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The first floor of House Cirrus usually acted as a large antechamber. Along its walls a spiral stairway ascended the tower and descended into the basement, and a mosaic depicting the family history of House Cirrus stretched its circumference. Its floor was decorated for leisure, with games set out, tables for receiving guests, musical instruments for those in the family inclined to play. Nothing was set into the broad, amber and brown checkered floor. Any furniture could be removed at moment's notice in the case of hosting public events, receptions, or large parties.

A large bell in the ceiling's center, once rung, would summon the entire tower. Finn included. It was typically a ceremonial device--rarely ever used.

Its ring unsettled every Finn in their quarters. Rothishel's sister glanced at him and asked, "What did you do?"

He answered by shrugging his wings.

Grumbling, his sister got up from her nap and stretched out her forepaws, hind end raised and quivering. Rothishel turned away, glancing at the half finished letter he was writing Lily. Whatever this was would certainly get in the way of him completing the letter. He tucked the parchment between the old writing desk and the wall, which took up most of the little nook that made his portion of the room he shared with mother and sister. Rothishel followed his sibling upstairs with a dozen other Finn taking a break from the day's work.

As they took the flight up to the first floor, shoulder to shoulder, his sister whispered, "Want to take any guesses?"

"A punishment, probably."

"Ugh, Netrikor forbid it," she said. Sirtas forced the entire tower to watch anytime a Finn was punished. They did not misbehave often--most "bad behavior" simply being mistakes. The last Finn publicly punished was Rothishel, in fact. Though it had been two months, his flank still carried the risen proud flesh from where the whip ripped open his hide.

Rothishel almost stopped when they ascended. The center of the floor had been cleared for the Finn of the house to assemble, and standing in front of the assembly of dragons was Prince Sirtas and Lily. Next to Sirtas were the members of the prince's family who also lived in the tower: his uncle and aunt, cousin, and his youngest sister. It was a fairly small household given Prince Sirtas' age. With no mate or clutches sired, Sirtas' cousin remained heir to the house. This lack of other dragons was a blessing for the Finn of House Cirrus: it meant less masters to please, account for, and serve.

All the dragons of House Cirrus had the same rack of antler like horns, but their colorations varied. and none were quite as striking as the bright buttercup yellow of the prince's hide. Because of it, Lily stood out all the more beside him. Those blue, black-tipped wings contrasting the prince along with the dark plumage of her head, those sharp violet eyes that met Rothishel's for just a breath. It robbed Rothishel's quickly as the first time they made eye contact. Smartly, she pretended to scan the crowd of dragons assembling, as if Rothishel was one of many dragons she looked at.

Ten minutes passed before the Finn of the house were all assembled with the Cirrus family. Rothishel stood at attention with his kin, next to his sister, mother somewhere else in the ranks. They were five rows of ten arranged with practiced discipline, close enough he needed to keep his wings and tail pulled tight to keep from touching others.

Prince Sirtas bowed for his family and said to them, "Thank you all for answering these sudden summons on such short notice. I have called you here today to witness the punishment of a Finn. A crime so sickening that I nearly flew into a rage when I was told. Lady Alabaster, would you care to elaborate?"

Rothishel stared, wide-eyed. A pit had opened up in his stomach. There could only be one reason--

"I have already spotted the culprit." She pointed at Rothishel. "That one with the dark green scales. He is the one that pressed himself onto me."

Now? It was happening now? He thought they had more time. He wasn't--

"Step forward, Finn," Sirtas growled.

"Brother?" Rothishel's sister breathed. She didn't dare speak loud enough to be heard.

"Don't worry--"

"I gave you an order!" Sirtas bulled through the crowd of Finn. The smaller dragons darted away like sparrows scrambling from a hawk until the prince towered over Rothishel. He saw it coming, but he remained frozen as Sirtas reared up and backhanded him. The bigger dragon's forepaw was almost the size of Rothishel's head. His teeth clacked together, neck wrenched so hard the blow threw him onto the ground.

Rothishel lay still, waiting to see if Sirtas would dole out anymore abuse. The prince refrained, instead he said, "Get up Finn." Rothishel stood, remaining meek as possible. "You will be put to death for your crimes. Lady Alabaster, would you like to attend the execution?"

Rothishel heard Lily, voice tense and dry, answer, "Yes."

"Very well."

"Oh spare us the formalities and slit his throat here," Prince Sirtas' sister, Syrwen, said. The dragoness had a more slender build, and her scales were a darker, less soft yellow color. "The other Finn can clean up the blood."

Sirtas' mask of rage broke for a moment--an expression of fear only Rothishel and other Finn could see. Then, as if donning it again, the prince's lips curled in a snarl and he faced his family. "I am not going to give this bastard the luxury. No," he then announced to the Finn, "let this stand as a warning to all the Finn of House Cirrus to not even dream of disrespecting the guests of this house. Your kin here stands accused of rape--a crime horrific for any dragon to commit, much less a Finn to a defenseless biped. There will be no body for your family to retrieve and give last rites to, for even in death this Finn will be punished. I will skin his hide and harvest his bones and organs for experiments in my lab."

"My, how ghoulish," Syrwen said.

"Deserving of it," Sirtas said, glaring at Rothishel. "Follow me, Finn. I do not want you tracking blood through the tower, so I will kill you in my lab." Sirtas turned and started walking to the stairs. "Come Lily," he said before barking, "Meeting adjourned!"

Rothishel followed at a cowed pace, sparing a glance back into the room. Several Finn watched him go, sister and mother included, all of them horrified. They did not break from their reverie until Sirtas' cousin started yelling at them to disperse.

It was a long, quiet ascent. The second floor acted as a set of guest rooms as well as a kitchen for the tower. The third was rooms for Sirtas' uncle and aunt, fourth his cousin's rooms, fifth his sister's, the sixth remained uninhabited. It was a nursery, unused because of Prince Sirtas' seeming disinterest in continuing his line. At the seventh floor, Lily glanced back at Rothishel and asked, "Aren't we safe?"

Sirtas said, "Wait till we get to my lab. I can't guarantee we aren't being magically watched."

She spared Rothishel a clear look of concern. On his muzzle, Sirtas' blow had split his lip and blood had flown freely down his jaw and neck before drying in a dark, caked line.

"Did you have to be so harsh with him?"

"Lily, please," Sirtas growled.

She hugged her arms to her chest and they walked in silence to the eighth floor of the tower. Beyond the stairway, a thick stone wall carved in old runes he couldn't read blocked off the rest of the floor. Like all of the Houses of the palace, entry to the lab was forbidden to all but the princes and who they gave access to their work. They approached a large set of stone double doors. In the door was a bas relief carving of a dragon's face, looming over the three of them as they approached.

Prince Sirtas had made the door himself--it took breath magic to open it, guaranteeing none would be able to enter until he apprenticed a new dragon. The prince took a deep breath and exhaled through his nostrils, and tongues of silver flame swept into the nostrils of the carving, which inhaled the flames before the stone glowed with a silver aura to it. It shuddered, then opened.

"Wait until the doors are closed behind us," Sirtas warned.

Sirtas' lab was lit by alchemical lanterns that mirrored sunlight. Later, Rothishel would learn these gentle, floating globes of light would shift to a softer moonlight in the evenings. They walked through the doors into a threshold of sorts. Fitted into the wall was a stone golem: it was bipedal, tall as Sirtas, and clambered out the wall. It's draconic eyes flashed open and it growled.

"Forgive the security," Sirtas spoke before he made a rasping inhale. The golem's eyes lost their magical glow and he said, "I will have him set so he does not attack the both of you later."

The doors finally shut behind them.

Lily practically pounced on her lover. "Oh Rothishel!" She hugged him tightly at the base of the neck, and he returned the embrace. He pushed his snout into her shoulder and took a deep breath of her scent. Coral hearts in bloom. Every time now that scent practically walloped him--left chest tight and heart fluttering in his throat.

Sirtas watched, impassive but clearly holding back his reaction for both their benefit.

Lily touched his face and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine," Rothishel said. "I did not realize we would be doing this today."

Sirtas said, "We could not risk you warning other Finn. Or did you forget who cost Prince Rothishel his life?"

The Finn glared at his master. He wasn't dead, so he had the nerve to say, "I can hardly forget."

Lily stepped between them and said, "I know things are tense, but Sirtas, this is Rothishel."

Sirtas said, "A pleasure, Finn. I do not know if I am ready or willing to call you by my old master's name, so you will forgive me if I don't extend the courtesy."

"Of course, prince," Rothishel said.

Lily grimaced between the two of them and decided to change the subject. "How about we just get Rothishel settled for now?"

***

Miraculously, Lily had convinced Sirtas to house Rothishel in his lab. The Finn had only learned the plan a few days before, by a letter Lily left him in their usual spot. She had finally come forward to the prince about who her lover was, what had led to the relationship, and the complicated connection Rothishel had with Sirtas.

Though, neither males made a convincing effort to get to know each other.

At the back of Sirtas' lab was a small bed barely of a size for the prince, only used when he did not wish to return to his chambers at night. Rothishel would now make it his home for the foreseeable future. Until they figured out an alternative, but at least Rothishel now had a chance for privacy with his Lily. After being set up in the room surrounded in bookcases, Sirtas left the two of them alone.

Rothishel and Lily wasted no time making the room stink of the Finn's sex.

At the end of that first, fantastic day, Sirtas finally took Lily out of the lab. Rothishel spent the night there alone. Though these arrangements made the gryphon more accessible, she could not stay the night or live there with him. They had appearances that needed to be kept up. Prince Sirtas was not trusted by the other families as it was... it was at an incredible risk to do even this.

Although, Rothishel hardly cared what Sirtas risked. His life had been put on the line from the moment he and Lily first met. In the last two months the Finn had lived with the constant tension he may be killed at any moment. Always on edge, but desperate to do anything to see her. Days spent aching when he could not, hours spent rereading her letters, waiting for all those precious moments of privacy. Her touch, her scent, the sound of her voice. Love, far more than a fear of death, was a desperate need that churned up his insides with anxiety. All that had changed for Rothishel was getting caught now meant Prince Sirtas, the dragon who scarred his flanks, would also be put to death.

Why should he spare any sympathy for that bastard?

***

Rothishel's captivity did not become a cure all for his longing to be with Lily. Appearances needed to be maintained, and she could not simply disappear into the prince's lab as well. So, Rothishel took to trying to snoop about all he could. Most of the tomes in the lab did not contain anything of use for the Finn. Seeing his total lack of magical ability, learning magical formulae did him little good. However, among the many rooms of Sirtas' lab, there was one that did actually keep Rothishel well entertained.

On the opposite end of the tower from his rooms, Rothishel found a room set with a windowed view of the sky. The large, paned glass wall went floor to ceiling, and, with the use of magic, appeared to be nothing more than the stone wall of the tower. It provided a view of Kor's Stairway, one of the better ones Rothishel had the time to admire, and he did rather like playing lookout in the morning--hoping to spot the tiny black-blue dot of Lily crossing the bridge to the palace proper. But more than that, the ceiling of the room offered a wonder: with a set of dials in the wall by the chamber door, one could adjust the ceiling to reflect the many different phases of day and night. The arrangement of stars and planets worked so finely that it seemed to account for each day of the year.

It was one afternoon, while teasing the different dials, to try and arrange the stars to reflect the day he first met Lily, that Rothishel found his company interrupted.

The heavy trod of a dragon's footsteps alerted him before Sirtas entered the room. He said, "You're here again."

"Just keeping myself occupied," Rothishel muttered, one forepaw on a dial while his gaze studied the arrangement of stars on the ceiling.

The Finn's obvious lack of discipline rankled Sirtas. He snorted, tail-tip flicking back and forth. "I am sorry that you have nothing to entertain you."

"Makes me almost miss my house work," Rothishel said before finally looking down at the glowering prince. "Did you need something?"

"I left dinner in your room."

"Ah, that's it, then?"

"You can't even try to be grateful?"

"Oh? Did you leave a garnish, make sure to bow before entering my chambers, not make eye contact or announce your presence, or--"

"Listen, Finn," Sirtas snapped. "I am trying to extend you a level of courtesy. For Lily's sake, the least we can do is attempt to get along."

"Right, Lily's sake," Rothishel said with a dismissive flap of his wings. "She might have forgiven you for what you've done, but I wear what you've done on me, prince."

Sirtas looked at Rothishel as if he were mad. "I am only trying to help you."

"By locking me in your lab? How is this any better?"

"It is temporary--until I find a way to smuggle you and Lily out of Kor."

"And why would you want to do that anyways?" Rothishel asked. "I assumed you would try to convince Lily the best thing to do is keep me here so you could have her."

"You impudent--" Sirtas bulled forward into Rothishel. The smaller dragon snapped at the bigger, but a larger forepaw batted his head away and pinned him against the wall, wing smashed uncomfortably to stone. A paw on his neck forced Rothishel's head down. He tried to push up, but the weight of Sirtas now covered him. "Gods, for having my old master's soul in you you are nothing like him, you wretch. Do not assume you know me or my motives, Finn. I am saving you because you carry the spirit of my old master, and I wish to do for him what I could not originally do. And I don't care if I have to bind and gag you until that time to do it, understand?"

"Tsch, you wouldn't dare," Rothishel growled, the stone floor chafing on his scales.

"Try me, Finn," Sirtas snarled. "If I'm going to lose Lily anyways, what makes you think I care that much about her opinion of me, hmm?"

With a sharp tug of his neck that caused a stabbing pain down his back, Rothishel managed to wrench his head free of Sirtas' grip and bit down on the prince's leg. Sirtas snarled and yanked the appendage free, sharp teeth ripping away chunks of flesh as he staggered back. Though blood spilled freely from the wound, dragons were tough creatures, and, despite their pampered upbringing, princes were among the toughest.

Sirtas cursed and said, "I must clean this up--dammit you are just--just--"

To Rothishel's amazement, there were tears in Sirtas' eyes.

"This is not how I wanted this to go," Sirtas muttered before barreling out of the room, a trail of blood following him all the way out into the hall. It was darker than a rich red wine, and, as it dried on the floor, congealed into violet. Rothishel studied it, amazed at how Prince Sirtas' blood seemed so different from Rothishel's.

***

Inside his new room, Rothishel nibbled on the food Sirtas served him, reading a random book he took from the nearest shelf. He did not want to think of the prince; he would rather think of Lily or this text on Cirrus family tea recipes through the generations, but it was hard not to when the taste of Sirtas' blood clung to his teeth. The cured and smoked meats Rothishel had on a plate beside his book did little to cover that up.

He had never seen the prince close to tears before. Lily had called Sirtas a very sensitive dragon, which he perhaps never understood until now. Not a light-footed dragon, however. Rothishel once again heard the Sirtas' claws click on stone long before he rounded the entryway into the spare room.

"Ah, there you are."

Rothishel resisted old, habitual impulses to get to his feet. He said, "Your leg looks healed."

"Yes," Sirtas held up his forepaw. Not even teeth marks remained. "Magic is a remarkable salve."

"I'm sure it is for some."

"Your flanks--I am sorry for that."

"Are you?"

Sirtas grimaced, took a moment to collect himself, and said, "I have spent half my life carefully watched to see if I would do anything to ever help a Finn. It made me feel like I had to be the worst of masters, and I do regret it."

Rothishel shut the book with a forepaw and observed, "And you still can't seem to understand the trouble of being a master in the first place."

"I--"

"You came back, why? Not to assert your dominance again, I hope," Rothishel said. He watched the prince carefully, a bit of tension in his gut as he readied himself for any number of surprises.

"No--I came to apologize." And, to Rothishel's complete shock, Sirtas bowed before the bed and continued: "I have treated you as if you were still some ungrateful servant. My pride came before any notion of your own dignity as a living, breathing dragon. You have spent your whole life robbed of respect, and I do not wish to continue treating you this way."

Rothishel stared in disbelief.

Sirtas glanced up, and, deer-like ears tilting back, asked, "Should I, uh, leave you to your privacy?"

"In a minute," Rothishel said. He got out of the bed, careful not to overturn the platter of food. "Why is it so important to you we be on good terms?"

Sirtas straightened up with a defensive, "I did not say we needed--"

"You came here with that sort of an apology after I ripped open your leg--I should think you have a reason for it."

A grumble in Sirtas' throat followed by, "Alright, I suppose your respect does matter to me, but not your respect as a servant--I want your respect as one dragon to another."

"I do not know if I can give you that so long as I'm in captivity."

"Fair enough," Sirtas said with a sigh. "I am no fool--I understand this is still a prison to you, but I will try my best to make you comfortable."

Rothishel stepped around the room, still studying the larger dragon who tracked him with his neck. "I don't think you've answered my question."

"Excuse me?"

"You apologized so I might respect you. Why do you want my respect?"

"You are cross-examining me?" Sirtas growled.

Rothishel reached the end of the room and began pacing back to the bed. "Indulge me, prince."

"Fine," the bigger dragon huffed. "Your respect matters because you carry the old soul of my master. When I learned such was the case--I had hoped to see some of him again through you."

"And I've not lived up to that, I suppose?"

"No, it's not that simple. I am just," another deep breath from the prince, "I see now it is a fool's errand. I should know and respect you, the Finn, the living and breathing Rothishel. I am trying to, anyways."

Rothishel stopped and sat down. "Do you wish for us to be friends after everything between us?"

"No, I am not asking for your friendship. I know that is a lot to ask for."

Sirtas did not meet Rothishel's gaze. The Finn rather enjoyed seeing his old master so demure. "It is, but..." a grumble in his chest before Rothishel finished, "Lily would prefer we get along. I know this, you know this, and we both care very deeply for her, so I think we can do this for her if not for ourselves."

Sirtas said, "I am grateful for your understanding. I apologize again for earlier. My moods can be very temperamental--"

"Stop apologizing, prince. Just do better," Rothishel said. "I'm the Finn, but it's you who seems to have the shattered confidence."

The royal dragon's whole body flinched away at that observation. He cleared his throat and said, "Very well, I will leave you to your privacy."

***

"How are you and Sirtas getting along?" Lily asked Rothishel a few days later. He lay in a small basin, reluctantly relaxing as the gryphon washed his scales. He had been very against the idea, but Lily came with a bucket full of oils and lotions for his scales, a large sponge, and a look in her eye that told him she would not take no for an answer.

"He is... hardly what I expected," Rothishel said. In this small washroom, his voice felt tight and confined, bounced from one end to the next. There was a basin in the floor with a water pump above it for washing oneself clean in case something, say in a magical experiment, spilled onto oneself. Aside from that was a nook where one might relieve themselves: a corner with a hole that flushed water down it, through the tower, and into the volcanic crater below the palace.

"Sirtas thinks the same about you," Lily said while Rothishel laid on his side and she applied oil to the yellow scales of his front. It smelled of lavender, and whisked off any dirt or grime that might cling to them when Lily rinsed him off. She worked patiently from one portion of his body to the next, having only done a shoulder, his ribs, and now here. It was very relaxing, actually. Relaxing enough Rothishel didn't even mind discussing that prince.

"Did he tell you about our fight?"

"He did, why didn't you when I saw you last?"

"I wanted to focus on you, not him."

"Is it okay to talk about him now?"

Growling, "I suppose."

"Extend your wing for me?"

Rothishel obliged, and Liolyn carefully began rubbing that oil along the fingers of his wings. She would follow the application of each one with a wet sponge. As she did, she said, "I understand why you feel the way you do about him."

"Rrrr, I hope this is not about to turn into--"

"_And_if he cannot win you over, I will not be mad at you for it. I love him, but I do not expect you to do more than tolerate him."

Rothishel's stomach turned when she used the word "love." He could not help to ask, "But you're willing to leave him?"

"I promised you, Rothishel," Lily said, stopping and holding the very end of his wing in her hand. She wore an apron over her dress to keep her clothes clean. "I do not break my promises. Sirtas and I... well, we've discussed the matter already."

"What did he have to say?" Rothishel asked. A nagging part of him needed to pry--to know just how close those two were. Even with all that had happened, Rothishel still feared most of all losing her. In any number of ways: by loss of life, loss to another, loss of the bond they shared. Neither dared to bring it up yet, but if there ever was a time to break that connection, to know this love they shared was theirs, it was while Rothishel remained captive in this lab.

"It is a simple matter to him," Lily said eventually. She reached for the spigot above Rothishel, twisted it, and, when cold water began to flow, she filled a bucket to begin rinsing his wing. "He wants what is best for me, and he wants to honor his old master. It is not fair to keep you here, but if he came with us we would both be endangered. So it will just be the two of us leaving Kor."

"I am sorry, Lily."

"For what? You're hardly to blame."

Rothishel collapsed his wing back against his back and said, "For everything? I sometimes worry all I have brought your life is--"

"No," Lily said, voice stern now. "I am here because I want to be."

She turned off the water and knelt beside his neck. They embraced, scales of his front still damp. Rothishel felt unsettled by the question Lily refused to let him really ask: if not for him, Lily could have happily been Prince Sirtas' consort. If not the dragon's mate outright. Such a thing would be against convention, but not against the laws of Kor. Not like Prince Rothishel's relationship to a Finn had been.

Still, he whispered, "I'm sorry for making it seem like I doubted you." But it was not her or Sirtas he doubted.

"It's okay, love. You are the other half of my soul. Soon, we will have the whole world to explore just how deep our bond can go."

A life on the run. A life lived in obscurity, from the precious comforts of most societies. They could not simply escape by crossing Kor's borders, but must flee the kingdom's sphere of influence in the world. Such a life... would it really be the best for Lily?

Her hug around his neck tightened, then she pulled away. He managed to match the smile at the corners of her beak, but it did not reach his eyes. She said, "Now, no more talk of this. Let me finish washing the rest of you."

"Really, Lily, I can--"

"Nope! For once I'm going to serve you, Finn."

Head clouded with doubts, her warmth and affections still managed to sooth him for the time being.

***

Sirtas spent a great deal of time in his lab. When he did, both dragons typically avoided each other. A few meager attempts at conversation aside, they only acknowledged each other's presence and nothing more. Rothishel's days began to become plodding. He took up cleaning things again, just to keep his paws busy. Sirtas did not comment on it, but it was clear it caused Lily some worry.

And Lily...

Rothishel could be quite happy when she visited, but when she was gone, as she was most days, the Finn not only burned with his old, aching longing but also this new doubt. Doubt in his worth. In any life he had to offer her. Especially in comparison to a prince, but even her life here without Sirtas would surely be a much better one. She lived in relative comfort, her needs were seen to, and she had made friends with those at the consulate and even some dragons in the city. It had, by now, been a little over two months since he first laid eyes on her. The winter finally began to ease its grip on the city, and the gryphon's life here seemed as promising as the coming spring. Even if she was okay with giving it all up for him, he was not certain he felt the same.

Rothishel had yet to raise the issue with her. Any time he even edged the conversation along those lines, she refused to hear him out. Instead she reassured him all would be well. That they might be happy.

It was while he paced back and forth in his rooms that Sirtas found him one afternoon. So lost in thought, Rothishel did not hear the prince till he cleared his throat.

"Rothishel?"

"Uh, prince, um," Rothishel turned a little too quickly to face him, tail knocking against a bookcase and rattling it perilously. The Finn scrambled to steady an old vase set on a shelf before he said over his shoulder, "How may I help you?"

Sirtas had a strange look on his face. Amusement? Excitement? The prince had these soft green eyes that filled easily with mirth, and Rothishel spent enough time in his presence to recognize it: a sort of anticipation at bringing laughter to others. Sirtas said, "I have something to show you--if you're not too busy knocking things off their shelves, of course."

A bit annoyed, Rothishel growled, "I suppose can make time for you."

A chuckle from the other male, which surprised Rothishel again. Among their many conversations, good humor had never been a part of them. "This way, then." Sirtas stepped out of the room, and Rothishel followed him through the lab.

"What is going on?"

"I want to share a project of mine. If it works, it might be the first step in getting you out of Kor."

"Already?"

"We are far from having something ready for you, but this will make the days easier," Sirtas said as they traveled down the hall that led into the planetarium. A door, where once there was a mere archway, now rested there. It was dark, made of solid wood with a black iron handle and hinges.

"When did this get--"

"Oh this morning. I had Lily here distracting you while I put it in."

That explained her surprise visit.

Sirtas opened the door, and Rothishel followed into the planetarium, finding nothing changed. "So it was just a door?" he asked when they were on the other side.

"More than a door," Sirtas said. "Shut it and set the date of the stars to when you met Lily."

Uncertain, Rothishel did as he was asked. When he got the dial turned in the right place and the stars overhead rearranged themselves, a glow passed through the edges of the door.

"Now open it," Sirtas urged.

Rothishel grabbed the handle, an inkling of what might be on the other side. Still, it caught his breath to open the door and see a verdant field of sweet grass dotted with coral hearts flowers. The coral colored blossoms grew in patches across the green and tossed in a breeze that ran over the expanse of the field. Not wanting to believe it might let him, the Finn stepped through the door, and his paws settled into grass. He gasped and pulled his paw back, wincing when Sirtas started laughing at him.

"What are you waiting for?"

Rothishel said, "But this is magic."

"Very astute observation."

When a Finn interacted with magic, their bodies typically disrupted the spell. Albeit, only as long as they maintained contact with it. It was how towers might be magically sealed with a barrier, but a Finn able to pass through it to continue working.

"But I can interact with it?"

"Step inside and I'll walk you through the limits of the spell."

Rothishel did, a little giddy as he felt grass against all four paws for the first time. It was soft and warmed from the sun. He found himself in a valley with mountains on all sides. In front remained the field, but behind the door, which stood on its own in the middle of the valley, was a glassy pond. He opened his wings and felt the air beneath them. He flapped them, finding it strange to use muscles he never had in his life.

Sirtas stepped through the doorway and said, "This is a pocket dimension, and so long as you remain within the borders of it you should be safe to spend as much time here as you like."

"What are the borders?"

"The peaks of the mountains around us."

Rothishel nodded, still giddy. "It... it should be more than enough space." The whole thing was as big as the volcanic crater the palace rested above. "I... I don't know what to say."

"There is nothing that needs to be said," Sirtas dipped his head in a slight bow. "I have been wanting to give you something. It hardly makes up for all I've done, but I hope it eases your burdens while you are here."

Rothishel perhaps surprised them both when he hugged the bigger dragon close. "It is more kindness than I could have asked for, thank you."

"Err, you're welcome. I am happy it is to your liking."

Rothishel released him, keenly aware this was the first time they had ever touched without it being some sort of altercation. He cleared his throat and asked, "Did Lily help you with this?"

"The coral hearts were her idea. She said you loved the smell of them."

"Hehe, sly of you both to keep this a secret."

"Better to surprise you. Sad Lily was not here for it, but she's been called away on business, and seeing how you have been these last few days, I did not wish to wait until she next visited."

"You um... have noticed my moods, hmm?"

"We both have," Sirtas said.

"I... I am just mulling some things over, is all."

"Well, hopefully some chance to feel the wind under your wings will help clear your head. I know flight eases me when I'm troubled."

Rothishel's wings and tail pulled close with embarrassment. "I, uh, don't actually know how to fly. I've never done it before."

"Oh..." Sirtas said. "I... I am very sorry, then."

"It is alright. You were merely keeping us to the laws all Finn must follow."

"No, it's not alright," Sirtas said. He stepped back and unfurled his great, massive wings and offered, "I would be happy to teach you, if you would let me."

"I..." it felt very strange asking Sirtas for that. It seemed like such an intimate thing to do with someone. He cleared his throat and said, "I think I'd rather Lily--"

"Nonsense, she can't teach you how a dragon flies," Sirtas dismissed with a snort. "Besides, wouldn't you rather fly with her the first time you are both under open skies again?"

Sirtas watched Rothishel with the brazen sureness of his princely bearing, and, given all that had been eating at him lately, the Finn found he did not have it in him to turn the prince down.

"Very well, but I cannot promise I will be able to learn to fly that quickly."

"Please, I'll have you feeling the wind beneath your wings before the day is out."

***

The next two days passed surreally. Lily was still gone. Sirtas said she entertained members of the Alabaster family, the nobles who sponsored Lily as the Crown's ambassador to Kor. So Sirtas and Rothishel kept each other company.

Or rather, Sirtas persistently kept Rothishel company.

Rothishel struggled with how to handle the prince. His polite distance only worked when Sirtas busied himself working on something, but Rothishel was what he worked on now. Flying lessons were not something they could finish over a few hours. His underdeveloped muscles needed routine exercises. Sirtas did these with him, standing in place and beating those great wings, scattering the petals of coral hearts about. They leapt into the air on their hind legs, wings flapping. They twisted, stretched, flexed, and moved the appendages in ways he never thought to, ways they might move while in the air. Rothishel beside Sirtas felt a bit like a child, but most dragons learned to fly only months after walking. His wings had only ever been used for balance, occasionally manipulating something, and now this.

It made his back sore. The first day he did not mention it, but on the second day it only took a few hours before his wings would not stop trembling. Sirtas took notice and said, "We should take a break."

"I can keep going," Rothishel said.

"I don't doubt it," Sirtas said, stepping next to him, muzzle moving to investigate his shoulder blades. "But if you strain these muscles you won't be able to do any sort of flying for at least a week."

"Fine," Rothishel grumbled, stepping back. While exercising, Sirtas tended to forget the artificial boundaries they had imposed.

Sirtas fanned out a wing toward the pond. "Come, the waters are deep enough. We can soak your back."

"In cold water?"

"Hehe, do you forget who I am?" Sirtas asked, moving to the pond with... a swagger? He reached the edge of the water, took a deep breath, and exhaled smoke across the waters. They rippled, and out of the ripple came bubbles. In a matter of seconds, Sirtas turned the pond into a hot spring of sorts. A thing Rothishel had only ever read about.

Sirtas waded into the water without much ceremony, calling over his shoulder: "The heat will do your muscles some good. Join me."

Did he even have a choice? Rothishel glowered at himself. He wanted to accept Sirtas generosity at face value, but doubts still plagued him. He walked to the edge of the pond, by then Sirtas had swam out till only his neck remained above the steaming water.

"Well?" Sirtas asked, facing Rothishel as he did. "Don't tell me Finn are as sensitive as bipeds to hot water."

"I..." What did Rothishel want from this? "What are we, Prince Sirtas?"

"Excuse me?" Sirtas looked truly confused.

"You have been exceptionally kind to me. At first I thought it simply Lily's doing, but now I don't think so. You could have left me here to my own devices, but you insisted spending time with me."

Sirtas' ears tilted back. "Ah, this again. Would it be too outlandish to just say I wanted your company?"

"Why?"

Sirtas' wings broke the surface of the water in a little shrug. "You and Lily are the only ones who know and understand the situation I am in. That we are in. I wish to spend my days with people who I don't always need to keep secrets around."

"So my company tides you over until Lily returns?"

"Aren't we both doing that for each other?"

"I don't have much of a choice in the matter."

Sirtas started moving to the shore. "I will leave you if that's what you wish."

"No, it's fine--damn, I did not mean... I got mixed up, is all. That makes sense. Of course, it's the only reason why."

Sirtas, paused with his shoulders exposed and glistening, said, "It also helps that I've come to enjoy your company. Granted we got off on the wrong foot, but--"

"You're a prince," Rothishel snapped before stopping himself.

Sirtas stared at him. "And?"

"It's just... you could spend time with anyone in Kor. Me? Really? Just like that?"

Sirtas said, "Join me in the water, won't you? I don't like you being taller than me."

"What does that--" but Sirtas huffed on the surface before his muzzle, and a wave swelled out and splashed ashore and in the Finn's face. What would be scalding hot water for a biped was pleasantly hot and enticing for Rothishel, who spluttered and coughed.

"Do I need to drop the rest of the pond on top of you or will you come here and soak your back?" Sirtas asked in jest. Though, Rothishel did not doubt Sirtas capability to carry out the threat.

The flustered Finn plodded into the waters, moving towards Sirtas. The larger dragon lunged at Rothishel, who managed a strangled snarl before two large forepaws dunked him into the muddy pond bed. He came up spitting water from his maw before shaking it to get the water out of his eyes. When he opened them, Sirtas' smirked above him. Standing in the water deep enough to soak his shoulders was a depth that only went to the prince's chest.

"That's better," Sirtas said smugly. He rested his forepaw on Rothishel's shoulder, green hide clearly visible in the water.

Rothishel jerked away. "What are you about to do?"

"Massaging your muscles," Sirtas said. "We are in here for a reason."

Still giving Sirtas a wary look, he turned his flank to the other dragon. "Alright." Steaming waters helped his soreness, but he could not reasonably turn down this offer. Sirtas' forepaw rested on his shoulder again. "You know, I've not done this in quite some time."

"That so?" Rothishel said. "Who would a prince even give a massage to?"

"Why another prince, of course," Sirtas said as the palm of his paw began to dig into Rothishel's shoulder. The answer made him tense up. Sirtas could only mean his previous mentor and lover. Reliving this intimacy... it was not lost on him how it must have meant something to Sirtas, but before he might protest the prince whispered, "Relax. Unclench that jaw, let your wings go slack. I'll take care of you."

Almost dreamlike, a prince telling a Finn he would take care of them.

Rothishel listened, of course, what choice did he have?

Sirtas sat on his haunches, having Rothishel kneel a little as he worked. His forepaws kneaded and worked the muscle while he said, "My old mentor had back pains he dealt with. He could always use magic as a palliative, but he preferred this method."

"You can say his name. Prince Rothishel, yes?"

"Your past life," Sirtas affirmed. "I'm sorry, I don't want you to think I'm trying to see him in you."

This close, amidst the steaming water and coral hearts, Rothishel caught Sirtas' scent. At once it was familiar from a lifetime of service, but never had it been so intimate. He pressed on the conversation to distract that thought: "It's fine. He was an important part of your life--mmph--" Rothishel leaned into Sirtas' rubbing, a particular knot of muscle feeling good to get addressed. "I, uh, I mean, it would be strange to simply not speak about it."

"Heh, sadly that is what I am used to doing. He is not remembered kindly."

"For bedding with a Finn."

"For taking one as a mate," Sirtas corrected. "There is a great deal of difference."

"She was my aunt, you know. My mother's sister."

Sirtas paused. "I..." his paws started working between his wings, a little faster now. "I did not know that. Did you know her much?"

"I was born after," Rothishel said.

"I see."

"My mother said she was very stubborn, hard-headed, but kind to those around her."

"I've always wondered what Prince Rothishel must have seen in her."

"A whole person rather than a slave perhaps?"

"Rrr, suppose I flew into that."

"I don't mean to be uncharitable," Rothishel stepped away, settling into the water. "I should be fine now."

"Alright. If the soreness returns I can help again."

Rothishel did feel better, but admitted, "Would rather you just used your magic to make my body ready to fly."

"It would be convenient, but there are some downsides of magic."

Rothishel scoffed. "Oh really?"

Sirtas regarded him with a friendly smile. "If magic fixed your problems like that, I wouldn't have an excuse to spend so much time with you."

Rothishel's eyes went wide, but his mixture of emotions turned into a scowl when Sirtas started laughing. He'd show his stupid royal face--his wings fanned out under the water and flapped up, smashing two large waves into the prince. Sirtas guffawed, backing away before, eyes dancing with mirth, he made a set of puffs across the water. Bolts of water launched a broadside across Rothishel's muzzle, who snarled and turned his head. His wing went up to defend himself, but the bolts still struck his jaw, launching from the surface right below his head.

He sputtered and dove under the pond's surface. Eyes open, he swam to the shimmering buttercup shape ahead of him, only to have two heavy forepaws mash him down in the mud again. He heard more roaring laughter above him, and struggled in the water, twisting and turning before he kicked himself free from Sirtas' grip. He came up for air in a huge spray, like a whale breaking the surface. He shook water from his face and snapped, "What happened to not using magic!"

"Hehehe, I never said I wouldn't bully you with it," Sirtas teased. Rothishel managed to blink open his eyes and finally noticed how close the prince was to him. He caught more of the other male's scent, which left him a little lost for words when combined with Sirtas' smirk and glistening scales. "You really ought to stop picking fights with dragons bigger than you."

"_You_really ought to play fair," Rothishel grumbled, backing up a step.

"And what would be the fun in that?" Sirtas said. He moved in close, right shoulder pressed to Rothishel's right shoulder. His buttercup neck twined around his deeper green. It suddenly became difficult for Rothishel to breath, as Sirtas' muzzle tilted down and he whispered in his ear, "If I ever am too much, you only need to say the word."

Rothishel froze up. He was young and only Lily had ever made advances on him.

"Is the water not warm enough? You're shivering..."

Sirtas knew exactly why Rothishel acted this way. "I..." he struggled for words, so it came as a huge relief when the prince backed off first.

He sighed and stared off to the mountains. He seemed... "Ah, well, I apologize if that was too much. Should I leave you to relax?"

"Uh..." Rothishel did not want him to leave, strangely. He said, "Stay. You said you never get to talk about Prince Rothishel, yes? My mother doesn't speak of my namesake much. Most the Finn of your house resent us, so we try to pretend we've always been here."

"Ah, I see, that is unfortunate."

"We are Finn. Our fates can only be tragic."

Sirtas jaw tightened and he shook his head. "Not yours, Rothishel. I swear it."

"You and Lily both enjoy making promises you can't keep."

"Hush," Sirtas said. He waded out of the pond, and as Rothishel followed the prince said, "I will tell you about him, but only if you agree to tell me what you can about his mate."

***

Prince Rothishel had taught his pupil some things were better to do without magic's aid. The massage had been that. A lesson in the intimacy one could share when avoiding the easy solution. As Rothishel talked with Sirtas, they both came to realize the fallen prince must have come to appreciate that lesson because of his relationship to Rothishel's aunt. He wondered what his aunt might say if he saw him now, a Finn drawing a fatal amount of kindness and companionship out of another prince.

They took lunch together, before Sirtas finally decided it best he go.

"Much as I am loath to, I am expected to attend a state dinner."

"Will Lily be there?" Rothishel asked. The two stood in the vestibule to the lab again, that golem inert but still menacing against the wall.

"Her presence is not required, so I'm not sure. If she does show up I will likely keep my distance."

Rothishel frowned. "You've never been the type to practice restraint."

"Yes, well, I doubt her sponsors would appreciate some of the things said about her."

"What things?"

"Oh, you know," Sirtas tail flicked back and forth, "That Lily is coaxing favors for the Crown from my cock."

"Doubtless a prince could never fall for a biped."

"Ridiculous sounding as a prince falling for a Finn, hmm?"

"Perhaps that's why your old master--"

"Who said I was talking about Prince Rothishel?" Sirtas asked. Wings flat, tail still, ears straight and shoulders forward, his expression was totally serious. A slight mirth in his eyes did not betray what he meant.

Rothishel, for his credit, was less taken aback than before. "So earlier in the pond... that was what I thought it was?"

Sirtas dipped his head in acknowledgement. "I prefer simple seduction, but..." Sirtas eyes broke off to the welts on Rothishel's flank, which made him curl his tail over the scars. "Given our history," Sirtas continued in a sigh, "Your consent is important to me."

"I... just don't... you... I am a Finn? I am--" Rothishel shook his head. "Lily didn't put you up to this?"

Sirtas shoulders leaned back, weight moving to his haunches, becoming more withdrawn. Gently, he said, "Would it be hard to believe the last two days with you have been enjoyable? I don't know what to make of our budding friendship, Rothishel. Perhaps I am greedy and want it so I can feel some old connection to the soul you carry, but I do not believe it is that simple. Like you said of your aunt, you are stubborn and bold, you've stood up to me several times, risked your life for something as small as a letter correspondence with Lily, and you are smart and frankly when you're flustered as you are getting right now it is very--"

"Stop!" Rothishel snapped. He shook his head. "Why?" And the thing he could not say to Lily finally came out. "You have everything, and she has you--how can I be worth anything compared to that?"

Sirtas was taken aback, but his features softened. He took a step towards the Finn and said, "Rothishel you have--"

"No, stop!" he snarled, throat stinging. "Y-you don't... you don't know what it is like to live with nothing. She doesn't know. How could either of you? I want my freedom, bu-but why does she have to lose everything?" Swallowing down a sob, tearing up, he asked, "What if she leaves with me and ends up hating me?"

Sirtas moved closer again. "Can I comfort you?"

"Why would you? I'm taking her from you."

"Perhaps thick-skulled should have been another adjective I used," Sirtas growled, the insult enough to strike some anger from the shaken Finn.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Rothishel growled.

"I have you in my lab, I have her," Sirtas said with a huff. Smoke fumed from his nostrils, crackling with electricity, which coursed into marble floors and walls and began to glow an electric blue. "And there isn't a mage more powerful in the world. I could sever your soulbond. Kill you, and erase her memories of you all in the span of an afternoon." The entire room pulsed with power, even magically deadened as he was, Rothishel still felt its resonance. "And I've not. Why do you think that is?"

"I... I..." Rothishel backed out of the vestibule into the hall, and Sirtas stalked him into the lab. Like water soaking across fabric, that magical light and power spread through every object in the room. Glass beakers on a table popped and exploded, a pendulum began whirling rapidly, plants in the room grew till their pots shattered.

Sirtas released it all with a sharp inhale, and Rothishel felt staggered by the sudden loss of all that intensity. "She loves you, and I love her enough to respect what she wants. Don't insult her by deciding you know what's best for her. You are worth it to her. Quite frankly, if we lived in another world, if I was in her place, I think I would make the same choice."

Rothishel remained rooted in place, tail wrapped around him, wings drawn tight, neck pulled back, an image of submission so meek words could not even enter his body.

Sirtas scratched his claws on the stone, a little sheepish. "I am sorry for my outburst. I will keep this between us, and if you still carry these doubts you can share them with Lily later. It is not my place to tell her. You have stood up to me on many occasions, and won me for it, do not lose her because you could not do the same to yourself. Stand up to your doubt, Rothishel. You are a dragon."

"But... I am also a Finn..."

"And perhaps I am a fool for thinking I had fallen for a Finn. Time will tell, I suppose..." Sirtas turned and left. He heard the doors to the lab open and then close, but still he could not move. An absence in Rothishel surprised him. Two he felt, where once there had only been one.