Forest Keep 22
#24 of Forest Keep
(edited 12/10/08 for font correction and version update)
Cill cocked her head at the lord "What do you mean?" her tone curious but her gaze firm on the impudent human as he sat there.
"Well it strikes me that you could perform some duties for the keep. I mean you can fly around and keep an eye on things in the forest. Give us warning of bandits and the like"
He smiled broadly, as the pair looked at one another and could almost see the thoughts flashing between them.
"He has a point. I can fly well and I do enjoy keeping my muscles active"
"He's up to something .I don't know what but I'm not sure I like it love"
"I'm not going to let you go out and get into trouble on your own again"
"Let's take a look at the room first and see if you like it. It might be too small for us both and then I'll come live at your lair"
"I do think he's up to something too but we shall deal with it when it comes up"
Cill turned her gaze back to Duncan "I'll think about it as I don't want to be regarded as some sort of pet of the keep"
Duncan fluttered his hands in denial "No no of course not. You shall be consulted on all aspects and not be put into danger at all"
Cill and James smiled at him as Nokala leaned back, not believing a word of it.
James offered his arm to Cill "Shall we go look at our quarters dear?"
Father Champlain sat upright in his bead sipping a bowl of soup slowly. He couldn't remember much of the night before but wondered why all the fuss was being made over the novice James when it was plain as the nose on your face that the boy was an agent of Satan.
He was so weak... trying to hold the bowl steady was taking all his strength but he would deal with the demon.
Cill loved the room. It was spacious and yet cozy as an attempt had been made to brighten it up by hanging up tapestries and even the bed looked comfortable.
She licked James on the cheek "Be right back" and after scribing a new travel rune into the floor ported back to her lair. Picking up her blanket and banner, she looked round and gave a sigh. It would always be here if she needed it again.
Eyeing the fire globes hanging from the ceiling she decided to take them as well and packed her rune scrolls around with the banner, after all she and James would need them together now.
With a final regretful glance, she ported back to the Keep.
James walked around the room and grinned at Nokala "Well, I like it and I think Cill does too. What do you think?"
Nokala looked sidelong at Duncan before answering, "You know you can call us if you need to James. I know you love Cill and will look after her but don't neglect your self also. Are you sure you want to stay here?"
James nodded and motioned Nokala outside the room where he had some privacy "I want Cill to learn about humans and ... when she is able to turn human like you I want to take her to meet my parents in London. She will need to know how to behave in our society as I need to learn how to behave in yours"
Nokala nodded "Do you think your parents will ...resent you having married away from their view and to an unknown woman?"
James nodded slowly "They will not like it one bit. My father is rich and expects me to earn my way by becoming a knight and eventually a landowner responsible to the king. But I find that dream fading rapidly now I have found a proper mate" He gave the dragon a cheeky grin "Even if her parents think she's chosen below her station too"
Nokala chuckled and looked over as the stable boy brought his stallion over to him; grinning wickedly he patted the black horse on the neck "Been a good boy Moona?"
The stallion rolled a reddish eye at him and sneezed almost deliberately over his chest.
Duncan emerged from the room and beckoned Nokala over with a wave "Here, hold my horse for a moment" he murmured to James before handing over the reins, he grinned and went over for a quiet chat with the Lord of the Keep.
James took the bridle rope and waited, turning round to watch the pair when he was interrupted by a heavy chin on his shoulder and warm breath in his ear "Hey Man, you must have balls the size of cartwheels to bed HIS daughter"
James tried not to jump as the horse whispered to him "My names Moona and I work for Marre... It'll be good to have someone else running round for the old curmudgeon", there was a hint of a chuckle in the words.
James turned to look suspiciously at the horse who winked at him broadly "are you another dragon?" he asked, wondering why Moona didn't need to speak to him mentally.
"Nah I'm an elf but you aren't supposed to know about us yet- they don't trust you that much"
James blinked and nodded "I understand. I have to prove myself to them I guess"
He felt a little hurt but realized that the dragons had a lot to lose whereas all he had to lose was his life.
Cill poked her head out the door of the house and waved to James and Moona happily, as she recognized the disguised elf immediately.
Duncan in the meantime was talking with Nokala quietly
"I realize we got off on the wrong foot and I hope you won't judge us too soon," he murmured to the dragon.
Nokala grunted, "We've never trusted humans much. James is a special case as he has bared his soul to Cill and she would never have chosen an evil person as her mate"
Duncan blinked "This clanship ceremony, will he be in danger?"
Nokala looked at the man curiously "Why do you ask?"
Duncan looked down abashed "I know his father well and I'd hate to have to be the one informing him his son was torn to pieces by Dragons while he was supposed to be under my care"
He took a deep breath "And next I have to go and tell Father Champlain the novice he accused of being a demon wants to be married to a dragon in his chapel"
Nokala grinned, "I have to go and face fifty odd dragons including the elder Wyrm and convince them to break with thousands of years of tradition and induct a human into the clan"
Duncan laughed and offered his hand again "I think I may have gotten off lightly then"
Nokala hesitated then took the hand gingerly "I shall be watching closely Duncan... Look after them, as they are still young and naïve. The Keep will take time to accept the fact there is a Dragon here and that she is an intelligent and sensitive being"
Duncan nodded as they walked back towards the novice and the stallion "I'll do my best Nokala"
James handed the reins back to Nokala and grinned innocently "Nice horse... but a bit frisky, perhaps you should have him gelded?"
Nokala laughed as Moona's eyes narrowed and he stamped a hoof "Believe me, I've considered it more than once"
Moona snorted and tried to kick out at Nokala who easily avoided it "No more carrots for you" he chuckled before mounting the sullen horse.
"Be careful you two... no more trouble before the clan ceremony alright?" He pointed his finger at the pair who shrank back from it and shook their heads together.
"Good... be ready," he added before turning to ride along the narrow path towards the gates.
Duncan sighed with relief as the dragon rode off and he wiped his brow before turning to the couple in the small house "I'll let you be for a bit... as I'm sure you'll want to put your new home in order"
Cill nodded and grabbed James by the scruff of his jerkin and pulled him inside, the door almost slamming after them.
Duncan grinned and then grew somber as he looked down the bailey at the small chapel.
Father Champlain groaned as he tried to adjust himself in his bed. Whatever that demon had done to him had reduced him to an invalid and at the mercy of the servants Duncan had appointed to look after him.
He looked up sourly at the Lord as he entered and sat on the end of the bed "Well?" he croaked. "Has the demon put you under his spell also?"
Duncan sighed, "Things have changed Father. James is not a demon though it might have been easier if he was. He has some interesting friends that care for him greatly and one of them healed you from the sleep from which few wake"
The priest paled "A demon healed me?" he checked his holy relics quickly for reassurance.
Duncan shook his head 'Not a demon, Father... a Dragon" he said quietly
Father Champlain trembled "That is not possible...Dragons have not been seen for centuries and they hated humans"
Duncan nodded "James has proven that wrong", he chuckled "And now he and his dragoness want to get married... in our chapel"
Father Champlain heard this new blasphemy while trying to take a sip of his soup. The hot liquid sprayed violently over his bed and himself. "What! He would befoul consecrated ground by marrying a beast within it?"
Duncan sighed and wiped soup off his face "Cill is not a beast. She is intelligent and quite charming. Apparently James is so pure of heart she was quite taken with him and he with her"
Father Champlain's hands quivered as he felt faint, this could not be happening to him. "You have met the beast and still live?"
Duncan nodded and took the priests shaking hands in his own "I have, and her father too. He is far more fearsome yet quite civilized. I should warn you though; they are very upset with you for torturing James"
The fat priest trembled and slumped in his bed suddenly looking frail and weak "They shall wreak a terrible revenge upon me"
Shaking his head Duncan leaned closer "I don't think so... they are reasonable and if you apologize I think it will blow over, but regardless of what you feel the marriage must take place"
Father Champlain leaned back into his pillows "I am tired Duncan. Let me sleep and ponder this for now" His eyes closed and he slipped into sleep rapidly.
Duncan gently pulled the blanket up and covered the bewildered cleric as he slumbered, gently removing the bowl of soup from his lap before it spilt further.
Marre welcomed Nokala and Moona back into his lair as the pair materialized within the teleport ring "Well? How did it go?" The old blue dragon was rubbing his paws together, his enthusiasm belying his age.
Nokala grinned "Cill and James are settled into a new home at the keep. The lord understands the situation and hopefully I have covered the last eventuality myself"
He flexed his paws tiredly, casting a line of control for 2 miles around the keep had been a challenge but it would provide a measure of protection. Should any human from the keep pass over it they would conveniently forget about any dragons they had heard about unless they had Cill's approval.
Marre nodded "Well done both of you. Now we have to plan for the ceremony. Are we going to give him the scale at the exchange of gifts?"
Nokala shook his head "Not yet...Do you know how it will interact with his newfound magic?"
Marre gave a noncommittal gesture "No... In fact, I am not sure how he will handle it now. I agree we should hold off for a while longer until I can gauge his powers"
Moona groaned as he shifted back into his natural form, his back creaking loudly "You need to go on a diet Nokala" He grunted while trying to twist his spine back into position.
Nokala grinned, "At least you had some fun this time. I saw that mare with a grin on her muzzle"
Moona flushed and avoided the amused gaze of the dragon's "It's that damn spell ok? Sometimes the horse takes over"
Nokala gave the elf a friendly poke "No getting mares with foal eh?"
Moona batted the huge talon away with a grin then thought about it "Er... that couldn't happen...could it?"
Marre grinned and turned away as Nokala vanished back to his home
Moona groaned and ran after Marre "Come on...the spell isn't that good is it? oh no..."
Joe sat with Jane in the mess kitchen wiping his brow as he watched the spit dogs walking in their tracks as they turned the roasts.
Jane was worried as she watched her lover sit and mope. It wasn't like him at all to sink into a depression over something.
"What's eatin' ya Joe?" she asked innocently, walking up behind him and resting a hand on his shoulder.
Joe jumped as her touch knocked him out of his reverie "What?... oh jus' thinkin' luv. Now we got a keep dragoness an' a sorcerer in trainin' I'm jus' wonderin' what to do with em"
Jane nodded and sat next to him, leaning her head onto his shoulder "I feel sorry fer poor James. He did what ya tol' him to with no complaint and saved yer from bandits too"
Joe nodded ruefully "That's what's botherin' me, That Nokala is a sixty foot long armored fire breathin' beastie an' he took out six bandits like they weren' there."
Jane kissed him firmly on the lips "Now love, don'cha fret they're gonna get rid of ya. I think James and his dragoness will have their own plans for their lives now"
She smiled and leant back "Perhaps I should go an' meet her fer mysel' .I know how hard it is comin' to a new place with no friends like the pair of them have"
Joe cocked his head, he hadn't thought of it that way. "You aren't scared of her?"
Jane gave a little shudder "I don' know bout her yet but I'm not afeard of James. If I was any younger..." she left off and gave Joe a smoldering look. "But I guess I'll have to make do wit' ya "
Joe grabbed her by the rump and placed her on his lap with a grin "I think he's got enough on his hands wi' a dragoness... don't ya think?"
Jane wriggled on his lap "I'll take a couple of geese in...You think she'd like that? The lord said to keep her fed well else she could start lookin' at us hungry like"
Joe grinned at her as he felt himself swell in his breeches at the rubbing of her rump against his shaft.
"Why don' I come with ya and introduce you properly?"
James and Cill busied themselves around their new home happily, lighting the fire and hanging the globes lit the room with a pleasant homey atmosphere. Her banner hung nearby on a wall and the blanket spread on the bed, which in all honesty was giving James a problem.
"I think its too small dear. We should get another one and put them side by side so you have enough room to sleep properly"
Cill looked at the bed and tried to sit on it before hurriedly getting off after an ominous crack warned of imminent collapse.
"I think it needs to be stronger too," she murmured, prodding the bed with a talon.
James grinned and bounced on the bed 'It'll never hold up when we get er... busy"
There was a brisk knocking on the door so James stood up and went over "Who is it?" he called, wary of visitors this early.
"Pull your breeches up and step away from the dragoness," said a familiar gruff voice from the other side. James grinned and let Joe in.
"What brings you to the stables Joe, surely you haven't gotten tired of Jane and are looking for mares now?"
Joe smirked "She'll get you for that one" he chuckled and motioned Jane closer.
She gave James a prod "No joshin' me or I'll have Joe put ya on gate duty like those other boys."
Taking a breath, she waved a large skewer with some geese on it at him "An' here I am out o' the goodness o' my heart bringin' ya and ya lady some dinner too"
Cill's ears perked at the word 'Dinner' and she stuck her head out the door to sniff at the poultry. Jane squeaked and flapped her apron at her "Land's sake she's beautiful and all silver too"
Cill flerped her tongue out at Jane and thanked her "Thank you Jane, I'm Cill and it's a pleasure to meet you"
Jane fought the urge to curtsy to the dragoness "Likewise Ma'am, I'm th' neares' thin' to a proper cook roun' here and if there's anythin' special you wan' jus' let me know"
James invited them both inside as Cill eagerly took a goose and tried to eat it delicately in front of them.
James grinned, "Well...we do need a larger and stronger bed...much larger and much stronger" He tried not to flush at Joes smirk.
Joe looked at the current bed and hummed to himself "That's not much use is it...I think we'll have ta come up with somethin' better. Let's go an' have a look-see"
After an hour of scavenging around the keep, James and Joe had amassed a fair amount of bedding and two extra bed frames.
"If we truss these together and reinforce the bases, it should be enough" puffed Joe as they lugged the beds into the building
Joe proved to be an adequate carpenter and after much swearing and cursing the bed was finished, Cill testing it with a heavy paw until she was satisfied it wasn't going to collapse. "Well there's only one more test it needs to pass and that is going to wait till later" she giggled and gave James a lick on the cheek "Eww... goose grease" ,he teased and rubbed his cheek vigorously before giving her a kiss back on the snout.
"So what are we doing tomorrow Joe?" He asked as he snuggled up to Cill.
Joe scratched his head "Beats me" he pulled Jane close and hugged her as well "I'd like to see you at trainin' if you are ready. It might be a good time to introduce Cill to the others as well"
James nodded slowly "How many are going to run away screaming though" he asked seriously "You know them better than me"
Joe shook his head slowly "A couple may, but I think most will surprise you" he shrugged "It wont be long before it becomes normal to have her around the keep and doing whatever it is dragonesses do during the day"
James looked at Cill "What do you do during the day dear?"
Cill smiled "Eat, hunt, swim, play...study my magic and keep the lair clean"
James grinned, "I can't wait to see what Marre has planned for us in the way of study"
Cill nodded eagerly "I can't wait to try the Anifornum spell but it's too hard for me yet"
Joe was lost, "Er... who's Marre and what's Ani-whatsit?"
James scratched Cill gently on her chin "Marre is an elder Dragon, very old and wise"
Cill purred, "The Anifornum spell is used to shape shift. As my father did when he visited here. It's also called the spell of accommodation"
Joe blinked "Does that mean you can turn into a human woman then?"
Cill fluttered her eyelids at him "Oh yes...and I'll make sure it's a very pretty one too" She wrapped her arms around James "Just to stop him from getting away"
James smiled and reached up to scritch Cill's ears gently "It's only able to be used for three days in a row though I think, that's what Nokala said"
Cill nodded "I'm told it's very stressful and uses a lot of mana up. If it's left longer than that we lose the spell and turn back into our normal selves for a day before we can apply the spell again"
Joe nodded and stood up with Jane "We'd better get back to th' mess to make sure th' dinner is cooked properly else th' novices will starve and I'm sure ya have a lot to discuss and o' course testin' the bed out properly" he raised his eyebrows in a leer and headed for the door.
"Don' come to trainin' too tired" he chuckled as he closed the door behind himself and Jane leaving the human and dragon alone.
James grinned at Cill "Let's test the bed out, shall we?"
Cill looked at him with smoky green eyes "Let's..."