FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 29

There was no way they could fight him now, not in this condition. Lyndis' heart thundered in her chest, their worst fears now sitting right beyond that door. As the others stood there, shocked beyond belief, it was the adventurer that took charge. She grabbed Infinity by the ear, ignoring her growl and dragged her up the stairs; they needed to hide.

"What are you doing?" She hissed.

"It's better than just standing there, follow me and keep quiet...Maybe start praying." Lyndis whispered as Lyyreth shook his head, regaining his senses.

"I'm doing fine, just let me get a few things tidy!" Lyyreth called with a brassy voice, placing himself between the stairs and the door. "The servants that were given to me were so good at their jobs, I feel utterly relaxed. Where did they learn how to help a dragon take a load off; the kobold sure was stretchy!"

At the top of the stairs, their situation had not yet improved. Lyndis stood, eyes sweeping the room, desperate for any sign of escape they might yet have. All there was were beds, chests filled with treasure and tossed sheets and blankets all over the floor. Her heart sank as Infinity growled behind her, it appeared to be a dead end. True she had the black arrow, but with the tiredness in her bones and the sudden arrival of their enemy, whose to say she would even hit him? They needed to hide.

"Looks like there is only the one option." She spun round, flaring her spines, fire burning in her eyes. "We stand and fight."

"Yea, how about we put that on hold." Lyndis raced towards the chests, tossing one open after the other, "You can shrink down yea?"

"What could you be thinking? He's going to smell us regardless of where you hide."

"We can't fight him now, that's suicide. We must think of- "One chest opened revealed just what they needed. Within it was not treasure like the rest, but sullied sheets from a certain green dragon's activities. Their musky scent wafted through the air, thick and powerful, Lyndis recoiled as she could practically taste it. "Think I found our answer."

"You've got to be kidding me." Infinity's snout wrinkled as she eyed the rogue's solution, "You want us to hide in there? Along with..." She sniffed, lashing her tail, "Cum stained sheets?"

Is that what it was? Lyndis groaned at the thought, "Got a better idea that doesn't involve us facing big green out there? You said he could smell us, and by the gods I think this might conceal it. Besides...It's not the worst place I've had to hide."

"Where could you have hidden that was worse than this."

"I once had to crawl on my hands and knees out of a shitter."

"You're making that up."

"Could this wait another time? Shrink down and come on, I doubt Lyyreth can stall the brute for much longer." Lyndis gulped down her revulsion at their choice, sliding down into the musky prison that just might be their savior.

With a heavy snort, Infinity padded her way over, shrinking down with every step. By the time she'd reached the chest she was the size of a cat. Up and over the chest she went, settling into the rogue's lap, grabbing a thick sheet, and pulling it over them both. "I hate you." She growled.

"Noted." Lyndis grunted, shifting and squirming until they both were at the bottom. There they rested with rapid hearts, the only thing to protect them a layer of dirty laundry that would not stand up to the fury of a demigod.

"I hope this works."

"Me too."

"And if it does...I'm biting you."

** * * * * * * * *

"And how are you doing adjusting to your new accommodations?" Tiamat pressed open the door with a proud smile, golden eyes flicking across the younger dragon's quarters. His form filled it as he fluffed his wings, easily dwarfing any before him. "I hope it has all been adequate?"

Lyyreth shifted from paw to paw, hoping that his guests had managed to find a place to hide. It was up to him to maintain a cool, collected snout, any hint of suspicion would give the entire game away. He eyed the crown upon the larger dragon's head, lingering on the onyx horn, the last sign of his brother. He had to do it for him. Wiggling his nose, he fought the sneeze. "More than adequate, I'd say rather enjoyable. What brings you from your duties to check up on me?"

"Besides wanting to visit my rising star, I wished to begin our studies on this world and the greater magics that it contains." Tiamat gestured to a harness that adorned his frame, with bags and satchels aplenty. They were close to bursting, filled to the brim with magical reagents and scrolls. "Once we have tackled these for a few hours and I am satisfied with your progress, we can move onto more challenging material. Perhaps we can even stretch the wings out, it can't feel good to be held up within these quarters like a cage."

"How perceptive of you." He laughed, not resisting when the dragon guided him with a wing to the library. "What did you have in mind for magic? I'm practically drooling with what you could teach me."

Tiamat stalled, raising his head with a chuckle, "Were you now? Here I was thinking that you would be trying to plan to kill me."

The air went silent as the great dragon smiled at him, he threatened to sneeze. "What?"

"Oh, please Lyyreth, I would be insulted if you didn't." Tiamat unhooked one of his many satchels, letting it plop to the ground with a heavy thud, "I know about the assassination attempt, using my own constructs against me. Very clever, but it would take months at the least to accomplish. Now I know what you're thinking, if that doesn't work, you would win the hearts of dragons that I recruit." Tiamat sat upon his haunches with an amused snort, "Again, a plan that would take years, and equally fail. I'm just pleased that you are wiggling and making this sport."

So, he couldn't see the future. Lyyreth padded a few steps, pinning his frills, he had to keep up the act. "I'm not."

"There is no use hiding it." Tiamat chortled, "I'm not going to punish you."

"Then...you caught me. Nothing gets past your nose."

"Of course not, for I have foreseen it. Are you ready for your studies? I was going to have us start with living subjects to experiment on, but I imagined you would be far too squeamish for that." He set out a series of potions and tomes the size of human torsos, "Don't worry, in time you won't mind, but these initial steps are critical for building our relationship!"

"Our...relationship?"

Tiamat clicked his tongue, "We _are_family Lyyreth. I can't have you picturing my downfall throughout these many centuries we will have. That would be most tiresome, troubling, we need to be unified in our purpose. Lyyreth the path ahead will be fraught with many treasures and events that will fill your life with greatness." He sighed, "I'm so glad that we get to share the experience."

"And where have you been, I have not seen you for days." Lyyreth sat opposite of the great dragon, his tail curling over his hinds. All he had to do was keep him occupied, easy, if that meant learning some magic, so be it. He hated to admit it, but it still sent a sliver of curiosity down his spine. Tiamat, despite his evil nature, would naturally know spells and abilities that might be lost to time. Lyyreth had to fight himself from warbling at the thought.

"Preparing for our arrival in Struport. The peoples there should have overcome Dreadflame and the undead by now."

"They won?" His heart skipped a beat, the last he heard, Arcturus and the others were facing down a nearly hopeless scenario. "And did..."

"Yes, your friends survived." Tiamat waved a paw, procuring a log the size of a man, slathered in moss and crimson flower. "Even the annoying Dwarf friend of yours, you can stop your worrying."

"You...seem awfully unconcerned about Dreadflame's failure." He raised a brow, expecting even the _slightest_hint of discomfort of unease; the dragon gave him neither.

"He was always going to fail Lyyreth, that was his role to play. He drew everyone out, gathered them all in one place so that we might sweep in and announce our return to the world."

That sent a sliver of despair down his spine, realizing what he'd planned to do. "You're going to use the uniter's powers on them to twist their minds, aren't you?"

Tiamat grinned, "Perceptive you are. Yes, if that is what is required. To tame the mortals will take a fine paw to ensure they no longer are capable of harming one another...or ourselves."

"You're going to rob them of their freewill, their agency."

"Lyyreth, their souls cry out for us to guide and lead them. That is their place in this world, crafted by my mother. We failed them years ago, were not strong enough to hold the reins...This time, I will not fail."

"And...How long must we wait before you show these mortals the light?"

"By tomorrow the shadow of my wings shall fall upon Struport. They will glance up, realize the new world that will be taking shape. You'll see, they will drop to their knees, thanking us for finally giving their pathetic lives purpose." Tiamat closed his eyes, his tail thumping as he visualized his victory, "Far too long have I waited for this day, to finally have it here...Oh Lyyreth, I'm glad you get to witness this."

It was all he could do to hide his growl as the dragon went on about their rightful place. With a grunt of his own he brought the demigod back to the lesson that he was about to instruct.

"It's good to see you so receptive to what I must instill upon you Lyyreth, that attitude is why I have always liked you. With a mind like that, our new empire will always be able to- "He trailed off as his nostrils twitched, "Now what is that smell..."

"What smell?" Lyyreth plucked the log with his paw, scratching the moss with a claw, "Could it be this?"

"No, nothing that I brought." He rose to all fours, sniffing upon the air with a growl in his throat, "I know these smells...Familiar and on the tip of my tongue."

Lyndis and Infinity, he could smell them! Lyyreth leaped after the curious green, sneezing uncontrollably until they got to the base of the stairs. He had to do something, or else Tiamat was going to find them! "I thought you were going to teach me from your spells, can a silly smell wait?"

Tiamat glared at the stairs, silent as his tail gave a malevolent swish, "It smells like a half-elf and a dragoness."

"You must be smelling things! There are no half-elves and dragonesses here, I would have known! There is no reason to...hey, get back here, you could show me the rest of the uniter, I find the architecture quite exhilarating!"

Ignored and forgotten, Lyyreth was forced to race on the hinds of the larger dragon. No words seemed to sway his cold determination, doing little more than rolling down his scales. Panic wove it's way to the green dragon's paws, this was it, there was nothing he could do, he was going to see both his friends killed before his very eyes he just knew it.

** * * * * * * * * * * * *

Huddling in the depths of the chest, Lyndis could only hold Infinity close as the sounds of her demise arrived ever closer. His paws thundered across the floor, shook their world, announcing their doom. Hands slipped to her side, procuring the arrow of death, it seemed that fate cared not if Cordenth was still in there, she would be forced to use it to save herself. She counted the moments as the dragoness on her chest dug in her claws, drawing bits of blood.

"The smell ends here." Tiamat growled, his voice no more than a few feet away. Sniffing filled the air, each one more terrible than the last, each capable of snuffing out hope. "Lyyreth...you're hiding something."

"That's just the dirty laundry, what could be interesting in there?" Laughed Lyyreth.

"You're nervous, your heartbeat has hastened. Come now, are you going to speak lies to me?"

"Tell me, you're the one who can see the- "Lyyreth yelped, followed by a heavy thud, the sound of a dragon being tossed to the floor. His voice came, pained, "What do you want?"

"I want to know what you're hiding."

"Why don't you see...for yourself? You'll see there is nothing!"

"I am giving you the chance to come clean, to know there is no hiding anything from me. Explain why the smell of Lyndis and Infinity ends right here?"

She drew the arrow, clutching it close to her breast. "I'm sorry Cordenth." She whimpered under her breath. This was it; the end had come. Lyndis fought every nerve in her body screaming to raise up and announce their presence with an attack.

"Alright, alright, you caught me again!" Lyyreth blurt out with a groan of pain, "While my servants and I were engaged in carnal relations, I had them smell like those two." He sneezed, "It helps me reach my climax."

What? Lyndis nearly did a double take at the absurdity of it. She couldn't even be mad as the moment lingered, silence resting between the two dragons. Even Infinity paused in her kneading.

"What?" Tiamat muttered, fighting back a laugh.

"Look, you don't have to make a big deal out of it, I just didn't want you to know."

The great tyrant laughed, wicked and terrible, filling the air. "Of course, it was over embarrassment, I just wanted you to come clean. There should be nothing we can't share to each other Lyyreth. Hopefully this will be a lesson of- "

"What's wrong?"

There was a brief moment as Tiamat growled and grunted, clearly backing off in discomfort.

"Master!" Vishta and Gerald shrieked. "Answer us, master!"

Lyndis clutched her chest, a pain flaring to life within. She hissed, eyes clenched shut, it was as if a brand had been pressed to her flesh. It was all she could do to not yell out, announce where they were. A flash of emotions spread through her veins, a mixture of fear and anger like the likes she'd never known. Contained within it however, was a power, that she was the strongest being on the entire planet.

"Lyndis." Infinity hissed, thrusting her snout to the rogue's cheek, swiftly covering the half-elf's lips when she didn't answer. "You can't make a sound."

What was this? She briefly heard Tiamat beyond the chest let loose a pained grunt as a dull thump resounded through the air, clearly his body hitting the floor. She felt the impact across her skin . How could that be? Every shaky breath that he took, she too was forced to endure it's thrashing within her. There was no sense of self, no stability, was she a half-elf or was she the dragon?

"Tiamat!" Lyyreth thundered, the sound of a paw slap echoing through the hall.

All at once, reality centered itself. Lyndis gasped, a sense that she'd fallen hundreds of feet rippling across her flesh. Grabbing her heart, she could feel how swift it beat, a stampede of horses trying to break free. What breaths she took were filled with relief, even if they contained the musky aura of her friend. She was alive, free from the dragon, but what was that?

"Lyyreth?" Tiamat asked, his voice weak and pained, the dragon shifted, clearly rising. "What happened? For a moment I thought that..." He trailed off, leaving the younger beast to fill the void.

"You fell over, shaking about, writhing as if in pain. What was that?" Lyyreth asked.

"That was...Something I've never...Don't worry you r snout over this Lyyreth, everything is under control."

"Are you sure?"

"Do you doubt me?" Coughed Tiamat, clearly heading towards the stairs.

"Then where are you going?"

"Something has come up, I've remembered plans that must be tended to, things overseen. We shall have to resume this another time."

Lyndis groaned and held her aching side, not believing their luck. Tiamat was leaving? She'd have laughed if not for the fear that he'd turn and swiftly find them.

"And what shall I do in this time?" Asked Lyyreth, "Am I to remain stuck in this prison?"

"No, no, you can roam the halls. I'll instruct the guardians that you are not to be questioned."

"And you're not afraid that I'll run off?"

Tiamat chuckled, "My boy, we both know that you won't do that. Go along, stretch your wings, _enjoy_yourself. For tomorrow, history will be made."

The hall shook as the door slammed shut, yet still Lyndis didn't dare move. She counted under her breath, fully expecting him to whirl around and come barging right back into their quarters. For a solid minute she remained in a state of unease, hairs standing on edge, but nothing happened. For all intensive purpose, they appeared to be safe.

"Wow that was lucky. Remind me to pray to gods more often." Infinity whispered, peering up through the sullied, cum slick laundry.

"You were praying?" Lyndis rose a brow, pulling the dragoness' by the tail, "Wait, we're not safe yet."

"We've waited long enough!" Snapped the black dragon, "You might enjoy being slathered in cum, but not me."

"Here I thought you'd like it that's your boyfriend's."

Infinity whirled around with a snarl, nipping Lyndis right on the arm.

"It was a joke you thin scaled bitch!" she shouted, launching them up and knocking over the chest. Both tumbled and collapsed to the floor, a disorganized pile of limbs and sheets. "Get off me before I stab the shite out of you."

Her response was a lash of the tail.

She pulled a blade.

"Hey, knock it off you two, he's gone!" Lyyreth had padded over, grabbing a mawfull of sheets and began untangling the pair, "Let's not do his work for him right?"

"We hid, in your foul sheets!" Infinity slipped free, resuming her full size so that she might snap at Lyyreth's jaws.

"I can see that, and lucky for you."

"Lucky, sure." Lyndis dusted herself off, giving the green dragon a firm pat on the nose, "I bet he's not going to forget that explanation."

"Just be glad that he was too shocked to question it." Lyyreth's frills pinned as they turned a dark shade of green, "For the record Lyndis, I don't use your scent to pleasure myself."

"Didn't need to explain it Lyyreth, figured that wasn't the case anyway." She chortled to herself, noting how he'd only_called out _her scent. "Good gods though, I'm going to reek of your essence."

"Apologies."

With a twirl of her wrist and word of power, the cantrip prestidigitation removed any trace of the dragon's lewd scent. One sniff confirmed this was the case. As Infinity mentioned needing a safe place to sleep, Lyndis could only stare out to the door, wondering what exactly had transpired between the two. One moment the Emperor had been calm and in control, the next writhing on the floor like she was? She took a deep breath, answers alluded her, whatever it had been she was thankful for it.

"What plans we have to kill him can wait." Infinity hissed, "Lyndis and I need to sleep. We'll need a spot that the big green guy can't find us."

"That will be hard." Lyyreth padded away, "If he suspects you two might be on board, he could try to detect you with magic."

"Right, so we'll need a way to fool it. Lyndis do you have any ideas?"

She didn't answer, the sensation of metal below her paws. Paws? She glanced down, she had her boots just as before. What was going on?

"Right, she doesn't have anything to say." Infinity shook her head, "Poor thing, almost dying probably got to her. See what happens when you're too tired; that."

"It's not that." She spoke softly, pinching her skin. "Its...something hard to explain. It's like I'm having a dream, not quite sure which is which. Am I in this body or somewhere else?"

"See, she's going mad."

"I'm not going mad."

"Which is just what a mad person would say."

She rolled her eyes. "Heard anything like that Lyyreth?"

The green dragon shook his head, "I wasn't aware that my essence could cause a reaction such as this. Lyndis, are you feeling lightheaded, like a sense of comfort? I've heard that the Ceullus- "

"By the gods it wasn't your bloody cum! I don't know what is going on."

"Then let's find a place to rest before what ever it was happens again." Infinity said firmly, "Maybe with a night of rest you'll be fresh in the morning."

"We better not sleep too long; we still have to come up with a plan to take the bastard out. You heard him, we're going to be at Struport come tomorrow. Then everyone within the city will be his."

Lyyreth blinked, cocking his head, "You heard that?"

"Course I did, I heard him plain was day."

"I didn't know you could speak draconic."

"What, course I can't. Lyyreth come on, he was speaking common, just like we're doing now."

He shook his head, "He _was_speaking draconic I was there."

"How can you understand a language if you don't know how to speak it?" Infinity scoffed, searching the ceiling. "This place is messing with our heads, again, resting place now, before we're found."

"Right." Lyyreth padded his way to the stairs, "We'll have to check out those schematics, I'm sure we can figure something out. Lyndis' sudden ability to understand draconic will have to wait."

** * * * * * * *

Their salvation came in the network of wiring that honeycombed through the facility of metal and magic. Wires and pipes whined, carrying lifeblood to the various machines that powered this monstrosity. Power thrummed through the cramped quarters, had hair standing on edge, each breath left an after taste of iron upon the tongue. Darkness was all around them, only broken by the occasional flashes of light further up the tunnel. The walls creeped in at their sides, hardly large enough for dragons to keep their true sizes.

At it's end, the space was large enough so that they could all spread out, a central junction connecting several other tunnels together. Above there was no ceiling, only a vast expanse of turning gears and machinery, methodically churning away. Across every surface there were runes, flickering to life and then dying in but a breath. Occasionally orbs of light would swell into existence, crackling with various colors before bursting into a shower of sparks. The floor was nothing more than a metal grate, but it was more than welcoming to the rogue's weary body. Lyndis collapsed with a grunt, settling her back against the metal wall.

"So, remind me why we're safe here again?" Infinity groaned, flopping to her side, and resuming her full size, "It feels like we crawled for miles."

"Because of all the magical energy floating through the air." Lyyreth answered, pressing up beside her. He gestured to the occasional flickers about the gears.

"And it is here that magic is amplified by all the machines and enchantments." Vishta smiled, planting herself down at Gerald's side. From her pack she pulled a tiny pillow, laying her head down upon it. "How could you all not read schematics?"

"Look, we all don't have classes or schools about Lumara constructs alright?" Lyndis crossed her arms.

Lyyreth sighed, "Thanks to the aura of magic about us, it would mess with any detections that one might use. They would simply be blinded, or their directions clouded. It's a perfect place to rest and hide from Tiamat."

Infinity wrinkled her snout, eyes traveling to an orb of sapphire light as it swelled into existence then exploded. "And are we sure it's safe to rest here for them?" She gestured to Lyndis and the others, "It sounds like they're going to wind up with a third arm or something."

Lyndis winced, "Lyyreth, I swear to the gods, if I wind up with a third arm..."

"You won't, you won't!" Protested the green dragon, his frills flaring out, "Although...we Definity don't want to be here for more than the night."

"Why is that, third arm?" Infinity rolled her eyes.

"Oh, you know...they might catch a serious case of...you know...death." His nose wiggled as he fought off a sneeze.

"Wonderful, you lot always take me to the best places." She grumbled, closing her eyes, "Now one of you else keep watch...I can barely keep my eyes...open."

"Think he'll be able to find us even here?" Infinity asked softly, "You just said- "

"That it would stop magical detection." Lyyreth's frills pinned, "That doesn't stop him from sending in others or himself to come looking."

"You're ever so comforting."

"It's the best we got." Lyndis remarked with a growl, "So we make the most of it and stop the belly aching. Let's pray that Tiamat is too twisted about and fearful, that little ole us won't even come to mind."

That seemed to sit right in their bellies, the dragons swiftly falling silent soon after. Lyndis could breathe as easily as she could in this place, ignoring the cloud of dread that followed them. Her dreams came muddled and twisting, a storm of fragmented images and places. She tossed and turned, whimpered in her sleep until the raging tempest around her began to subside. What broke through was a field of grass alongside a river, dotted with numerous flowers of all colors. Gentle bugs buzzed through the air, joining the songs of the afternoon birds. Lyndis found herself reclining on the shore, the sun shining through the canopy of treetops above. She sighed, the warmth on her flesh sinful at its touch, asking her to recline and drift the day away in its embrace.

"I thought we came here for a swim." Cordenth asked her, the green dragon padding his way to her side. He stood tall and proud, not a hint of Tiamat about him. Onyx scales to that dashing smile, he nuzzled along Lyndis with an all too familiar purr. "Not laze about in the sun."

"I thought you'd love that!" She cackled, the dragon finding the spot in which she was ticklish. He lapped away with a mischievous tongue, forcing her to beat his snout with her fists. "I thought it was you that wanted to laze about in the sun like cat!"

"We could have done that after we practiced our magic, you recall I mentioned as such in the field?" He chuckled as she furrowed her brow, "It was you that asked to go for a swim. Don't be cross at me because I was being a gentle dragon."

"A gentle dragon that licks and torments his mate?"

"To be fair, this is the first time you've complained about my licking."

She swatted the chuckling dragon on the flank as he slunk to the water's edge, dipping in a testing paw. He retracted it of course, hiding the cold bite it must have had. She smirked as he peered at her with one of his sunflower eyes, love for her ever apparent. It gave her pause, warmed her soul, only for a dash of cold to trickle in at the sides. Why was this sad, he was as handsome and charming as ever.

"Something wrong my Umraadi?" The green dragon asked, putting aside his mischief, "You look crestfallen. Have I done something wrong?"

"No of course not, you've been wonderful. I could not have asked for anything better."

"Are you sure? I can feel it you know, the unease, the hole in your gut. This sense that you dread the coming days."

She did didn't she. Lyndis fought the frown, seeing the pinned frills of her love. When he approached his snout was thrust into her embrace. There she held him tenderly, whispering things were going to be fine. Why could the waking world not be like this? Her cheek pressed to his, warm and real as it had ever been. Eyes closed she took in his scent, pine mixed with dragon, just the same. If only she could exist within this moment for the rest of her days, wrapped up in the comfort he provided her.

"Cordenth." The word came soft, fraught with pain, "I want you to know I love you."

The green dragon chuckled, pulling his head back with a grin, "Is that all? Lyndis, you're my Umraadi, of course we love each other."

"That took quite a bit to get out you know." She blushed as he circled her, applying a few more tender licks. "And it might be the last time I can say it to you."

"And why is that." He rolled his eyes, tail flicking, "Are you suddenly going to run off where I can't find you?" The dragon rolled a paw to his chest, "I'm quite the hunter you know, can catch my own meals if I want to."

"Is that why you prefer your food to be cooked and slathered in sauces?"

"Just because I appreciate the finesse of the culinary arts doesn't take away my prowess."

"Why do you have to be difficult?" She fought the urge to laugh as the dragon averted his gaze, snorting as to protect his image.

"For I am a dragon, I won't admit to anything distasteful or might tarnish my image."

"Like the inability to restrain oneself from squealing at cute animals that hop along by?"

Cordenth wrinkled his snout, "Precisely like that."

With a heavy heart she rose to follow, resting a hand along his flank. She counted the moments between his breaths, savoring them as though they would be his last. Together they stared into the gentle stream, catching sight of the many fish that swam around, oblivious to the cold within her. When she leaned on him, she could sense his own turmoil, the fear, the unease, the overpowering sense of hopelessness.

"I love you Cordenth." She whimpered, tears forming in her eyes.

The green dragon turned, nuzzling along her cheek, "And I love you my dearest."

Hands wrapped tight around his snout as she broke, sobbing and crying onto his scales. Why had a dream come like this, real as the waking world, but nothing more than a haunting image, conjured by her broken mind. "Why did it have to be this way, why did it have to be you? Why couldn't you have been some dumb bloke I didn't give a toss about?" She halfheartedly pounded his cheeks, each one accompanied by a mournful cry.

"You're acting like I'm gone." Cordenth said softly.

"It's because you are Cordenth. You're gone, battered to death by that monster in your head."

"It doesn't feel like I'm gone."

She pulled his snout higher, pulling the dragon into a passionate kiss. Fingers pressed against Emerald scales as skin flushed, it almost beat back the next round of tears. "I know it doesn't..."

"I don't think you do." He pulled back, caressing her jaw, "I think you just need to feel hard enough."

"Feel hard enough? The fock does that even mean?"

"I think you'll figure it out." The dragon warbled, slipping around her, pressing his flank against hers. "Know what I think you need now?"

"What's that?" She started to laugh, spying the mischief that twinkled to life in his eyes.

"A swim!"

"Cordenth you better not!"

He grabbed her by the waist, rearing up and flaring his wings. She was helpless as he surged forward with a warble, tossing her right into the icy waters.

She awoke in the dark quarters where she'd started, trapped within a prison of steel. Her limbs were stiff, the air reeked of oil, the rogue groaned; it certainly wasn't her castle. Stretching she let out a great yawn, spying the servants had been tied to the dragon's tails so they might not run off. It was Lyyreth that was up, vigilantly playing guard as Infinity slept at his paws.

"How long have I slept?" She asked.

"Long enough, I took your turn at watch." Lyyreth answered, "Did you sleep well?"

Images of the pleasing river came to her, of Cordenth's charming snout. One look at her surroundings and predicament and she'd trade it in a heartbeat. As her heart throbbed, she growled, "Does it matter? Days not going to be fixed by lingering on any dreams. Wake Infinity and the others up, we got to get ready, like or not, we have a dragon to slay."