FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The sun shown thought the window into the kitchen, shining down on the table where Haverly was chopping onion for the nights meal, humming under his breath as he worked. His blade flashed as he diced the onion then slid them into a bowl. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he then wiped the tears from his eyes. Such was the peril of chopping onions.

Haverly checked the bread he had placed int he oven that morning and nodded to himself; about and hour left he figured. He walked around the kitchen checking on the apprentice cooks and servants, insuring they had no questions.

He thought back to his days as an apprentice, remembering how hard it had been when he'd first started cooking. Oh how he had burned, broke, and botched almost everything he touched! If hadn't been for Master Ness, he never would have made it past those first few months to say nothing of making it to journeyman.

The thought of Ness made him frown. Ness had be sick for the last several months. He hoped that the old man would recover but in his heart he knew better. They had found no cure for the wasting disease and Ness' advanced age made it just that much worse. He prayed to the Most High and the Lord of Healing that Ness would recover; he could wait to take over the kitchen.

He made another round of the kitchen and smiled, satisfied that things were going well, and decided to step out into the courtyard to take break. A warm and pleasant breeze rustled thought the trees carrying the scent of flowers with them. Only a few puffy clouds piled up in the sky. Haverly sighed happily, enjoying it all. He leaned back against one of the hearths they used to cook during the summer and looked out at the mountains that ringed Sanctuary. It was so beautiful here, he wondered why the emperor didn't come here more often rather than using it only during times of war. He hoped the war with the Ladorians would end soon. Though he loved it here, he did miss his home in the capitol.

As he was looking out at the mountains he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked, but whatever had caught his attention had disappeared. Haverly frowned; He swore that he had seen something. He walked around the hearth to investigate, wondering if it had been a rat. He wouldn't tolerate rats near his kitchen, or rather Ness' kitchen, he mentally corrected himself. Rats would get into the food and ruin things. Haverly again hoped it would be the old man's kitchen for years to come.

He rounded the hearth and froze: staring up at him was a small dragon. The creature looked up at him, it's eyes widening in surprise, and it drew back, folding it's sapphire blue wings tightly to it's back. Silver striations ran down it's neck, breaking up the blue, the silver gleaming in the afternoon sun. The dragon held it's head low to the ground as it backed away.

"Oh dear lords protect me," Haverly exclaimed and tried to step back but found his legs would not obey him. He stood there trembling, terrified of the creature.

"I am sorry; I did not mean to disturb or frighten you," the dragon said as it backed away, it's eyes still wide.

"I-I," Haverly stammered as he tired again to back away. The dragon watched him for a moment and then turned and scurried away.

Haverly stood there, frozen, for what seemed an eternity. Shaking himself he staggered over to the hearth and sat down, wiping the sweat from his brow, taking deep breaths to calm himself. He stared at hands that were still trembling in fear. Why was one of dragons snooping around the kitchen? Was it dangerous? He had heard so many different stories about the dragon he wasn't sure what was true and what was just fantasy.

He cleared remembered when Seir had presented the first dragon to Kesryn on his birthday not many months ago. He had been serving food in the main hall that day and thought the dragon to be interesting, if a bit frightening and intimidating. Since then Seir had created another dragon, a female, and the two had produced a few hatchlings or so he had heard.

As he calmed down he thought to back to the encounter. It had to have been one of the hatchlings; it was too small to have been anything else. Further, the original dragon was red and gold, not blue and silver.

And it had spoke to him! In a clear voice! He shook his head in amazement. What else would the day bring? As if in answer there was a resounding crash from the kitchen. He sighed and went back to investigate and set things to right.

Haverly yawned as he finished putting away spoons, bowls, and other utensils. After he finish he washed up and removed and hung his apron on a hook provided for that purpose. It had been a long day. The morning had been fine but after that nothing had gone quite right. Right after the dragon showed up, Haverly reflected. He wondered if the dragons appearance had anything to do with it and then chided himself. That was something a superstitious commoner would believe, not an educated man such as himself.

Haverly made sure the fires were banked and everything was in it's place. "No job is done until you put the tools away and clean," Ness would tell him. "A kitchen is supposed to be a place of order, not chaos. If the kitchen is chaotic then the people will likewise find their stomachs so." Ness had ever been proud of how spotless he kept his kitchen.

He again wished Ness was doing better. The old man had been in his life for so long that the thought of him not being there was hard to accept. He had always envisioned taking over the kitchen after Ness retired peacefully. It wasn't supposed to be like this, him wasting away in pain.

He stepped into the warm night air, deciding to walk outside the compound to his rooms rather than through the halls. He figure he spent enough time indoors; getting out was probably healthy.

He had only gone a short ways when he caught sight of the dragon again. It was looking at the kitchen doors form behind the hearth he had been at earlier. Haverly froze, wondering whether the dragon had seen him. The dragon sniffed the air a few times and darted it's tongue out as it creeped quietly towards the kitchen doors. It neared the door and sniffed the edge of it, the pawed at the latch, the moonlight shining softly down on it, causing the silver to glow gently.

It wanted inside the kitchen? Haverly though, confused. The dragon pawed at the door again, nearly able to work the knob but not quite, then sat back on it's haunches. Haverly swore he saw a small glow surround the dragons foreclaws and an answering glow around the door knob. The handle turned with an audible click and the door swung open. The dragon's ears perked and it stuck it's nose in, then drew back, looking around. Satisfied, it went inside.

Now wait just a moment, Haverly though, that was Ness' kitchen and he wasn't about to let a dragon go and make mess of it! Haverly marched resolutely back towards the kitchen, not thinking about how he was going to remove the creature from the kitchen if it didn't want to leave.

He walked in the door and found the dragon with it's paws up on one of the preparation counters, sniffing at it. "Just what do you think you're doing?" Haverly demanded. The dragon squealed in fright and dropped down to all fours. It looked at him, head low, cowering back crouched down to the ground, it's eyes wide. Haverly started towards it and then froze. What the heck was he doing? This was a dragon!

"I am sorry to have scared you again and to have come into your kitchen. I will leave." the dragon said in a clear, high voice. It started to move hesitantly towards the door, not taking it's eyes off Haverly.

Haverly shook his head and blinked. "What?" He stepped in front of the door, still unsure of what to do, and the dragon froze. It crouched down further and whimpered, looking at the door.

"Why did you come in here?" Haverly asked.

"I was curious and hungry," the dragon said. "The food cooked here smells very nice and I wished to see if I could find something to eat. I am sorry; I did not wish to sneak in but people get scared when they see me."

"I understand," haverly said slowly. "You gave me a bit of a fright earlier." The dragon sighed and looked away from haverly, looking at the ground and Haverly suddenly found himself feeling sorry for it. "What did you want to eat?"

The dragon looked surprise and then hopeful, it's ears perked. "I would like some meat. I have eaten meat before and I liked it very much."

Haverly went to want of the enchanted cold boxes, the dragons eyes fixed on him the whole way, and picked up a steak. He turned back to the dragon with it held out before him. "Would this do?"

The dragon nodded as it eagerly came over to him, fear evidently forgotten at the promise of food. It looked excited as it perked it's ears again. "Yes, it would be very nice. I may eat it?"

Haverly laughed. "Of course." He set the steak down on the ground and took a step back. The dragon snatched it up in his jaws. It was far bigger than it could swallow and so it sat there for moment looking rather comical with the steak sticking out of the sides of its jaws. The dragon took the steak in its foreclose and and bit a large chunk of of it, chewing rapidly.

"Careful there, you could make yourself sick eating so fast," Haverly cautioned.

The dragon slowed down. Once it finished its steak it started to lick its talons clean. "Here," Haverly said, intrigued by the creature despite his earlier fears. He fetched a wet towel from the counter and bent down to wash the blood from the dragons jaws and talons, when it suddenly occurred to him what he was doing. He froze and looked at the dragon in shock. It looked back at him with interest.

"My name is Khalren," it, or rather he said. The voice was masculine sounding despite being rather high pitched.

"I-I'm Haverly."

The dragon cocked his head. "You are the cook here?"

"Yes, or rather I'm the lead journeyman," Haverly watched the dragon nervously, still uncertain about the creature.

"Journeyman?" the dragon asked, confused.

"Yes. It means that I'm no long an apprentice but not quite a master. Ness is the master cook but he's been sick and so I've been running the kitchen for him." Haverly stopped, suddenly realizing that Ness wasn't going to get better and that he would be in charge of the kitchen much sooner than he wanted.

Khalren cocked his head the other way. "You are saddened. Ness is sick and that is making you sad."

Haverly jerked back, startled at the dragons insight. "Yes. He's been my master for a very long time; he trained me to cook and I love him very much."

"Why do you not take him to Seir or Jaden? They can heal anything. I can go get Seir and have him look at Ness for you?"

"He already has, Khalren; there's nothing they can do for him I'm afraid."

Khalren sat back on his haunches. "I am sorry for your friend."

"Thank you, Khalren," Haverly said and reached out to pat the dragon on the head and then stopped, uncertain if the dragon would allow himself to be touched or if it were appropriate. Khalren answered by butting Haverly's hand with his head. He pet the dragon and smiled as he started to thrum at the attention. He was soft to the touch, his hide warm under Haverly's hand. "Would you like some more food?"

Khalren looked up at him happily. "I would but I do not think that mother would want me to eat anymore. She wishes for me to only drink her milk and does not like it so very much when I eat other things. Seir has told her that it is alright for me to eat meat but she still does not like it for some reason. I think that she wishes for me to nurse forever."

The dragon considered Haverly for a moment. "Mother does not always trust other Velanthi around us, but you seem to be a fine person," he said and rubbed his head appreciatively against Haverly's leg.

"Ah, your mother isn't going to get upset that I fed you is she?" The last thing he needed was for an upset mother dragon to come roast him alive.

"No, she will not get upset, she will not even know," Khalren said with a confidence that did not, however, reassure haverly.

"I suppose you should get back to your mother before she misses you," Haverly said, standing up. Khalren nodded and the little dragon followed him to the door.

"I will be able to come back later and get more food?" the dragon asked hopefully.

Haverly chuckled. "Yes, I suppose that is fine, though you should probably only come around at night; I don't think others should see you here."

The dragon rubbed his cheek against Haverly's leg. "Thank you. I am pleased to have met you." The dragon bobbed his head and then scurried off.

Haverly shook his head as he watched the dragon leave. A cook meeting a dragon. What sort of place had the world become?

Haverly opened the door to Ness' room and stepped in. "Ness?" he called out softly. He waved his hand at the mage lights and caused them to brighten as he walked into the room.

"Can't a man die in peace around here?" Ness groused from where he was sitting in an oversized chair that Jaden had found for him.

Haverly smiled, a bit forced."Stop that; you're not dying."

"I am boy, I am, and you not wanting it isn't going to slow it down any. Thought I taught you better than that. You can wish and hope all day long but that won't change what is. The sooner you learn to accept that I won't be here much longer the sooner you can get to dealing with it," Ness said, waving his hand dismissively.

Haverly sighed and went over to the old man and knelt down, holding his hand in his. "You say that like it's an easy thing to do. I guess I know you're dying, but I keep hoping that somehow, someway, Jaden will find a cure for you. There's always hope."

"Oh I suppose you're right boy. Can't take that from you, even if the hope is a slim one. But enough about me falling apart; tell me of your day." Ness suddenly had a coughing fit that left him gasping for breath.

Haverly looked at him, concerned. "Do you need your medication?"

Ness waved him away. "Why? Doesn't do a damn bit of good. But I suppose you're going to give me hurt looks till I take it so you may as well bring it over."

Haverly smiled at the old man's gruff manners and then nearly burst into tears, realizing how much he was going to miss him when Ness passed on. He poured the medication into a glass and Ness surprisingly took it with no complaint. He finished it with a grimace and then looked at Haverly expectantly. "So, tell me of your day. How is your father? Mother?"

"Fine so far as I know. I'v not seen father in a few weeks, his work takes him away as you know. Mother is happy I'm safe here and not at the capitol. I'm closer besides so she can come visit me. She hopes my sister will get married here soon and give her some grandchildren; she's all but given up on me."

Ness laughed. "I'm sure the right girl will catch you sooner or later, even if it's in a noose trap."

"Lords forbid! The last thing I need is a wife! At least not now. Maybe have I've made master." He shook his head and Ness laughed. "Anyway, lunch went well. We served a cold breakfast this morning."

Ness interrupted him at that point. "Cold breakfast! Boy, you had better not make a habit of that or I'll get better just to kick you out of my kitchen. Cold breakfast indeed!"

Haverly grinned, known the old man would give him flak over serving a cold breakfast. Ness was of the mind that breakfast had to be served hot and early no matter ho many people had to wake up earlier to fix it. Haverly, however, preferred to sleep in.

Ness grunted at his look. "Anything else, boy?"

"Well, I found a dragon in the kitchen," he said nonchalantly as if such things happened every day.

"What? A dragon? You mean those stories are true?"

Haverly relayed the whole tale to him and Ness shook his head in amazement. "Well doesn't that just beat all? A dragon. Sure would be a wonder to see one. What a thing, meeting a dragon."

"He seemed friendly enough. I could ask him if he would like to come and see you," Haverly suggested, having no idea what the little dragon would say to the idea.

"Don't get yourself in trouble with the prince or with the dragon's momma. Last thing we need is for you to get ate by a dragon," Ness said with a laugh and then broke into another fit of coughing.

Haverly looked at him worriedly but Ness waved him away. "Go, get some sleep. I'll call a servant if I need anything; you can't stay here all night. Get to bed boy; I'll see you in the morning. May come down to straighten things out. I'm sure you've got it all botched up."

Haverly nodded, tears shimmering in his eyes. He would ask the little dragon if he would be willing to come and see Ness. Haverly Hoped that Khalren would say yes; it would mean so much to the old man.

Work the next day seemed to drag on forever. Haverly found himself constantly looking out at the sundial, impatient to see Khalren again. He couldn't wait to ask if the dragon would be willing to meet Ness. He hoped the dragon would agree and that it would not cause and trouble.

Evening finally came and he shut down the kitchen as quickly as he could, then sat waiting for Khalren to come back, hoping that he would do so. If he didn't, he had no idea how to get in contact with him. He knew where Khalren and the other dragons lair was, but he had no idea what Khalren's parents would say if he asked for him. As Ness said, he didn't want to get eaten by an angry dragon or get the little dragon in trouble.

He stood up and started to pace, feeling restless. The door finally cracked open and he saw Khalren's nose push its way in. Khalren sniffed and the rest of his body followed. Haverly smiled in relief; the dragon had come.

Khalren looked around cautiously, then perked his ears and gave a happy little rumble when he saw Haverly. He trotted over. "You have more food for me?"

Haverly laughed a the dragon's excitement. "Are you sure you're getting enough to eat at home? You seem to be awful hungry."

"I am always hungry, or so mother and father say. So does Sauros." Khalren licked his chops eagerly as Haverly went to the cold box.

"Serous? Who's that?"

"He is my clutch mate. I think that makes him my brother. He hatched a few hours before I did and thinks he should be in charge or should watch out for me, but I can take care of myself," the dragon said with a determined note in his voice.

"I'm sure you can, Khalren. Here," Haverly said, setting the meat, and the dragon came forward, thrumming in anticipation. Khalren sniffed the meat, then started to wolf it down.

"Slow down! It's not going anywhere!" Haverly said, shaking his head. Khalren slowed down and Haverly smiled at him. The stroked the dragons back as he ate. "I wonder how it is that you can drink your mother's milk and what meat as well? I would think that you would need to be weaned first before you could eat other food."

"I know not. I like my mother's milk but I also like the taste of meat. It does not hurt me to eat both; Seir says that it is okay." The dragon finished eating and started to lick his talons.

"Here," Haverly said, an retrieved a towel from the sink and cleaned the dragon, much to the dragons delight. He thrummed and rubbed his head against Haverly affectionately.

"You are a good man," the little dragon said with another affectionate rub.

"Khalren...can I ask you to do something for me?"

"Of course; I will do anything I can for you. You have been kind to me," Khalren said, cocking his head and looking at Haverly curiously.

"You remember me telling you about Ness and how sick he is, right? I hope you don't mind but I told him about you."

The dragon considered this for a moment. "If you trust him he must be a good man. It is okay."

Haverly sighed in relief. "Well, anyway, I told him about you and he was very interested in seeing you. He cannot get out of hi room anymore and it would mean a lot to him, and to me, if you'd visit him. Don't get yourself into trouble though; if you think your mother would get upset with you then don't do it."

"Oh, mother probably would not mind. I wish to go see Ness; can we go see him now?"

"Of course!" Haverly said, happy that Khalren had agreed to see Ness. Ness would be delighted. He knelt down and pet the dragon; Khalren thrummed happily at the attention.

He led the dragon through the corridors of the palace, carefully avoiding the servants and others as they went. They arrived at Ness' room and Haverly knock don the door. Ness called for him to enter in a weak voice.

He found Ness lying in bed, looking more worn and jaundiced that he had the previous day. Haverly looked on, stricken. How could he have degenerated so much in just one night?

"Go ahead and say it: I look like death warmed over," Ness said with a wan little smile.

"Well, yes you do, but that's to be expected I suppose. I...I brought the dragon to see you," he said, holding Ness hand, wondering if he were well enough to see Khalren. He helped the old man into a sitting position.

"Dragon? In here? He really isn't very big is he?"

Khalren put his forepaws up on the bed and looked at Ness interestedly. Ness stared at the dragon for a long moment. "So. So they are real. There are dragons in the world," he said softly. "My son would have been thrilled; he loved reading dragon stories."

"What happened to your son?" Khalren asked curiously.

Ness started at the sound of Khalren's voice and then laughed. "Well now, and a pleasant voice as well," he smiled at Khalren. "My son died when he was fairly young; he drowned I'm afraid."

"I am sorry to hear about your son," Khalren said, his ears folding back slightly. He sniffed at Ness causing the man to chuckle. "Why are you sick?"

"They don't know, little dragon," Ness said and reached out to pet Khalren and hesitated, as if he were uncertain he should pet the dragon. Khalren put his head forward to be pet and Ness stoked the dragons head, tears welling up in his eyes. "Ha! Now look at me, getting all maudlin. Crying just because I get ton see a dragon, old fool that I am." Ness laughed, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"I do not see what it is so bad to cry," Khalren said and carefully nuzzled at Ness as if worried he would hurt him.

Haverly smiled at the two of them, happy that the dragon and Ness seemed to be getting along. He knelt down next to the bed and pet Khalren who rubbed his cheek against him and started to thrum contentedly.

"So, tell me about yourself, dragon," Ness said.

"My name is Khalren, you do not have to call me dragon, though most everyone does. Even Seir and Kesryn call me dragon sometimes," Khalren said, not seeming to mind. He cocked his head. "What do you mean, tell you about myself?"

"Well, you just told me your name. Who are your parents and grandparents, where are you from, what do you like to do? What's it like being a dragon?" Ness smiled in good humor, scratching Khalren behind the ears. Khalren close this first set of eyelids in pleasure. Haverly smiled at the positive effect the dragon was having on Ness.

"My father is Kir, my mother is Kahdirel. They do not really have parents; Seir created them so I guess he is; they call him father, so I think that makes him my grandfather. Seir created us for Kesryn so he could be my family as well," the dragon said, puffing himself up slightly, looking proud as he talked about Kesryn.

"I like to eat," Khalren said wistfully and Haverly and Ness laughed. "I also like to play with my brother, Sarous, when he wants to. He dose not like to play as much as I do; I think he fears getting dirty." Khalren sniffed at this.

"I play with Kesryn when father is not taking all of his attention. I like to lay out during warm days and stretch my wings in the sun; all of us like to do that. I also like watching people. I do not like that they all seem so very scared of me. People run away when they see me; I do not understand this."

He trailed off, looking puzzled and sad. Ness quickly pet him. "It's okay, Khalren, people get scared of what they don't understand or of what is different. Some of the stories about dragons make them out to be dangerous animals."

"Just so," Khalren agreed. "Seir says the same thing. Mother says there are people who wish to hurt us just because we are dragons and that we must be careful. I have not seen any one who wants to hurt me. Why would anyone want to hurt me just because I am a dragon?"

He cocked his head. "Being a dragon is fun I guess. I have never been anything else so I do not really know. Father and mother can shape change and take bipedal form but I am not old enough to do that yet," Khalren said, sounding disgruntled.

"Always in a hurry to grow up! Doesn't seem to matter if they are dragons or Velanthi, it seems they always want to grow up fast. Then you et to be my age and would like time to slow down just a bit so you can catch your breath. Enjoy your childhood Khalren; it'll be gone b before you know it." He pet the dragon fondly and Khalren gave a happy chirp.

"We should go and let Ness get some rest; he tires easy," Haverly told Khalren quietly.

The dragon nodded. "I understand. May I come back and see you again, Ness? I did so like talking to you; so few will talk to me."

"Of course you can. Just make sure Haverly is with you, otherwise I'll never get to see him again, he'll be far too busy fawning over his new dragon friend," Ness said with a little twinkle in his eye, despite the pain and fatigue.

"I promise! I will being Haverly; I will not let him forget."

"I come to see you twice a day if not more old man! I'll have you remember that!" Haverly said in mock severity. "Come along, Khalren. I'll take you outside so you can get back to your mother."

The dragon nodded. "Yes, I think I would like to nurse. I feel hungry." He gave one last cheek rub to to Ness. "I am glad to have met you, Ness. Thank you for speaking with me and not being afraid. I will come back tomorrow if I can."

"I'd like that," Ness said and waved as they walked out the door.

The visits continued over the next few weeks. Ness greatly enjoyed Khalren's presence, watching the dragon as he would snoop around the room or tell him about things from a young dragon's perspective. Ness found it amusing just how excited Khalren would become over the oddest of things.

"He's more curious than a cat," Ness told Haverly during one of their visits. "Sure is fun watching him isn't it? So vibrant and full of life. Almost makes me feel young again," he said as he watched the young dragon looking curiously into a basket.

"He can talk you ear off, that's for sure," Haverly replied. Khalren pulled his head out of the basket and look towards him and his ears perked. Haverly smiled and the dragon chirped at him, then went back to nosing around the room.

"What's with all the head tilts? I think my head would fall off if I cocked it about as much as he does."

"I'm not totally sure. I've gotten better at understanding his body language but a lot of what he does is still a mystery to me."

"I suppose you could ask Seir but I'm guessing he doesn't exactly know Khalren is here, does he?" Haverly blushed and shook his head. "Well, what he doesn't know can't hurt him, can it?" Ness said with a laugh. Startled, Haverly looked at Ness and laughed with him.

Khalren looked over at them both curiously. "Why are you laughing?"

"Something Ness said was funny, Khalren, that's all." Haverly knelt down and the dragon came over to him. He pet him a few times. "We should get you back to your mother and father."

"But I wish to stay here with you and Ness! I like looking around and talking to Ness," Khalren said, rustling his wings, the tip of his tail twitching.

"I know that, Khalren, and I like having you here to talk to as well, beauty need to get home to your momma," Ness said gently.

Khalren sat back and sniffed, folding his arms across his chest. Ness coughed and put a hand over his mouth to avoid laughing. Haverly sighed an glared at Ness.

"Khalren, you need go back home now. You can come back tomorrow, dragon, you know that," Haverly said in a soothing voice. "Now come along, Khalren, lets get you back to your mother. I'm sure she misses you and would like to have you nurse."

The dragon's ears pointed reflexively despite his efforts to keep them down. "I suppose that I would like some milk," he said and hesitated. "I can come back tomorrow?"

"Of course dragon, of course," Haverly assured him. He walked to the door and motioned for Khalren to follow. "Come along, dragon."

Khalren bobbed his head to Ness and followed Haverly out the door, trying not to look to eager.

Haverly returned a short time later. Ness grinned at him. "Sure is stubborn at times isn't he?"

Haverly nodded. "Yeah, he can take the oddest notions about things."

"You managed to convince him quickly enough. He seems to have taken quite a liking to you."

Haverly laughed. "Yeah, but I'm not sure how much of that is liking me or liking the food I give him."

"Oh, he likes you Haverly. You saw how fast he did as you asked him. He wants to please you, I would say."

"I guess I never really though about it."

"Well, just watch him the next time he does something and you praise him." Ness smiled at Haverly. "I'm assuming the affection goes both ways?"

Haverly looked down, thinking for a moment. "Yes, I like the little dragon. He's proven to be better company than a lot of people I know." He looked up at Ness. "I'd call him a friend."

Ness smiled back. "And what a friend to have. Take good care of him, Haverly."

"He doesn't seem to need much care, really."

"I've watched him enough Haverly. He relies on you more than you know. Don't betray the love and trust he's placed in you."

Haverly looked a little troubled. "I would never...I would never," he said softly and bid Ness good night. He thought about his feelings the whole way back to his room.

As time went on, Ness became weaker, even sleeping during part of Khalren's visits. The dragon didn't seem to take much notice o fit, or if he did, he didn't say anything about it. Haverly tired to keep a positive attitude for the dragons sake.

Haverly found himself enjoying the dragon's company more and more. Khalren was quite intelligent and picked up most things quickly, though Haverly discovered quickly that the little dragon did not think like a Velanthi, something that made for some interesting conversations. The dragon was quite quirky as well and had some strange habits.

The dragon was such a loving creature that it was impossible not to love him in return. Haverly found this troubled him at times. He could easily accept liking the dragon or even being the dragons friend, but love? That emotion almost seemed out of place in some way.

Yet he couldn't deny that he felt strongly towards Khalren. The desire to feed and care for the dragon was quite strong. At times he even felt protective of him, though he couldn't see any threat. But how to define their relationship? Khalren was not a pet, he was certain of that. But could you consider him to be a person? He was intelligent, could make his own choices, and had the ability to love and care for people. Was that not the measure of personhood? There had been discussion if the dragons possed souls or not, being created creatures, but that was all beyond Haverly.

Haverly decided that the dragon was far more than just a pet and was fully a person in both his eyes and his heart. The love he felt for the dragon was that of great friendship, quite nearly paternal at times. He found himself wishing he could spend more time with Khalren but couldn't figure out how to go about doing it. He worked during the day and the dragon couldn't come around the kitchen with others present. It upset Khalren enough that people were scared of him, thinking him to be a monster. He didn't need the idea reinforced by the kitchen staff feeling from him.

Haverly considered visiting Khalren in the garden when he was out with the other dragons. He wondered about the dragons out loud but was warned by several people to stay away. The dragons were unmanageable without Kesryn, he was told; you never knew what they would do and now that they had babies it was said that the mother would drive off anyone she did not know. Further, why would anyone want to get near those horrid beasts anyway? Prince Kesryn should keep less dangerous pets! Oh, and the absurdity of the prince thinking the dragons could speak! What kind of nonsense was that? Speech was reserved for intelligent, civilized species.

Haverly had to hold his tongue.

Others, said more correctly, that the dragons were not at all violent and were quite intelligent. One gardener said that he had actually spoken to the dragons and found them to be quite friendly, at least once they got to know him.

"But you've never seen them react so strongly as they do to Prince Kesryn," the gardener told him. "They practically worship him. You've never seen someone light up like they do when he so much as walks over to them; it's as if the world revolves around Kesryn. It's quite amazing really."

Haverly wondered how Kahdriel, Khalren's mother, would react if she knew what Khalren was doing. What would the dragoness think of him caring for and feeding her son? He decided that he really didn't want to know and that it was probably all for the best that the dragoness didn't know about the visits.

He found himself day dreaming at what it would be like if Khalren was "his", so to speak, thinking about what the gardener said about the dragons and how they reacted to Kesryn. He felt attached to the dragon, he admitted that to himself, and the dragon seemed attached to him as well. Even Ness said that Khalren was attached to him. What would it be like if Khalren displayed the same affection towards him that he did to Kesryn? Well, assuming that Khalren treated Kesryn differently that he treated Haverly. The dragon was already very loving as it was, could it possibly be any stronger?

Haverly had never really met the prince. He had seen him, of course, and ever served him, but had never really spoken to him. Prince Kesryn was well liked by most people, though some said that he could be a spoiled brat upon occasion.

Haverly decided to accept the fact that he would only get to see the dragon for a few hours each night. He could pretend, at least, that Kahlren was his in some way. After all, he did take care of the dragon, feeding him, answering his questions, teaching him, watching him grow and the like, didn't he?

He worried that Kesryn would find out about Khalren's visits. How would the prince react if he discovered that Haverly was tending to one of this dragons?

He chided himself; could one really own a dragon? Khalren was capable of making his own choices and had chosen to continue to see him. Khalren had said many times that he liked coming to see him. Haverly was mostly certain that it was just the food.

He just wished... well he wasn't sure. He sat in the kitchen feeling rather melancholy about the whole thing when Khalren walked into the kitchen. The little dragon gave a happy rumble at seeing him. He came over and butted Haverly with his head in greeting.

"Greetings, Haverly! Can we go to see Ness? I am not hungry right now and Ness has not been feeling so very well lately."

"You not hungry? Somehow, dragon, I don't think you're telling me the truth," Haverly said, grinning at the dragon.

"Well, perhaps I am a little hungry, but it can wait. I would like to go and cheer up Ness first. I like that I can cheer him up. You can feed me later, if you wish."

"Feed you, eh? Don't you think you're a big dragon and can feed yourself?"

"Oh, you can feed me if you wish; I do not mind. Kesryn feeds up by hand from time to time."

Haverly looked surprised. "What?"

"Father was very sick one day, someone had tried to poison him and he would not eat any food because he was scared of getting poisoned again. Kesryn had to feed him by hand or he would not eat. Seir says that Kesryn should feed us like that from time to time, it strengths the bond between us. It is nice, I suppose, but it is very slow when I am hungry."

Haverly had the oddest feeling wash over him; he couldn't describe it. "I-I would be happy to feed you, if you would like, Khalren."

"If you wish to," the dragon agreed and the feeling washed over Haverly again, mixed with a startling strong feeling of love towards Khalren. He quickly got up and went to the sink to get a towel so the dragon wouldn't see him crying. He wet it and washed his face to cove up his emotions.

Khalren gave a worried chirp. "You are okay?"

Haverly took a deep breath. "I'm fine, Khalren; lets go see Ness." The dragon nodded and followed him out the door.

Ness was sleeping when they arrived and barely roused when they walked it. He smiled at Khalren and muttered something incoherent.

"Greetings, Ness, what do you want to speak about?" Khalren asked brightly, but Ness had nodded off. "Oh, he is tired?" the dragon asked, looking disappointed.

"It...it would seem so," Haverly said, shaken.

Khalren looked up at him. "What is wrong?"

"Ness...he's just tired, Khalren. Just sit with him, he likes it when you're here, even if he is sleeping," he said, petting the dragon encouragingly.

"Okay, Haverly" Khalren put his forepaws up on the side of the bed, watching Ness with conner on his face. He crooned occasionally, nuzzling Ness carefully.

Ness barely woke up a few times during the visit, never saying much that made any sense, confusing Khalren greatly. Haverly's heart broke at the puzzled expression on the dragon's face and the way he would nuzzle Ness, looking for reassurance that never came.

He finally couldn't bear to see the dragon's confusion and hurt anymore. He knelt down next to the dragon and gathered him into his arms, hugging him close. Khalren nudged him with his nose and looked at him worriedly.

"We need to go and let Ness sleep," he told the dragon softly.

"Oh, but he never did wake up," Khalren said, disappointed. "Perhaps we can come back later." He followed Haverly out, pausing to look over his shoulder at Ness.

"We..we will see," Haverly said numbly. How could he tell the dragon that Ness would probably not be alive but a few more days? He had spoken with Jaden enough to know the signs of approaching death. It was clear that Ness' time was short.

Did Khalren even understand death? Was it his place to try to explain it to him if he didn't? He brooded over the situation all the way back to the kitchen.

Khalren sensed his mood and was quiet and somber the whole way. He looked up at Haverly with concern etched in his features. "Ness is very sick is he not?" the dragon asked quietly.

Haverly couldn't stop the tears from flowing down his face. "Yes, Khalren, he's very very sick." He turned his head away, trying to keep the tears away from the dragon, but Khalren sat back on his haunches and peered up into Haverly's face. The dragon reared back in alarm.

"You are upset! You are crying!"

"Khalren...Khalren, you know that Ness is not going to get better," Haverly said in a choked voice, kneeling down to the dragons level.

"You have said that he was sick, but I do not understand why Seir or Jaden cannot heal him. Seir can do magic and Jaden is a very good healer, she healed my father and Kesryn. She has even taken splinters out of my claws and not hurt me so very much." The dragon rubbed his cheek against Haverly's arm leaving a damp trace.

"They've tired Khalren, they've tried, but there is no way to stop the wasting sickness." He paused for moment. "Jaden has treated you and your father?"

"Yes. Seir taught her how to heal us. She is very nice to us; she helped care for us when we first hatched."

Haverly had to laugh despite the situation. All this time he had worried about Jaden finding out about the dragon and she had know the dragon since his hatching. He sighed and quickly sobered.

"Khalren, he's not going to get any better," he told the dragon gently.

Khalren looked at him with a puzzled expression. "But people always get better."

"No, not always dragon. Sometimes people die. Do you understand?" Haverly's voice became thick, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Khalren whined. "You are upset!" He leaned forwards and nudged Haverly with his nose, then licked the tears from his face. Haverly allowed the little dragon to wash his face and then sighed deeply.

"Do you understand what death is?"

The dragon shook his head. "No, I have heard people speak of it but I know not what it is."

"It's hard to explain, Khalren. When someone dies they stop moving, stop breathing...they're gone. They don't do anything any more, they can't talk, they're just...gone. I'm not explaining very well, Khalren, I'm sorry." Haverly wiped his eyes.

"It is like they are sleeping and never wake up?" Khalren said, cocking his head.

"Something like that, Khalren. After they die we take the body and bury it in the ground. It is hard to explain, Khalren."

"So Ness is doing to die then?" Khalren asked sadly. "He is going to stop moving and breathing and it will be like he is asleep and will never wake. He will not be able to to speak with me anymore and I will not be able to make him laugh, he will be gone." Khalren became progressively more upset. "I do not want this! I do not want this at all! Make it so he will not die! I will get Seir to make it so he will not die!"

"Khalren, it can't be done. They've tired," he said, petting the dragon who put his head against his chest, keening softly. "Come along, dragon, I'll get you something to eat." He stood and led Khalren further into the kitchen.

"I do not think I wish to eat; I am not so very hungry."

"Nonsense, you're always hungry," Haverly said, laughing, choking up slightly. He got a steak out for the dragon. Khalren ignored them and shifted his weight from foot to foot. "You need to eat, Khalren, please," Haverly pleaded. He should have kept it form him, never should have said anything, he thought. But what if Ness would have passed away before the dragon saw him again. Khalren said nothing but stood, looking at the ground, continuing to shift his weight from side to side.

Haverly picked up one of the steaks and cut a piece off. "Here, Khalren," he said gently. Khalren reluctantly took the meat from his hand. Haverly fed the rest of the steak to the dragon then cut up another one and fed that one to him as well. Khalren looked better for having eaten.

Haverly smiled at the dragon and pet him fondly. "Feel better?"

"Yes, Haverly," Khalren still looked very upset.

"You need to get back home, Khalren," he looked out the window and realized how late it was. "Oh no! I hope you're not in trouble for staying out so late."

"Mother and Father will not mind. I will come back tomorrow to see you...and Ness," Khalren said, ears drooping.

Haverly knelt down to hug Khalren and the dragon sat back and put his forearms over Haverly's shoulders, drawing him close, hugging him in return. Haverly closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of warmth and security. He rested there for awhile, listening to the dragon's breathing.

He finally pulled away from Khalren and Khalren dropped down to all fours and looked up at him sadly. "Go curl up with your mother and get some sleep, Khalren. Things will seem better in the morning." Khalren nodded and rubbed his cheek against Haverly's leg, then trudged off.

Haverly watched the dragon leave and sighed deeply. He went back to his room hoping that the morning would look a little brighter.

Ness condition remained stable the following morning when Haverly went to check on him. Jaden put her arm on his shoulder. "It's only a matter of time, Haverly. I'll come get you if he starts to decline." Haverly mutely nodded his thanks and walked back to the kitchen feeling numb.

The day went painfully slow as if each second grudgingly gave up its ground to the next, each task seeming to take an eternity, nothing going right. Frustrated, Haverly ordered his cooks to oversee the kitchen and went outside to take a break.

Haverly looked around the little court yard, remembering where he had first met Khalren all those weeks ago. He smiled at the memory. The dragon had proven to be such good friend. Who would have thought that you could grow so close to a dragon?

He sighed and sat down on the hearth where he had met the dragon. Everything seemed so much duller and grim with Ness being so close to death. He brood, lost in his thoughts, when he heard someone approach. He looked up and his heart nearly stopped: walking up to him was a dragon but not Khalren.

This dragon was rose and gold colored and walked on its hind legs. One part of his mind remembered fuzzily that the dragon had a bipedal form, looking like a cross between a Velanthi and a dragon.

The other part said that this was Khadirel, Khalren's mother, and she knew about what was going on. He couldn't say anything as she approached, his heart pounding in fear, his mouth open. She stopped in front of him and cocked her head.

"You are Haverly," she said in a surprisingly soft voice. It was not quite a question.

"Y-yes."

She peered down at him intently and he felt himself growing weak under her stare. "You have been feeding my son."

"Y-yes, I didn't mean any harm b-by it! Please, I was just t-trying to be friendly thorium. I hope that I did not hurt him, he said that Seir--"

She cut him off. "He has not been harmed. I discussed this with Seir this morning and he examined Khalren and said that hew as quiet healthy

"Khalren came home lately and was upset. He did not wish to speak with me or nurse as he usually does. I finally convinced him to speak of what was bothering him."

She cocked her head the other way and rustled her wings slightly. "Khalren told me of coming to see you and the visits with this Ness person who is very sick. He said that seeing Ness made the man happy and feel better. Khalren was quite proud of this, when he told me

"I spoke with Jaden about Ness and she said that it was only a matter of time before he passed away and there was nothing that could be done. Jaden was surprised that Khalren had been there and said that he is visits could have been why Ness improved for as long as he did."

She paused for a moment as if collecting her thoughts. "I cannot fault you in any of this. I do, however, wish that you would have spoken to me about it."

"I know; I'm sorry but I was scared. I heard how protective you could be and that you were not so keen on having him talking to other Velanthi. I didn't know you would react. I didn't mean to go behind you back but I didn't want to loose Khalren either. He looked down at the ground, examining his hands, refusing to meet her gaze.

She nodded. "You wish for him to come see you tonight as well then?"

"Yes, please, thought...I am not sure if Ness will still be living. Khalren really didn't understand how sick Ness was and that he was not going to get any better. I tired to explain it to him." He trailed off, still not able to meet her eyes.

"You tired to explain death to my son?" Kahdriel arched an eye ridge, a gesture that she had picked up from Kesryn. He nodded mutely.

"I see. I am not sure that he would be able to understand it. I am not certain that I would fully grasp it myself. It is of no matter he was, and is, very upset. He did not want to nurse this morning, usually he wakes me trying to get to my belly."

Haverly smiled knowing well Khalren's single minded intensity when it came down to food. He was amazed the dragon was not fat. "He was the same last night. I had to feed him by hand to get him to eat."

Khadirel jerked her head back. "You hand fed him?"

Haverly felt a cold wave of fear wash over him. "Y-yes. I did wrong?"

She shook her head. "No, but I did not expect that he would take food like that from any but Kesryn or Seir. I will have to speak with father about this." She scented the air. "He has marked you as well."

"Marked me?" Haverly asked, confused.

She sniffed again and tasted the air. "Yes, marked you. There, on your forearm."

He looked. "I cannot see anything."

"I can smell it. He must have rubbed his cheek against you there at some point. I doubt that he did it on purpose. She tasted the air again.

"He rubbed his cheek against me last night. I remember here being a damp spot," he mused. He snapped his head up. "Oh, please do not tell Kesryn!"

"I will not. There is no need to upset him by telling him."

Haverly sighed gratefully. "Thank you. You will send Khalren to me this evening?"

"Yes. Kir or myself may come with him. I am curious as to what he does and how he acts with Ness, assuming that Ness is still alive."

"Thank you," Haverly said simply. She nodded and went back to the lair.

The day crawled on and Haverly looked out at the sundial often, wishing the day would end so he could go see Ness and Khalren. He was seasoning vegetables when Jaden came in, her face grim.

"You'd better hurry, Haverly," she said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

It felt as if someone had stabbed him in the heart with an icy cold knife. He numbly set the spices down and followed her, heart pounding in his chest. "Jaden, I was meaning to tell you about Khalren--" he started to say and she cut him off.

"I sent someone to get Khalren already; Kahdriel told me about him visiting Ness. I wish you would have told me but we can discuss that later."

They arrived at Ness room to find Khalren already there, forepaws up on the bed, trilling in distress. Kahdriel and a red and gold dragon which he knew to be Kir were standing there in their bipedal forms, watching. He hurried over to Ness side and looked own on him. Ness was pale and barely breathing. He took a deep breath and steeled himself; he had known this day would come.

Khalren looked up at him and keened. "He is not going to get better is he?" the little dragon said with a question in his voice, hoping to hear that Ness would somehow recover.

"I'm afraid not, Khalren," Haverly said, his voice cracking. Tears started down his face and Khalren sat back, extending his neck as far as it would go, trying to lick the tears away. Haverly knelt down to let the little dragon clean his face and put his arms around the dragon and pet him, being careful of his wings. Kir looked startled and turned to Khadriel. She muttered something which seemed to satisfy the dragon.

Haverly kissed Khalren on the forehead. "I'm sorry, Khalren, there's nothing to be done." He stood and held Ness had. It felt so cold and lifeless he looked to see if he was still breathing. Barely, his chest rising and falling only slightly.

Khalren leaned his head against Haverly's leg as they waited for the end to come. Every so often Jaden would come over to see if she could make Ness more comfortable.

There was a brief knock on the door and Prince Kesryn stepped in. "Kir? Khadriel? I was told you were in here and--" he stopped and looked around. "Jaden? What's going on--" he started and then saw Ness. "Oh, the cook. I'm sorry, we were really hoping that he would recover," Kesryn said sadly, coming over to put his hand on Haverly's shoulder. Looking down he noticed Khalren who had his head against Haverly's leg. "Khalren?"

"Hello, Kesryn," Khalren said in a tired voice. He pushed his head out to Kesryn, wanting to be pet, and Kesryn obliged the little dragon. Khalren thrummed tiredly, then went back to leaning against Haverly, keening softly now and again. Kesryn looked at the two of them with an unreadable expression on his face, then turned to look at Kir and Khadirel questioningly. They nodded and Khadriel gesture for him to come closer.

Kesryn went to her and allow himself to be enfolded by her forearms. "He has been feeding Khalren and taking him to see Ness. They seem to care for each other; please do not be upset with my son," she told him quietly.

"I won't, Khadriel, I promise," Kesryn said as he lay hi head agains there chest. "But I do wonder at the attachment and how deep it runs."

"I know not, but you are always first," she said, nuzzling him lovingly and he relaxed, enjoying the embrace of his dragon.

Ness gave a rattling gasp and Jaden hurried over. She sighed. "It will not be long now. It is called death rattle, it is the last stage." Sh looked at Haverly and Khalren, her eyes reflecting her sorrow. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"It's okay, Jaden, you did your best," Haverly said, struggling to keep his voice level.

Khalren stepped back, shaking his head. "No! No I do not want this! I do not wish for this to happen!" He pawed at Jaden's leg. "Make this stop! You are a healer, you must make this stop!"

"Oh Khalren, I can't do that dear one," she said as she knelt down to him. "It's beyond me, no one can stop death, dragon. Would that I could." She put her arms around him, making soothing noises as she pet him.

He stopped away and shook his head, looking back at Ness. "No, this cannot happen! I do not want this to happen!" Haverly looked over at Jaden helplessly; she turned to Kir and Khadirel.

"I think perhaps it best if you take him back and to the lair," she told them quietly.

"No! No, I do not wish to leave!" Khalren said, his voice rising.

Kesryn held out his arms for the dragon and Khalren hurried to him. "Kesryn, you are the prince! Make this stop!"

"I cannot order death away, Khalren; I wish I could. I am sorry for your friend little one," Khalren reached up to him and he knelt down and hugged the dragon. "Almost too big to pick up these days."

Khalren pulled away and started to pace back and forth, rustling his wings irritably. Jaden looked at Kir who nodded. He approached his son. "Come, my won, let us go back to the lair. Your mother will nurse you and then we can all talk about this," he told the upset little dragon gently.

"No! No, I will not go! Ness needs me here, he needs me to make him laugh, to talk to him!" The dragon skittered away from his father. "Please, father, do not take me away!"

Kir sighed. "Khalren..."

Khalren looked over at Haverly. "Haverly! Haverly, make them let me stay! I do not wish to leave you or Ness!" he said with a note of desperation in his voice.

"Khalren -Khalren, I can't stop your parents from taking you and..." he lowered his head. "And you're Kesryn's dragon, not mine. You know that you're his. Ness would understand, Khalren. Please, just go with them. I will come to you after Ness passes away and..." Haverly stopped, sobbing, overcome with tears.

Khalren shook his head and backed away further and Kir moved towards him until he backed into a corner. He looked up at Kir, his small form trembling. "Son, I know this is hard."

"No! You do not know! You were not here for him! You were not here when he needed to laugh, when he wanted to tell stores, when he wanted to tell someone how to bake cookies! You do not understand at all!" the dragon cried, then sank back, whimpering miserably. He folded in on himself, spent, his wings drooping, head held low.

Kir gently took his son into his arms, thrumming in a deep voiced. Khadriel added her voice, trying to calm the little dragon. Khalren shuddered and whimpered in his fathers' arms. Kir nuzzled him. "Hush, little one. Hush."

Please...please let me see him once more," Khalren asked in a small voice. Kir took him over to Ness' bed and Khalren looked down at the old man. Ness was pale, his lips blue, and his breathing had slowed, the death rally making a horrible noise. Haverly swore he would never forget that sound as long as he lived.

"Goodbye Ness....goodbye," Khalren whispered. Kir keened and then crooned to his son, stroking his back. Haverly swallowed, feeling a huge lump in his throat.

Kir looked down at Haverly. "Come see us after Ness has passed." Haverly nodded. Kir pulled Khalren closer and nodded to Khadirel. They walked out, heading back to the lair.

Haverly sat down heavily in a chair and stared with hollow eyes at Ness' bed. He burst out weeping, great sobs wracking his body and Jaden went to him, hugging him, letting him cry himself out. Kesryn hooked his thumbs in his belt and looked away.

He finished sobbing, wiping hi tears. "I'm sorry, your highness, I never should have brought Khalren here, never should have exposed him to this. I'm sorry." He put his face in his hands. I should have asked your permission to even talk to him, much less feed him."

Kesryn shook his head. "You did nothing wrong. Khalren would have learned about death sooner or later, though I suppose I wish he would have been older.

"As for talking to him and feeding him...we can discuss that later after you've recovered some from your loss."

"Thank you, your highness."

"Just Kesryn, please. I don't stand on ceremony and quite honestly don't need to be reminded of who I am." He smiled at Haverly and looked at Jaden. "Do you need me here?"

"No Kesryn. I'll take care of Haverly and make arrangements for the funeral. Go and see to your friends." Kesryn nodded and, giving Haverly's shoulder one last squeeze, left.

Ness passed away quietly a few hours later. Haverly was holding his hand when Ness opened his eyes and smiled. Haverly patted his hand. "It's alright, Ness. You can let go."

He never knew if Ness heard his words. The old man closed his eyes and gave one last stuttering sigh and breathed his last. Haverly folded his hands over his chest and straighten him in the bed. He looked over at Jaden he had her head bowed. "Do you need time with him, Haverly?"

He shook his head. "No. No, he's not there anymore."

Jaden smiled sadly and shook her head. "No, he's not. You'll see him again, Haverly."

"I know. It's just..."

"I know," she said, hugging him and his shoulders started to convulse as another flood of sorrow overwhelmed him. She held him until he finally straightened.

"Thank you," he said.

"It's okay to grieve. Just remember that we do not grieve like those who have no hope, Haverly."

"I know. Thank you, Jaden."

"You're welcome. I'll come to check on you and the dragons later. Go on. I'll make arrangements for the service."