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Allen and Beth walked into Cladden's office to find Cladden, Kheros, Sulvius, and Pax all discussing something that they instantly stopped the moment they walked into the room. Allen stopped, looking at all the dragons with mistrust.

Sulvius nodded to them. "Allen, Beth, please join us. We were just discussing Ryan."

The two humans walked over to the desk and took their seats. Beth looked over at Allen nervously. Allen glanced at her then at Sulvius. "What about my son?" he said, putting slightly emphasis on "his son".

Sulvius smiled. "Nothing bad I assure you; he is a wonderful little dragon."

"So you say and yet you always seem to want more from him," Allen said flatly.

"He is the prince," Cladden said quietly.

"Prince or not I'm going going to have any of you agitating him!"

Beth placed a hand on his shoulder. "Easy, love," she murmured. She looked to the dragons. "So what is this about?"

Kheros coughed. "I wish to personally apologize for the attack on Ryan; I consider myself at fault. I should have realized how quickly he could be located and taken steps to protect him the moment he came to the safe house."

"Well, thank you," Beth said, looking a little unsure. "I don't blame you. Anyone could have made the same mistake."

Kheros looked at Cladden and Sulvius, then back at Ryan's parents. "I would like to ask your permission to serve as Ryan's guardian."

Allen stiffened. "Why? Is something going to happen to Beth and me?"

Kheros blinked, looking confused. "Well, I should hope not!"

Sulvius held up a hand. "What Kheros means is that he would like to become Ryan's body guard."

Allen looked at the large dragon suspiciously and Beth shook her head. "Ryan is afraid of him."

Kheros sighed. "I know. I have discussed it with the others and they think he should get used to me in time. We feel it is a matter of my size and appearance that is frightening him so. I will strive to avoid scaring the young prince any further." He sighed. "I just wish he were not so very timid."

"And that's our fault?" Allen demanded

Kheros cocked his head. "Well, I am sure that it is in part."

Allen about jumped out of his seat when Pax reared back on his hind legs and roared from where he was sitting on Cladden's desk, catching everyones attention. "Alright! Enough! We can sit around and blame each other or we can figure out what is going to be the best way to protect Ryan."

Allen sat down, fuming, and Beth gently held on to his arm. "Allen, they're not going to let Ryan come to harm. You've seen how protective they are of him."

"No, we would never," Cladden confirmed. "Even still, wended to see what Ryan can and cannot handle in terms of social interaction and meeting with other dragons."

"Why?" Beth asked quietly.

"Dragons have a council that helps decide issues and set up laws and the like. In recent years the council has started to fragment over various issues, mostly regarding draconic expansion, human kind, and a few other draconic concepts and ideas." Cladden sighed. "There has not been a strong leader on our side, I guess you could say, since Ryan's parents disappeared. We have been at a bit of a loss and I fear not as cohesive nor as active as we should have been. This has allowed our opposition to take far more control, spread more propaganda, and make moves like the one against Ryan. He is not the only dragon who has been attacked."

"And just who's side are you on?" Allen snapped.

"We support the prince as the titular leader of the council, limited expansion of dragonkind, and a hands off policy regarding humans inasmuch as it does not effect dragons or the future of the planet."

"So you want my son to lead?" Allen demanded.

"He would mostly be a figurehead at this point as he really does not know enough about dragons and their politics to be very effective on his own. Pax has agreed to help him in terms of social gatherings and etiquette. I will help with in the political sphere, as will Sulvius, and Kheros will stand guard so to speak."

"And just what is Ryan to do?" Beth asked, looking worried.

"Make a few speeches rallying everyone together, pointing out that he was attacked, and so on."

"So, in short, you want to take Ryan who is already unsure of himself, has little notion of dragons and their ways, who already hates being stared at, and you want to place him in front of a bunch of dragons whoa re going to question him, poke and prod at him and make him so utterly nervous that he'll quite probably have a nervous break down," Allen said.

Cladden looked down. "I would not go that far."

"Well I would!" Allen said standing up angrily. "I am not going to be a party to this!"

Sulvius held up his hand. "We're going to go slowly, take things easy on him as much as we can. We only hope the evil ones don't make any other sudden moves."

"No! Leave my son alone damn you all!" Allen yelled.

Beth stood. "Allen, please."

"They want to use him, Beth!"

"I know, and I don't like it either. But if they're right, if the evil ones take more control, it could well be even more dangerous for him."

"Your mate is correct," Cladden said quietly.

Allen looked at Beth, then at Cladden, and said very quietly. "I was raised to believe that if you are being coerced into something, if someone is telling you to do something for your own and the greater good, that there is most likely something wrong with it. No one should be forced to serve in any fashion and all I can see is a bunch of dragons bowing and scraping to Ryan, scaring him and guilting him into doing what they wish.

"I will not be a part of this. My son will not be a part of this."

Kheros rumbled. "The prince is important, human."

Allen laughed bitterly. "And you're going to take him by force? You do that." Allen grabbed Beth's hand and nearly drug her out the door, slamming it behind.

Sulvius sighed. "Kheros..."

"I know! I know, I should keep my mouth shut! But it is so very hard," Kheros said irritably.

"Well, that went well," Pax said brightly.

"I told you not so fast, Cladden," Sulvius said.

"I know! I know!" Cladden said, looking annoyed. "Xerxes has surfaced, as you know, and it will not be so very long until he starts making claims. Ryan may not have much time at all."

"It will do us no good if Ryan falls apart," Pax said.

Sulvius stood up, sighing. "Give them a little time. I'll go up and talk to them, hopefully to Ryan, and see if I can't straighten things out." He looked at Pax. "The prince seems to trust you as well. See if perhaps you can find him before I do and soften the blow that I'm sure is coming."

"As you say," Pax said. He jumped off the desk and shifted to his human form between the leap and the landing.

Cladden groaned and looked up at the ceiling. "I only hope this does not completely blow up in our face."

Ryan was sitting on the couch in his human form, watching TV in their room, when his mother and father burst in. He jerked back in surpass and his father said. "Get packed!"

"Packed?" Ryan said, startled. "But I like it here! There are dragons who like me and wish to know me!"

"Yes, dragons who want to use you!" Allen snapped and he started pulling clothes out of the drawers.

"Use me? I do not understand father," Ryan said, looking to his mother.

"Oh that's a big surprise, you never do!" Allen yelled. "Now get packed!"

Ryan flinched and his mother put a hand on his shoulder. "Just do it, Ryan."

"Yes mother," Ryan said miserably as he started to slowly pull his clothes out of the dresser, wondering what in the world had happened that had so upset his father and what he was going to do about all the friends he had made, the dragons he was beginning to know.

There was a knock at the door and Allen swore as Beth went to answer it. Tanner stood there and looked over Beth's shoulder at the mess and sighed. "May I come I?" he asked.

Beth hesitated and stepped back, letting Tanner enter. Allen gave him a look of disgust. "Come to talk us out of leaving?"

Tanner sighed again. "They must have told you of their plans."

"Yes, and I'm sure you were behind them one hundred percent!"

Tanner shook his head. "No, as a matter of fact I wasn't. I told them that it was too much too soon and that it would be best for Ryan to find his wings as it were."

Allen glared at him for a long moment. "Fine. Now what are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know," Tanner admitted.

'We're leaving. I'm taking my son to someplace where dragons won't be bothering him."

Tanner looked startled. "Is that really a good idea?"

"Don't you dare try to stop us!"

"I'm not going to, but what I will say is this: you haven't thought this through, at all. What are you going to do when Xerxes or oe of the others finds Ryan is no longer being protected and come for him?"

"I'll buy a gun!" Allen said in frustration.

Tanner shook his head. "You'd never get it drawn. You evidently have no idea how fast a dragon is."

"I don't know damn you! I'm going to protect Ryan no matter what!"

"Then leave him here with dragons that are on his side and allow them to protect him! We can talk to them about our fears and convince them not to move as rapidly as they are."

"I'm not sure of that," Beth said. "Dragons are not always reasonable where their instincts are concerned."

"True enough, but they're not stupid either, Beth."

"Father, I think I can--" Ryan started.

"Hush!" Allen said, waving him off. "Great! So what do you propose?"

"I suggest that we do nothing right now, that we let everyone calm down, and look it over from all sides. About the last thing you want to do is get the dragons all riled up where Ryan is concerned. As your wife pointed out, they wish to protect Ryan and it's instinctive, and they're not always the most reasonable creatures when it comes down to protecting their prince and their instincts."

"Great!" Beth said, "They're going to get all high and mighty and want to take Ryan away!"

"I don't think they will do that," Tanner said soothingly.

"You weren't there when we were talking to Cladden either!"

Tanner frowned. "Ryan would never allow himself to be taken."

"No! I would never allow that! Father please!" Ryan said.

"Shut up Ryan!" Allen snapped. "I don't know that they're going to car about what Ryan wants. Cladden was hell bent on putting a council meeting together and--"

The door suddenly flew open and Kheros stormed inside. Beth screamed and nearly tripped over Ryan trying to get back. Allen staggered back and Tanner just sound and looked at the large dragon, eyes wide in dismay.

"I have come to talk to the prince," Kheros rumbled.

"Get the hell out of my room!" Allen screamed. "Get away from my son!"

Kheros let loose a roar, causing everyone to cover their ears. "You will not keep me from him, human!"

Allen shook himself. "Then why don't you take him?" Allen stepped in front of Ryan. "Come on! Take him! Hit me you son of a bitch! Knock him down and take him!"

Kheros snarled and took a step towards Allen. "Kheros! Stop it!" Sulvius yelled, running into the room, eyes flashing in rage. Cladden followed close behind, ears laid back, followed by two more dragons, all of them hissing in anger.

"Get away from him!" Beth screamed and threw herself in front of Allen and he son.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Ryan suddenly roared at the top of his voice. Everyone looked at him in surprise and he trilled sharply, causing all the dragons to back down, taking a submissive posture. "That is quite enough of this," Ryan said, tail lashing in anger, ears laid back.

"No one is going to hurt mu parents. No one is going to hurt Tanner. No one is taking me anywhere that I do not wish to go. It seems that everyone has plans for me, everyone seems to know what is best for me, everyone thinks they should somehow be in charge me me.

"Wrong! I can make my own decisions even as young and inexperienced dragon. No one is going to tell me what I should be doing or how I should be doing it! As the only person who cared what I thought or even bothered to task was Tanner, I am going to go with him," Ryan said and faltered for a moment, walking to Tanner, eyes wide, trembling. He shook himself and looked at the others who were watching in stunned amazement. 'The rest of you can talk to me again when you can conduct yourself as reasonable adults. For those of you who see me as an object to be used or a prize to be won, you may go to hell!"

Ryan suddenly whined, holding his arms up to Tanner, shifting to his small form. Tanner gave a wordless cry and scooped the little dragon into his arms. "I hope you are all quite satisfied!" he said with venom practically dripping from his words. He pushed his way past a crowd of stunned onlookers and slammed the door behind him.

Tanner paced back and forth in his room, a trembling ball of grey and blue dragon in his arms. He made soothing noises, trying to calm both himself and the little dragon that nestled as closely as he could to Tanner's chest. Tanner wasn't sure who he was trying to comfort more.

Ryan squirmed in his arms and Tanner held him tighter. "No. No, Ryan, just stay put. Hush, Ryan."

"Please Tanner, I wish down!"

"Easy, easy little dragon!" Tanner said, holding him all the tighter, not allowing him out of his arms. Ryan squirmed and finally relaxed in defeat. Tanner paced with him for along time and finally sat down on the couch with the young dragon, relaxing his grip slightly. Ryan sat back in his lap, looking at him with eyes that reflected the emotional maelstrom that whirled within him. Tanner smiled sadly, then looked away, unable to bear it.

"Why, Tanner?" Ryan asked quietly.

"They were just doing what they thought was right, Ryan."

"No, no them," Ryan said shaking his head. "Why did you not let me down?"

Tanner hesitated. "It--" he started and broke off. Ryan waited patiently for Tanner to compose himself. "There's an instinct that could have driven you to hide, Ryan. You may have cowered away from me or worse and I just didn't want that to happen to you, so I held you. I hope you are not so very upset."

"No, but I would never hide from you, Tanner."

"Not willingly, perhaps, but instinct can be very hard to overcome sometimes, especially when you are overwhelmed.

Ryan sighed. "What could have been worse?"

Tanner shook his head. "Not now, Ryan."

"Please Tanner! It involves me!"

"Ryan no! I don't want to talk about it!" Tanner said, almost sounding harsh. Ryan flinched and Tanner sighed. "Please my friend, lets not talk about it right now, okay?"

"Yes, Tanner," Ryan said quietly.

"There's my dragon," Tanner said softly, stroking his head. Ryan thrummed quietly and the two sat together for a time, saying nothing, Ryan laying his head against Tanner's chest where he could hear his heartbeat. The little dragon found something very comforting in the sound. He finally sighed.

"Tanner, what am I to do?" he finally asked. "The dragon wish for me to be their prince, my parents do not wish for them to use me. You told them that you did not think it to be such a very good idea either. I know not what to think."

"I can't tell you what to do, Ryan," Tanner said as he pet him. "You'll have to make the decision for yourself."

Ryan suddenly looked alarmed. "You are not going to leave me!"

"No! No, I didn't mean it like that! What I meant is that I can't make your choices for you, Ryan. You have to decide for yourself what is best both for you and for dragonkind."

"What about my parents?"

"Well, I would hope they are a part of yourself."

Ryan looked down, ears drooping. "They are; I should know that."

Tanner smiled as he pet him. "You do, Ryan, you're just very stressed right now."

Ryan sighed reply. "It is such a very big choice. Everyone seems to be depending on me or wanting something from me. I am not so very certain of what the dragons want of me, nor do I know exactly why my parents are so very upset, save that the dragons are trying to make me their prince. Even mother seemed to be upset this time You are the only one who seemed to care about what I wanted."

"The dragons and your parents care, Ryan, they are just worried for you or for dragonkind in general. The dragons worry that if certain things are not done that you could be in even worse danger than you are in now and that the dangers to dragonkind in general could grow. Your parents fear you getting hurt or being taken from them. It's hard on both sides, Ryan."

Ryan snorted. "Perhaps. I tend tot hunk the dragons see me as a figurehead no matter what else they may see me as. They seem to have some idea of what I should be for them and they seem mostly bent on putting me into that mold even if I may not fit it so very well."

Tanner laughed quietly and pet him. "You are so very wise, my friend."

"Not so very wise, or none of this would have happened," Ryan said glumly.

"Stop blaming yourself!" Tanner said. "You do that all to often, Ryan. I don't know where you got the notion that everything that happens is somehow your fault, but it isn't. You need to stop!" Ryan winced at the power in Tanner's voice and Tanner instantly regretted the outburst. "Sorry, Ryan. I don't like it when you do that. I think your father may have had a part in causing you to be that way."

"Perhaps so, but I do not blame him for it Tanner. He really did not know any better and just wanted to protect me and keep me hidden from those who would hurt me."

"Again, you are wise and very loving."

"I try to be," the dragon said and then yawned hugely, snapping his jaws at the end and blinking. Tanner tried not to laugh but couldn't help it and Ryan glared at him. "Perhaps I am a little tired."

"More than a little think," Tanner said and stroked his back. "I'll pull out the hide a bed for you to sleep on."

Ryan nodded and climbed down, watching as Tanner pulled the bed out, tail swishing back and forth in evident nervousness. Tanner fixed the bed and got some pillows and blankets out for him. "There you go. The dragons stocked this place with extra blankets and all. It's like a self contained little apartment." Tanner turned to him and Ryan stopped his tail, trying to look brave. "Ready for bed?"

Ryan nodded and hesitated before climbing up. "What if they come for me?"

Tanner went quiet. "I don't know, Ryan. I can't keep you away from your parents; that's not right. And if the dragons come for their prince..." He shrugged.

Ryan let loose a growl. "If they try to hurt you..."

"Easy!" Tanner said, looking surprised. He knelt down to pet him. "No one is trying to hurt me, Ryan. Please little dragon, just get some sleep and we can sort this out in the morning. Okay?"

"Yes, Tanner," Ryan said, yawning once more. The little dragon climbed into the bed and Tanner sat next to him, petting him until his eyes closed in sleep, his breathing relaxed and regular.

Tanner startled awake to something climbing on the bed. "What?"

"It is just me, Tanner," Ryan said quietly.

"Oh," Tanner yawned. "What's wrong Ryan? Are you cold?"

Ryan shifted his weight from foot to foot. "No."

"Well what's wrong then, Ryan?" Tanner said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"I...I am--" Ryan stopped. "I am afraid, Tanner. I know that you are not my father or mother, but I think that I would like to...stay beside you." He hung his head. "If that is not so very wrong. I do not mean to be such a hatchling."

Tanner groaned and pulled Ryan to him. "Ryan, you need never feel that way, do you understand me? You need never feel as if you are embarrassed. You are more than welcome to sleep beside me."

Ryan squirmed for a brief moment and then settled down agains tTanner, laying his head on his chest, once again listening to his heartbeat. Tanner put an arm around him and pet the little dragon back to sleep. When he finally rolled over, he was not that surpassed to find tears drying on his cheeks.

"Ryan, what in the world have you done to me little dragon?" he whispered. He watched the shadowy figure of the dragon for awhile then feel asleep.

Ryan awoke to find Tanner gone. He briefly felt a surge of panic, but clamped down on it. He was just using the rest room or fixing breakfast, or something like that, he told himself. His stomach growled and he grinned to himself, hoping it was breakfast. He carefully climbed of the bed and padre dove to the doorway. He froze when he heard Tanner speaking to someone else, not recognizing the voice.

"Please, consider what I am asking," the voice said. The voice sounded as if it had a Chinese accent to Ryan. "What we are asking of you is not difficult."

"Oh no, not at all," Tanner said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just taking a frightened young dragon who's nervous enough about his surroundings, unsure of himself and being a dragon in general, and taking him in front of countless dragons in a foreign land in front of countless dragons as their leader, while they all stare at him! Oh no, it's not hard at all!"

"We appreciate your concern, but you have to consider," the voice said.

"No, actually I don't. I'm not going to lie to Ryan or tell him something I feel is wrong just to suite your agenda. If he himself makes the choice to go and do whatever it is you so desperately want him to do, then so be it. I will not inter fear and will help him as I can, but I'm not going to try to convince him to go with you just because you ask it."

There was a pause. "You seem to think you will be allowed to go with the prince."

"I think that's up to Ryan, don't you?"

They sighed. "He is the prince. There is no way that a human can be allowed so very close to him. It does not fit law or tradition."

"You're going to find it much hater than you expect, then. What about his parents?"

"They will be rewarded for their service and eased out of his life."

"I can't believe you're even suggesting this," Tanner said with disgust. "You had better leave right now before I totally loose my temper."

A snort. "You are human; what could you possibly do?"

"Yes, I am. I'm also a third generation dragon friend with the support of Norian as well as the Synod of the Greater British and Hibernian Isles. No matter how far up you are or how you exalt yourself, you're no so cavalier as to upset them and the rest of the dragons associated with them. You may leave."

The sound of someone standing and opening the door reached Ryan's ears, just as he was going to barge out and command them to leave for daring to speak to Tanner that way, for daring to say such things about his parents. There was a pause before the door shut. "We will remember this."

"Doubtless," Tanner said flatly.

The door shut and Ryan heard Tanner sit down hard on the couch. He swallowed nervously, wondering who it was, what he should do about it or even feel about it. Why would Tanner place himself at such a risk for him? The dragon could have swatted him down and called it an accident. He nearly growled at the thought of a dragon wanting to hurt Tanner.

H heard Tanner stand up and start towards him. He scampered back into the bedroom, climbing into bed, feigning sleep, unsure of what to say to Tanner. Tanner walked into the room and Ryan could smell his agitation. He stopped at the head of the bed and look down at Ryan for along time, then finally sat down next to him and gently started to pet him. Ryan could feel his hand trembling. He kept his eyes closed, still pretending to be asleep. Tanner pet him for quite some time and finally whispered. "Oh my little dragon, that you should be placed in such a position. I only hope that I can shield you from some of it."

He felt Tanner kiss him on the forehead and go back into the living room. Ryan opened his eyes and look around the room. He noticed a couple of wet spots close to where Tanner had been sitting. Darting his tongue out, he jerked back at the scent of Tanner's tears.

He sat there for quite some time, still, just staring at them, wondering why Tanner loved him so much and what he was going to have do to protect both him and his parents.

Tanner moved around the kitchen, scrambling eggs, making pancakes, all the things he knew that Ryan liked, wondering if perhaps this would be the first and last breakfast he would ever make for him.

He poured the batter into the pan and watched it start to bubble before flipping it, his mind more or less in neutral. He shook his head. Why did that dragon come to him? He said that Cladden had sent him but he really wondered if that was indeed the case. From what he knew of Cladden, he hardly seemed to be like him to send another dragon to discuss something like that. Cladden tended to be a bit more head on, as many British dragons were. Further, Cladden didn't really seem interested in keeping Ryan from his human family. Certainly, he wanted Ryan as his prince and wanted him to help unit the fragmenting council, but he wouldn't do it at he cost of Ryan's family or well being, he didn't think.

Why the hell couldn't they just leave the boy alone and let him grow up w bait before making so many demands on him? Oh, he knew the answer, but he didn't much like it. The whole situation was more than just a little frustrating. He flipped the pancake over and checked the eggs.

And what about the dragons threat that he wouldn't be allowed near Ryan? No. No, the dragons wouldn't do that to Ryan. Ryan liked him and wouldn't want to be separated from him. After all, didn't he come to him last night? Didn't he ask him to hold him? Didn't he come to him when he found things to be frustrating?

He knew it was the situation, but he couldn't help but feel gratified by it. He knew that Ryan loved his human parents with all his heart and would never choose him over them, not for any extended period of time anyway, and that was as it should be. Even still, he felt so protective of the little dragon...

He was honestly surprised that neither Ryan's parents or the dragons had come to his door, demanding Ryan back. At least they had that much sense. He sighed. He knew he had to bring Ryan back to them and soon, before they pushed the issue. Well, he figured it could certainly wait until after breakfast at least. HE dumped the eggs onto the plate, along with some pancakes, pulled some sausage and bacon out of the oven where it was being kept warm and arranged it on the plate for Ryan.

He stared at it for a long moment, unable to shake the feeling that his would be the last meal he would share with the young dragon. Blast it Tanner, he thought, stop thinking like that! He turned to take the plate into the living room and nearly tripped over Ryan, who had been sitting there watching him quietly with his golden eyes.

"Well good morning there, little dragon!" Tanner said cheerfully, feeling guilty for his thoughts, then chiding himself. Ryan was perceptive of emotions, like most dragons, but he couldn't read minds.

"Good morning, Tanner," Ryan said quietly.

"I've got bacon, eggs, sausage, and pancakes for you!"

Ryan cocked his head and his ears came up slightly. "Thank you so very much, Tanner."

"Go get up in your seat," Tanner told him, shooing him along. Ryan obediently wen to the small table and climbed up into a chair. Hr grumbled and shifted to his bipedal form and sat down again. Tanner chucked to himself and sat the plate down in front of Ryan. "Here you go, oh mighty dragon."

Ryan chirped at him and cocked his head, but did not eat. Tanner sat down and noticed that Ryan was just staring at him. He frowned. "What's wrong? Are your eggs not right? Pancakes cold?"

"They are fine, Tanner," Ryan said quietly and looked down, ears folded. "I heard you talking to someone."

Tanner closed his eyes. "Damn them," he whispered.

"Who were they?"

"Some dragon or another that wanted you to be declared the prince," Tanner told him bluntly. "He wanted you to be, more or less, sequestered from everyone off in some remote location and taught what you 'needed' to know, then placed before the council."

Ryan blinked. "Why?"

"Because they wanted to control you, I would imagine," Tanner said, wounding if he should be telling the young dragon so much.

Ryan cocked his head and trilled softly. "Another faction, is it not?"

"I think so, unfortunately. I don't think Cladden or any of the others would be party to such things."

Ryan shook his head. "I do not think so either."

Tanner hesitated. "Did you hear everything?"

Ryan shrugged. "I know not. I heard him say that he did not wish to have you or any other human near me."

Tanner swore softly, wishing Ryan had missed that part. "Well....that's up to you of course."

Ryan watched him for a moment. "You are frightened," he finally said.

"What?" Tanner said, startled.

"You are frightened that you may loose me. You are scared that I would not wish to have you around."

Tanner shook his head. "No, Ryan, I would never doubt you," he said, silently cursing himself, knowing that he had just been thinking the self same thing a few moments ago.

"I would not," Ryan said. "I wish for you to be with me. You are my friend, one of my best friends. I would not allow them to take you, my parents, or any other human I call friend from me. If that is their desire then they can find another prince, or else they will be so very upset by my actions as prince, however much power I do or do not have."

Tanner felt gratitude and affection for Ryan well up in him all the stronger. "Thank you, Ryan."

Ryan nodded. "I have to go back soon."

Tanner sighed. "I know. But for now, eat your breakfast."

Ryan smiled and dug in, Tanner watching him for some time before eating his own breakfast.

Cladden sat at his desk, looking down as Allen glared at him. "Yes, you are correct. None of us handled the situation correctly. That includes you."

"I know I screwed up. It's the story of my life with Ryan. Every time I try to help him it seems I just make things worse," Allen said, sounding bitter.

Cladden looked up curiously. "I would not say that. He has been safe from harm all these years."

"At what cost?"

Cladden shrugged. "Who can really say? No matter, we should have presented it differently and we should have been more cautious with him. He is, after all, a very young dragon, prince or not."

"True enough," Beth said. "But now what? Ryan is with Tanner, which I'm not sure how I feel about, and is angry with all of us."

"In my limited experience with him, the boy will not stay angry for long."

"True. He's very good natured, but even still, what are we going to do?"

Cladden shrugged again. "No one can say until Ryan himself decides a few things."

As if speaking his name summoned him, Ryan walked though the door, looking more mature than his parents could ever remember seeing him, walking with his head up, a firmness to his stride, a set to his eyes that had not been there before. His tail lashed the air gently behind him as he walked and quietly stood before Cladden's desk and nodded to his parents. Beth started to get up and go to him, but Allen put a hand on her leg, shaking his head at her.

Ryan rustled his wings and actually trembled a little before speaking. "Have you all agreed to act like reasonable adults?"

Cladden respectfully inclined his head. "I believe that we have, my prince."

Ryan cocked his head. "Fine. So what exactly is it that you wish of me?"

"To stand before the council, declare yourself as the prince, and unite us against the evil ones."

"And what of my parents and Tanner?

Cladden looked over at them. "Well, they would stay with you of course."

"And that is your desire?" Ryan said with a slight edge to his voice.

Cladden closed his eyes. "My prince, I am so very sorry if you have misunderstood myself or any of the dragons here. To the best of my knowledge, all of the dragons that are aware of you here support you and they support your human family and friends as well. There are dragons that are not as happy that you have humans so close to you, to be sure, thinking that the royal family is somehow sacred, but they will accept whatever you decide.

"As for those that feel they should be taken from you against your will, well, none of those live here I believe and, frankly, I would not tolerate their presence for any extended period of time."

Ryan considered this and slowly nodded. "Tanner had a visitor this morning." He turned and motioned for Tanner to walk into the room and Cladden looked at him curiously.

"Yes, a dragon who did not give his name spoke to me, wanting me to coerce Ryan into join with him to some secluded spot and taught 'properly' and so on, then placed before the council. They were very adamant about me not being with him and that his parents would be 'rewarded for their service' and 'eased out of his life'"

Cladden frowned, grumbling. "What did he look like?"

Tanner shook his head. "He was in human form. White hair, dark brown eyes, almost black, very old. Somewhat stooped, had an 'Asian' bearing about him if you will, though he didn't look like here were Chinese or Japanese or anything like. :

Cladden snorted. "And he said that I sent him?"

"Yes."

Cladden shook his head. "That was Xian-ye. He's a dragon from the northern Japanese isles and has a rather exalted vision of himself and of the council, and the royal family for that matter."

"I do not like him," Ryan grumbled and Cladden laughed.

"Oh, he is not so very bad once you get used to him. I had forgotten he was here for a few nights. I will have to invite him for tea and discuss things with him."

"This dragon wants to take our son and you want to have tea with him?" Allen said incredulously.

Cladden held up a hand. "Xian-ye is not a bad dragon by any means. He has his way of doing things and can be very forceful at times, but he is not going to cause us problems by standing against us or voting against us. He may even change his mind when he sees how Ryan is with his human friends and family. He is stubborn, but not foolish."

"I'm not sure I like you dealing with him," Allen said.

Cladden cocked his head. "With all due respect you do not tell me how to run dragon business."

Allen glared at him but sat back in his chair. She looked over at Ryan and Ryan caught her eyes. He shivered and looked away and she sighed.

Ryan looked back at Cladden thoughtfully. "Handle him how you see fit. You have the experience here, not I." He looked down a moment. "I will be guided by you in these things. Guided, not controlled, no coerced. I wish to have explanations and reasons, not orders and prejudice."

"You are very wise, my prince."

Ryan sighed. "It may please you to think so, but I am not so very certain of it."

Cladden managed to suppress a laugh. "Trust me, you are far wiser than some fully mature dragons that I know."

Ryan nodded and looked over at his parents. Suddenly his composure deserted him and he started to shake. "Mother! Father! I am so very sorry!"

Beth shook her head. "Nothing to be sorry for, Ryan, at least not from you. We're the ones who should be apologizing."

"You are not so very angry with me?" he said in a small voice.

"No, Ryan," Allen said quietly.

Ryan looked at Tanner who carefully, unconsciously, stroked his head. "And Tanner?"

Allen sighed. "It's hard to understand and deal with Ryan, but we're not upset with him either."

Ryan looked at his father. "Then--" he started, and then nearly threw himself into his father's arms, trilling softly, causing Cladden to shudder and close his eyes. Allen held his son, rocking him with a surprised look on his face. "There, there, Ryan. Easy my son, easy...."