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"Twist! Don't roll!" Sulvius roared as he flew in front of Ryan. Ryan watched as Sulvius made very slight adjustments to the rear sails of his wing, allowing him to turn and yaw easily.

"Oh!" Ryan said and tried it, finding it to be much easier.

"And use your tail for balance and trim. Don't claw at the air;go with it!"

"Yes sir!"

Ryan found flying, of course, to be one of the greatest feelings in all of the universe. He and Sulvius and been flying around a huge valley a short ways away from the safe house for several hours now and it felt great! He was learning so much about flight mechanics, how to control his wing extension, pitch, yaw and roll, turning on an axis, and tons of other things. A lot of it was instinctive but Sulvius was able to expand on instinct and show him tricks learned of countless years of flying.

He wished his parents or Tanner could have come out to watch him but Sulvius told him to wait. "Get used to flying and learn a few things first, then show off. You wouldn't want to make a fool of yourself would you?"

That smacked Ryan right in his draconic pride.

"Okay, lets land!" Sulvius called.

They both back winged in for a landing and Ryan pitched forward, banging his chin on the ground with a sharp yelp as he landed. Sulvius grinned at him. "See? I told you that you would wish to wait until you are more proficient."

"You were right," Ryan sighed.

"Of course I was; I'm older and wiser than you," Sulvius said as he walked over to him. He considered the young dragon for a moment and then set out to grooming him, much to Ryan's shock. When Sulvius finished Ryan looked up at him uncertainly and Sulvius smiled at him. "Sorry, my prince, it was instinct. I miss my own children."

"Oh," Ryan said, still feeling a little unsettled. "I knew not that you had any."

"Three in fact. Two boys and a girl."

"Where is your mate?" Ryan wondered.

Sulvius sighed. "She passed on many years ago I'm afraid."

"Oh Sulvius! I am so very sorry!" Ryan said, mortified that he had asked such a personal question.

"Don't be. It was a long time ago and was not unexpected," Sulvius said, stroking his neck.

Ryan ducked his head for a moment. "Family members groom each other?"

"Depends on the family, but yes when dragons are hatchlings the parents do tend to groom them."

Ryan cocked his head. "Does this mean you are my family?"

Sulvius looked startled. "Well...I guess I could be, if you wished it."

Ryan rubbed his cheek along Sulvius chest. "I would like that."

Sulvius coughed. "You honor me, Ryan."

Ryan thrummed. "You have been so very kind to me and taught me so very much."

Sulvius snorted. "You should be ashamed, making an old dragon like me get all choked up."

Ryan laughed and butted him with his head. "Can we fly some more?"

"I'm afraid not, Ryan. Your wings need to rest and you need to work on building up your flight muscles. Besides, we need to get back to the safe house before they send out search parties for us."

"Aw!"

"Yes, I know. Horrible aren't I? Come along, Ryan."

Ryan muttered to himself and followed Sulvius back to the safe house. He didn't get very far down the road when he noticed his muscles were getting rather stiff. By the time they reached the safe house he was actually hobbling along. His parents were standing on the back deck, watching for him, and they ran down to him. "Ryan!"

"Just sore!"

"What happened?" Beth asked, petting her son.

"Well, we were flying..." Sulvius trailed off.

"Sulvius!" Athena said as she strode out to them. "You should know better than to have pushed him so hard!"

"He was having fun!" Sulvius protested.

She snorted. "Oh, yes. Fun! He is going to barely be able to move here in a moment and you call that fun?"

"It is not his fault!" Ryan protested.

"Oh yes it is!" she said, glaring at him, and he ducked.

Allen started to say something and oofed as Beth elbowed him softly. "There's no danger is there?"

Athena snorted. "Of course not, he is just going to be very sore and stiff for a few days. Pax!"

The tiny dragon unblended from where he was resting on the deck railing, glaring at her. "How did you see me?"

"I am not foolish, Pax, and I know you. Go get the spa ready."

"As you wish!" Pax said and flew away, looking indignant.

By the time Ryan got to the spa room, he was grunting with every step he made. With the way his wings were attached to his body, walking flexed those muscles as well and they were just a little sore, he reflected. Okay, the hurt like hell and felt like there were steel bars in them, he though wryly.

"That spa is for humans, the other is for dragons," Sulvius said, pointing them out.

"Why two?" Beth asked.

"Because dragons like their water much hotter than most humans can stand."

"Oh," Beth said, looking at the dragon spa with some misgiving. Ryan, at least in human form, didn't like his water all that hot. Ryan nosed at it and then slipped in, groaning happily as the heat started to loosen his sore muscles, thrumming loudly enough that he could be heard over the sound of the pumps. "Well, I guess that answers that!"

She and Allen went into the changing room to change into their bathing suits, Allen glaring at her from time to time. She finally sighed and shook her head. "What?"

"You know what!"

"You were going to gripe about Sulvius and I didn't want to hear it."

"So it's okay that he's risking our son?"

"Allen, I very seriously doubt that any dragon on our side would dream of putting Ryan at risk. You've seen the way they act towards him or the mere idea that someone could be trying to harm him."

He tried to find something wrong with that but couldn't. "Fine. Just fine, I guess."

"Dear, you need to let Ryan be a dragon and you need to let the dragons care for him just as we do," she said quietly. "I know it's hard, but we have to let it happen."

"I'm not so sure."

"It would be like clipping his wings, Allen! Would you dream of doing that to him?"

"No!"

She grabbed his arm. "Then please, let him fly!"

"He was flying!"

"You know what I mean."

He looked at her and walked out of the changing room. She sighed and followed.

Ryan floated happily in the spa, which was of course made for several large dragons in their bipedal or maybe small forms, giving him a lot of room. He dozed off and on, occasionally hazily realizing someone would pet him or rub his sore muscles. That hurt, but felt good all at the same time. He wasn't even sure of who was petting him or holding him, but it felt so nice that he didn't care.

He opened his eyes and looked at the human spa, where his parents, Tanner, and a few other humans, or dragons in their human forms, that he didn't recognize were soaking, talking quietly. He looked at Sulvius. "I can go over there?"

"Of course!"

He climbed out of the spa, grunting at how heavy his body suddenly seemed, and went over to the human spa. He slipped in and went to his parents and they both hugged and pet him. He thrummed loudly and nuzzled them, wanting them to know that he loved them no matter what, and loved the attention. He let Tanner pet him as well, though he wasn't sure of the others. Before they could want to do anything, he went back to the dragon spa and let the other dragons work on his sore muscles some more.

He dozed off and felt someone pick him up and towel him off, barely waking up even for that. They carried him back to his rooms and he fell asleep to his parents petting him and Pax curling up on the pillow next to him.

"Pax?"

The tiny dragon grumbled and continued to sleep.

"Pax? Are you awake?"

Pax's colors changed to a dull red. "Well I am now!" he said in a surly voice.

"Oh. Sorry. Why did you sleep here?"

The little dragon went back to his normal blue color. "Because I am supposed to keep and eye on you and teach you the skills you will need to talk to Mikail."

"Keep on eye on me?" Ryan said, disgruntled.

He snorted. "Of course."

"I am not a hatchling!"

"No one said that you were, Ryan."

"Then why are you keeping an eye on me?" he demanded.

"Because several people asked me to and I am not about to make them angry with me," Pax said firmly. "Do not worry about it, Ryan. It is nothing bad and it will allow me to get to know you better. That is a good thing, correct?"

"Well, yes..."

Pax cocked his head. "Or am I not a good enough dragon for you?"

Ryan looked startled. "Of course you are, Pax!"

Pax snorted and put a fore claw on Ryan's nose. "Teasing you, my prince."

Ryan grumbled at him. "So what are you going to teach me?"

"This morning? How to eat breakfast."

Ryan looked offended. "I know how to eat!"

Pax shook his head. "Not for formal occasions."

"What is the difference?"

"I am sure you have heard how humans have different forks, spoons, and so on?"

Ryan cocked his head. "Yes?"

"That is trivial, compared to dragons," Pax said. He sighed. "Dragons...well, we should get started."

"I am going to regret this aren't I?"

Pax nodded. "Likely. And you used contraction."

"Oh good!" Ryan said, looking pleased.

"Ah, do not do it in front of Mikail."

Ryan's ears folded. "Oh this is going to go so very poorly."

"We are not done with you yet, Ryan," Pax reminded him.

As they walked into the dining room of the apartments, Ryan muttered to himself that it sounded like a threat. Pax turned and burst out laughing and Ryan just shook his head, groaning.

"Norian, surely you are exaggerating!" Ursis said, fluttering his wings.

"Perhaps and perhaps not. Would you dare be wrong?" Norian countered.

"You invoked a code void and called a convocation! That is a bit much of a mere possibility," the other dragon practically hissed, his ridges going flat, eyes flashing. Ursis was short and squat, like most breeds native to the British isles. His breed had a large ridge that ran straight down their back from head to tail and wings that were actually a little small for their body mass, making them not the best fliers amongst dragonkind. They had powerful legs, however, and could run at terrific speeds with incredible endurance.

"Ursis, if I am wrong then I will accept the consequences. If I am right, then we moved not a moment too soon."

"Norian, you are not prone to exaggeration, this we know, but what proof do you have?" a dragoness asked.

"Perrin was attacked and had to kill to protect himself and destroy his home. There have been people questioning Tanner Wilberforce about the prince. Do we really need more proof, Tess?"

She sighed. "For me? Not so very much. For others?" she shrugged.

Ursis grumbled. "Tessloria has long supported you."

"Are you impugning me?" the dragoness asked quietly, tail lashing.

"No," Ursis said quickly.

Tess snorted, a little smoke rolling from her long nose. Her breed was thin, long, and could breath fire. That alone made them formidable.

"Order!" Araxis shouted, "No fighting!"

The others bowed to the jet black colored dragon who had charged the conclave for as long as many of them could remember. Araxis was nocturnal and the chamber was kept dim in deference to him. "Norian, what you have given us is more than enough proof to bear out your actions if we can connect the events to the actions of the evil ones or to draconic discovery. Can you?"

Norian sighed. "I am close, old friend."

"You disrupted our homes for close!" an old human shouted.

A dragon of Pax's breed turned to him. "Arthur, would you have rather risked it and being taken by the evil ones or others?"

"No but- "

They tiny dragon shook his head. "No buts. If this blows over then you can go home, but until then, please cooperate."

"Yes, Proteus."

Norian lifted his arms and the dragons quieted again. "Are you aware that the prince has been found?"

Pandemonium. "What?" "Where?" "Found!" "How long have you known!"

Norian looked at Araxis who nodded. They had planned on surprising everyone. "Not long ago. He is in the USA and doing well."

"So what does this mean?" Tess asked, smiling.

"It is wonderful news!" Proteus said, his colors brightening. "The evil ones are unaware?"

Norian sighed. "I am afraid they are. Xerxes attacked the prince but was foiled by Pax and several other dragons."

The whole conclave erupted in anger. Araxis held out his arms and wings for silence. "I assume we have everyone's attention now that you understand how serious this is?"

Norian spoke up. "Per had talked to Tanner Wilberforce about the prince's breed previously, unaware of who the prince was at that time." Norian detailed the conversation Per had with Tanner and explained how Tanner met the prince and how he had sent Tanner to the USA for protection.

"Why did you not tell us?" another conclave member asked

"I was concerned for Tanner and not sure of the situation."

"Tanner," one of the dragons said dismissively and Norian reared back and roared.

"Stop it!" Araxis' voice boomed and all of the dragons backed down. He glared. "You will retract your statement on Tanner, now!"

The dragon ducked his head. "I retract."

"Tanner is one of the most respected dragon friends in all the UK and you well know it. If Norian trusted him with the information regarding the prince and felt that sending him to the USA was the best course of action, then so be it. We can discuss it further later. For now? We should figure out what to do about the situation," Araxis said.

They all looked to Norian who sighed. "We need to prepare for war."

"Norian!" Tess said in anguish.

"It is possible and we must be ready. We also must be ready to support the prince and back him in the council."

There was grumbling over this and Proteus shifted his colors to a bright, bright red. "Norian is right. No matter out thought son the council, what our thoughts on scession are, we must back the prince."

All of the dragons looked to Araxis. "We need to vote."

Ryan looked at Pax who was perched easily on his shoulder, one fore claw resting on the side of his head. The little dragon crooned. "You will do just fine, my prince."

"So you say."

They were in the basement of the safe house, or at least on a lower level, standing in front of a huge set of doors, easily large enough to allow most dragons in their full forms to enter. Pax explained that the room was usually used for brooding dragons but was also used for meetings and gatherings where dragons preferred to be in their natural form.

Sulvius quietly walked up behind them. "Are we ready to go inside?"

"As much as I ever will be," Ryan said a little tensely.

"You'll, I mean, you will be fine," Sulvius said, grinning.

Ryan laughed. "You had to correct yourself." He paused. "Why do you use contractions more than most dragons?"

"I spent a great deal of time with humans and it would have sounded a bit odd not to use them. You will find that most dragons who deal with humans a great deal use contractions."

"Oh!"

"Ready?"

Ryan sighed. "Yes."

"You will do fine, my prince."

"So Pax said."

"So listen to him!" Sulvius said, laying a hand on Ryan's back.

"Easy for the two of you to say; he is not so very interested in questioning you!"

"Oh, you would be surprised at what Mikail is interested in questioning," Sulvius said. "I am certain that he will be interested in everyone in the room."

Ryan cocked his head again, using Pax to chirp in alarm as he was shifted over. He looked back at Pax who had stepped farther down Ryan's shoulder and was glaring at him. "Sorry, Pax." He carefully looked back at Sulvius. "Why is it a big deal to use contractions in front of Mikail?"

"Mikail is very traditional, as you know, and does not care for any sort of alterations to the language, especially alterations that favor what he considers human idiom. He considers contractions to be rather vulgar and rude."

"Then it is so very good that I almost never use them."

"Indeed. Ready?"

Ryan swallowed nervously and they walk into the room. It was absolutely huge, but Ryan expected that. The floor was covered in white sand and was rather warm and he guessed it was to keep eggs warm. Along the far wall a pit or indentation had been dug in the floor and was currently empty. Before the pit sat several comfortable looking chairs, a table with some glasses and a pitcher of water, and some cushions laid out near the pit. Ryan looked at the cushions curiously.

"If you wish to be in your dragon form, you may. The cushions are to make you more comfortable, if you choose to use them. Some dragons prefer such things over pits," Sulvius said, following his gaze. "As we do not know your preference, they provided for both."

"I would dig my own pit?" Ryan asked.

Pax nodded. "Of course."

Ryan snorted. "Odd."

Pax shrugged. "You may find it less so as you get older. Most dragons like to dig a pit to sleep in."

Ryan looked over at Sulvius who nodded. "Yes, I dig them myself. It is instinctive for most of us and they are awful comfortable to lay in."

Ryan shook his head as they went to their seats. He decided to stay in his bipedal form for the time being. He wore the color and necklace he had been given at the last dinner, tugging at them both from time to time, not being used to wearing such things. The bracers he found a little easier to deal with.

"Where is he?" Ryan asked quietly.

"He will make his entrance, never fear," Pax said.

"Do you know him?"

"I have met him a few times, yes."

"And?"

Pax shrugged again. "You will find out for yourself, and probably a bit sooner than you would have liked."

"Oh I feel so very much better!"

"Oh stop bothering the prince," Sulvius said with a small laugh.

"You think meeting Mikail is going to be easy?"

"I did not say that."

Ryan sighed and sank down a little in his chair, wishing that this was not happening. Pax nudged him. "Sit up. You are the prince, not a youngling."

"I am a youngling!"

"Prince first, youngling second."

"Yes, Pax."

They waited for what seemed link the better part of an hour to Ryan. There were no clocks around so Ryan couldn't be certain of the time. He started to become a little bored and more than a little agitated when the doors were thrown open with a resounding crash. He looked over, startled, and a huge brown dragon lumbered in with nary a word or escort, and walked over to the pit and flopped over in it, grunting.

He nudged the sand around, using his tail and nose to arrange things to his liking, and finally suck down, head on his crossed fore claws and stared at Ryan with unblinking yellow eyes. Ryan looked back, trying to hold the large dragons gaze and not look away or tremble. Silence stood between the two of them like an invisible barrier. Ryan shifted his eyes to look at Pax who shook his head slightly. Finally Mikail grunted causing Ryan so start and Pax nudged him in the back with his tail.

"Well, Sulvius, I see you are fixed up in this whole ordeal. I thought you had sense," Mikail said in a deep, smooth bass voice.

Sulvius nodded. "I would not claim sense, honored one, but yes I am mixed in it, as it were."

Mikail grunted again and rumbled. "And Pax, I see. What are you doing here, speck?"

Pax just nodded, ignoring the insult. "I am here as a guide and an advisor."

Mikail looked directly at Ryan and it was all he could do not to turn tail and run. "Well?" Mikail said in a loud voice, the word carrying weight and nuance that Ryan was utterly unaware could be communicated.

"My name is Ryan, honored one," he said in a voice that cracked no matter how hard he tried to keep it steady.

"Ryan?" Mikail said in a booming voice, causing the young dragon to jump again. "A human name? You have no other?"

"No, honored one, Ryan is my only name."

Mikail lifted his head off his crossed fore arms and stared, then shook his head. "What nonsense is this? What miscreant named you Ryan? There should be rules against such things."

Ryan tensed but Pax jabbed him with his tail. "My parents named me, honored one."

"Fools!" Mikail nearly roared. "What are they trying to do? Destroy draconic identity?"

Ryan glared. "No, they named me because my dragon parents told them to!"

"Dragon parents," Mikail nearly hissed. It was not a question.

"Yes. I was fostered."

Mikail shook his head. "I think nothing of any dragon who would give their child up to humans to raise. It is horribly irresponsible."

"It was the only choice they had!" Ryan snapped, getting angry.

Sulvius held up a hand. "Honored one-"

"Shut up, Sulvius," Mikail growled, keeping his gaze locked on Ryan. "You can explain this stupidity?"

Ryan stared at him for a long, long time, trying to master himself, trying to keep his anger under control, trying not to trill. He remembered all that Pax had taught him, all that Sulvius had coached him on, the trust that Tanner had in him, and even his Trisk would smile and encourage him. He thought of his parents, how scared they were, even though they tried to hide it from him, and how they had done their best to raise him, not knowing what was going on.

Something nudged his memory. Something one of the dragons had said to him. He lowered his head, frowning, trying to concentrate.

"I have little time for this, runt," Mikail growled threateningly

Ryan looked at him again and then closed his eyes. "What difference does it make how it happened? Am I less a dragon for it? What would you have me do? Kill myself because I not live up to your standards of draconic purity or identity? Perhaps you should punish me or censor me so my name and my upbringing do not contaminate the dragons of this place or others."

Pax looked over at Ryan, jaw literally dropped in amazement and Sulvius just stared, wide eyed, as Ryan shook his head and continued. "I believe that I was taught that dragons hold all dragons as being members of the community or the nation of dragons, if you will, and that I would be fully considered a dragon no matter how or where I was raised, no matter who I may or may not be, no matter who my parents are or are not." Ryan sighed. "I would expect this behavior from humans, but I was lead to believe and hoped to believe that dragons were somehow better than this. Am I mistaken?" he finished very softly.

Mikail just stared at him, unwavering, and Ryan looked at him sadly. After a long moment Ryan said. "Ah," then stood up.

"Ryan, what are you doing?" Sulvius asked urgently.

Ryan shrugged. "It would seem that I am less a dragon in his eyes. I cannot see how he or any other dragon would then accept me." He started to walk out and Pax flitted down from his shoulder, taking his bipedal form, standing in font of him.

"Ryan," he said urgently. "This is so very important! Irian was one thing, but we must convince Mikail!"

Ryan shrugged again. "I cannot see how. I am not a dragon to him, but some sort of half breed, some product of some situation that should never have been in his eyes. My human parents are not good enough for him, so how then could I have any respect for him?"

"My prince!" Pax groaned, his colors fading slightly.

Mikail grunted. "Prince?"

Ryan looked over his shoulder. "Why should that matter? Prince or not, I am a dragon. That should have been all you needed to hear."

"That makes things difference, if you are indeed the prince."

Ryan turned and trilled low and angrily, causing all the dragons to wince. "No, it does not make things any different! If it does then where will this sort stupidity end? If I am less because of who raised me then what will it take to make another breed of dragon less because we have so decided? What of the countless numbers of dragon friends who have helped dragons over the last several generations? What of my parents? Do we just shut them out because they are not dragons?

"And my friend, Tanner, who's grandfather saved Norian's life? Is his life now less because he is human?" Ryan shook his head. "I refuse to be involved in any of this sort of thinking. When and if the dragons can come to their senses and see what sort of insidious evil this is, see that this is what the evil ones want, then I will speak to them about my duties and responsibilities as their prince. But until then?" Ryan shifted forms. "May as well be human, as there isn't a hell of a lot of difference from what I can see."

He walked around Pax and out the door, closing it softly behind him.