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Artos continued to pet then frowned as he realized my lack of movement. "Dracius?"

I shook myself. "No! No go!"

Artos sighed. "Dracius, I have to. Father has ordered it."

"No! Alone!"

"You'll be fine, Dracius," Artos said soothingly, trying to calm me. "I'll have Ren, and Lady Dawn check on you and make sure you're okay. Jerim, my brother, will help out too when he's not busy."

"No! You!"

"Dracius--"

I scrambled up onto his chest and clutched at him, talons slightly unsheathed. "NO!" I nearly roared out. "Go with!"

"Dracius, you don't like being out in the halls and we have to go outside the keep! I don't want to you scared and terrified, Dracius."

"Go!" I said, whimpering in my fear, clutching on tight.

"Alright. Alright, Dracius, I'll see about taking you with me," he said soothingly, reaching up to pet me. He ran his hands over my head in a way he had learned soothed and calmed me and I slowly relaxed, breathing hard. I finally drew back a little and looked at Artos uncertainly.

"Easy my friend," Artos said soothingly. "I'll see about taking you along. I won't leave you behind, Dracius." I nodded and he carefully let me down, then stood up himself and stretched. He yawned with a groan, then exhaled hard and looked down at me. "Gods. This is going to create a major stink with El and some of the others."

My ears drooped and I looked down. "Sorry, Artos."

"It's not your fault, Dracius, and it would have come up sooner or later. I never intended to keep you in my room forever. It's good to get you outside of here."

"Yes, Artos," I said, though I wasn't at all sure of what he said. Why should I go out of Artos' room? I was comfortable there. But then, I was willing to follow him out into the world, a world that had been cruel to me.

The following day Artos took me to see Phaegus to have my weight and health checked again. I've said how I felt about that before so I won't repeat it. I was getting used to it but I still didn't like it.

As Artos ushered me through the hallways he seemed to be taking especial care with me, encouraging me, patting, making sure the halls were clear. I nearly balked at this. Why was he making such a deal over what had become a common thing? Still I followed on, balking a few times.

"Come on, Dracius, you're doing fine," Artos encouraged, waving me forward. I followed hesitantly. Something wasn't right, the way Artos was acting, his smile and the way it didn't quite ring true. I wanted to run back to the room but Artos kept waving me on.

He ushered me into Phaegus' lab and I called out softly, something I'd not done in some time, and looked around nervously. Phaegus and Ren were there, as I expected, but I did not expect to find Lady Dawn, Duke Grimal, Lord Jerim, and Lady El there as well. I took several steps back and ran into Artos.

"Easy, Dracius, you're fine," he said soothingly, putting a hand on my head.

"Wrong?" I said, stepping back to stand beside him, huddling close.

"No, nothing's wrong, Dracius," Artos said, petting me. "Come, lets get your weight."

I balked again. Why did Artos bring these others here? "Others," I muttered.

"It's okay Dracius; they just want to see you as well. Come along," he said and tugged me forward. I balked again, but allowed myself to be lead to the scales as everyone watched.

"Come on, Dracius," Phaegus said calmly. "Same as always, step up while Ren gets the weights ready."

I stood on the platform, watching Artos for reassurance. Phaegus looked at the weights. "Well he's put on another stone and a half worth of weight so he's certainly growing and it's clear he has gained several inches of eight. I would say that indicates he's healthy." Phaegus said and turned to me.

"Step down, Dracius, let me listen to your lungs and look you over, ok?"

I chirred nervously and looked over at Artos who simply smiled at me. I stepped down and tried to stay calm as Phaegus listened to my heart and lungs and ran his hands over my arms and chest, tugging at my wings here and there. I almost pulled away but did not because I felt it would upset Artos.

Phaegus stepped back. "He's perfectly healthy as far as I know. As I said, he's put on weight, is growing, everything sounds perfectly fine to me."

Lady Dawn nodded. "I agree. Dracius seems to be in good health."

Duke Grimal grunted and I stepped towards Artos. "So you're saying the creature is healthy? All these fits and starts and terrors are normal?"

"I didn't say that, Duke Grimal, I said that he's healthy otherwise. Dracius' nervousness has nothing to do with his health and everything to do with his life up until this point. He's far less nervous and shy now that Artos has been caring for him," Phaegus said.

The Duke grunted again and eyed me and it was all I could do not to duck behind Artos. "So you see no reason this thing shouldn't be allowed to go with Artos?"

"Father, he's not a thing!" Artos protested.

Duke Grimal glared at his son, then looked back at Phaegus. Phaegus shrugged. "No, I see no reason health wise that he shouldn't be allowed to go with Artos."

I moved a bit closer to Artos, finally understanding what this was about, my heart pounding. My tail wrapped partially around Artos' leg and he patted me on the head. At this point I think I really understood how much power the Duke had over Artos and what went on. And it terrified me.

I knew that he didn't approve of me and wanted Artos to dispose of me. Memories of him noting that Artos had become attached to me and the threat that lay behind it echoed in my ears and in my mind.

The Duke stared at me and I kept my eyes averted. He grunted again and I flinched. "Dawn, what do you think?"

"I think Artos' presence is calming to him and that he should go. Artos can take care of him far and away better than any of us can."

Duke Grimal looked at Dawn with a look of near disgust which she ignored. He looked back at me and I took a small step back from him. Artos reached down and put a hand on my shoulder, trying to reassure me. He grunted again. "El?"

Lady El shrugged. "Up to you and Artos. I can take care of him if he gets out of hand."

I felt Artos tense up and chirred softly at his reaction. I understood what Lady El was saying, at least in part and put my head against Artos' leg.

Duke Grimal stared at me. "Come here," he ordered.

I froze.

I couldn't move, couldn't tear my eyes away from his. Artos looked at his father in shock, then down at me as I started to tremble. He placed his hand on my shoulder then looked at the duke. "Father--"

"Shut up, Artos," the duke growled. "You. Creature. Come here, now!"

I whined and took a step towards Artos and Duke Grimal's face grew even more red. "Dorkus, Drakus, whatever you fool name is, get over here in the name of the Duke!" he said, not quite shouting.

I froze again, for just a moment, and then started looking around for an exit, shifting my eyes this way and that. I was fast, I knew it, I could outrun any human. Surely I could get through one of those windows if I hit it hard enough...

The Duke reached down for his sword and opened his mouth to yell when Artos stepped in front of me, reaching back to steady me with his other hand. "Father, leave him alone!"

The whole room went dead silent. Jerim, Artos' brother, winced, Ren stood in open mouth amazement. Phaegus looked worried and Lady Dawn simply closed her eyes. Lady El's mouth drew into a terse frown and her hand strayed down to her sword.

The father and son locked eyes for a few moments before Artos looked away. The silence that lingered between them seemed to last for an eternity. I squeezed Artos' hand carefully, trying to keep my claws sheathed. He squeezed back briefly, acknowledging and I felt a little better.

The Duke continued to stare then finally said. "So. So you defy me, stand between me and that animal that you've grown attached to as well as ordered not only your father but the Duke you're sworn to obey to stop doing something he had just ordered.

"Just what shall I do about your insubordination, Artos? I can't confine you to your rooms as you must go on this diplomatic trip. It would seem the only thing I can do is remove this...obsession, from you."

Artos tensed up and moved further in front of me. "Yes father, I have a strong interest in Dracius. Yes, father, I count him as a friend. And yes, father, I have one of those feelings you hate so much that he's important. I'm not going to- to let you hurt him, father," he said, stammering a little at the last.

Duke Grimal's eyes blazed and his sword come half out of its sheath when Lady Dawn suddenly clapped her hands together twice and a blaze of white light appeared between us and the Duke. Duke Grimal swore and took a step back and I flinched away, whining outloud.

"Easy, Dracius, hush my friend," Artos said, turning to me. He opened his arms and I scrambled my way into them, heart pounding. He hushed me again. "It's just Lady Dawn's magic, easy, she's just keeping everyone safe."

"That is enough, Duke Grimal. You will stand down by order of the light," Lady Dawn said, her voice ringing out in powerful tones that I had never heard before. She strode forward, her whole countenance changed from her normal quiet, almost meek, self to someone who shown with the power of command.

"Lord Artos is correct, Dracius is marked and he is important. No matter your thoughts on this he is to go with Artos wherever Artos may go. This is the order of the light. Do you accept it?"

Duke Grimal glared at her, then back at Artos. "I have no choice."

"There are always choices, Duke Grimal, but there are always consequences good and ill for those choices. Do you accept?"

"Yes," he said tersely.

Lady Dawn lowered her hands and the lights faded out. She looked to me at Artos and nodded to the both of us, catching my eyes for just a moment. Something odd passed between us at that moment and to this day I can never be sure of what it was.