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"So what do you think of him?" Cladden asked, sitting back in his chair, eyes half lidded as he considered Irian.

"Well, he is plenty intelligent and has spunk at some times. Other times he seems rather timid; it is fairly confusing," irian said as he stretched out as best he could in his small dragon form. He unfurled his wings as much as space in Cladden's office allowed without him knocking over anything.

"We figure that it is being raised by humans that cause it."

"Reasonable assumption. I am given to understand that his father seems overprotective of him and sometimes seems to dislike that he is a dragon?"

"That would be the sum of it, yes."

"Do you think he will cause problems?"

Cladden shrugged. "I know not. I would say that his prime motivation is the protection of his son. Ryan's parents told them to keep him away from other dragons and I think he is having a hard time adjusting to the fact that there are other dragons around and that they treat Ryan as the prince. He has has a hard time of it." Cladden paused to consider. "Sulvius agrees with me in this and he has been with Ryan since his discovery."

"And Tanner?"

"A dragon friend from several generations back and a well trusted one. I am certain you know the story of Norian; his was the sponsoring family. In fact Tanner's grandfather is the one who saved Norian's life."

"Good references. He is very protective of the prince as well."

"Very. Ryan seems rather attached to him."

Irian lifted his head. "How deep do you think the attachment goes?"

Cladden shrugged again. "I know not. Ryan can become quite irate if you try to separate him from Tanner or if he thinks Tanner is being threatened."

"I noticed. The Council may not like the idea of having another human around the prince. It is going to be trouble enough that he was raised by humans as it is."

"You heard Ryan. He will not willingly be separated from Tanner."

"Willingly."

Cladden blinked. "Surely you are not suggesting that Tanner be removed?"

Irian lifted his wings slightly. "I would not say it is the best solution, but it is a solution."

"I cannot believe that you are even suggesting it!"

"Ryan is important to the cause, perhaps more important than even you know. What is worth more, this human or the Council staying solvent?"

Cladden looked down and was silent. "If it came to it, the Council of course. Thought I would say if we have to resort to such measures it may well be time to disband it. Besides, Ryan will likely refuse if anything is done to Tanner."

Irian scratched his neck thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose there is nothing for it. Do you think he could be persuaded to leave Tanner?"

Cladden snorted. "You can try, but I would think that it would only serve to annoy the prince further. I do not see that we can risk that."

Irian sighed. "Correct. Either way, I will need to speak with Ryan further and get a feel for where his loyalties lie and how his friends think."

"With Tanner, his human parents, and then with Sulvius or Pax I would say."

"Yes, but even still, his natural inclinations may give some hint on how best to work with him."

"Just do not try to manipulate him; that never works with his breed for long."

"I would not dream of it."

Ryan sank down on the couch, sighing happily at his over full belly, and with relief that the dinner was over and he had survived. His parents did the same and pretty much for the same reasons. Ryan looked over at them, wondering about how they felt the evening went. His mother looked at him and smiled. "Glad that's over with!"

Ryan nodded, thrumming tiredly. "Quite!"

"It's going to be the first of many such things and probably the least painful of them," Allen said with a sigh.

"Oh you're just so optimistic!" Beth said sarcastically.

Ryan nodded. "But it is true, mother. They are not just going to go away and leave me in peace."

"I'm sorry Ryan; I wish there was some way around it," his mother said as she lay back further on the couch, groaning at her overfull belly.

Ryan shrugged. "I guess I cannot control who I was born to."

"You shouldn't have to worry about it," Allen said, "you should be free to be who you wish to be and not what tradition makes you."

Ryan looked at his father in surprise. "Thank you, father."

"I know it's not always easy on you, Ryan."

"It's not on any of us, really, but you did very well tonight Ryan," Beth said.

"I hope so."

"I know so. I spoke with Sulvius and some of the others. They were impressed at how you held yourself and handled most of the conversations. I must say that I was rather impressed myself. Normally you tend to be a bit shy Ryan, what changed?"

Ryan looked down. "I was so very scared inside, but I knew that if I let them see it they would think less of me and of you. If I was not so very strong they may wish to hurt you and father and I would never allow that. They may have blamed you for raising me wrong and I will not tolerate that.

"Pax was with me as well and that seemed to make a difference. I find that I have not been quite as shy lately; it is a little easier to speak up."

"You're getting older, Ryan. Sometimes maturity helps with such things. I'm sure being around other dragons has helped out as well."

"I am still so very scared, mother," he said softly.

"Bravery isn't being unafraid, Ryan. Bravery is being afraid and doing what you know to be right anyway," Allen said.

Ryan cocked his head. "That is so very true."

"Know what else is true?" his mother sassed.

Ryan tilted his head the other way and rustled his wings. "No, what?"

"That it's past your bedtime and good little dragons, be they princes or not, should be in bed."

"And if I am not such a good little dragon?" he challenged.

"Then you will be spanked and put to bed."

Ryan sighed. "I will never win, will I?" he said morosely.

"You grow in wisdom, my prince," Allen said bowing mockingly as he stood to go to the bathroom. Beth and Ryan looked at each other, then back at him and burst out laughing.

"Susan please, you know that I can't tell you what's going on right now," Tanner said, frustrated.

"You're involved with them!"

"You knew that. You said that you knew that."

"Only because I badgered Norian until he told me!"

"Look, I'm sorry this went the way that it did, but I couldn't very well leave when this all started."

"Ryan seems more important to you than I am."

Tanner paused. "Yes. Yes, right now he is."

Susan was silent. "You're a bastard," she finally said.

"Sorry you feel that way but I think my duty in this case was clear, however."

"Fucking dragons!"

"Not yet. Maybe later; there is a beautiful female here."

"WHAT?!"

Tanner laughed. "Sorry, my warped sense of humor. Susan please..."

"We should talk later. I'm mad. You're mad."

"You're right."

"Tanner...I still love you."

"I love you too," Tanner said as he hung up the phone, wondering if he had just told a lie.

"Breaking into a fucking school! How far have we fallen, boss?"

Poundstone shrugged. "It can't be all fun and games and multimillion dollar corporations."

"This was so damned easy that I could have done it in my sleep half drunk."

Poundstone grunted. "Just don't get cocky."

Arlen sighed as he turned on the computer and attached a clever little device he had built. "Alright, it's installed. The next time the log in in will forward the info to our system. I should be trivial to get in from there."

"You're such a genius."

"Does that mean I get a pay raise?"

"Afraid not."

"Then shove it and lets go."

"He is grey, blue, and weak," Alexis snorted.

Skerios looked down at her from where he lay in his sand pit, towering over her in his full form. She was in her biped form and resented the size difference, which was precisely the reason he did it. "And you are most likely overconfident."

"You could smash him one with claw!"

"And have a little martyr for the Council to rally behind? Oh, that is such a brilliant idea!" he said brightly.

She hissed. "Do not patronize me."

He snorted. "Or what, you'll find some other male to rut with?"

"You bastard!"

He lowered his head and growled. "Actually, that is not true, and if you say such things again I will crush you."

She recoiled, knowing he meant every word. "Sorry, Skerios."

"Forgiven," he said airily. "So you are not convinced he is who they say?"

"I saw no signs of it. He looks to be a North American breed but that was the limit of it. His colors are convincing but they are ways of changing colors as you know."

"None so reliable that I would rely on them if I were in their place."

"They're desperate!" she scoffed. "It is only a matter of time before the dragons see we are right and flock to our banner!"

He rumbled. "I would prefer more solid backing for my actions rather than a misguided sense of loyalty that could shift with the wind."

"The support for the council is small! We are growing!"

"Indeed we are, my dear," he said soothingly, not wanting to get her started fussing at him. She had her uses, but she was far too emotional for his tastes. Even still, when she was using her head and not her feelings she did surprisingly good work. He glanced at the clock and decided that his meeting and gone on long enough.

Besides, she smelled rather enticing at the moment.

"Enough," he said and languorously stretched himself and rolled over on his side, taking a provocative position that instantly caught her attention. She tired to pretend that she didn't notice but her scent said otherwise. "Come," he purred. "I have other plans that are far more amusing."

She shifted form so quickly and was in his arms so fast that she was a blur. As he gently bit her neck he reflected that this was far, far too easy...