with himself reflected in the rippling water.

"Yea, but I'm not who gets it. You can be thankin the mayfly for that. Jeriah, think you know him?"

"I know him." Cordenth growled, picturing that bearded man's face. "He's the reason I'm here."

"Might want ta be rethinking that lad." She laughed, "Mayfly only be doin what he was told. Judge his actions now of all things. He's been ferreting the messages from the misses to ya all week, I'll send him over if he comes in." She eyed the bowl of water, resting beside his untouched meal of fish and assorted vegetables from this morning. Her arms crossed her chest, her demeanor hardening.

"Ya know, no eaten isn't the greatest for ya. Growin dragon like yerself needs your meals, even if it's just prison food. I'd go on, you must be famished of all things."

Gurgling filled the air as his stomach whined in protest. He silenced it with a growl. "And give them an excuse to poison me? You'll understand that I'll only eat when I'm out of these wretched cells."

"Oh I know, suit yourself." Keerla slipped to his side, settling her rear on the stone. "I wouldn't let them poison you ya know." Her tone softened, "Nor do I think green's can _be_poisoned, if my readin be right."

Why must she have read that? He snorted, "Eitherway, it's a matter of pride. Your queen is ignoring your recommendations and my demands. I'll starve myself if I have to. Perhaps _then_she'll consider hearing me."

"If she doesn't care now, I doubt she will then." Keerla sighed, resting a hand to his snout.

His eyes closed at the contact, wishing it was Lyndis' fingers instead. How his heart just ached to be with her even now. How cruel it was that their reunion be cut short by such circumstances. When he was free, Ryder would be getting the tongue lashing of a life time. When Cordenth was king, he'd make sure the man was fired.

"Knew a man like you long ago." Keerla sighed, watching the stars wink through the open window above. "Had a good heart, bad things happened. Always stuck to his swords and morals. Even when stupid nobles were tellin him no."

"Oh?" His voice was soft as she started to stroke tenderly along his snout.

"It shouldn't be long now. Either the queen hears ya out, or Jeriah and I be forced to do something drastic. I mean, ya can't be sitting here listenin to me gab all day and night."

"I could. Nothing better to do. Not until my beloved comes to rescue me."

Keerla smirked. "You think that highly of her?"

He nodded, "Of course! Have you seen the skills she has? One locked and magically barred door will be nothing. My deepest sympathies for those that guard her."

"She sounds like somethin. Like an elf taught her this streak years ago."

"Her father."

"Not only him." Keerla chuckled, "Though a wee bit. Fiesty one she was. Funny ta see her frienden dragons. Knew she was clever."

It dawned on him. She had trained her? "You knew her?"

"Since she was a wee babe. Wiggling and cooen right from the get go. Silly little thing swiped my favorite necklace first chance we met. Knew she was a keeper then. Then she met the family, fell right in love with those dwarves."

"Dwarves?" He rose a brow.

"Aye." She rolled her eyes, "Don't be thinkin too hard about it. Nuthin wrong wit a clan o dwarves raisen an elf." She thrust a finger to his nose. "Why, ya think there is?"

"No, no!" He chuckled nervously. "Just surprising is all."

For countless minutes they remained in silence, only letting the softness of their breaths fill the time. When the sound of a table screeched along the stone his warden's attention was once more drawn. She gave him a final pat, one last wink and slipped out of his cell.

"Make room ya mayflies, I've come ta take all yer money."

Ponderous minutes dragged along, as if a slug were gently pulling the sun back towards the horizon. In moments such as this he dwelled upon Lyndis. What was she feeling, what was she doing? Was she pacing around her room or plotting her escape? Her messages had never been clear on the idea. It was in these thoughts he swore there'd was a tremor about his heart. Emotions that were not his own coursing through them. Were these Lyndis'? Veledar had shared with him some thoughts of his bond with Arcturus, was it possible he was forming it with her as well? He smiled at the thought, wishing she were held within his paws at this very moment, tenderly massaging his scales.

Time had all been lost to him when Jeriah strolled in, a proud smile upon his lips and a red sealed letter between his fingers. "You can stop the partying sir dragon, I bring word of the misses!"

"About time." He yawned, muscles begging to itch his snout. "Here I thought you'd forgotten me."

The man merely bowed, his furry hat almost falling off. "And why would you think forget my lovely dragon friend?"

"We're not friends."

The man blushed, "Again, deepest apologies for your predicament."

"Its fine." He snorted, eyeing the letter. "Is that from her?"

Jeriah nodded, "Straight from her careful fingers it is. Smiling and flushed cheeks she was over it. Told me to pass on that her heart yearns for when you two are reunited."

Wonderful news indeed. He rumbled at the idea of her warm cheeks and bright smile as she asked about him. How his heart ached in need for her. "What are you waiting for?" He grumbled, "I've only been waiting all day for it."

"Of course." He slipped into the cell, placing the envelope down in front of the dragon's nose.

The folds were covered in golden ink, swirling and cascading like tiny little rivers. It sat out of his reach, no matter how much he squirmed. Was this a joke? He levied the man with a hardened glare, "Ahem?"

"What?" Jeriah tilted his head, "I thought you'd want a letter from your love, she even kissed it!"

"Not that." He growled, "How am I supposed to open the damned thing!"

Crimson went the guard's cheeks as he apologized and picked it up. "Right, how could I honestly..." He thumbed over the crease, unfolding the letter with a clear of the throat. "Dear Radiant Star."

Lyndis' voice thundered from the parchment like a raging storm. Jeriah's hair flared outward as a gale like wind battered every inch of his face.

"Jeriah! Didn't I tell ya the letter was for the bloody dragon? Don't ya have any manners ya scratchy bearded muppet? Or maybe you fancy to have a wank over potential lewd notes between an interspecies couple? Well leave your bloody mitts off the letter you twat! Consider this a warning!" The letter flew from his hands, rolled up into a tube smacked the guard a half dozen times across his face.

Red faced and backed against the wall Jeriah squirmed, unable to fight off his attacker. It eventually tired, slumped to the ground and sputtered around hissing like an aggravated cat. Laughter burst from down the hall, infectiously forcing Cordenth to join them as Jeriah sat positively mortified.

"Sounds like ole Jeriah needs ta mind his wanken!" Keerla burst laughing down the hall, followed by the chorus of her fellow guards.

"A shrieker?" Jeriah slumped to the floor, hands on his sweating head. "How..How in the hell did she get one of those?"

"Must be her connections." Cordenth mused, though asking what in the hell was a shrieker.

"Is what this is" Jeriah held the still hissing letter at arm's length. "Long story short. Bloke thought it would be funny to torment his master who terminated his employment. So the bleedin cunt makes this letter to embarrass his master. Guy makes a killing making trinkets like this now." He fiddled with the letter, trying to poke it without flinching. "If I remember correctly, the spot to shut it off is..." He bopped it right in the middle. The letter sputtered it's last and slumped innocently to the ground. The guard just leaned back, sighing in relief. "Finally."

The guard's laughter down the hall sounded again, only making Jeriah's face even redder.

Cordenth eyed the letter. What was it so important that she needed to hide it with a spell? "Will you even be able to read it? Or will it sprout fangs to attack you next?"

"That's a different letter entirely." Jeriah winced, shaking a finger. "Though harder to hide. Whole thing has pictures of teeth on the back. Anyway, back to the letter." He cleared his throat, doing his best impression of the princess. "Whispers of the moon I transcribe our love my dearest dragon. Trapped we may be by circumstance, but hopefully not for much longer. While the sun dances I remain, but when the stars play so shall I. My heart yearns for thee, let my words still your aching heart. We shall not be long apart my sweet. I love you." Jeriah chuckled as Cordenth's frills burned. "How sweet."

Those words were just for him. He scowled at the cheery man. "Is that it?"

"Oh here we are...Even more." He cleared his throat, "Hope they treat you well, polish your scales, feed you right. My mother listens but I doubt she's really. Fingers crossed something undoes whatever lays twisted within her skull. I hope this Jeriah bloke is trustworthy, he's been rather friendly, and considering recent events, that makes it even worse. Maybe another spy?"

Any cheeriness in Jeriah's face died, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Awwww Lyndis..."

"Anything else?"

He coughed. "P.p.s. Tell your mother to fock off. I bet this is her doing. Anyway, smooches and the best...Lyndis...hugs and kisses."

The dragon stirred, fire building in his heart. The chains clinked and leather strained as he tried to slip any part of him free. Here was his love, unable to fathom being apart, while _he_simply waited. He growled at himself, something had to be done!

"I know ya wish it could have been from her, but the queens being stubborn as always. Doesn't seem to trust ya. No matter what we tell her." Jeriah sighed, rolling up the letter. "Apologies if it made you mad."

"That wasn't it." He snarled, the fire ever building as he pictured the cold face of that woman. "Your queens arrogance in her abilities at keeping me locked up." He slumped when the bonds wouldn't break. Was he still so useless? If only they hadn't split up. Maybe with his friend's help they would have had a batter chance.

"Nothin I can do about that." Jeriah leaned back, tapping a hand along the wall.

"You could cut me free, right now."

"I can't do that! I'll be shackled like a traitor!"

"So, a coward then?" He stared daggers at the color drained man. "If you not the heart to do the right thing, then leave my sight. Drenedar clearly lacks the courage I thought it had."

With a gulp and silent nod, the guard darted from the room without looking back. The dragon was left again to his thoughts as the silence wrapped around him tight. At least they understood the gravity of his situation. Perhaps some time to think about it would convince them to help? He wiggled his tail in the bindings, and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

*

Acouple more days had passed in near silence, only whispering of the winter winds to fill his time. How many had it been? He'd not been counting. The guards that had usually paid him mind were instead avoiding his cell, not even questioning when he didn't eat their morning offerings. He hummed and tried to sing to lift his spirits, letting the low tunes he was taught fill the air. With such thoughts he escaped his bindings if just for a time, soaring high above his home with brother and Croesus by his side. How such times were so far from here, the sun overhead warming his scales, and gentle caress of the summer winds, his heart yearned for such things upon the hardened floor. By the time this was over, he was certain the stone was going to be shaped of his bulk.

On the third day his isolation was put to an end. Right as the sun kissed the snow capped mountains beyond. Two human men, a female wolven and Keerla, all tentatively smiling at him and holding packs slung around their backs. The wolven was clutching a deck of cards to her furred chest, her lupine eyes drifting from his horn to tail. Each of them looked unsure, fidgeting on their boots or paws. He snorted in their direction, casting them with a glare.

"What do you want? You've ignored me for days now." He focused on Keerla's smile. "Even you."

"Pfft." She waved him off, leaning up against the wolven. "You needed the quiet I think. Work all that grump outta your scales. Just ta show ya no hard feelings, we decided to bring you in on the nights festivities."

"Will it help me escape?" He snorted harshly, almost growling when they opened the cell. What was even the point of this? So that they would feel less guilty of keeping him imprisoned? "Why even bother?"

The female wolven snapped to Keerla like bitten by a cobra. "I thought you said he was friendly Keerla, he's just glares and hisses! If I lose a bloody foot to this thing, I swear-"

"You won't lose a blood foot Nymeria." Keerla slipped over, sitting herself right beside his snout. For a moment she stayed still, meeting his eye, possibly uncertain what he'd do. When he didn't move she shrugged and laid a hand upon his snout, softly petting him and gesturing the others to join. "See? Just grumpy and mad at the predicament. The least we can do is try to make him feel right at home."

"He was tied up with his tail raised at home?" Nymeria rose a brow.

Cordenth just growled.

"No of course not." Keerla eyed Cordenth, "Promise to be good?"

"I have been a _perfect_example of draconic patience."

"Very well then." The elf sprung up with a bounce in her step, and without even a hint of hesitation she undid the lock on his tail.

It slumped to the ground, bloody coursing through it from base to tip. The dragon sat stunned. When she returned to sit at his snout his eyes were wide, and she had a smirk that was even more than that.

"Still being a grump at me?"

"T-thank you." He replied softly, trying not to rumble when she stroked the upper portion of his snout. Her fingers were sinful, to the point he was certain she'd done this before.

"Don't mention it. Hey the rest of ya wussies, get in here. Dragon won't bite ya."

The others followed with tentative steps, one by one plopping themselves down without a word. Off their packs came, to rest before the dragon's paws. Straps were unfastened to reveal the darkened bottles of various types of wine. Then came the blocks of cheese, the loafs of bread. These guards had taken upon themselves to bring a whole spread of snacks!

"Oh we're sitting down?" Jeriah was the last to join them, slinking in without his usual attire. Gone was his armor, the man only clothed in a simple blue tunic and grey trousers. He laughed and rested on the other side of Cordenth's snout, hesitantly going to touch the dragon's scales. He paused, meeting Cordenth's eye. "May I?"

He rolled his eyes, "But only you. I don't want to be turned into a petting zoo by the end of the night."

"So you're okay with us playing in here with you all night?" Keerla winked, grabbing the cards from the wolven's paws. "Said it yourself, must be true."

"So question." The wolven rose a brow, thumping her fluffy tail on the stone. "Why are we playing on the floor like a bloody animal?"

Cordenth snorted in reply. "Do I have to point out I'm bound? Or are you suggesting you're to free me for the game?" He couldn't help but smirk as the blushing and neck scratching spread about them like a wildfire. "Seriously, I'd be alright for that."

"And have you run off?" Keerla chuckled as Jeriah brushed along his scales, a honest smile about his face. Like a child suddenly been given a great gift.

He groaned and went limp in his bindings, flicking his tongue in and out. "If I have no choice in the matter, what is going to be on the agenda for this get together of yours?"

"Cards!" Jeriah thumped him with a smile.

"Booze!" Keerla chuckled.

Nymeria undid the cork of a bottle, letting the foam travel down her furred arm. "And not doin any work for the rest of the week!"

He fought the rumble in his throat and the warmth about his heart. Though he was supposed to be cross with him, they'd cared enough about him to try and lighten him up. Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to butter them up, win them over to his side after all. He eyed the other two males and wolven, how their eyes nervously avoided his. "What about these three, why are _they_here."

The answer was a combined explanation of bribery, extortion, and downright blackmail. Each of it sounding more ridiculous than the last. So he eyed them warmly, accepting when they offered for him to join in. "Though whatever shall I do to hold the cards." He drooped his frills with a dramatic whine. "I have all my limbs bound so tight."

"That's the problem isn't it?" Keerla slunk closer, wiggling her fingers. "Spells can be cast with sound and movements. Take out one and you're generally good. So, if ya be wanting to hold a hand..." She pointed to his nose. "We'll have to wrap up that cute snoot of yours."

"Cute snoot?" He rolled his eyes as the elf chuckled and tapped it again. He responded with a heavy snort that ruffled her hair. He weighed his choices with a few well-placed grumble. "What if I give you my word I shall not do any spells?"

The guards exchanged questionable looks, only Jeriah and Keerla letting out twin sighs of weight. With a nod the elf slunk on over, undoing the strap on a single paw. With a solitary click part of him was free. The dragon was left dumbstruck, staring at the flexing of his digits. He was free, or at least part of him was. All he had to do was shrink down and sprint out of here, none of them would be able to-. He eyed them all, watching the hesitation flicker about their eyes. They were tensed, hands gripping at their weapons. They expected him to flee.

"Listen." His frills drooped as relaxed, thumping his tail. "I gave my word. I shall not leave, let's just enjoy this game or whatever it is and not cry too hard when I best you at it."

They all burst out laughing, the two he trusted most smacking along his neck.

"So that's what ya think eh?" Keerla shouted, "Prepare to eat dem words dragon!"'

*

Cards were dished out to his scaled claw, nervous chuckles flowing as specks of pair tumbled from his claws. Who knew how hard these things would be too hold? Several attempts later and they found a way. Simply leaving his cards face down. He had to peer every now and again, but it worked. Letting him plot his victory. The game was called pegasus ante, but he was certain after he was done, it would be named after his kin.

The minutes passed in good cheer as hand after hand came and went. Instead of coin and material goods, they were instead betting chores or various foods on slips of paper. Though he should have been doing better by his calculations, it seemed that experience was winning they day this night. He was grumbling and groaning with each passing round. Enough that they merely laughed and tried to bribe his happiness with home brewed wines.

"This ones the best tho." Keerla smirked, waving the glass bottle before his lips. "Family recipe, and ya can't get better than dwarves when it comes ta alcohol."

"If it makes the rules make more sense, than it's a god send. Who in their right mind make the pegasus cards better than dragons?" His tail shook the cell as the others took a swig and laughed into a cacophony of good cheer. "So what do you say? Care for a taste?"

He couldn't resist, getting the bottle shoved between his maw the moment he nodded. The liquid was bitter and sweet, circling the dragon's taste buds like a well-traveled friend. He was purring on his own accord, happily chugging away like a newborn calf, draining the entire bottle in a few seconds flat. With a burb the bottle was ejected, and he enjoyed the fruity aftertaste. "Now that was good."

"We have more ya know." She plucked from her bag another, wagging it too and fro. "Though I warn ya, dwarf stuff be mighty portent."

He scoffed at the idea, giving the clever elf a smug smirk. "So good that it can intoxicate me? Please girl, I'd like to see you try. You'll need at least a dozen bottles to subdue me."

"That a challenge?" She'd already uncorked the bottle and lifting it to his lips.

"Guess it is." His eyes closed, the bottle returned, and it disappeared down his gullet to the cackling of his new found friends. When that bottle lay vanquished and his belly warming, the others soon had their spare bottles to offer in tribute. Each of them he downed without hesitation, their flavors earthy, tart and mostly bitter. To his dismay not a single one was as good as the dwarven one, but he didn't share that bit of information. With a pop the final bottle fell from him, his scales all fuzzy and warm. He was smirking, eyes glazed as the others with reddened cheeks cheered him on. "Not drunk in the sleetest!" He hiccupped, only making them laugh harder.

"Its slightest ya big lizard!" Keerla screeched in laughter.

He only pouted, flicking her with his tongue. "A dragon."

Reflexes like a cat she caught it between her fingers. She leaned in as he chuckled, a smirk about her lips. "But you did the tongue thing!"

"THAT WAS A JOKE!" He tried to sound, but it only game out a jumbled mess that made the others roar in delight. Then it was back to the game they'd once been having, and what was once arduous before was now a puzzling affair. The whole room was spinning he was glad for the bindings holding him steady.

Tales were shared about their time in the guard, he enchanted them with amusing stories from his youth. Their favorite one seemed to be a time that his brother had unwittingly fallen prey to the trick of a fairy turning a nest full of bees to resemble a gleaming treasure chest. Cordenth cackled as the little dragon scampered across the forest floor, his frills all covered in welts.

Not to be out-done, Jeriah countered with another round of drinks and his favorite prisoner tales. It stared a man with an overly large mustache, who bunched it up inside his helmet. He comically mis-heard whatever was told to him, even orders from the queen. "You should have seen his face when he thought the bloody queen wanted to do lewd acts on him! He wouldn't let us convince him otherwise!

Time forgotten the drinks kept coming, all till the bottles lay bare. The wolven and the two other guards slunk off with drunken snickers, to raid the kitchen's stock of wine. After all they insisted, Cordenth knew the princess and could make excuses for their behavior when he was to be freed. He'd have chastised them, but he was too busy lazily purring to the masterful petting of Jeriah and Keerla.

"If ya told me dragon's were like cats mayfly, I'd never have believed ya. Yer just a wee ole softy!" Keerla belted, giving the human a nudge.

Escape was the furthest thing from his mind as they tended to him in his drunken stupor. Why not simply have done this to him from the start? Give him whatever he wanted, enchanting atmosphere, delightful food, strokes of his scales, he'd have never wanted to leave! By the time the others had returned with armfuls of whine and a second round of snacks, he'd convinced himself this was still all part of the plan. With his renewed determination to see this through, he won his first game of the night.

"Aha!" He burst smacking the cell with his paw, starting to slide free of his other bindings. He chuckled and snickered to each of them. Even Nymeria was chuckling along.

"Ya had ta win eventually." She mused, petting his snout when it drifted along. "Perhaps a different game?"

What to play, what to play. His claw touched upon his chin. Frills trembled as they waited in baited breath, filling the time with more sips of their drinks. They eventually all agreed on charades, and none of them questioned it when he shrank his size and slipped free of all his bindings.

"Dragons love that one!" Cordenth beemed, bursting through the purple smoke with a smile. Around the room he bounced and strut, nearly stumbling over his wobbly paws. Since when did he have six?

They divided themselves into two teams, the guys squaring off against the girls. Though they did have to lend one of the male guards to Keerla and Nym, if only to be fair. They were up first, their topic chosen was a fox. The dragon was grinning and chuckling as he took his spot before them all. Wide went his wings before he took a solitary bow, pressing a paw to his snout and turning into one of the red furred mammals before their very eyes. He planted his now furry haunches and waited.

"A wizard?" The male guard on his team shouted.

"Magic!" Jeriah chimed in. "That's got to be it!"

Really? Cordenth scampered around, wiggling his tail yet his team still burst out with more outlandish guesses.

The guard thrust a finger to him, eyes bright. "Wiggling!"

"Dancing!" Jeriah burst, running his fingers along his chin.

The girls were dying in laughter. Cordenth wanted to smack his cute little head against the stone. Nymeria had fallen over, clutching her sides in laughter.

"A fox!" Jeriah finally yelled, "It can't possibly be that simple right?"

"Finally!" Cordenth emerged to his smaller size. He glared at the two laughing men, congratulating themselves on a round won.

Only Keerla had her arms crossed, a sly grin about her. "Dats a fancy bit o cheatin ya be doin. Who said we could be usin magic?"

He merely grinned, slinking back to join his team. "I do believe no one said I couldn't."

"I didn't even know he could do that." Jeriah grinned, offering Cordenth a high five. The dragon merely returned it with his wing, not even looking.

"Besides, with how these two guess." He rolled his eyes. "I need all the help I can get."

"That's right!" The male guard chuckled into his drink. Halfway his eyes widened, sputtering out the liquid. "Hey!"

They tried to shove at him, but he easily avoided it. Though not without any semblance of grace. He tumbled to his side as the girls were given their thing to emulate. They accomplished it without any trouble at all, almost as if they could read each other's minds. So it went, back and forth, the night devolving into more good cheer. Cordenth happily chatting along, asking them of their life and dreams. Seldom did he think to Lyndis and her predicament, even the coming undead didn't even get a flicker. Everything was in this night, yet somehow the conversations were pulled to his singing and performance abilities. He was happy to tell them about it.

"There was one called the lost soldier." His paw wove it's way to his black scaled chest. He couldn't help but pridefully wiggle his frills. "Where a maiden waits for her love from war. Rumor abounds that he was slain and she is destined to be married to another. So of course her love comes for her on the wedding day and wins her hand." He wiggled his paw. "I'm somewhat an expert at the part." He grinned, recalling the nights he'd helped perform with his mother's trope. Natural talent they'd told him, best they'd ever seen.

"Expert at leapin around like a frilly girl?" Keerla burst, smacking her knee. "That be something ta see!" She nudged at him, eye brows bouncing as she held fast another tankard of wine. "Did they get ya ta wear a frilly dress too?"

His cheeks blushed but he narrowed his eyes and nearly touched her nose to his. "No, but I did get to take those frilly things off one or two."

The elf screeched and nearly collapsed upon him in laugher. "Gentledragon he says, but just listen to him! Lustful as any man!"

He snapped his head back into the shape of an S, bringing life to a multitude of sudden gasps. "But I am a gentledragon! I'll have you know, of all the dragon's I've met, I'm the most polite and careful in my actions!"

"How many have you met?" Jeriah smiled, earning the dragon's narrowed gaze.

"Seven." He snorted, only making the drunkard of a man chuckle and touch his nose with a solitary finger.

"That's not many."

He rolled his eyes, "I'm very much aware."

"Okay, okay. Say you're not feistier than a dwarf on his drinkin night." Keerla leaned forward. "What would ya be doin now to yer misses?"

"Now isn't that the question." He rolled to his back, taking out the deck of cards with his tail. He watched the ceiling, admiring the tiny cracks and divits. "I'd probably be singing to her, lift whatever poor spirits she must have." He rubbed at his heart, "I can feel her longing for flickers at the time. She misses me dreadfully. As I do her."

"Then ya got to go to her!" Nymeria shouted, slamming her tankard down. Ears flicked as everyone looked to her. "What?" He arms crossed. "Says he wants ta sing to his love, he should be able to. We can't stop love."

"That's our literal job! Ta keep him here in bindings!" Keerla gestured, cheeks reddening as she realized he was already free. "Which need I remind ya we already failed at?"

The others laughed as Cordenth raised his head, giving the elf a nuzzle along her shoulder. This was the chance he'd been waiting for. "But you're already in for a copper, why not go for the whole gold?"

Jeriah shrugged, "The dragon makes a convincing point."

The others save Keerla nodded their heads in agreement.

"Besides." Nymeria sighed, "How could we be living with ourselves?"

To his satisfaction the elf was beset by her compatriots. Arguments on why he should be allowed to serenade his love. At first she held their position that he was to remain, but he could hear and see with every passing moment her resolve crumbling. So to add the final stroke to dismantle her defense, he sat upon his haunches and gave her the biggest eyes he could.

"I really want to sing to her." He gave a dramatic pat of his paw along her leg. "We won't be out long."

She looked away, pushing off his paw. "Don't be givin me dose wee dragon eyes. They won't be convincin me."

He had her, he just had to bring it home. He pawed again, adding a softened whine. "Please?"

"Fine." She slunk, letting out a sigh. "But we can't be out for long. Ya promise?"

He nodded, shooting up onto all fours. With a wave of his paw they joined him, gesturing for him to join. In a series of cackles and giggles the cell was open, and he was free once more.

*

Castle Drenedar was unearthly quiet, not a single sound to be heard. Oil lanterns lay dormant, waiting a fire's life. The stars shone brightly overhead, filling the chilly air of the twilight with a touch of natural splendor. A lone wind swept through the silent walls, curling around battlements, chasing away any who still wasn't huddled around a fire's warmth. It was here that our adventuring group slipped out into the snow covered night, careful not to crunch the snow below them too loudly.

Cordenth found himself in the middle of their group, like adventurers on a noble quest. Keerla led them like a courageous leader, throwing everything away to let him see his love. She shambled along the edges, hand on stone and almost fighting her body with every step. The others were none better in that regard, but were able to keep the pace without stumbling too far out of way. He was going to miss them when he escaped.

Shadows draped all around them, hiding them from the watchful eyes along the walls. The few guards that remained were gathered together, their hands pressed close to crackling fires. Several moments they had to freeze, pressing themselves against the walls as patrols padded their way overhead. It was here that his heart pleaded to leap from his chest, dreading that he'd be caught before Lyndis had listened to his enchanting song.

"So what sort of romantic song are you to show her?" Jeriah whispered as they group rounded the near empty stables.

"Romantic?" Keerla, cocking a brow, fighting off another belch. "Here I thought this was an elaborate ploy to trick us and fly away."

"That doesn't come till later." Cordenth hissed in a near whisper. "I still have to sing to her first."

"Wait a-"

Nymeria silenced her, hopping on her paws and tapping at the woman's shoulder. "Look it, there it is!" She couldn't help but point to one of the numerous, navy shingled towers. In the moonlight they stood as towering monoliths, glaring down from upon high. "There it is! There it is! That's where she is! I'm certain of it!"

"Are you sure?" Jeriah stood up, tilting his head. "I thought her room was on the other side."

"Nonsense." Keerla wheezed, "This is it. Now no one go ridin home. All ya are drunk."

"Easy for you to say. You're the worst of us all!"

The woman held up a finger, "That makes me an expert!"

Cordenth had enough of this banter. He was to sing to his lady, perhaps do more of that saving thing. That's what her letter had been about right? A hidden code for him to rescue her. A bell chimed in the distance, a ghostly sound reverberating through the keep. "If this is the tower of which you speak, how do you expect us to get up there? I assume she must have plenty of guards."

Keerla just laughed, "Dozens at all times."

"Lovely." He hissed.

"But you got us!" Nymeria thumbed her chest, almost collapsing. "We can handle a sword or two."

He merely chuckled, "Ones that are straight as a blade, not drunk."

"Ah. Well you'd be right."

Jeriah knelt to him, placing a diminutive pebble in his paw. "Here. Toss that at yonder window. Wake her up, she opens the window. You sing." The man crossed his arms proudly.

"And it'll work?"

"Read it in a book once."

"Sure." He reared up, rolling the stone in his palm. He calculated the distance, he needed to be bigger. With a press to his snout he started to shift, leaving the guards coughing on his smoke.

"Blasted all" Cried Nymeria. "He's exploding again!"

"Why are you doing that?" Jeriah hissed, eyes darting left and right. "Are ya trying to get caught?"

"No." He snorted, pulling back the stone. "But how else am I to reach the window?"

"Ah well hurry up. Be careful not to put too much strength, you're only supposed to kn-"

He'd already loosed the stone with all the strength he could muster. The stone projectile angrily sought out the glass, shattering the silence like it's glass.

"There we are." He smiled to the mortified faces around him. One less window, now to the singing!" He sat to his haunches, serenading the window with a most delightful draconic song. Yet despite the flowing hisses and snarls that any dragon would appreciate, his companions were bent over, pressing tightly against their ears. He stopped, head tilting. "Whats wrong?"

"Whats wrong?" Keerla jabbed his chest, her eyes like steel. "Ya sound like a dying cat!"

"A whole group of dying cats I reckon." Jeriah hissed, trying to silence them with his hands.

Cordenth cut them off with a wing, they were merely mortal. His beloved would most certainly appreciate his lovely tunes. With eyes closed he began to serenade Lyndis once more, proudly belting off each and ever flowing note. Yet when he was done there was nothing. The night was empty, no one had come slinking to the window, nothing. His snout scrunched as a owl's lone hoot made his tail thump.

"Perhaps she is still asleep?" Jeriah shrugged, "Though with how you screeched I'm surprised she was able to-"

He snapped his snout to the man's head, ruffling the hair with a snort. "I'll have you know that was a most elegant song."

"What's it called?" Jeriah smiled nervously.

"What it's called is the Flight of Dragons. It's a beautiful thing that speaks to your soulmate." He peered up at the broken window, his heart thumping painfully in his chest. He had to go to her.

"I'll take your word for it."

"If that's how you sing to each other..." Keerla pretended to vomit. "I'd hate ta see what ya do when yer angry."

Cordenth's eyes narrowed. "Doesn't Nymeria there howl at the moon?"

"Yes!" The wolven stomped her foot. "And it sounds better than that shrieking!"

He padded a few paces, dusting them with a sweep of his tail through the snow. What did they know about draconic romance? He unfurled his wings, a plan already forming. If she hadn't heard him, he was to ensure that she did. Maybe even snatch her up and flee away with her. Good riddance to this entire rotten place. He peered back, the others gesturing him on with their hands. Their honest faces of delight warmed his soul. He was going to miss this lot. Out of the entire place, these had just tried to make him happy.

With a flap and flurry of snow the dragon pounced into the air. Cold bit at his membranes as muscles sprung to life. In a matter of heartbeats he whooshed around the columns of perfectly woven stone, guided by ever growing warmth in his heart. His claws found purchase when he neared the top, winding his tail around the roof. In when his neck, right through the broken window. Surely Lyndis was inside. How happy she would be to see him, just like one of those heroes from the stories. How envious Veledar would be that he got to be one of those heroes you read about in stories.

The room was dark and sparse with furniture, a mirror resting off in the corner. One bed rested in the middle, draped in thick blankets of numerous shades of black and grey. The furnishings along the wall were a different color than before, there were no flowers spaced between the lanterns. Had she been redecorating since her capture? He chuckled at the idea they had to remove everything to keep her in here.

He made sure his voice was pleasing and flowing, right out of those romantic tales that you read. " I received your letter me beloved. I know it's a bit cliché but I couldn't fathom not coming to rescue you from these dreadful halls." He beamed, slowly crawling towards the sheets. Up shot a woman in a off-white dress, clearly not Lyndis.

She screeched through the night a terrible sound, an ear-splitting crack as her arms flung up. "DRAGONS GONNA EAT ME!"

"I AM MOST CERTAINLY NOT!" He roared out, nearly bumping his head on the ceiling out of shock. "And you're not Lyndis!"

"Well I'm bloody hell not!" The woman shouted, fear chased out by anger's burning fire. "So if yer not here ta eat me, ya must be trying ta get a peak of me nickers!"

"No!"

"Liar!" She pulled up a pillow in her hands, brandishing it like a sling.

He rolled his eyes, "I was just looking for Lynalla. Have you seen her?"

"Hah! Like I'd tell ya dragon, get the fock out of me room!" She lobbed the fluffy square at his head, landing it dead center of his snout. When he didn't budge she grabbed another, and soon was going to snatch heavier things to hurl at him. He had enough when the brandished a hand mirror.

"This was all an accident!" He called back as he retreated and swooped down to join the others. The woman's shouts and snarls continued when she rested outside her window.

"Good riddance!"

"Take it that's not her?" Jeriah chuckled, wincing when the woman started to curse. "Lovely mouth on her."

"No." He growled, curling his neck, and glaring at the ear pinned wolf. "I think it was a set-up."

"Hey! I thought she was in the tower" Nymeria hiccupped, collapsing to the stone. "You try to remember when ya blitzed off ya mind."

Ugh, she was right and he knew it. Even now his fuzzy mind drifted between all the towers. Which one was the one they leaped down from? He held his head as it felt as though Beetles were buzzing about. He could already hear some shouts from beyond the wall. Clearly they'd been found out, though what had tipped them off was beyond him. It couldn't have been the singing, he'd been so quiet! Around the courtyard he stomped, digging up tracks of snow. By the time he returned, Ryder had just emerged from beyond the courtyard with at least a dozen soldiers in tow.

Without thinking the dragon merely greeted him, turning to continue about his contemplations. It wasn't until the others gasped that he stopped dead in his tracks. Heart pounding in his ear he turned back, trying to give the most innocent smile he could think of. "I know what this looks like, but we were honestly trying to sing for the princess."

The older man fanned out the others with but a flick of his wrist. His brow was furled together, eyes like fire falling upon them all. "What is the meaning of this? I thought the lot of you were better! But no, nothing but traitors the lot of you! It was your job to keep the dragon under lock and key!"

"Well you see-" Keerla stepped back, her hands up as she smiled. "We were just about-"

Cordenth silenced her with a wing, sauntering forward with a confident smirk. Out of nowhere the dread that'd been in his chest but all faded away. What he must do was instantly upon him. He knew where he belonged, and it was front in center. These humans were nothing more than things to be ordered about like toys. To each of them he could feel the flutter of their hearts, like a rabbit desperately avoiding the hunting wolf. His chest swelled.

"We were out for an evening stroll. The cell was far too cramped for my liking." He wiggled a wing, "Cramps up something awful, and I'm sure you'd like to remain on my good side." When he grinned, he could practically taste the man's anger, thundering around his heart. It was delightful and it only fueled the dragon's movements more. "And they are not by any means traitors. If that title could be applied to anyone it's you." He chuckled, pointing at Ryder with a claw.

"Me?" The man's arms crossed. "Absolute poppy cock. I am as virtuous as they come!"

He had him, "So virtuous that you are commanded by my mother instead of your queen."

"That's different. Now the lot of you are to be taken into custody. The dragon to be put back into chains, the others executed."

Executed? That wasn't going to happen. He'd already been too nice before. He chuckled with a malevolent eye, letting it unsettle all those before him. "That's not going to happen."

"Yes it is. I'm the-"

"Shut your little craw." Cordenth snarled, taking one step forward that seemed to shake the courtyard. "I've had enough of your pathetic little squawking about. That sense you have over one such as me. You are nothing, and only remain because of my benevolence. I could have snuffed you and your traitorous men from this earth with but a breath, but no." The sea of trembling worry in the man's eyes was but candy to him. It almost made him warble in delight.

The air stilled as the soldiers around gripped their weapons tighter. Worried glances were exchanged by one another, unsure of what to do next. None dare discharge their weapon, for he was supposed to be their treasured prisoner.

"You can't speak to me that way!" The old man finally stood his ground, planning his foot down. "Men, if the dragon takes another step fire at traitors. Let him know his actions carry consequences."

That was a mistake. The dread coiling around them all flickered and meandered through the air. He could almost taste it, slice it with a claw. The fuzziness about his skull spread to the rest of him as he focused on that taste of control. With a breath he reached out to every man that now held him under weapon point. "Belay that order humans." His voice was like a commanding general. "For if I am your prisoner and you need to make me happy. If you so much as damage a sliver on their heads you all die. No question, no buts. I will ensure each one of you doesn't leave this courtyard." He chuckled at the sudden wince and fear springing about their eyes. He prowled, pacing and meeting each one of them with a look that could kill.

"What is going to happen is I am to be freed from my cell. I will be given a room by my beloved, and we can renew this talk of reinforcements and allies again. If we are to be attacked again, any who come at us will be slaughtered and discarded. My friends will not_be executed, but instead rewarded for their loyalty. Out of the pathetic mire that you call a kingdom they were but a silver lining. They gave up everything to try and make _me feel ever better. Hell." He fixed Ryder with a stare that might have lit fire to the air itself. "Keerla should have _your_job."

It was then that he noticed, Ryder and the men were transfixed upon him. In awe at his resplendence and commanding authority. Their jaws were slacken, eyes glazed over. If he didn't know better he'd swear they'd been hypnotized. It made him rumble at how polite they were being. "Do you understand Ryder?"

"Yes sir." The old man muttered, not dare looking Cordenth in the eye. "She should have my job."

"And what else?" He was grinning as he slunk over, paws practically bouncing.

"New room beside Lyndis, you are to be free."

"Wonderful." He growled, rising his head to make sure his friends were safe. They were, but all too confused as they tentatively closed the distance between them.

"Radiant Star..." Jeriah was searching the rest of the man, a questioning look about him. "What have you-"

Guided by little lines the dragon stumbled over towards his bewildered and clearly impressed friends. A sudden weight wrapped itself tight around his scales, dragging him down. "Simply my dear Jeriah. It's just that they finally knew who they were-" His snout crashed into the stone as the world spun like a top around him.

They rushed to him, their hands poking or massaging his scales. "Give him room!" Keerla shouted, "He just had too much to drink!"

But was that it? Cordenth winced, a sudden pain spreading across his skull. It was if someone where trying to squish it between their palms. He groaned and curled inward, if this were the drink it was to be one hell of a hangover tomorrow. Thoughts slipped from his mind like grains of sand as a darkened void swept over him. The last image he could make out before consciousness left him, was the ghostly image of twin golden orbs in the distance.

"Since when did he have golden horns?"