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Scales and Honor: The City of Light

Chapter 17: The Next Step

The wind whipped by Arcturus' face, an ice thing that pierced the man to his very core. Even through his gambeson and layers of clothing below the armor, the warmth from the dragon beneath him, he found the air still found it's way to his heart. Despite the cold his body did not shiver as Veledar carried them across the vast night sky. He was sort of thankful for the nail biting cold as Veledar dipped his wings and turned slightly. The feeling of it kept his mind from going back to the events of the evening. He pictured Gus, his once greatest friends melting before his very eyes to his horror like he was some sort of human candle. NO He shook his head, clearing the painful memory from his mind and tried to focus on the beautiful scales of his dragon beneath him right now. His dragon. He let out a drawn out sigh from his chest, shrugging his shoulders as he tried to tap into the dragon's emotions by thinking about them.

He reached out with his mind and found a beautiful whirlwind of different emotions swirling around in there that felt like a vast rainstorm battering against his thoughts. There was fondness for him of course, the joy of what he figured was for flying, past that there was annoyance, and lastly there was a feeling of anger. Arcturus slowly placed a hand on the side of his helmet, as his world started to spin slightly from the effort. He pulled his mind from this little test, finding his world soon starting to reorient itself. He saw the dragon open and close his maw several times as they continued to fly, as if he were trying to find the right thing to say. He would hardly get out a few words before snapping his mouth shut with a “Graaahhh"

Arcturus even found that the others were in sour spirits as well. For as they flew close to one another there was hardly any noises, no conversations, nothing but heavy feeling of sorrow. The worst part was seeing the usually cheerful Merlia, who always seemed to have a way to show them there was a silver lining had her head hung as she clutched the gryphon below her. She was dead silent, as Krotos seemed to occasionally offer some words of comfort to her. Arcturus still despised the idea of the gryphon coming along, not because he hated Krotos. The bird was great to have around, and would most likely be a strong asset to them to have. He just did not want to see him get hurt..or killed. His gaze fell to others. They after all had proven themselves time and time again in the thick of things, and he found his worry for them not as great. Your also a constant reminder of what I have lost. The thought made him frown.

Arcturus gulped at that rotten thought and averted his attention to the rolling hills that he had traveled upon in his youth. Even in the moonlit sky he could make out the vast greens of all shades dotting the ground, making it look like some patchwork quilt. He remembered training in these fields with his father, learning about ways to slay dragons of all kinds. Just like the one your riding...the one you have feelings for. Arcturus wondered for a moment what his father would have thought about his current affections. How he would feel about his son, the last line of dragon hunters falling for one of the beasts he was supposed to hunt and kill. What would you have done father? Would you have cast me out? Killed me like the beasts you so hated? He narrowed his eyes as he knew what his father would have gone on about. He would have claimed Veledar was good for nothing devil with wings and that dragons laid waste to all they cast their eyes upon. He would have suggested that Veledar had corrupted him with his licks, his paws, and his words.

But they were not all evil like you led me to believe. His eyes watched as he spied the speck of grey stone on the horizon that he knew to be his estate. A place I never wanted to see again. Beyond that eyesore of stone was the vast mountain it sat in the shadow of, surrounded by a vast forest of reds, oranges, and beautiful golds. Above it all was the hanging dark clouds in the distance, that looked like it was about to storm something fierce. Great.

He looked back to the gathering of people he called his friends. If it were not for them he would have probably never have mentioned this place, or suggested they go here. Hell if it were up to him he would have taken everything from the estate and leveled it down to the ground for good measure. He glanced back to the speck that was his estate and found the main road that connected it to the other outlying villages and towns. He remembered traveling on it often by horse, foot, or carriage as he had grown. It winded and twisted round the hills like a dragon's tail, it even had brown sections that swelled outward and reminded him of Veledar's spikes. He knew that with himself removed, and no one else at the estate. That the road must have been over-grown, for it most likely had not been traveled in many years. Sure enough he spotted sections of green that segmented the road in several places.

“You know...the place out here is beautiful." Lyndis suddenly said softly over the whistling wind. “I know why you like flying with Veledar." She sighed, “Anything can look beautiful from up here."

“Is it from the thrill of the flight?" Veledar replied with a loud, trying to sound cheerful voice. “Or is it the handsome dragon that you find yourself flying with?"

“Well I think for some us, the handsome dragon brightens the view much more than others." Lyndis crossed her arms with a smirk. “However all of the above dragon." She than leaned into Arcturus, placing a hand on his shoulder. “How much further do you think? My arse is starting to fall asleep in the saddle."

“Oh your arse is falling asleep? Try flying your heavy arse the entire time!" Veledar snorted. “When I land my limbs are all going to need a good massage!"

“And I am sure your boyfriend here will be glad to do that for you...Won't you Arcturus." She laughed, nudging him again with a smile.

The thought of running his hands along Veledars scales was not unappealing to him. He could not help smirk as the dragon eyed him with those cerulean eyes. “I suppose someone has earned it." He found himself saying, causing Veledar to let out a please croon.

“Perhaps it will lead to other....things." The dragon smirked, showing off his white teeth.

“Don't get any lewd ideas Veledar." He laughed, pointing a finger towards the mischievous creature.

“Me get any lewd ideas?" the dragon held a paw to his chest. “Your the one who lets me hump them when I do the kissing thing."

“You let him hump you?" Lyndis laughed.

“Well...Look at him!" Arcturus held out his arms wide. “How could I stop him?"

“Okay fair point...but you let him hump you?"

“Yes." Arcturus rolled his eyes, watching Veledar's eyes light up in delight at his tinge of embarrassment. “I let the damned dragon hump me to his hearts content."

“And you LOVE it!" Veledar cackled into the night air. “Arcturus the grand dragonslayer, paladin of Bahamut, fallen for the charms of a dragon. How fitting!"

“Ok, ok." He laughed, “Mind your snickering Lyndis, stop your bragging about humping me dragon."

“But I like that part!"

“I know." He pointed out towards the estate. “However our destination is right there, that bloody eyesore in the distance."

“That small thing?" Veledar asked, confusion ever apparent in his tone. “But where is the place for servants? Were are the vast gardens I imagined?" The dragon dipped his wing and started his descent towards the place as they neared it. “All I see is a place you humans keep for horses...and other small buildings...and it's so dark...This is...most disappointing." The dragon snorted.

“Well it never was a bright place Veledar." He glared out towards the house of stone, finding his mood soured as it could distract from the other beautiful things scattered around the place. It was like a large stone pillar of irritation, loss, and anger.

Veledar backwinged as they got even closer to the estate to slow his descent. The dragon extended his rear limbs and landed with a soft bump not that far from the large main door. “Were is the aviary for the gryphon servants?" Veledar wrinkled his snout, and thumped his tail on the grass. “This is not like how I imagined it at all."

“What did I just say dragon?" Arcturus said, leaping off of the dragon. He stretched his limbs as Veledar paced around him, refolding his wings against his back. “Has anything been how you imagined it?"

“Well...no." Veledar snorted a puff of air into his face, ruffling his hair through the helmet. “Even you were not as I imagined."

“I will take that as a compliment dearest dragon."

“As you should." Veledar held his head up high, puffing his chest out.

“Ah its so good to have ground beneath my focken boots!" Lyndis shouted out, stretching her own arms to the very sky. “No offence there of course Veledar, just don't have sky legs yet."

“None taken Lyndis." The dragon padded over to her and smirked, “Perhaps you should ride with us more often, your highness."

“Oh very funny red scales." She playfully punched his shoulder. “You trying to make Cordenth jealous now? Besides." She gestured to Arcturus who placed a hand to his armored chest mouthing the words who me. “You got your attention on your paladin over there." She than caressed the dragon's chin. “Thanks for the lift anyway, Veledar."

“Your most welcome Lyndis."

Arcturus looked passed his conversing friends to the large front door of his home. It was amazing to him how they had never changed the door in all the years they had lived there. It still bore the scratches, the dents, and all the blemishes it had acquired in his time. He looked to Veledar, knowing the dragon would have no problem moving around in his home. It had been built with gryphons in mind after all. Although I am not sure he will be able to spread his wings fully. Dragons do have bigger wing spans after all... He just hoped to himself that Veledar's pesky tail would not catch everything in sight within the house.

“Arcturus?" Veledar suddenly spoke, striding over to him, as Arcturus heard the chatter coming from behind the dragon as his friends landed.

“Feku will hold carpet!" the kobold cried out.

“Nonsense you are too small." Asteiron snorted in reply, causing Feku to wrinkle her snout in irritation.

“Arcturus." Veledar said again, brushing up against him lightly, drawing his attention as he stuck his snout close to his face. “How are you fairing?"

“Better." He said flatly, trying to once again not think about the evening.

“Well..I.am excited." the dragon nudged him with his snout playfully. “I get to see where you lived when you were small....well...smaller." He held his snout up with a chuckle. “Although I would have loved to see your family if they had still been here." He grinned with his teeth. “I am not exactly the dragon you would take home to meet them."

“Only because you would have bored them with stories, or annoyed them away." He laughed, striding over to the door knob."

“You wound me Arcturus, should I start wounding you as well?"

“Oh come now." he walked with Veledar foot in paw. “I guess your not thaaat boring."

“Says the man who kisses me and lets me hump them." Veledar nudged him with his snout. “Now show me your nest human. So that I may mock it, pull you close against me, and brag about mine."

“That does not sound half bad Veledar." Arcturus shrugged, placing his hand on the door. The dragon's warmth would be just the thing he needed to cast this cold that had wrapped itself so well around him. “Maybe we can even build a fire."

“I get to burn things in here!?" the dragon almost jumped up in joy.

“Wood, we get to find and burn wood!" Arcturus laughed, holding up his hands. “Not the whole gods damned estate."

“You take the fun out of things something Arcturus." Veledar draped a wing around him and pulled him close as Arcturus waited for the others to open the door. “And yet I find myself drawn to you." The dragon narrowed his eyes. “You should remove your helmet so I can nuzzle you."

Arcturus did as the dragon asked, turning around to face the others who were all striding over. He pushed Veledar's snout away gently as the dragon nosed him, and sat down on his haunches. Asterion was leading the others, the rug wrapped up and firmly underneath his arms. Feku was right in step with him, her arms crossed, and her scales had scattering of red mixed in with the normal grey as she glared at the bull.

Arcturus grabbed the handle and gave the door a firm push. The wood groaned as it opened, probably the first time it had been opened in several months, since he knew there was at least one gryphon who came by from time to time to keep the place tidy. He was greeted to a darkened entryway. He took a deep breath, the air itself not having any one particular scent. He was glad that Veledar's smell wafted into his nose. That at least warmed his spirits. Shandalar strode right passed him, holding a ball of light firmly within her grasp to illuminate the way.

“Here captain." She placed the warm ball into his outstretched hand. “The spell won't last forever of course. So we should probably find another source of light within this place."

“Well if they left everything the way it was.."Arcturus trailed off, holding the dim light up. “There should be some mana torches along the hallways. Enough to light the whole estate up on darkest of nights." Sure enough he spotted one of the things secured firmly onto the stone wall, long shadows spread over it's surface. He grabbed the torch, and pulled it out of the holster. He felt a moment of disgust before hitting the activation rune on it, the light springing forth like normal to bathe the stone hallways in golden light.

“Feels like a blasted crypt." Merlia suddenly said, as they all took a tentative step into the long forgotten place.

“Well I think the best place for us to gather around and rest would probably be the den." Arcturus gestured to the others to follow him down the hallway. “It has a fireplace there as well if we need to keep warm." And we can all share about what happened this evening. Arcturus buried the thought of Gus once more as he felt it start to grip his heart again.

“I could use da warmth lad." Merlia hugged Krotos who was pressed up firmly against her, his feathers all ruffled. “Be nice ta relax and let da fire drift us off ta sleep."

“If this place has been left...where are we going to get the wood?" Krotos squawked, looking to Arcturus and tilting his head to the side.

“Should have a shed right outside the kitchens." He pointed down the hallway out of habit, even if they could not see it down the hallway currently. “If the gryphon I know takes care of this place, she keeps some wood out there still for when she wants to rest by the fire. Once we get ours going we can all talk about what transpired tonight."

“Should be a fun affair." Merlia sighed, crossing her arms as Krotos wrapped a wing around her. “I can tell from da dragon's face, yer attitude....and me...well.."She lowered her head as her eyes began to mist with tears. “I can tell dis is going ta be fun." She gave one sniff, and wiped her eyes with her hands.

Arcturus led the collected group of adventurers, gryphon, dragon, and bard down the halls of his empty estate. The furniture that once dotted every wall, long since sold or given away to those needing it more. Every painting that hung in this particular corridor that had once filled him with happiness as a boy were also gone. The walls looked barred, made of hardened stone, and made his house feel alien to him. He shivered as he felt himself falling into the pace he had typically made his way around the house in his younger days. He almost expected to find his father leaping out in surprise, or his gryphon nanny squawking about how he was not eating enough, and how her niece would have made a perfect mate for him. He stowed that memory down with all the others as he rounded a corner towards the den. They passed the wooden stairs leading to the floor above. How they used to squeak when he would walk up them when he had been a bit older. It made him fill with dread every time he had snuck out, and was trying to get back into his chambers without his parents being any of the wiser.

He remembered his father always saying with laughter “Don't worry we will get it fixed." But that day never came, and now that he had vanished that day would never come. He looked back to his friends to make sure they had not strayed away from him. They were being just as quiet now as they were during the flight, it was a disconcerning thing to his ears so used to some sort of conversation going on while they walked, rode, or flew. He looked to their eyes and found the loss that he knew was still ever present in his own.

“To think...I am in the house of a dragon hunter family." Veledar chuckled, breaking the silence. He slid his tail along one of the walls with a scrape. “And not a thing to break, smash, or even burn!" He wrinkled his snout, “Once again I find myself disappointed in this place."

“Well what did you expect?" Lyndis laughed, nudging the dragon. “He said he had not lived here in years!"

Arcturus knew that was true of what he had said, but not all the rooms would be barren. The den for one would still have it's furniture, since it held memories in his heart. Of warm nights by the fire reading, or painting dragons, listening to his mother's stories. He gave a out a sigh as he longed for easier days. Days when he was dreaming of saving others, dragons, and not the days filled with pain, sorrow, and melting friends. He figured the other rooms saved from the selling of things would be the guest rooms, his own room, and the study that held the dead dragons. His nanny would not let those rooms fall into disarray.

For despite himself not living here, he did take part of his money to pay the old gryphon from time to time as she kept the house in good condition. For one day when he had gotten over the bad memories he had planned to move Selina and Geoffery into the place. Arcturus sighed as he continued to lead his friends down the empty hallway. That day would never come now. He rose his head, looking back to the dragon who was still glaring at every stone in irritation. His tail was still dragging along the wall. “Don't worry dearest dragon. I am sure we can find something here for you to smash." He spoke up as they rounded another corner. He heard Krotos clack his beak a few times at something Merlia had whispered in his ear.

“Oh yea Arcturus?" Veledar tilted his head to the side. “This place seems fairly barren. Are you going to summon things so that I may smash them?" Veledar turned his snout back to one of the walls with a smile and a snort of air. “Unless you are suggesting I can start smashing down your walls for my own amusement? Cause I have to admit...That does sound very appealing."

“Crimson Sky...we are not burning..smashing..knocking over...melting..or getting rid of my estate by any means you can concoct in that red scaled head of yours." He held up his hand when Veledar smacked his tail in irritation on the wall. “I was however thinking you could break...well destroy all of the trophies my family kept in the study."

“Trophies." Veledar narrowed his eyes. “You mean to say they kept dragon parts in there don't you?" The dragon showed off his teeth, his eyes filling with ill intent.

“Yes. Yes. That is why I wish for you to destroy them." Arcturus held up a hand to caress the dragon's chin. It seemed to calm Veledar down as his demeanor softened and he leaned into the touch with a pleased sound. “We can do that in the morning. After we have a great night, and are well rested." Arcturus frowned as his thoughts went to an image of Gus. He closed his eyes for a fraction of a second and silently prayed to the gods that he would dream of the beautiful dragon he was caressing and not the bloodied pool that was his friend.

“Yes..I imagine a good slumber will do...wonders." The dragon grumbled. Arcturus could feel the same feeling of anger welling upside of him once more. Veledar gave out a big tongue curling yawn, as he scratched the top of his head with a wing talon. “You don't die everyday after all."

“Ya remind me to add that to the list of things I don't want to do all the time." Lyndis chuckled as they finally came to the door leading to the den. Arcturus placed a hand to the knob, for a moment he actually hoped he was right and the furniture was there. It would make for a tad uncomfortable night, well at least he had Veledar.

The doors opened to a large room that thankfully had the furniture scattered around the place. Bookcases, tables, desks, other various wooden objects. However what drew his attention with a sigh of relief was that the large couches were still there with the chairs facing the stone fireplace. Offwhite sheets draped over them, making them look like large ghosts in the dull light of the mana torches. Arcturus took a step in, breathing in the air that still smelled like the sweet smell of a fire on a cold winters night. He could almost feel the warmth radiating from the empty fireplace, reminding him of days long since past. He smirked to himself remembering this one time he had brought a strange teenage girl to this place. They had stayed up the night talking to each other about the future, dragon slaying, and how he should follow his dreams. He sighed trying to pull the name from his memory. It occurred to him with his next few steps. The girls name had been Adalina.

“Ah now this place smells like home." Merlia sighed, striding over with the blue gryphon to pull the sheets off one of the couches with a forceful yank. To reveal the brown cushioned couch worn with age. “Now we jus gotta git a roarin fire goin...and hopefully we will all be feelin better in no time."

“There is a problem with that dearest Merlia." Veledar strode over to the couch, and hopped up onto the soft cushions and stared at the empty fireplace. “How will we get a fire to light if we do not have any wood." He pointed to the empty space with one talon.

Shandalar brushed passed the dragon, and with a twist of her wrist and a short phrase there was a puff of brown smoke. When it cleared there was a nice stacked pile of wood right in the fireplace, ready to be burned.

“Well...." Veledar wrinkled his snout. “That's just cheating." He thumped his tail weakly on the stone. 'Hmmmpf."

Arcturus helped the others remove the rest of the sheets as they moved the furniture to be closer to it. The entire time Veledar would just watch without a word. Thankfully it did not take to long before they were ready to get the fire lit. Feku had placed herself next to Lyndis on the stone closest to the wood. She was tapping her tail in anticipation as Merlia was crouched over with her flint and steel trying to get the wood lit.

“Can't wait to warm scales." She mumbled.

Arcturus had removed his armor, thanking the comfort that being free of it brought. With a sigh he plopped down next to the dragon, and found claws grab him quick as lighting and pull him against a chest of hard scales without a word. He did not even resist as the dragon's warmth brought a small bit of comfort for him, once again fighting off the thoughts of his dead friend before they could surface. He let out a sigh and sank into Veledar's embrace. He looked around to find the others gathered in wait. Krotos was on the other couch, his tail twitching slightly as he watched Merlia intently, most likely waiting for the moment when he could pull the dwarf close to him and she could caress his feathers. Asterion was positioned in a chair, his eyes stern like they usually were, however he was focusing on Feku. Arcturus had watched him many times, and for the first time it looked like his companion was uncertain, like something was eating away at him. He was about to say something before Veledar finally spoke up.

“Gods above Merlia, are you ever going to get that fire lit? Are you intentionally trying to get under my scales again? Because honestly you are doing a fantastic job."

“No course not ya whining baby." She shot back, thrusting the flint right at the dragon. “Jus...this magical wood...it be harder to light.."

“Nonsense!" Veledar gestured for her to move out of the way as he took a deep breath that clinked his scales along his chest. When Merlia was out of the way the dragon let out a thin concentrated line of red-orange flames that engulfed the wood. He only held the fire long enough for the wood to light and begin to burn. “See" Veledar grinned. “Just like normal."

“Well some of us are not full of so much hot air that we can light wood!" Merlia chuckled, wrapping Krotos around the neck with one of her arms, and scratching under the gryphons beak. “But thank ya for the assistance dragon.." She nodded to him, her voice lowering and growing soft, than looked to the fire. “Da warmth be soothin ta me bones."

“Your welcome Merlia." Veledar snorted, pulling Arcturus closer. “See Arcturus." He whispered in his ear. “How much better you feel in my claws without your metal armor. Nothing to stand between me and the warmth."

Arcturus could not even disagree with the dragon. His embrace felt like a welcome break from the problems of the day. He scratched underneath the dragon's snout and chuckled when Veledar closed his eyes and moved his snout closer and nuzzled him.

“Well now that we have the fire going." Lyndis spoke up after a cough. “We should trade stories, get a clear picture of what happened tonight." She looked to each of them. “To all of us."

“I agree lass. It might feel better to know how ya all did in your own part of da mission." Merlia frowned, tightening her grip on the gryphon. “As ya know...." She sighed, “Ulga was captured by..." She sniffed.."By dis tall looking blue scaled siigonis bastard. He jus held up a claw and my dear Ulga started floating around it. Just like the Emerald Lady!"

Arcturus eyes widened as she spoke. That sounded awfully like one of the men Garroth had known over the years. Arcturus swore he had seen the siigonis she was describing in some tavern or another across the city. He believed Garroth introduced him, his name being Soggu. Garroth had even bragged at the time he was some sort of spirit shaman, and could bend them to his will.

“Did this siigonis wear tribal gear, like feathers and such? His speech holding on the S like he was a snake or something?"

“You know da bastard?" Merlia gasped, pounding her fist into her palm.

“Yea...I only met him once or twice within the city." Arcturus than went onto explain his name, and the fact he was a spirit shaman, and how he could get spirits to do his bidding."

“So dat bastard's name is Soggu" Merlia snarled, “Now I gotta name ta me hate. Course he sounds like what ya get when ya dunk yer bread in water. Don't worry Ulga...I will get ya from dis Soggy."

“Soggu!" Feku exclaimed.

“I know lass...Soggy fits better though..."

“I like the name Soggy." Krotos laughed softly, brushing Merlia with one his wings.

“Thanks Arcturus..." Merlia than said more softly. “Even if jus havin his name isn't a lot...it helps....kinda."

“Well....I can tell ya what else happened in the vault." Lyndis thumbed her chest than looking to Merlia with soft eyes. “Merlia...do you still have the sack from the vault we snatched?"

“Oh ya!" Merlia grabbed her pack and started digging through the contents of it. “I almost forgot!" She pulled out a small sack that rang with the clattering of metal on metal. “Got da loot right here."

“So the whole thing may have been a trap to lure us in." Lyndis gestured to the sack with a grin. “But at least we still walked away with a plethora of magical items. I know it's not the best news considering but....it's at least some good news." She sighed.

“I call first pick." Veledar shot out quickly before Lyndis had hardly even taken a breath after finishing. He dove his snout to nose at the sack, causing Merlia to pull it away from him with a chuckle.

“Git yer snout away from dis... You wern't even dere dis time ya scaley git...Yer lucky we be sharin at all."

“Lucky?" Veledar growled playfully, “Asterion agreed to give up magic items for diamonds..And are you forgetting dearest dwarf who swooped down from the sky to save all your collective rear ends when the Lumarians had you pinned and surrounded?" Arcturus watched him move his snout closer and let out a small puff of air into her face. “I believe I get first pick of the treasure." The dragon than jerked his head to everyone else, finally resting on Arcturus. “Right everyone?"

Arcturus chuckled as each one of his friends nodded, or begrudgingly agreed with the grinning dragon. Even Merlia sighed and rolled her eyes when Veledar looked to her.

“Alright...well ya can have first picks den..When our elf friends ready o course." Merlia leaned her head towards Shandalar with a grin.

“Yes. Yes I can identify your magical trinkets in the morning." the wizard replied with a wave of her hand. She pulled out her pack, and pulled out some papers that Arcturus had seen her grab in the laboratory. “I'll try to squeeze that in while I engross myself with these." She held up the gathered parchment and gave it a gentle shake.

“Already hard at work?" Veledar asked, as Shandalar propped the papers into her lap and began looking to them in the firelight. The dragon lowered his head until it was softly on Arcturus' lap, to which Arcturus began stroking up his snout. Veledar let out a pleased sigh as he worked his way up his head.

“Well....we can't all be lazy dragons that waste the day away." The elf leaned back into her chair, lifting the papers up. “Some people are counting on me to get these things deciphered.

Arcturus felt Veledar thump his tail weakly in reply, letting out a “I'll show you lazy." With a low growl

“What happened with you Crimson Sky?" Lyndis asked after a moment of silence that hung in the air for a moment too long. Arcturus saw Feku hold up her claws to the fire, her body shivering.

“I don't want to talk about it." Veledar grumbled, not even looking up to register the half-elf. “I will share in the morning after my mind is fresh and well rested.

“Oh...Ulga.." Merlia whimpered softly, burying her head into Kroto's blue feathers. Arcturus saw tears were in her eyes, as she was trying to wipe them away with the gryphons plumage. Krotos caressed her with his talons whispering softly.

“shhhh...it's okay."

Despite his words of comfort, Arcturus could see that the gryphons eyes were anything but dry. They too were beginning to mist as he pulled Merlia against him and wrapped his talons around her tightly.

“So..." Lyndis looked over at the pair and back to Arcturus. “What...happened to you? I figure it must be just as bad if not worse by the looks Krotos and you are throwing around."

_ It's showing on my face?_ He let out a sigh, of course it was plastered on his face. He was not exactly trying to hide it, he was only trying to find anything to distract him, keep him busy...So he did not have to think. He felt his throat tighten as he thought back to the throne room, and let out a greater sigh than before. He opened his mouth and let the pained story flow out of him. He told them all of it, from how they had searched the lab, how he had saved Krotos and made his way to the king, how the king had spoke of a prophecy.

“An army of dragons?" Lyndis gasped at that part. “And they want to kill Veledar to prevent this stupid thing?"

Arcturus nodded softly as Veledar growled into his lap. “Figures that your king wished to sacrifice me to stop the whole mess."

“Strangest thing though." Arcturus replied, “Is that Cornellius said it was told to them by the Emerald Lady."

“That witch!" The dragon snarled,“She betrayed us!" only calming down with another pass of Arcturus' hand along his snout.

“Well..." Lyndis crossed her arms, wrinkling her brow. “I would not look too much into focking that...I think she just tells anyone who will listen the future...I don't think she was betraying anyone or anything..."

“Nonsense!" Arcturus snapped, sounding a tad more angry than he intended. “No one is sacrificing my Veledar to stop this....this Army or whatever else comes...Its....We will find another way if it's true."

“I second that motion." Veledar grumbled, “To the nine hells with her prophecies and future telling. I would not be surprised if she were not lying to everyone to manipulate them into what she wants..All an act."

Arcturus nodded, and felt his heart grow cold. He swallowed and then told them the next part as his chest grew heavy. Even the warm embrace of Veledar could not melt the chill that ran through him. For as he told about Gus, he relived it in his mind. Each heart pounding step, each second he watched as his skin slowly melted away. He told them about how he was in victory, and how the king instructed him to surrender and brought out the others. He gulped again, looking down to the floor and lowered his voice. He stroked Veledar faster, trying to focus on the beauty of his crimsons scales, however with each word he found himself unable. He finally told them what had happened to Gus, and he saw Krotos now bury his beak into Merlia's chest letting out some thick sobs.

“Dey be doin what?" Merlia shouted out in surprise, a scowl going to her face as she started cursing in dwarven. She caressed Krotos more as the gryphon let out a small whimper, his feathers shivering like he had been in the cold all night.

“Those.." Lyndis said softly, her words seemingly hard to come out of her mouth as her skin flushed red. “This entire time......The fort...All of your ships." She placed hands to her head, running them through her hair. “Your weapons.......I think I might be sick." She lowered her head and just stared at the floor. “Those focken bastards..."

“They have no honor." Asterion snorted. “I spit on them and would like to see them crushed beneath my hooves." He banged his hammer on the ground hard, almost hard enough Arcturus swore he was going to find cracked stone in the morning.

Veledar was the only one to remain silent as everyone else began whispering quietly among themselves. Arcturus briefly caught several words mentioning, the war, friends, the crystals, and what could now be done about Lumara. It was Feku however that finally stopped all the worried filled chatter as she let out a loud harmonious, pleasant sounding song. Arcturus turned to see the kobold just staring into the fire, her scales a sea of the darkest blues he had set eyes on. She had her eyes closed and continued to sing from her heart.

It was hard to not get wrapped up in the emotion she could convey with that little voice of hers. It was like listening to the voice of an angel some might say. Arcturus remembered she had sang this song the night Azzik had died. He remembered it then as well. It was a song sung for the lost, the fallen, and the forgotten. He hung his head as everyone else did the same, and just focused on the kobolds voice. Arcturus had heard this song many times over the years, especially during his time in the war with Rothdell. He sighed, clutching his dragon tighter as the ache in his heart grew deeper. The image of his friend appearing clearly in his eyes...The friend he had failed.

“Beautiful." Krotos muttered softly, as the kobold continued to sing.

When Feku finished she did not say a word, nor turn towards the others. She just continued to stare into the fire with her tail swishing side to side, and her claws held out to the flames. She hung her head, and Arcturus saw tears start to flow down her cheeks from her purple eyes. Lyndis was the one to move in and wrap an arm around the kobold, who leaned against her and wrapped her little claws around the rogue tightly.

“Well...dat was entertainin Feku." Merlia said softly, standing up and stretching her limbs. “Arcturus does this place have any wine or somethin?"

He nodded, and pointed to the door. Than briefly explained how to get to the kitchens from here, and how there was always bound to be something to drink there.

“Well..Maybe we will find some booze to get drunk on." Merlia grumbled, than looked back to the gryphon who was looking at her with tender pain filled eyes. “Ya comin Krotos?"

The gryphon nodded without a word, standing up to press himself against the dwarf, and walking with her out of the den.

“Don't wait up for us." Merlia called back. “I plan ta pass out an forget dis night." She gave a quick wave before they both walked out, and closed the door behind them.

“That's...not sounding like such a bad idea." Lyndis replied, her lips forming a snarl. “Especially after that horrid, rotten, disgusting,..piece of shite country..." She pulled out one of her daggers and tossed it into the floor with a thud. “And my father and mother just gave up!" She tossed up her hands. She quickly than crossed her arms, and kicked her boots up onto the stone. She narrowed her eyes, wrinkled her brow, and stared at the fire like it was one of her most vile of enemies. She then muttered things under hear breath, all the ones Arcturus could make out were various insults that were all colorful, including adding the word focking just for good measure.

Arcturus sighed, and leaned further into the dragon who seemed to be just as warm as the fire. He smirked as Veledar let out a pleased sound from his throat, and twitched his tail slightly.

“Please go on Arcturus." the dragon mumbled with his eyes closed. “That feels......Mmmmm...exquisite."

“I might mistake you for a lap dog." Arcturus said quietly, continuing to stroke the dragon's scales. He had figured out just the right spot to make Veledar twitch and let out small pleased sounds. The dragon pressed his snout further into him, snorting warm air into his chest.

“Nonsense Arcturus...There is nothing wrong with scratches and petting. You should try it sometime. I would be happy to return the favor my knight. It is the least I can do for such pleasant ministrations." Veledar paused for a moment before chuckling. “Although I would use my tongue of course."

“I wish I could have helped you more." Feku said suddenly, and moving over to Asterion.

“You helped us plenty." Asterion said gruffly. “No need to jump to combat you are not prepared for. I have seen too many warriors do this and die." He snorted and narrowed his eyes. “You helped keep the ship in the air as long as it was. That is something to be proud of." Asterion smiled down at Feku. “And thanks to that, Arcturus and the dragon were able to defeat that metal monster." He than turned to the others and held out his arms. “All of us should be proud despite the loss we suffered tonight." He thumped his chest one time. “We struck a mighty blow against our foes." He thumped his chest one more time, this time snorting with a grin. “And by Kord's grace there will be more glorious battles like that ahead of us."

“Thank you.." Feku bowed slightly, her tail swishing. “For the talkings." She smiled, little emeralds sprouted on her scales as she turned the pirate hat over in her claws. “Do you think you could teach me to be better healer?" She asked softly, her frills twitching as she looked to the bull with hopeful eyes.

Arcturus watched the usually strong bull fidget slightly, as that look of uncertainty flashed in his eyes again. It seemed like he was not sure of what to do at first, as he swished his own tail. He drummed his fingers on his thigh and gave a quick nod. “ I can show you some techniques of mine...but I don't know how much of it will translate to....your type of magic." He gestured to her with a wave of his hand.

“Oh..You will find that I can learn plenty of magic." She smiled, I have a disadvantage with it."

“Er...Do you mean talent?" Asterion chuckled.

“Yes..." Feku rolled her eyes, than took a firm seat beside the bull and brushed up close to his fur. She wrapped her claws around him in a hug, and pressed her snout onto his chest. “Thanking you."

“Your welcome." he replied, patting her on the back several times, his gaze looking to the fire.

“Go get....a room...you...two." Veledar groaned out under Arcturus' continued ministrations. “I can sense your undying love from here."

“Not everyone thinks like that dragon." Asterion replied, his voice growing stern once again.

“Well...that's a shame." Veledar twisted one of his hind legs slightly and gave a soft kick. He let out a pleased groan again as he practically was smothering Arcturus at this point. “Don't...stop paladin.....too...good.."

“Okay there is no way you are not related to a-"

“Arcturus?" Shandalar suddenly spoke up, sounding annoyed as she placed the parchment down onto her lap. “Do you happen to have a library in this place that I can be alone in?" She raised an eyebrow and quickly glanced around to the others.

“What's the matter Shandalar? Tire of our company already?" Veledar chuckled, opening one his eyes slightly with a grin.

“As a matter of fact I would like to be in a place that does not have singing, continual chatter...." She looked to Feku for a moment as the kobold looked hurt. “The singing was lovely dear, just a tad distracting."

Arcturus rattled his brain for all the rooms within the house, remembering that they did in fact have such a room. It was located on the third floor and close to the study. “Yes." He pushed Veledar away regretfully, and standing up into the air that was significantly cooler without the warm dragon around him.

“Do you have to go?" The dragon asked, flipping over and spreading his wings so that he was dominating the entirety of the couch now. “You make an excellent pillow. Perhaps you can reside yourself to that fate if this paladin thing does not work out."

“I will keep that in mind you lazy thing." Arcturus laughed, stretching out his limbs. He than tapped the red dragon right on the front of his snout with a finger. “I will show the good elf here the library, and then be back here faster than you can shake that frilled tail of yours."

“Nonsense." Veledar wrinkled his snout, and shook his tail. “There...are you back now?" he pushed Arcturus' hand away with his paw. “See? Don't speak such lies Arcturus."

“You know what I meant dragon."

“Hmmphh. Well run along and be back." Veledar snorted, swishing his tail and twitching his frills. “I wish to have my pillow back in a few minutes."

With a final pat to the dragon he led Shandalar away from the cozy room, his friends, and the fires warmth. He quickly grabbed the mana torch from before. Quickly activating the rune, and leading the elf through the empty hallways. He brought her to the old stairs, once again reminded of his father as he pressed up with several squeaks from the stairs and a sigh from him. “Did you find anything good in those plans?" He quickly asked, as he felt his mind slipping once again to his dead friend.

“Nothing interesting yet Arcturus.." She said softly. “I just started after all. I figure with a quick trance I can get back to it...I have to admit the prospect is rather exciting." She sighed, her brow wrinkling. “Even if the application of such knowledge was horrifying and morally wrong."

“You certainly don't sound like it's horrific." He replied, pointing out her tone had not exactly changed in the slightest as she spoke. It was more like the knowledge of how it was used was simply an irritation. Like a small obstacle to over come. Like finding out the food you had saved had spoiled. He once again thought to Gus' pained face emerging from his mind.

“Than I am sorry Arcturus...I am merely excited at the chance to learn such old things...Not the loss of those we held dear....." She paused and Arcturus saw her sigh again. “What happened to your friend...and everyone else Lumara has done that too....It...is...horrific.." She shook her head and Arcturus saw her blue eyes for once look tired for the first time since they had met. “At least Rothdell gets your consent before essentially killing you....and I think that process is terrible as well."

Arcturus continued on in silence as he brought her passed the study. He looked out to the darkened countryside below. It was sort of hard to make out in the dark shadows of the estate, but he could see a collection of large granite rocks that were twice the height of himself and arranged into a circle. He remembered his father had called them the dragon's crown. Arcturus snorted as it had just been for decoration if he remembered correctly. Why his father would put such a thing there he knew not why. Thankfully she did not question about the study, he remembered being in there as a child and being creeped out by the collection of dragon heads mounted on the walls. It was as if they were staring down onto him, judging him, and condemning him. His heart beat faster as he saw in the corner of his eye that the room still had dragon bones hanging from the ceiling, and he made the form of the heads once again.

“Arcturus?" Shandalar spoke again. “You are greatly troubled, I can see it blatantly in your face, and your eyes."

“Yeah?" He turned to her with an eyebrow raised.

“Yes...I suggest while I am researching this topic that you try to relax, grieve, and steel yourself for the next leg of the journey. The mind can only take so much before it breaks after all.

“What about yourself? You seem pretty calm for what we witnessed this eve."

“I am coping in my own way Arcturus." She said her voice getting lower. “Striker emerged safe and sound...That was all that was required to set my mind at ease." She patted the papers under her arm. “Besides...Studying and researching are my ways of calming."

_ Elves...Or was it was a wizard thing?_ He just nodded as they finally came to the wooden door that he knew was the entrance to the library. “Well...here we are." He gestured to the door with his arms and gave Shandalar a slight polite bow. “If you need anything...Just find me...or one of the others."

“Don't worry about me Arcturus." she rose one of her hands to his shoulder and patted it softly. “Just keep a level head..The others don't say it...but they look up to you."

_ Sure..._ He gave her another nod without a word, as she passed through the door and gently shut it behind her. Leaving him in the empty hallway alone with but a torch for company. She may be right. He sighed as he turned heel and started walking down the corridors again. He could feel his despair now coming on all sides. He held up the mana torch, disgust once again coming to the forefront of his mind. Who was this at one time? The thought came to him, as he wrinkled his face. Hopefully you were a deserving criminal...a mass murder who showed no mercy...someone who was awful and had no redeemable qualities...and not..innocent. He pictured hundreds of faceless blurry humanoids. The people...his people had slaughtered in the name of their light. Some light indeed. He thought to Lyndis words when they were traveling to Drakenburg, which seemed so long ago. How right you were Lyndis..

He walked in a daze, with the torch outstretched. His eyes on the long shadows that were being cast. He did not even notice as he found himself on the first floor and making his way towards the exit, leading outside. He stared at every black shadow, as if a great creature was going to leap forth and rip into him with it's claws. He passed one such shadow and found the eyes of Gus looking right at him. He held up a hand and turned away as ice licked at his senses. In his mind he pictured running down these corridors in his youth, laughing while the nanny had chased him. Her brown feathers all a bright white from all the flower he and Gus had dumped on her in some prank. He remembered thinking themselves so clever as the outraged gryphon flew towards them screeching their names. They had managed to lose her in the estate for several minutes. Heavy deep breaths, smiles, and laughs were shared until the gryphon bounded onto both of them. How she had scolded them for minutes at end, and then had them do chores into the night to clean the mess they had made.

Arcturus scowled at the pleasant memory now twisted with his own failings. Arcturus Lund...the man who kept on failing the ones he loved. He thought to Geoffery, to Selina, and how he had failed them as well. How long until I fail you Veledar? How long until you actually die in my arms..and I am left alone one again? He felt his eyes go blurry as he remembered each step towards Gus, how he had rushed to save his friend. Why could I have not been faster? Why was I able to save Veledar and not you? He grit his teeth as his next pass across an empty door brought more memories. He looked out the window at the meadow he knew was close by.

Gus stood opposite him, the aspiring age of twelve and holding a wooden sword out in front of him. He was breathing quickly and smiling.

“I am going to be a knight!" Arcturus had shouted with a smile, locking swords with his friends with the clack of wood.

“Er..yea?" Gus had replied with a smile, stepping back and avoiding Arcturus' sweep of his sword. “Not into hunting dragons are you?" The boy pushed forward with an attack that left him exposed.

Arcturus avoided his friend's strike and in one motion swept his wooden sword and tripped Gus, who landed with a bout of laughter into the grass. “Have not seen a dragon round these parts in years Gus....Besides." He held out a hand and pulled his friend off the ground. “I'd rather protect people, help others, like the knights of old....Like the current paladins."

“That's hogwash!" Gus brushed himself off with a laugh. “Where did you get this idea to pursue this dream of being a knight?"

“I always had the dream to be one."

“I bet you there is a girl that is joining up to be a knight, and you wanted to follow after her!"

“No!" He had protested, crossing his arms as his face had flushed red. To which caused Gus to point, and slap his leg with laughter.

“I knew it! Your a skirt chaser!"

“No.." Arcturus had held up his sword and pointed at the boy's laughing face. “Now hold up that sword so I can wipe that stupid grin off your face." He clashed with Gus again the moment his friend raised the weapon. “And she was not joining...up." Arcturus dodged away from his friends attack, getting underneath his swing and re-positioning himself.

“Fine...Who was this girl then?" Gus replied, raising an eyebrow and avoiding Arcturus again. “You will have to do better than that to be a knight!"

“Her name..." Arcturus clashed swords again laughing, than pushing Gus away. “Was Adalina." He struck out once again, this time feinting and striking Gus in the torso. “There..point for me then."

The memory faded away as Arcturus opened the door to the outside. Tears already starting to well into his eyes as he strode out into the cool night air. His heart ached, and his limbs felt heavy as he willed himself to keep walking. He looked up with blurry eyes to see the moon filled sky was replaced with swirling dark clouds above. It almost sounded like he heard thunder in the distance. He could feel the pressure in the air change that made his hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He knew in the bottom of his gut it was going to rain. He passed the stables without a word, his eyes too focused on the destination he sought. The dragon's crown. Why he was drawn to that place he did not know. But somehow it felt fitting as he felt his lip quiver and the blurry eyes give way to tears

His mind felt scattered, as he finally pressed himself up against the stone. He felt as though a dagger had been driven into his heart as he thought to his dead friend. The friend that had trusted him. The friend that had been there the longest. The one who had been there for him when Selina had died. The one who was always helping him. The one he had let down...Just like before with his wife and son...Nothing had changed. Memories flashed before him. He tried to fight them, but it was no use. Like a raging river they flowed down and bursted through to the surface. He pictured Gus, melting away before his very eyes. He had been so close to saving him, practically a few more steps, if he had only been faster. He collapsed onto the ground, letting out a sobbed cry like a wounded animal as tears flowed down his cheeks. He heard the distinct sound of thunder sound above, as the sky seemed to open up and drown his sorrows with rain. The droplets coming down in heavy sprays, that soon had the paladin dripping in water from head to toe.

“Useless!" He shouted out in a loud cry. His voice nearly cracking as his throat felt sore. “Nothing changed!" He lowered his head and banged his fist against the soft ever wetting earth. “All this time...all this power...and I still could not..save you..GRRRAAAAAAAAHH!" He screamed out to the very heavens themselves. Some part of him actually wanting someone to strike him down right now, so that he did not have to feel this ache of despair clutching him so tightly. “Stupid...useless..." His voice lowered as he hung his head again, the rain now clearly hiding the tears he knew were still coming down.

“You should not speak such horrid lies about yourself." Came Veledar's voice from behind. It was stern yet caring. He turned back to see the dragon standing there, and staring at him with kind eyes.

_ Of course he would show up now._ He sobbed once more, as the dragon closed in on him.

“I lost my book this evening...gone forever.." Veledar continued, his voice low.

_ He lost his book too!_ “Veledar I'm....so sorry." He strode over and pushed his head into the dragon's scaled chest. The rain now dripping onto both of them. “I failed you too......If I'd only listened and gone with you." He held up his head, the tears still not stopping. “Maybe you'd........I'm so sorry Veledar......." He closed his eyes and pushed his head back into the dragon. “I will make it up to you......for the rest of my life if I have to.......I will never leave your side.......I'm so.....sorry you placed your trust in me......and I was so useless..."

“Stop speaking such filth this instant Arcturus!" Veledar growled softly, grabbing the human by his chin. “I was laying down tonight on my back, blood dripping from my broken body." Tears started to form in the dragon's cerulean eyes as he spoke. “Than I saw you my human... You were brighter than any star in that sky. I know the man you are, you try to help everyone around you. You give it your all for the ones you hold most dear. If your friend is dead, it is because it was impossible. I.....He knew you gave EVERYTHING to save his life.....SO don't you DARE belittle yourself with such untruths."

“Veledar..." He held his hand up to caress the dragon's chin. “I..." words failed him as he gave another sniff. The pain was still there as he gazed into his dragon's eyes, but he could feel it lesson. With each passing second he could feel things were going to be okay. He grabbed the dragon and pulled him into a wet cold hug. The dragon wrapped him with a paw, and draped his wing over him. “Thank you.." He said, pressing his cheek into the dragon's chest. With the sound of the rain pattering against his dragons wing, and the warmth he provided he felt his heartbeat steady. The thoughts that had him plagued faded away.

“Remember Arcturus...I am here for you." Veledar said softly. “Now come..lets get you out of this rain...before you catch a cold." The dragon than turned around, and pulled him with a wing towards the stables.

“Wait..Why the stables and not the house?" Arcturus pointed to the stone structure.

“Well do you want to track mud into that place?" Veledar turned to him with a grin.

“Well....the gryphon would have a fit if we did that..." he sighed as the dragon continued to drag him to the wooden structure. He jerked his head up as another thunder cracked against the sky, and almost made him cover his ears. The rain that had been drenching them suddenly picked up it's speed and felt like small stones crashing into them from above.

“Hurry! The rain seeks to drench us even further human!" Veledar shouted out, picking up his pace and pulling Arcturus into the stables, after throwing open the door. Once inside they stopped to watch the rain crash down onto the grass outside, and puddle in several areas.

Arcturus looked up into the sky, watching the lighting arc across the sky. Like the god's themselves were angry and playing catch with such things. He chuckled weakly remembering as a boy someone telling him that tale. He sniffed at the sudden smell of burning old hay, and old wood. He turned around to see that Veledar had managed to get a small fire going, and was holding a particularly long stick in his snout, letting the base of it catch flame. He let it fall, and then the dragon collapsed on the ground of the dirt floor of the stables. He watched the flame with an amused grin, than looking up to the human. “I think this might be the worst rain I have ever seen." Veledar wrinkled his snout.

Arcturus broke his gaze of his beautiful dragon and looked back out the door at the sky once more. “You're kinda right. This stormy night is unlike any I remember as child. It…pours down like the mightiest of waterfalls."

“I don't mind water," Veledar spread the burning coals around with the slim tip of his leaf-shaped tail, extending a broad wing over the gentle caress of the flames licking along the branch's length. “My scales are impervious to everything spewed by the sky and certainly resilient enough to deter any bite."

“Not your wings though," the human pointed out, forcing the dragon's lips to raise just a bit to reveal rows of sharp teeth.

“At least I don't cover them with the pelts of my prey. Take a look at yourself, human. Carrying the rain in that fine garments you claim to protect yourself with. They stink. Make your legs weak from the weight. What sort of madness pushed you to go out in the rain?"

Weak. Right. As if the dragon bothered to lift himself from the stable's floor. Arcturus made no comment at that, simply going over to a sturdy table where the watchmen used to gamble to drop his heavy bulk onto one of the three sturdy stools. His clothes were soaked down to the bone, and the smell of wet wool, linen, sweat and grime started mixing with the smoke to create a most unpleasant concoction.

None of the two males said a word though. Arcturus waited for the dragon to take his burning stick outside. Veledar on the other hand completely refused to do that. Only the gods knew why he continued playing with that feeble fire like a hatchling. Dragons lived far more than a human. In his youth Arcturus learned of many legendary dragons from his father, and although young by dragon standards, Veledar already outlived every old person Arcturus knew as a boy. He wasn't huge as a hill, nor heavier than a mountain. Just big enough to make Arcturus feel like a youngling clinging onto the hand of a great warrior. Veledar's crimson hide looked almost purple in the feeble light that kept the stables just above the edge of complete darkness, and his cream colored wings acquired darker tints of brown, bare. Almost ugly.

Even so, the dragon still retained a touch of majesty; a spark not dulled by this gloomy night. One that attracted Arcturus's eyes even when he did not want to. Veledar's proud head was equipped with a pair of straight horns. Spikes ran along his spine, red like the dragon's scales, acting as a fence against anything that tried to take the dragon by surprise. Arcturus couldn't see the other wing, but the one he saw was wide enough to cover the room from one end to the other…if the dragon stretched it enough. Right now, he kept it arched over the fire, feeding on warmth and smoke. Whenever the fire dulled, the dragon cut the smoldering branch into smaller fragments which he hoarded next to the pads of his hindfeet. It seemed strange that such a rugged, battle-hardened creature bore softer scales there, but Arcturus had enough time to get used to this oddity. In the good days he appreciated the warmth of the pads, and in the bad ones, he could always poke fun at this obvious weakness. After all, both human and dragon lived by a code of strength where achievement far outweighed wisdom. There were not many accounts of what the dragons did with the humans they befriended, only vague guesses. Arcturus himself was among the few that had the honor to call a dragon partner. On a few occasions he ever wondered if he'd settle down in a place that accepted dragons. Live a tranquil life like when he had Selina and Geofferey by his side. But then again what use was to settle when you had the entire world spread under your wings?

Arcturus shrugged off the thoughts from his mind. “Put those flames out before you'll choke us to death."

“Got used to the cold, did you?"

“It's warm enough in here without your stick spouting smoke everywhere. Put it out, or build yourself a proper fire in the house."

“Your house? It was made for gryphon's Arcturus, it can barely hold my wingspan.," the dragon argued.

“Barely is good enough for me. You've been sitting on your belly ever since we got in here. What, you expect me to chip away at the walls, amuse you with drawings, bring you wood for your flames, tend to your feet while I'm at it?"

The dragon rumbled with satisfaction. “That is not the worst idea you had."

“Lazy dragon," Arcturus got up from his stool. “I'll check the larder. See if there's anything in there to-“

He couldn't finish before the dragon rushed out of the stables, a mass of moving scales so huge it forced the human slamming into the nearest wall.

“Bloody blazes. Warn me next time." Arcturus had no idea where the dragon went. He waited there with his back against the wall, wondering if Veledar was going to burn down his whole estate in retribution until the pitter patter of claws drew his eyes to the head that poked through the window, filled to the brim with branches and twigs.

“Gods be good, dragon. You want us to build a fockin' pyre inside the stables?"

Veledar blinked his cerulean eyes, emitted a low growl, then headed back out there.

Arcturus chased after the dragon's tail. He wanted to be there to laugh when the beast squeezed himself through the narrow door of the storage room.

Veledar robbed him of that satisfaction when the larder rang with the clattering sound of wood and metal.

“Apologies. I thought it was bigger."

Arcturus waited for the dragon to enter the stables, then slapped his forehead with a hand. “Gods, dragon. If you broke anything, I vow I'll fit my fist right through the hole of your tail until you…" the human's words trailed to a stop as the wicked creature exposed that certain hole in quite the obvious manner.

“Well? Are you going to stare, think, or get on with your vow?"

“A smack over the head will do. Bloody hatchling."

As if to annoy him even further, the dragon smacked Arcturus with his agile tail tip, first in the ribs, then in the belly before Arcturus retreated into the deeper parts of the stables.

“You know where to find me when your wits return."

Arcturus ignited two of his torches before when Veledar approached him. “Doubt a few minutes were enough for self-reflection, but at least you've had the sense to leave that pile of wet wood behind."

The dragon said nothing, inching closer like a stalking predator, his blue eyes glimmering in the flickering torchlight.

“You'll clean your own feet next time instead of dragging mud in my house. Better," Arcturus pointed a finger between the dragon's cavernous nostrils. “I'll have you fly all around the forest to pluck your own herbs for the meats. No more seasoned steak and spicy broth until you remember to be the dragon I befriended, not this hatchling that lazes in his nest and…and sniffs me like a beast."

The dragon aimed his snout towards the ground, but the few puffs he exhaled through his nostrils were enough to make the hairs stand on Arcturus's arms.

“I stored the wood out of your tiny storage chamber. Out in the rain."

“Why in the blazes have you done that? You could've kept it in here alright!"

“Well you made your intentions well known. I planned to dry your clothes after you fell asleep under my wing, but then you started worrying about burning your horse-nest down. Now we have to do this the hard way."

“Do what?" Arcturus crossed his arms.

“Getting you out of these damp, stinky clothes of course."

“I can do that on my own, dragon. If I want to," Arcturus grunted stubbornly.

That wasn't a very wise thing to say to a dragon almost two times your size, and Arcturus found himself pinned against the wooden end of the stables, barely able to even breathe from the pressure exerted upon his midsection. The dragon pushed his snout into his body, squeezing trickles of stale rainwater that slowly formed a damp patch under the human's boots.

“Grarh! What blasted point are you tryina prove?" Arcturus slapped the dragon's scaly head even as Veledar continued to press different parts of his body. “We've been through more life-threatening situations than I can count on two pairs of hands." Arcturus drew in a long breath as the dragon annoyed him further with his ceaseless prodding. “And now…now you are concerned about me? You think I'm weak? That a few drops of stinky water will douse me with fever?"

The dragon pulled his head back. He exhaled a long, pent-up breath that caressed the human with tendrils of warmth in spite of the less than savory smell. “This is not a matter of strength, but stubbornness. Relinquish your coverings with your own paws, or I will rip them away from you. Your choice."

“They're called hands, hatchling. Hands!" Arcturus slapped the dragon's snout away from him, then got out of his garments His cloak came down first, followed by the leather vest and the enforced linen shirt that lay underneath. He could tell the dragon was planning something. That swishing tail always betrayed his intentions.

Arcturus got out of his boots, his feet testing the cold stone for a few moments before he grabbed onto the rim of his leather pants, slightly unsure whether to keep those or not.

“Naked as a dragon, mrrhm?" Arcturus rumbled as he worked his pants down his knees. “You wouldn't have it any other way, you naughty beast."

Arcturus thought on another witty comeback, but the paw that wrestled him into the dragon's scaly embrace came like a lightning strike. Arcturus found the ground slipping from under his feet. He lounged, searching for balance, only to find himself slammed against hard, lustrous scales. Before he could make sense of anything, Veledar's wing bathed his eyes in complete darkness.

Arcturus knew he was going to get licked, so instead of punching the dragon's nostrils or tickle the roof of his mouth, he allowed the beast to do just that: pamper him with long, flowing strokes like a frail youngling clutched to his mother's belly. Arcturus appreciated the heat more than the gesture itself. He was a man born of strength, of principle. Gestures like licks did not mean as much to him as the effort of labor. As every other man raised at this estate, Arcturus was raised to overcome any obstacle, to adapt to any threat, survive in the harsh climates inhabited by all dragon kind that meant returning home victorious.

The dragon's licks provided anything but strength. They made Arcturus weak to the vice of gentleness, something a woman should have provided, not a dragon. The beast's sizable tongue fell along Arcturus's naked body like a tide of heat, rolling over his scrunched, focused face. It slithered down his well toned pecs, then trailed along the man's hard abs, bump by bump, until the moistened heat bathed the flaccid cock with heated tingles of pleasure.

Arcturus was no stranger to the dragon's tongue. He had been licked before, just not down there, and though his first instinct was to rebel against what common men would consider gross, Arcturus did nothing to stop Veledar. The red dragon became a lot more than a commodity to him. He was not a pair of wings that carried his human ass around. Over the past months they spent together, Veledar became a source of warmth and comfort unlike any other human. He was the warmth that kept the coldness away, the wing that protected Arcturus from fate's cold hands, for the human knew well he owed his life to his protective dragon.

Arcturus groaned softly as the licks became quicker. His entire body started to coat in a thin film of saliva. The smell of dragon surrounded him, just like the ethereal blanket of heat that rolled along his skin from head to toe. He tried to hold his desires in check. To enjoy the warmth, not the perverted heat that tickled his groin.

But Arcturus couldn't help his cock from jutting out next time his tip met the dragon's tongue. He throbbed, harder, and harder, becoming increasingly sensitive to the strokes that rushed along his shaft. Veledar licked at the human's drooping ballsack, sniffed his bare tip, then rounded the head with a long, slippery caress.

“Nahhhhh," Arcturus groaned. “Don't linger there for too long."

The dragon blew a gust of hot air over the man's naked erection. Arcturus's cock throbbed hard at the promise of something hot to sink into, then stiffened like a statue when the dragon's tongue kissed his shy, sensitive tip.

“I'm not prepared for this. Take that…blasted tongue away, dragon. Take it back before I do it for you!"

Veledar obeyed. His entire tongue retreated behind his lips, wing shifting to the side just enough to provide a trace of dying light over the human's glistening skin. Arcturus took a deep breath from the crisp air. That's all he managed in the short time he had before the dragon coiled around himself to trap the human in a warm prison of pleasant scales.

“First you lick me, then you wrap me tighter than a cunt. What am I to make of this, dragon?"

“Whatever you see fit. My only interest is to be a better bed than that thing you sleep in."

“The furs are not as hard as your scales. Makes my back ache something fierce when I wake up in the morn."

Veledar growled.

“What?"

“Nothing. I just didn't hear you complain about me until now."

“Only because I was too focused on our goals. You're right though. You do know how to melt the cold, dragon. I admit as much."

Veledar said nothing. His breath rolled out of his nostrils in calm waves, making the stables seem a bit more lively. Arcturus felt that something weighted the dragon's mind, so he freed up one of his hands to stroke along the beast's serpentine neck all the way to the horns.

The dragon's maw parted with a curt growl. He loosened his grip a bit, one of his hind paws pressing into Arcturus's side. The human's hand was barely large enough to cover a single toe, but that didn't stop him from passing a finger or two through the creases, each jab forcing the dragon's leg back against his belly.

“A bit sensitive I see."

“Raaarrh," the dragon rumbled with satisfaction. “I can show you a thing or two about sensitivity, human."

“You're not going to lick me a second time I hope."

“No," Veledar turned his head to look at the human with a cerulean eye. “Not when I can hold you under one of my paws, perhaps even force you to spill your seed into it."

“In your paw? Did a boulder drop on your head? Why would I even put my cock into something so crude? So dirty?"

“Because it is warm, and sometimes, a trickle of heat is all you need to empty your little sack."

Arcturus's eyebrows locked like two looming storm clouds. “Little sack?" he rasped as he jabbed a punch into the dragon's sturdy jaw. “That what I am to you? A little pup with no balls? Tell me!"

“Grawrr, what? You have a sack that is smaller than the smallest prey I've eaten. No reason to get angry over a truth."

“Little sack," Arcturus spat the words as if they were poison. “Tell me what you pondered on, dragon, and maybe I shall avoid making a comment about your soaking vent."

The dragon tried to growl, push, or slap his way of this situation, but Arcturus always found a way to get back at him, either tickling a paw or slapping the dragon's sensitive wing membrane.

“Rarrr enough! I'll bother you with words just to get a break from your pestering hands. You are far more annoying than my siblings. I give you that."

“Them? That's what bothers you?" Arcturus leaned back against the dragon's side to resume his caress once Veledar placed his head on the ground. A long huff escaped through his maw.

“Indeed, human. I was remembering the days of old, a simpler time when the wind did not guide my wings, but my adoptive mother. I also remember my first prey. It was tree rat I caught by smacking my head into the tree I was supposed to avoid."

“Grahaha! That's a fierce dragon," Arcturus roared as he patted Veledar's head. “Has a rat fall on his head, then calls himself the most dangerous predator in the forest. Good one, good one…seems you are a fine match for the paladin of Bahamut."

The dragon hissed at that. “Is that what your simple mind thinks? Raarrrhhh…we are more than fangs and roars, human. My mother carried me in her claws before I learned to fly. I've seen her slash through the thick skin of a winter bison, shred the scales of a wyvern that ventured too close to our territory. Yet the claws that took life never left a single mark on me. What does that tell you?"

“That you've got thick skin and an even harder head!"

Veledar blew a long gust of air in the form of a thin, almost pained growl. “Wrong in so many ways. My family built a nest inside our cave to mock the wyverns of the snowy peaks. The branches stung our paws, but it feels so good to crack a few of them under our bellies. It took a few days for us to cover the nest with pelts and fur, then we all laid in it, playing and sleeping under the wings of our mother. I…"

“Say it," Arcturus encouraged the dragon with flowing strokes along his scaly jaw. “I will not laugh at you this time. Promise."

Veledar took a long look at the human that rested beside him, then continued on. “I forgot how affection feels like until we grew closer. Never in my wildest dreams I expected to be saved from the bowels of that accursed ship by a human. My mother told me to linger in the nest. That I'm not ready to dive into the unknown," the dragon brought his wings closer, his hind paw pressing tight against the human's leg. “And all I wanted was to prove to her what a mighty hunter I am. I failed, more times than I care to remember. What I do know is the comfort of my mother's embrace. I flew back to my cave to seek her advice many times; balm whatever wounds I acquired in my mother's healing saliva. If only I knew back then the consequences of my actions, I would have listened to her wisdom."

Arcturus felt the dragon's tension under his scales. He suffered, far more than Arcturus expected of such a resilient beast that so rarely exposed his weaknesses. “What happened, dragon?"

“You know that story well enough. After my first mother disappeared and my second left, I was left homeless with no family to return to. Wild dragons can remain together for centuries. They share the same nest, hunt together, sleep piled in each, that familiar smell of wings, paws, and dirt as comforting as the warmth of a mate. They don't even need a pair…not when they have each other."

Arcturus sighed. He was not a man to express himself openly, but he could hardly bear to have his dragon pour out his heart like that without receiving any heartfelt comfort in return. His broadened his strokes along Veledar's neck, massaging him with the same tenderness he showed his wife so long ago.

“You're not the only one whose life has been uprooted by fate. I too abandoned everything I know after I plunged my blade into Dread Flame's skull that night. My family, my home, my friends…I have lost so much." Arcturus cupped the dragon's jaw in both hands and pressed his forehead against his snout. “It is true that fate had not given us the bounty we desired, dragon, but I believe the Gods brought us together for a reason. You are not alone. As long as I draw breath, you will never be."

The dragon pushed his head to nuzzle into the human's bare chest. “You tease me with cruel jokes. Tickle my paws with your fingers. My nest mates never did that."

“They preferred to lick your vent instead?" Arcturus smiled.

The dragon licked his snout, then bowed his head, a soft growl escaping through his maw. “We are not humans, to hold back from experiencing pleasure. Dragons tame their urges whenever they arise, and I…I had a few partners during my life."

“Oh…of course, yes," Arcturus smiled sheepishly. “A hundred years is a long time to go without the comfort of another. Would you be able to share with me some of these naughty adventures of yours?"

Veledar slapped his tail against the ground. His wings flared to the sides, then a strange, pained sort of growl erupted from his throat. He did not need to speak. The weight of the recent days put a heavy strain on the dragon's mind. Even now Arcturus remained surprised of the warm affection shared by these supposedly fierce beasts, and most of all, his dragon's pain formed a heavy lump in Arcturus's chest. For so many years he was led to believe dragons were unable to form the same attachments as human, when the truth was exactly the opposite.

“So much time had passed since our first meeting…and I still feel like I know so little of you. How many secrets hide beneath these scales? How many memories am I not aware of?" Arcturus placed his hand against the warm membrane of a wing to caress it with his fingers. “There are many things I do not know about you, dragon, but I have seen your strength with my own eyes. Felt your courage inspire me to fight even when no other hope was left."

But Veledar wasn't of the same mind. Arcturus could tell by his fixed stare that he sought to seclude himself among the tide of past memories. He needed something better to distract Veledar.

Something that would feed both instinct and mind at the same time.

Arcturus pushed the dragon's leg out of the way to uncover his gender. He caressed along the pebbly scales that outlined the male's rift, and when he got no response, Arcturus sunk three fingers into the dragon's warm insides. Veledar made not as much as a noise. He was still lost in his thoughts, with only the squelching of his flesh mixing with the calm breaths that entered and rushed out of the dragon's nostrils.

“You are the greatest dragon friend I have, Veledar. I did not let my wounds keep me from you during the fiercest battles, so I will not let a bunch of unpleasant memories take you away from me now. You understand? I care too much about your scaly hide to let you fly on your own."

When he got no reply, Arcturus pushed his hand deeper into the dragon's fleshy nest. Wet muscles kneaded around his fist, pushing him back where he came from, but Arcturus dug deeper, and deeper, prodding his way inside Veledar's increasingly tight confines until he found a fleshy protrusion.

He grabbed it…

Then shivered as the dragon looked back at him, maw parting with an uncharacteristically weak moaning noise that did not deter Arcturus from doing what he had to. He rubbed around the dragon's snout with his free hand, and with the other he squeezed Veledar's maleness like a female's cunt all too eager to receive his life-giving seed.

“You are my warmth, dragon. The light that pierces past the darkest clouds…"

Arcturus' own blood heated up when he felt the dragon's pounding heartbeats surge through his cock, which jerked and expanded out of the slimy slit one mighty throb at a time. Arcturus pushed embarrassment away. Ignored anything and everything related to his society, his duties, his race. His entire attention was solely focused around the head of the dragon's member which he caressed with a circular motion, fingers squeezing behind the ridges cresting the dragon's spade-like tip with a motion similar to kneading dough that made the scaly beast flap its wings and jerk his tail into the ground.

“Mroawwwrrrr… Rarrrrhhhh…." Veledar's maw crackled with rising lust.

Arcturus would've cracked a smile if pleasuring the dragon didn't take everything he had. “You can't fly away from me now, dragon, or else there will be nothing left but that accursed rain pissing down from a curtain of clouds I can never reach on my own. I need you, dragon. Every scale, claw, fang or wing…I need you to be here for me, because truthfully…without you…I have nothing to live for. Alone…alone, I am less than nothing."

Veledar's member approached the peak of its growth. It was a massive thing, thicker at the base than Arcturus' own arm and quite a bit longer. Arcturus worked his way around that pole of flesh, his efforts good enough to fill the stables with the rippling, trembling moan of a beast begging to release its great load. After only a couple of strokes along his flared, sensitive ridges, Veledar jerked his hips forward, spewing a crying moan from his maw right before a thick glob of sticky pre-seed shot into the human's clenched fist.

Arcturus smeared the fluid over both of his hands while Veledar rolled on his back to quickly lick at his own oozing cock head.

“Nrraaaahhh don't do that!" Arcturus forced the dragon's snout away from his cock. He wanted to be the one coaxing out the beast's seed out of hiding, so he clambered between the dragon's forepaws, back pressed against his scaly belly so he could hug that hard, fleshy cock to his chest.

Veledar's musk seeped into the air, a thick, spicy smell that suddenly made the human voracious for the taste of dragon cock. Eyes closed, Arcturus kissed his dragon right on his juicy tip, parting his lips around the pulsating seed-hole to take as much thick dragon flesh as he could fit inside his mouth. Oh, he could feel the blood traveling along the dragon's body. Taste Veledar on his very tongue, which poked often into the seed hole, then rolled around the sensitive opening, anything to coax more of that smooth lubrication into his mouth.

Veledar smacked the ground with his tail several times over. His whole body tensed up as if he was about to pounce, and Arcturus pulled his head back just in time to avoid having his throat choked by a thick stream of dragon arousal. The cock he hugged spat three successive loads of pre onto his face, covering his body with the dragon's liquid scent faster than the rain ever did. Arcturus blinked his eyes and licked his lips as streams of translucent fluid dripped down his chin like a female's juices. Entranced by the mesmerizing taste, Arcturus continued to eat away at the dragon's cock, growling over his dragon's female-like whimpering as he locked the dragon's great cock between his muscular legs. The heat of the throbbing flesh felt wonderful on his naked skin, especially when it grinded against his own erection, hard like the scales which he rested upon.

Arcturus paused for a moment. He wanted to feel his cock pulsate against his dragon's for just a bit before his own hips sent his member rolling along the dragon's ridged underside, each of those hard, fleshy bumps tugging at the man's tight foreskin, exposing more and more of his bulged, oversensitive head to the maddening heat that was a fully aroused dragon phallus.

Two full thrusts. That's all it took for Arcturus's cock-head to lay out bare in the open. Heat rushed over him like a wave when his exposed glans brushed along the dragon's moist ridges. All those musky smells he inhaled, the pre-seed he swallowed, the love he harbored for this beast rammed into his crotch with the might of a mountain, tugging at his loose balls like a heavy chain, enticing the man to cover his dragon's cock with his own fertile juices.

Arcturus bit back his climax for just a bit longer. He wrapped his arms behind the dragon's tip, slammed it against his tense abs, then ate away that slippery cock with lust-filled hunger. Wet, messy sounds came as his lips suckled greedily onto the beast's twitching tip.

Arcturus's growls mixed with the squelching sound of dragon juices. A constant stream poured out of Veledar's hole, quickened by the human's groping fingers, which scratched and pressed upon the beast's infuriatingly sensitive head.

Veledar could barely hold himself back. The intense pleasure broke his thrusts, and the dragon slammed his wet pads against the human's back to secure him in a vice grip. That tight, desperate hug was immediately followed by a series of desperate licks. Arching his head towards his cock, the dragon lapped at his own erection, his lips trembling above his dripping teeth in the same manner as his cock: weak, weighted by the surges of pleasure traversing under his scales.

“Hrawwwrrrr," the dragon snarled with lust, so big, so fierce, so arousingly beautiful. Arcturus slammed his face into the dragon's snout to kiss his nostrils, his teeth, his tongue, anything he could get his lips on. Trickles of saliva mixed with the streams of pre-seed that coated the man's face.

Veledar poked his tongue out to lick back, and Arcturus grunted and moaned as he exchanged kissed with the dragon he loved with all his heart. The dragon's warm affection felt almost as good as the heat of his cock. Veledar was ravenous for contact, almost desperate to show how much this union meant for him. His breathing was quick and shallow, his pupils wide…

The heat of affection -the same overpowering need that coursed through his infuriatingly sensitive cock- also tested the human's resolve. The last thing Arcturus wanted was to make this moment about him, so he jerked himself away from the dragon's wriggling tongue, then grabbed back upon his cock to give it another round of splattering kisses.

Veledar shivered in pleasure. He was going through all manner of wing tensing motions by now, and he growled, moaned, whined…

Though not as hard as he did when the human pushed a finger into the dragon's twitching seed hole. It fit almost too easily, the silky flesh tense, hard, wet with hot juices.

The dragon brought his wings down, breath temporarily freezing inside the depths of his throat. A rush of hot precum rammed against the intrusive finger. With no way of oozing out, the pre-seed bloated the insides of the dragon's cock, and Arcturus pushed his finger back, then forth, teasing the dragon's sperm canal like a stallion mounting his mare, slurping onto the streams of precum that managed to get past his finger.

Arcturus kept that up for five, maybe eight breaths. Then the dragon roared, and a torrent of cloudy fluids pushed the finger back to splatter Arcturus's face with musky heat. This was not the same weak produce that lubricated the dragon's cock. It was thicker, warmer, carrying bits of the dragon's pent-up need in it.

Veledar couldn't even growl. He ascended towards his orgasm with a choked moan, cock hardening with the bliss of completion. He grabbed onto the human with his trembling forepaws, the tips of his claws raking crimson lines along that frail skin.

Arcturus forgot all about pain. Every muscle in his body bulged like a rock as he squeezed the dragon's bulging erection with the tight embrace of a feral bear. His legs crossed over the dragon's base, while his hands pressed and grabbed onto the sensitive crest ridges. For Veledar, that was as tight of an embrace as he could ever feel outside of a female. His heart pumped once. Twice.

And when the third beat came, an onrush of thick, milky fluid splattered down upon the human's face like the crashing wave of a frothing sea. The dragon's maw erupted with an earsplitting roar that filtered through the stables like a storm in the harsh wing beats that followed.

Arcturus couldn't breathe within the onrush of semen. Dragon seed clogged his nostrils. Drowned his mouth. Covered him like a blanket of thick, slimy arousal.

And it only kept coming. Arcturus opened his mouth to swallow part of the dragon's essence, but there was so much of it that his feeble human throat couldn't cope with the load. The man coughed three times, wasting precious essence before he slammed one of his hands into the dragon's cock-head to plug the leak at the source.

Veledar yowled even louder now that his own cum was being rubbed against the pumping, oversensitive head of his cock. His ridges flared with every orgasmic spasm, packed with nerve endings that sent the dragon into a moaning frenzy when stroked by a human's hand.

“Mrarrghhh," Arcturus pushed his face under the drippy stream coursing through his fingers so he could drink Veledar's life giving seed. Gulp after gulp of fresh, dragon seed rushed down his throat, the taste of fresh semen enraging the man's own need to spill. Arcturus mounted the dragon's member while it still ejaculated, then grinded his own genitals against the trail of cum that flowed down the dragon's ridges. His bare head squelched with rippling bliss. His balls tightened under the embrace of Veledar's warm semen.

In a matter of seconds Arcturus's mighty roar quickly joined his dragon's rippling moan when his peak hit him like an avalanche. His thin, sickly lines were no match for Veledar's drowning ropes, but the pleasure lost none if its edge. It was the same, spasming, pounding fountain of bliss that sent any male into the highest reaches of pleasure a creature could experience, and Arcturus thrust, pumped, gripped and screamed, emptying his balls with heavy spasms of lust-induced madness.

The dragon tapered off first. His growl dimmed like the blazing coals of his twig, a murmur that made the stables come alive with obvious satisfaction. Veledar looked into the human's eyes, flicked his tongue over Arcturus's cum-covered face, then started lapping at the mess that covered his chest.

“No," Arcturus dragged the dragon's snout onto his belly. “Let us rest for a brief moment."

“You begin to think like a dragon," Veledar closed his eyes with a satisfied sigh.

“You've hardly the right to blame me," the man stroke over the dragon's curling lips.

He knew Veledar favored cleanliness, yet right now, that blanket of seed felt like a bridge to the dragon's heart; a layer of affection that made the man feel closer to his scaly partner. Wrapped by his dragon's paws, Arcturus had no issues falling asleep to the sound of Veledar's breath and the smell of his warm, freshly spilled essence.