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Several weeks later I was puzzling over a book that Artos had bought for me, some sort of children's story. I remember being able to read it fairly quickly but not understanding the point of it. Who were these people and why did they get in trouble for playing hide and seek?

Artos was amused by my confusion and I huffed in annoyance at him. "It's a story to entertain children, Dracius."

"Yes, Artos," I said, the words coming a bit easier now.

"Would you like to move on to something else?"

I cocked my head and made an inquisitive noise and he grinned. "How about some basic science? How the world is put together and works."

I nodded, a gesture I tried to use more often at that time. "Yes, Artos."

He smiled and patted me on the head, then went to the shelf to retrieve the book.

I will not tolerate anyone else doing that to me, at least once I learned that I didn't have to allow people to do it. Until then people would part me on the head no matter if I liked it or not and it used to frustrate me greatly.

I looked at the book he handed me with great curiosity. As I may have said the desire to learn is great with me. Artos laughed fondly as I was drawn into the book, totally engrossed with what was written. He sat down at his desk with a sigh and went to writing whatever it was he was writing.

Sometime later there was a knock at the door and I looked up, hissing softly, reflexively at the sound. "Easy, Dracius," Artos said as he walked over to the door to answer it. I took several steps towards the closet door before stopping myself. I knew Artos became upset when I tried to hide away and I was determined to overcome the desire to please him.

Artos opened the door to find Lady El standing there wearing her usual displeased expression. I found later that it's just the way she looks and while she does have a gloomy turn of mind, she is not generally displeased with things.

"El, what is it?" Artos said, stepping aside to let her in.

She frowned upon seeing me. "Are you ever going to get him some clothes?"

Artos looked over at me, confused. "Why?"

She sighed. "He's male, Artos, obviously."

Artos laughed nervously. "Guess I never really thought about it. He doesn't seem naked to me. I guess we can rig up a loin cloth for him if he doesn't mind." He looked over at me and grinned.

I glanced over at him. "Yes, Artos," I said, then went back to looking at Lady El with some misgiving, not forgetting she was all for killing me when they found me. She looked a little surprised having never heard me speak before.

She sat down in one of the chairs and considered Artos for a moment before speaking. "There's unrest growing along the eastern border."

"I assume you've told father?"

She nodded. "Yes, but I thought you should know as well."

"I'd think you'd likely inform Jerim directly rather than me."

"You need to know what's going on the dukedom as well, Lord Artos. Further..." she hesitated, looking out the window. "There's something going on. Not sure of what it is but I get the feeling it's going to be more something you'd ken rather than the Duke and Lord Jerim."

Artos frowned. "How do you mean?"

"Much as I love your father and brother and would follow them to the ends of the earth, they don't have your sense of things. You've the intelligence and the curiosity of the family, not just the good looks and strong arms."

Artos shook his head. "I'm still not getting what you mean, El."

"There's something going on in the east, Lord Artos, and it's not the typical infighting and power mongering. It's something bigger. I don't know what and my hunters aren't finding out much more, but there's something happening. You need to pay attention, Lord Artos."

"If it'll make you happy, El-"

"Artos it has nothing to do with making me happy and everything to do with you taking on the responsibility that's yours by birth and living up to protecting the people of the dukedom!" she snapped.

Artos took a surprised step back and I stepped towards him, hissing threateningly at Lady El, wings partially flared. Lady El stood up, her hand going to he sword. Artos looked at me, startled, "Dracius!"

"Mean!" I snarled.

"No, Dracius, she's not being mean! She's trying to make me pull my head out of the clouds and pay attention...and she's right," Artos said ruefully. He looked over at Lady El who still had her hand on her sword. "Stand down, El, he's not dangerous."

"Snarled at me and bared its teeth. Seems so," Lady El said in her terse way.

"He's protecting me, El."

She stared at me. "As you wish, Lord Artos. By your leave?"

"Of course, El."

She left the room and Artos turned to me. I was still hackled, as Artos and Pheagus have called it, staring at the door. "Hey, hey, hey, what's gotten into you?" Artos said, in amazement.

"Mean," I muttered, still angry.

"She wasn't being mean, Dracius; you just have to understand El, that's all."

I looked at him and huffed and he shook his head. "I never thought you'd respond that way! You're usually so spooked and shy..." He shrugged. "Well, guess it means you're getting more used to me and being here."

I looked at him uncertainly. "Good?" I ventured.

"Oh yes, very good, Dracius! Just don't bite anyone or attack people for yelling at me. It happens pretty often."

I grumbled at the idea of anyone yelling at Artos, then clambered up on his bed, myself trying to figure out what had gotten into me. I was so scared but the way she was talking to Artos...I couldn't tolerate that. Normally I would have hid behind him but I just had to hiss.

I don't know what I would have done had she attacked me, even to this very day I could not tell you.

"Don't fuss at it, Dracius."

"Not right," I muttered, tugging at the clothing Artos had provided. It was little more than a loincloth but I had never worn clothing up to this point so it felt wrong.

"You'll get used to it my friend."

A huffed in annoyance. It felt strange to be covered, felt odd when I walked, and made it more difficult to use the water closet.

That was something Artos had to teach me. I won't go into it here. Artos, stop laughing as I know you are.

It also felt very strange around my tail and I looked up at Artos and grumbled at him. He wore this cloth all over him. Surely they did not expect me to wear all of that as well? I gestured. "Cloth."

"What's that, Dracius?" Artos asked.

I walked over and tugged at his shirt and vest. "Cloth. Me?"

"Oh no, Dracius, you don't need to wear anything else. Just the loincloth."

"Why?"

Artos face grew red. "It's just something you have to do."

I rumbled in annoyance and went to sit down in the corner the two giant shelves made and sulked, looking over one of my books. Artos watched for a moment and then burst out laughing which earned him another glare and me turning my back on him.

I wasn't very old so childish behavior was to be expected. Looking back on it, it is rather humorus. I do have a sense of humor, contrary to what many think, it is just not the same as most humans. Few understand it.

Artos left to attend to whatever business he had to attend to and I continued to read, absorbing as much information as I could from the books Artos gave me. I felt a sense of pride every time I finished a book and he gave me another, doing what it was he desired of me and as near as I can tell, doing it correctly. As I have said and will likely continue to say throughout this missive, the desire to please Artos is very strong within me and the idea of not doing so is...terrible? I don't know the word to use.

Artos returned sometime later, I'm not sure how long it was, looking frustrated and even a bit angry. I set my book down carefully, something Artos installed in me, and watched him uncertainly. Had I done something to upset him? I still fretted over that then, do now occasionally, though I knew that a lot of the time Artos would come back from seeing his father upset or even shaken sometimes.

He sat down in his chair, hard, and stared out the window, saying nothing. I watched for a moment, then walked over to him and stood next to him. At that time I stood about elbow height to him. "Artos?"

He reached out and pet me for a bit, absently, running his hand over my head. I found myself thrumming for him; I don't mind it when Artos pets me. He sighed and looked over at me. "I have to go away for awhile."

I froze, unable to speak.