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The halls of the royal palace, in their centuries old opulence, were quiet at such a late hour usually. And this night, for the most part, they were. But in the hall with the murals depicting the civil war some eight centuries previous, there was a loud voice intent on protest.

"This is insane. What is going on? This isn't right! On who's order are you doing this? Optan is a traitor to the realm and if you are following her orders..."

"Quiet!" said one of the foxes in heavy armor before slamming their foot into the dragon's back.

Otsi stumbled forward, but did not fall. "This is nonsense."

The fourth of the party chuckled. The dark grays wolf held up a hand. "Now now, he's not resisted yet. There's no need for that." Dalsbrak moved in front of the group and looked the dragon in the eyes. "This isn't personal, you understand that right? And we're not following Optan's orders. Just the queen's."

"Then you could at least give me at least some sensible explanation why my hands are bound."

"Otsi, I have a lot of respect for your father, and assuming he isn't retired because of all this, he's still my boss. I don't much want to leave him thinking I mistreated you. Of course, don't force me to do that."

"Dalsbrak," pleaded the dragon. "Please tell me what is really going on."

The wolf shrugged. "I really don't know. My orders were to arrest you on the charges unless told otherwise by the queen."

"So... if she had gone to the door first... and not me..."

"I think that was the gist of it. I don't know much more than you do to be honest. Though, between you and me, it was pretty suspicious that you told on Linar right before Roy's murder. But... It would make sense that you'd know of such things, given you were his night watcher and all. But on the other hand... I think the queen's decided that you were probably in on it."

"That was three years ago, why... I don't understand... if she thought I was a part of things why now?"

Dalsbrak shook his head. "If you have a beef with Optan..." He moved aside and motioned for them to go forward.

The dragon sighed and started forward once more. The two foxes followed closely behind and Dalsbrak behind them. They left the hall of the revolt and passed through one of the minor halls before taking the stairs down to the lower levels. The palace didn't have a proper dungeon, but there was in parts of the fortifications around it. The barracks for the royal guard did have two cells, rarely used except occasionally to hold nobles who had too much fun at a party. They put the dragon in one of them.

The foxes took up seats near by at table and the wolf, without a further word, left. Otsi inspected the cell. There was a bench and a toilet hole. He sighed and flopped onto the bench.

"Ya know," said Rop after a quick glance at the door that Dalsbrak had left through. Otsi could identify the fox as Rop as his voice was slightly higher pitched. "Dalsy might be in the dark, but I know on good authority that Otsi's guilty as hell."

"You don't say?" asked Vulgrin.

"Yeah, his daddy was talking a couple weeks ago about how Otsi mentioned something along the lines of a moral conflict the day before Roy got offed."

"Oh yes, that is mighty suspicious," said Vulgrin.

Rop continued. "When pressed, the old dragon claimed ignorance of course. But there's more."

Otsi groaned and rolled his eyes as he covered his face.

"Really?" asked Vulgrin.

"Yeah, Optan had been collecting evidence too. For instance, Linar confessed to his friends after the winter party that he had made a deal with Otsi. That he would let Otsi have Eca if he helped off his brother."

"Wow. Otsi, did end up with Eca if I recall."

Otsi pulled his hands from his face. "That's not true," he growled.

Rop grinned. "Linar praised Otsi as well for being so loyal. Well, until he told on him that is. The prince made it known he was furious with the dragon before he puked."

"The prince might be immune from the law now, but when he becomes king, he'll also have the power," said Vulgrin. "Would be easy to reward someone who was so loyal. Would be a very good incentive to be in good with the new heir. But I guess he screwed that up."

Otsi sat up and glared at the foxes. Rop was focused on his brother while Vulgrin was watching Otsi fume. If what they were describing was in any way true, the dragon realized, then Linar might be pulling a game of his own.

"Oh," said Rop. "There was also a bunch of files Optan found just the other day after the dragon went off to get hitched. Hidden away in his office. All sorts of reports, most of them of no consequence I hear. But there was one, well hidden, about lord Ceatral's ambitions for the crown."

"Ceatral, I know that name," said Vulgrin.

"Of course you do, that's the head of house Halycon, Eca's dad!"

"You don't say... wait, so Otsi was trying to cover up for some sort of plan for his father in law to be? A plan to try to get on the throne? Why, that is interesting. I mean, if Linar were to perish and Ceatral became king in the resulting vote of the lords council, then Eca would be next in line for the throne."

Rop nodded. "And that would mean..."

Vulgrin continued after a pause. "That if Otsi was married to Eca, which is weird given dragons don't usually do that, he'd be in line to be, well, king."

"Just without the final authority of course," said Rop. "And any of their kids, if they are even able to have any, would be the next kings and queens."

Otsi's hands were tight fists. "That's nonsense and you know it," he said. "I have never hidden any of my investigations from either Optan or her majesty. Ceatral, like pretty much any idiot lord of Pargalo had a game plan on how to get on the throne. Almost all of them are stupid and poorly thought out. You two idiots... you... yes even you probably have plans."

"Did you hear something?" said Rop.

"Maybe I did," said the other fox as he stood up. His heavy armor thudded against the stone floor as he walked. If the dragon tossed any electricity at the foxes, it would travel through their armor, leaving them at most lightly singed. "Could it be that the traitor is causing a ruckus?"

"That would be unfortunate."

"I mean, if he were to try to escape, we would have to kill him right?" said Vulgrin as he put the key in the cell lock. His other hand pulled out his flintlock from its holster at his side. "Too bad really. He was a nice guy except for all the crimes. But at least he wouldn't live to see his lady put on trial next to him."

"Yes, that would be a boon after all," said Rop. "She is kind of at the heart of all of it herself. Perhaps if he kicked the bucket they'd go easy on her. Perhaps even drop the charges."

Vulgrin's grin was quite visible to Otsi despite the large helmet covering most of his head. "We might get reprimanded of course, but also praised as heros of the realm. Given commendations, promotions." Vulgrin turned the key. The door swung open. Otsi looked to where Rop was sitting as the door's hinges screeched and then the door clanged against the bars leaving Vulgrin as the only obstacle between the dragon and escape. "Slayers of the greatest threat to the realm in centuries. They may even write stories about us."

Vulgrin stood to the side a bit and motioned for Otsi to exit. He stood up, and kept his gaze not on Vulgrin, but on Rop who was now slumped in his chair. He stepped out of the cell and Vulgrin raised the pistol.

"How many paces did the traitor get before I shot him again Rop?" asked Vulgrin. "Rop?"

The blade came up to the fox's neck. "Shot him?" said a growly but feminine voice. "That's not how it went, he wrestled the gun from you because you were trying to murder him. Remember?"

"Uh, uh," stuttered Vulgrin. "I will shoot him."

"Fine, but then you'll be dead."

Otsi raised his hand, palm up. "Give me the gun, and you might survive this."

Vulgrin's eyes darted back and forth. "Shit," he said before cautiously sliding the flintlock to the dragon's hand. "Is... is my brother ok?"

Otsi leaned to the side and looked past the fox, and past the woman with the natural mask. "I think he's still breathing, but he's bleeding a bit. You might want to help him." Otsi then reached for the fox's neck and quickly pulled at the straps securing the helmet to his under armor. He then pulled the helmet off of him. "Yes, I think if you get him help right when you wake up, he'll make a full recovery."

Then the dragon slammed the helmet into the side of the fox's head.

"That was quite the gong," said Werz after Vulgrin hit the floor.

"Don't blame the helmet," said Otsi. "Its well made and designed to take impacts,, and softens them to the point you can barely feel it. Not supposed to resonate at all."

Otsi inspected Rop a little more closely. "Did you?" he asked. "Is he going to die?"

"I don't murder people unless they're trying to murder me or my friends. Because then its not murder. I would of stabbed the ass with the gun. I just, maimed the other one. Though he will be on quite the journey until probably sometime next week."

Otsi looked at the raccoon's dagger. "A poison."

"After a manner, yes. I heard most of their play, figured he needed the vacation. You know, we should be leaving. I don't know if that wolf guy is expecting to hear a gun shot or what, but he might come back you know." The raccoon slid her knife back into its sheath.

"Right, this way."

"You know, I don't remember so many guards having guns," Werz mentioned as they slipped towards the stairs.

"Me neither," said the dragon as they started up. "Something has changed."

---

Dolf's form dominated the window frame. He found it a tad peculiar, this particular post midnight landscape. The barren ridge line continued out before him. To either side the terrain fell down into a series of tree covered hills. They looked like moss, trying to slowly grow its way up the sides of the high spot to the bears eyes.

But he still thought it beautiful. The moon was too high to see from his vantage, but it was quite full, and the shadow of the castle slid off through his view and to the side.

There was a knock on his door. He turned his head, confused why someone would be seeking him at such an hour. His room was fairly dark, but sparse, so getting to the door was easy. The only light was reflections from of the moon light from outside.

"Who's there?" he asked.

"Its Eca," said the voice on the other side.

Dolf quickly undid the lock and opened the door for his friend. The dragon was in nothing but a robe and holding a small candle. Her long slender ears were hung low. The bear slid to the side to let her through and she quickly planted herself on the bed. He shut and locked the door before standing near the lady.

"Its late," said the bear.

"It is. I, just wanted to see a friendly face before sleep. I..."

Dolf looked at her with a confused look. "Eca, I got the impression that you may have went to Carn's chambers."

She nodded. "Sacrifices."

The bear sighed. "You shouldn't stay here long. I don't want Carn acting funny because of reasons."

"Dolf.... I won't but..."

He shook his head. "I know how things work at your level. Please don't remind me."

She looked away. "I don't much care for it myself. Its been a miracle I haven't been sold off to a politically useful idiot by my parents."

"You're lucky your dad's a bit of a paranoid in those regards."

The dragon nodded. "Dolf, just don't think less of me. I love Otsi. Me keeping Carn on a leash and distracted doesn't change that. Nor does it change what we're trying to do."

"I understand," said the bear. But his fists were still clenched. He walked slowly to the window. "Its erie here. But I find it appealing. All the same, I don't much want to stay here longer than necessary."

Eca slowly turned her head towards Dolf. His gaze was dancing over the contours of the land.

"If Otsi fails, then I'll be likely staying here. Perhaps for a very long time. You don't have to."

"No," he growled. "I won't leave without you. Not if I can help it. Now please, I need my rest and so do you."

The dragon got up. "I tire of the games of my position. They bring nothing but pain to those who play them, and worse to those who are played by them. It doesn't have to be this way you know."

He didn't respond before she had left. And even if she had been still present, she probably wouldn't of heard his whisper. "Then we should change it."

---

"So," said Werz as she grabbed Otsi's hand. "What's with the outfit?"

Otsi pulled the raccoon up through the shaft and onto the next ledge. "I couldn't be going about in my costume. The queen offered up her dead husbands wardrobe. This is about all that could fit. And even then..." He tried and failed again to do the last button on the front of the trousers.

"Doesn't fit well," she said as she looked up. Above was the lowest opening of the bell tower. Their hook was still there. "We'll have to get you into something less... gaudy."

The dragon watched as the raccoon grabbed a hold of the ledge and pulled herself up. She looked around and her grin slowly began to vanish.

"We may have a problem," she said. "There's a lot of folks scampering about down there."

"Should of hit that fool harder."

"This isn't going to be easy."

The dragon pulled off his vest. "You got that right."

"Hey, what do you think your'e doing?" asked Werz. "That's not going to help you not get noticed. I'm seeing muskets."

"Do you happen to have a vat of paint to dip me in?" said the white dragon. "I'd rather be able to move quickly."

"Fine, but keep those shorts on," said the raccoon. "Come on, we can get onto the roof before we go run into the meat grinder." She slid down the rope.

Otsi was on the roof soon enough himself. The bell tower stuck up from the southern wing of the palace. Werz had already recovered their second set of rope from behind a tentacle themed gargoyle, but her inspection of the ground below wasn't inspiring her to action. Otsi poked his head over the edge and saw a group of eight guards scanning the court yard in a tight configuration. Two of them were armed with muskets and focused on the sky. The dragon and raccoon pulled back and laid against the slanted slates.

"We should be closer to the ground if we're going to make a break for it," said Werz.

"Yes you should," answered Otsi. "I on the other hand should go up."

"Guessing I'm too big to be flown out with you," she said.

He shook his head. "I wouldn't go very fast nor climb quick enough before getting spotted. But I can draw their attention while you get off the grounds."

"Don't get shot," she said. "I'll head to the old kitchen, its close to the ground and has that alley. Try to fly high enough so that I can see you. And give me, say five minutes to get in place."

The dragon nodded. The raccoon carefully scrambled her way from the corner before using a drain to climb another bit of the palace. After she slipped out of view, the dragon began to count to himself.

It was all a bit much. His thoughts swirled to the point that he almost lost count. A minute or so left he ventured another peak over the side. The group below had split was moving off quickly in two directions.

"Figures," he grumbled.

At the end of the last minute he huffed. He rolled quickly onto his belly and pushed himself up. Quickly pushing with one leg, then another, and in time pulling with one arm and then the other, he began to quickly scramble up the roof. His wings spread out. Otsi hit the crest and his torso jutted out over. His legs hit the slates on the far side and he picked up speed as he began to careen down. One flap, then two. And then the edge. His legs pushed off and he began to flap frantically.

Voices from below began to shout as he threw everything he had into gaining altitude. The first shot slid by his head close enough his ear ached from the sound. He flew back over the roof just as the second passed near, but not nearly as close. Just barely missing the top of the bell tower with the edge of his wing, he worked on pushing the air below him. Windows began to be cast open as residents, freshly woken from their slumber let the desire of curiosity to over take their sense of safety.

The dragon passed over the bit of roof Werz had climbed over and was immediately spotted by a lone guard atop it. The feline fired her gun at the dragon a little too soon and the shot passed beneath him. Otsi passed only a few feet over her head as he continued his effort to gain altitude, conscious that for the moment he was safest over the roof, even if there might be more guards up there.

His eyes darted to the old kitchen roof on the far side. It was only a four meter drop to the ground and a secluded path between different bits of palace half way to the wall and a broken, disused stairway up. Possible to slip through if one times it right. Werz was on the roof, but her attention wasn't towards the sky.

There were four others there who had climbed out from a near by window overlooking the flat bit of architecture. The dragon knew by the size and tail color of the one behind the other three that it was Dalsbrak. He, nor the three guards had their flintlocks at the ready, but they were holding their swords. Werz was back onto the edge.

The dragon's eyes darted quickly to the end of the small alley, and as he feared, the far end was covered by two more of his former compatriots.

"Shit," he said as he twisted his wings.

Otsi dived towards the old kitchen. His path took him close enough to the mountain made out of wolf that if he had wanted to he could of kicked him in the head. But his focus was too directed for such an assault. Werz spread her arms just in time for the dragon to impact her and together they flew off the edge.

The dragon's wings ached hard as he quickly pulled them at an angle to avoid slamming them into the palace walls. Tilted and heavy he glided down and directly at the two guard below. One of them panicked and ducked to the side. The other raised his sword.

Otsi's grimaced as he twisted his legs uncomfortably and kicked off the near by stone. The swung sword was avoided, but the corner of the other bit of building opposite his bounce point did make a hard contact with his hip. Free of the narrow space he began to flap again. But little height was gained. The inner wall quickly neared. Werz yelped as she thought he was going to slam her into it. She did feel her tail crack against an all too solid surface.

The next, much lower wall was easily passed and the two of them were soon passing over roof tops. The labored dragon's flaps continued to struggle to gain altitude. He wasn't used to carrying such a mass, and he knew he couldn't do it for much longer under these circumstances. Of course, what did end his flight was the musket ball passing through his wing.

Otsi immediately swung to the side and down. Roaring in pain his eyes were tightly shut as the city swirled below them. Without really thinking, he let go of Werz shortly before slamming into the side of a house. The walls shook and broke, but the dragon didn't not penetrate inside, instead falling to the street below.

He gasped for air as he thrashed. A mole poked her head out from the house he just got personal with and immediately went back inside. The sound of locks slamming closed hit the dragon's ears as he forced air back into his lungs. Suddenly more aware of his surroundings he tried to spring up but immediately fell back to his knees.

Blood trickled from his mouth as he tried again. First one leg, then the other. His left wing pulled in slowly, but his right remained out through his conscious will. His right arm seared with pain as well, but for different reasons. His eyes darted to his pierced wing. The tear was vicious and clearly bleeding. Growling he slowly pulled his wing close to his body. He was quite aware that his body's response to closed wings was to slow the blood flow to the appendages and hoped it would be enough. He began to look around.

Werz was no where to be seen, but the dragon did spot a broken window on the second floor of the house next to the mole's. It was also quite bright inside. He pondered just breaking for a moment before he saw flames start to rise up over the window sill. He was thankful the door's lock was weak. But now his left shoulder hurt from battering his way in. Otsi moved quickly upstairs.

Werz was unconscious, covered in glass, and sprawled half on the floor, and her other half was on a table. The table, which before her entrance, had been the home of a lit oil lamp. The lamp, oil, and its fire had gotten scrambled on impact with the floor next to the table. The fire had quickly and greedily consumed the cheap and fast burning grease and had spread over the floor, table, and even onto his friend's boots.

He quickly pulled the raccoon from the main fire. Near by was a blanket on a bed. The dragon pulled it off and tossed it on Werz before his brain registered that there was a young rabbit on the bed. The boy was slowly coming too. The fire on Werz was well on its way to being smothered when Otsi turned back to the bunny as he patted at the blanket.

"Little one, there's a fire, you need to get to safety," he said.

The rabbit looked to the fire as he sat up and his eyes went wide. He turned to the dragon and then back to the fire, and just starred. Tears began to well up in his eyes.

"Now!" roared the bloodied beast.

The rabbit continued his watch of the fire as it ate away at the table and began to spread up the wall.

"Fire!" he yelled, hoping the boy or anyone would hear.

Thankfully a voice came from higher up in the narrow house followed by quickened footsteps. The boy's mother appeared and screamed. Otsi was thankful when she grabbed her son, gave him a glare, and quickly moved to the stairs.

The dragon, feeling the fire on Werz was likely out began to lift her up with his good arm. As he pulled her towards the exit, he noticed her tail was bent in an inappropriate fashion. Otsi shook his head.

"I'm sorry Werz, this hasn't been your day."

"Thank goodness, there's a strange dragon inside!" came the loud voice of the rabbit woman through the window. "And he's burning down my house!"

There was a few other choice words of course. Like 'please stop him', 'he tried to kill my boy', and 'what a monster'. Otsi rolled his eyes as he struggled with his friend's unconscious body. He looked down and saw a couple city guards at the bottom of the stairs. Not royal at least.

"Halt and unhand that woman!" one of them called.

Otsi glanced to the edges of the narrow stairway as he concentrated.

"Tell Dalsbrak," said the dragon. "That the fox boys were trying to kill me on Optan's orders."

Otsi opened his mouth and sparks began to arch inside. The guards were not idiots and so darted out of sight just moments before a bright blue arc passed from the dragon's teeth down the stairwell. It of course arced to the side and struck the wall, starting another, smaller fire. He turned his head and quickly began pulling Werz up to the next level. His strength was returning, but it was still far from an easy task.

"Give yourself up!" yelled one of the guards as Otsi took in the next floor. Obviously it was the mother's living space.

One of them, he guessed, had probably gone for help after it was obvious he meant business. He could easily take one of them on his own, even injured as he was. But there was more pressing concerns on his mind. He glanced at the window but immediately remembered the hole in his wing. The dragon's eyes spotted a ladder in the corner leading up to a trap door. He hopped for roof access.

Werz squirmed slightly but didn't wake as Otsi began to pull her up the ladder. Forced to use his right arm he screamed as he lifted. His arm might of been broken, but given he could lift at all with it made him think that it was a less severe injury. The fire below was spreading quickly and the smoke was already starting to collect in the upper floor.

"If you don't give yourself up you'll burn!" yelled the guard. "You're not immune to fire!" It was true, even if it might take the dragon a little longer to cook than most.

"I've lost everything else, I'll burn if I want too!" Otsi yelled back after sliding Werz into the attic.

He popped up quickly and looked around as his eyes adjusted to the dark space, hoping for an answer to his hopes. But there was no roof exit. No high windows.

"Well, sorry Werz..." He raised his good arm and placed it against the underside of the roof. The boards were solid and made of quality wood. "I hope I haven't just got us killed. Grr, this is a terrible angle."

He pulled back his arm, made a fist, swung his body into it, and struck the boards. The dragon's hand stung. The boards shuddered. He struck again. And again. The commotion outside grew. The fire spread. Voice yelled as people began a bucket brigade. The dragon's fingers had a couple hairline fractures by the time he managed to bust enough boards to start pulling them free. Thick, hot smoke filled the attic, and even with the hope of fresh air right before him, Otsi was coughing heavily. Werz's began to come to due to her failing attempts to breath.

"Otsi... what..."

He didn't answer her as he fell on his back and proceeded to kick at the wood closer to the floor. This was much more effective. Without fully clearing the hole, he quickly grabbed Werz and shoved her head through the hole. He grunted as he pushed the raccoon through the hole, the boards scraping tightly around her. On the far side, she began to slide and ended up in the trough where one house butted up against the next.

The dragon's exit was a little more tricky. He roared as his wound was tormented by the jagged ends of the broken wood. But once his bad wing was extracted the rest of his maneuvers were much less painful in comparison. Otsi rolled out. Werz was already on her feet.

"My turn you idiot," she said as she pulled him up. "And..." she started to say before coughing. "And... you never, ever, try to rescue me again, understand? You're terrible at it!"

Otsi nodded as they started to clamor over the next roof.

---

The end of their second week at Carn's castle ended with its master calling his guests for dinner. There was several guests this time. A couple of Carn's vassals and one of his nieces joined Eca and Dolf for another vegetarian meal.

As they ate in silence, Eca kept glancing at the young elk lady.

"Forgive me," she said. "But have we met before?"

Carn wasn't big on introductions and so the dragon hadn't even gotten her name. The elk looked up and nodded.

"Forgive her," said Carn as he nibbled at a biscuit. "Gossious doesn't talk much. You see, she currently has a position similar to that of your late fiancé's at the palace."

Eca stoically continued to taste the sprouts. The time there hadn't made the local cuisine taste any less vile to her pallet.

"You see," continued Carn. "Gossious is a very good protector of the realm, despite her heritage. But taking vows of one sort doesn't mean that when she does talk that she can't tell me of certain goings on. Such as an incident some days past now."

Eca turned to Carn. "She... observed my messenger?"

Carn grinned. "She saw a ghost. It was quite peculiar. Your dead husband met with the queen. Told her all sorts of things, even fucked her. Real odd thing ghosts. Going around, doing politics like that. But the queen was having nothing of it I hear. Had the guards imprison him."

Carn frowned. Eca swallowed her half mashed bite of greens. But she dared not respond.

Carn's face turned back to a smile. "Funny thing ghosts, they can seemingly slip through bars. Slipped out, even took the sky. A pale shadow of a former life wafting above the palace. Oddly for a ghost, this one could be shot. And was. Crashed into a peasant's house. Burned it to the ground while inside it. Half the neighborhood too. Not much left. I guess he wanted to haunt the rubble for eternity."

The elk took a large bite of his food. The vassal lords were obviously stunned by the story, mainly due to their cluelessness. Dolf was doing everything he could to hold back a snarl.

"Now, for those who thought he was still alive while with the queen, they are quite sure he's dead now. They didn't see him float out through any windows before the fire took the house. So even if that was a flesh and blood Otsi, which, heh, given you told me before he was dead, I find it hard to believe he was actually there, he most certainly is dead now. Good too, I hear its a terrible season to be executed for crimes against the kingdom this time of year."

"I can explain," said Eca quickly.

"I don't care," replied Carn. "You are full of lies and deceit. But, that's why I like you." he nodded. "Means I can't trust you. But I do like you. Gossious tells me that you are implicated as well in your dead lover's plots to seize the throne. Which is fine. Provided certain conditions are met."

Carn waited for a reply. Eca looked to Dolf. The two young lords looked to each other, hoping to be outside the conversation. Gossious looked at Eca. Carn stabbed his table with a fork and snarled.

"Eca! You idiot. You deceitful lying dragon bitch. I can protect you, but we must be wed before anyone else comes from the capital. Because unlike Gossious here, they'll be under orders to take you to be tried and beheaded." Carn's intense look pulled Eca's gaze to his. "Because even if your plan is dead, well, there are other pretenders who can make good use of you." For not being a fan of meat eating, the elk's grin was frighteningly predatory. "My witnesses are here, we can do it tonight. And then you'll be mine."