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XXXIV

Cill gave a soft moan as she relaxed and released the spell she had all but forgotten she was holding. Trying to stay awake long enough to stop the spell at the right point made her yawn toothily and when she had finished she curled a wing protectively over her already serene mate and slipped into slumber beside him.

High above the couple the two fairies slowly pulled their respective hands from their mouths and swallowed quietly before departing and flitting up into the battlements.

"If I hadn't seen it - I wouldn't have believed it" stated Jasmina, running her hands through her long greenish hair and giving a shiver of pleasure. The memory of watching the vigorous coupling would be keeping her awake at nights for some time..

Ploom gave a cough and adjusted his shorts surreptitiously while she wasn't looking.

"I agree - do you think he has her under a spell?"

Jasmina snorted "I think it's the other way round. You saw that human play and mate with her. He's totally in love with that dragoness." She sat down on the battlement and sighed.

Ploom stepped up and placed a nervous hand on her shoulder "Do you think the other human and dragoness are mates also?" he murmured while looking over the darkened keep.

Jasmina stiffened momentarily at the touch then relaxed again.

"I don't know, but we still have to talk to her - and soon. I think this must be annoying some dragons too. They cant like their females mating with humans much"

Ploom grinned broadly and sat beside her on the lip of the stone wall "The dragoness certainly seemed to be enjoying it. Especially when he used his finger in ..."

Jasmina clapped her hand over his mouth and leaned closer "Shush! This is no laughing matter!" her breasts heaved under the short-sleeved shirt she wore and her eyes were bright. "I think I can see why this has upset the elders so much"

Ploom wrenched his eyes away from the tantalizing raised bumps on her shirt made by her erect nipples and up into her own gaze. "You can?" He could smell the warm sweat rising from her too. It wasn't fair - he was going to have to put up with this until the dragoness was alone again.

"Oh pay attention. Cant you males think of nothing else?" Jasmina growled as she realized the effect she was having on the smaller fairy "Ill ask her some questions in the morning. Now go and sit over there." She pulled her knees up against her chest and stared down into the bailey. She was also very aroused but too nervous to show the lowly male how much. She was a hunter after all.

Sighing Ploom did as requested and stretched out against the side of the wall. Stupid stuck-up hunter-bitch he thought to himself and rubbed his painfully hard shaft through the fabric of his shorts. That human didn't know how lucky he was.

Tomako and Shalla reappeared in their parents home and giving one another a knowing grin headed to their respective rooms. Shalla stopping at the pool for a brief dip before her father arrived back home. It wouldn't do for him to smell human in the lair after all.

Tomako also made sure he had gotten rid of the smell of hot metal and smoke before greeting his mother in the main room. She gave him a loving nuzzle and offered him some dinner from the slow spit rotating over the fire.

"And what have you been up to all day?" Nakkour asked curiously as her son hungrily devoured a sheep.

"I think I have found a site for a potential lair" he murmured, swallowing hard and looking at her "There is a problem though - It's in the territory of another dragon and though they don't mind I don't know the etiquette of sharing. Is there anything I should know?" he asked carefully.

Nakkour sat on her haunches, she could tell a half-truth when she heard one but decided to let it pass. "It depends. You may have to surrender some of your food for the privilege of hunting in their range or pay some other form of rent" her head cocked as she looked at him. "That's not all is it though?"

Tomako looked guilty and nodded slowly "I-I was talking to James and Cill and they said I'm welcome to come and stay in their territory" He felt a lot better telling this to his mother than his father. That explosion would have to be dealt with later.

Nakkour blinked slowly at her son "Oh my. You have gone out on a limb there" she mused and stroked his head "You know what your father would say"

Tomako nodded "That's why I don't want him to know" and sighed "The humans aren't so bad once you get to know them. One has offered to teach me how to work metals and gems" His eyes gleamed as he looked up at his mother "Its incredible Mother, they can make anything!"

Nakkour thought harder and faster than she had done in a long time. Divitchka couldn't find out too soon or by accident or there could be terrible repercussions within the family. "You will be able to work gold and jewels?" she asked with the familiar draconic gleam of avarice in her yellow eyes.

Tomako nodded eagerly "and armour and weapons - Cill is already talking about going out flying on patrol with James...a-and they said I'd be welcome too"

Nakkour quickly weighed up the benefits of having a family member able to work hoard and weapons and came to the obvious conclusion. Then her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "And Shalla? Was she with you as well?"

Tomako's eyes darted nervously around the lair as if seeking a place to hide.

"She was visiting and having a look. She also wanted to talk to Cill about...her mate"

Nakkour felt her neck stiffen as a sudden chill ran its talons down her spine "You think she wants a...human too?"

Tomako shook his head vigorously and thought fast "Oh no - It's just that Cill got to choose her own mate - and she wants...to be able to do the same..." He trailed off at the look in his mother's eyes and the tense angry stance of her body.

"Your sister will mate with whomever we deem worthy of her" she intoned slowly. "I shall have a talk with her shortly about this foolishness. She will not bring shame upon her parents as Cill has done to hers"

Tomako started to complain but his mother cut him off "There have already been several offers from high-ranking drakes who wish her as a mate and I will not have those negotiations affected by foolish whims. It is her duty to support the family and honor us by respecting our choices"

Nodding slowly Tomako slowly backed out of the lair "I-I shall see you later mother" murmuring as his mind worked rapidly, he had to warn Shalla before she opened her maw too wide!

Nakkour nodded and sat down to think. Why were young so much trouble?!

Tomako tapped at his sister's door and poked his head around "Shalla!" he hissed urgently. "Are you there?"

Shalla stepped up from the back of the room and looked at him "What's the matter Tomako?"

"Mother quizzed me about the keep" he murmured. "She knows about the armour work but she doesn't know about Tommy yet"

Shalla growled and grabbed his muzzle tightly in her paws "What did you blab to her?" she demanded in a low hiss.

"Th-that you were looking for your own mate - she got angry and said she'd talk to you about it later." He shifted nervously on his forepaws as he looked at her.

"She also said there had been several offers from older males about having you as a mate"

Shalla growled and let his muzzle go "I'm not going to do that now I've seen what a proper mated couple is like" she waved an aggravated paw towards the lair "I don't want to end up mated to a cruel drake and forced to lay his eggs" she sounded suddenly shocked at her statement and sniffed, a paw dashing a tear from her eyes.

"D-do you think mother was warning me? Through you?" she asked suddenly horrified. "She knows you'd come and tell me everything" her paws unconsciously found her tail and wrung it helplessly.

Tomako gave a non-committal shrug "I don't know - she was quite angry and said you weren't going to embarrass her as Cill had embarrassed her parents"

Shalla growled and kicked at the door with a forepaw, leaving a series of long gashes in the wood.

"If they could see past their snouts they'd realize that Cill is very happy with her choice and her parents don't mind"

Tomako nodded "Perhaps you should talk to them before you go- er- any further with Tommy?"

Shalla nodded and patted her brother on the head "I shall - Hopefully before mother corners me and lectures me about duty"

Tomako gave her a lick on the snout "Good idea" he murmured and backed out into the hall heading for his room.

Nakkour pondered her actions. It was almost certain that Shalla would rebel against her wishes and she wished she could see a way to avoid it. She was also wrestling with her own convictions that having a mate chosen for you wasn't all bad. Then she recalled the fights she had had with Divitchka, his attitude to her and the way he looked upon her as his property. It was only in the last century or so that she had managed to gain some autonomy in the relationship and a measure of control.

She scratched idly at the sand and hoped that Divitchka wouldn't find out before they had found a safe place to hide and protect themselves. She also realized she was very, very scared for her hatchlings.

As the Sun rose into the sky over the keep, people yawned and rubbed the sleep from their eyes. A lone tired courier rode his equally tired horse through the recently opened gates and spoke to the tired guards.

They pointed him lazily towards the main donjon and he carefully made his way up the stairs to Lord Tarrant's solar where he sat and waited patiently outside by the door until the Lord was ready to receive him.

Duncan sighed and rummaged in the pile of paperwork before digging out several sheets of parchment and reading them over once more. There was no putting it off. The bandits Joe had brought in had to be tried and sentenced and he was the one who would have to have them hung.

Martin carefully knocked at the door and opened it slowly, his helmet under his arm "Mornin' sir - er...There's a courier here from London for you."

Duncan sighed and stood up "Send him in Martin, Cant be good news if it's a private courier"

Martin nodded and stood to one side as the courier wearing the livery of Hampton castle was invited in "Good day my lord" he said formally, bowing in place "I bear a letter from Lord Hampton regarding the visit of his daughter in a few days"

Duncan's jaw dropped in disbelief "His daughter? Why in god's name is he sending her here?"

The courier reached in his jerkin and pulled out the letter "I believe it is all explained in here Sir" He bowed once more "If I have your leave to depart I have to continue my deliveries"

Duncan waved a hand idly as he looked at the packet "Yes, yes of course. Thank you" He gestured to Martin who produced a farthing and handed it to the grateful courier.

"Thank you Sir" he murmured and backed out of the office.

The wax seal on the letter snapped like a gunshot in the quietness of the room as Duncan broke it ,unwrapped the package and slowly read his way through the letter while Martin sat quietly and waited for the explosion.

"The man is mad! He claims his daughter wants to visit some of the 'outlying counties" and Guildford Keep is one of those on the itinerary "Duncan snapped as he made his way further down the missive.

"OH...and if that wasn't bad enough he wants us to put her up and feed her and her troupe of popinjays" he snorted in disgust then stiffened as he caught a word near the end Martin was alarmed as Duncan clenched his fists on the letter and trembled in anger or shock "What's the matter Sir?"

"And to top it off....she wants to see our young James. Her father mentions something of an attraction to him it seems"

Martin swallowed hard "if she finds out what he's been up to and runs back home - it could be - difficult. How long do we have?"

Duncan took a deep breath and dropped the letter on the table amidst the clutter there and shook his head "Could be five days or a week. It wasn't specific but horse and cart can't move too fast. I hope he's provided some tough guards as if she is captured she will fetch a pretty ransom and a traveling noblewoman will be talked about in every tavern from here to the new forest" He sank back down into his seat with a grunt.

Martin nodded and put his feet up on a table. "Aye, but it would solve the problem of putting her up here" he said with a grin. "Not to mention her finding out about James's dragon fiancé and running off back home and blabbing to everyone"

Duncan rubbed his face with his hands slowly, massaging his temples with the fingertips "And we still have to get them married too. That's going to be a problem all in itself!"

Martin sighed loudly and scratched his head and hesitantly murmured

"If she is ... interested in James, wont she be... angry he's mated to a dragoness?"

"Aye, And hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. Especially if she was thrown over for a non-human" Duncan affirmed with a growl and drummed his fingers on the desk in frustration.

"Can we get them out of the keep for the time she's here?" the seneschal suggested, his eyebrows rose speculatively.

"Nay, she will want to see him, and she will also know we will have been warned about her arrival so that will raise suspicion"

"So we just have to wait and see?" pressed Martin.

Duncan slammed his fist onto the desk making the crockery rattle upon it "I don't know! I have to stop a noblewoman from finding out her boyfriend is mated to a dragoness and convince her not to rush off and tell not only her father but his as well! How are we supposed to do it?"

Martin shrugged and poured a large drink of wine from a nearby jug handing it to Duncan who took it gratefully.

"Shall we tell young James then?" Martin asked after drinking from his own tankard.

"I cant' see why not - it will at least give him and Cill time to prepare for it"

The two men leaned back and stared into their tankards morosely and thought about the mess their lives had become since the troublesome squires' arrival.

James squirmed against Cill and wrapped his arms around her neck as the sun rose slowly sending warm slivers of light through the window slits. Cill's breathing was slow and deep and he saw her eyelids twitching as if she was dreaming.

He noticed she had returned to her proper size and he wondered if he could one day do the same for her even though Marre had said it was difficult to add mass. Stroking her neck slowly he made his plans for the day.

First he had to go through his morning training and then go talk to a leatherworker about making a saddle so he could ride Cill without scraping his thighs raw on the rougher scales of her back and sides while flying. He had his doubts about the wisdom of riding her in such a manner as it didn't sit well with him - nor his stomach - and that was the other thing. Fear of heights was one thing but being frightened while riding a dragoness might add to the problems. What if he passed out again? Or did something else equally embarrassing?

Cill stirred beside him and with a grunt cracked open an eyelid, the wide pupil swiftly closing to a fine slit as she focused on him.

"Morning Sleepyhead" murmured James as he leant down to kiss her on the muzzle as she murred in reply.

"I like waking up with you here" she said, giving him a lick on the lips "It makes me feel safe and happy"

James smiled and gently scratched her eye ridges until she crooned happily "I love waking up with you too" he said "you make me feel complete and satisfied"

He stood up and poured a tankard of water for himself then a clean bucketful for her and they sat and sipped together on the edge of the bed.

"I'll go and see that leatherworker about a saddle today" he murmured to her "are you sure you don't mind me riding you like that?" he asked, almost hoping she would say so.

"Oh of course I don't mind. It means I can keep an eye on you" Cill said with a teasing gleam in her eyes but she could also feel the doubt haunting her mate and she hastened to reassure him.

"You will get used to flying. I was nervous too when I learnt how to fly"

Nodding slowly James hesitated to point out that she at least had wings in case something went wrong.

Cill wrapped her forearms around him and hugged him warmly "I won't let anything happen to you love" and he couldn't help but feel the warm surge of her thoughts as they lovingly entwined with his.

"It's more the people below me I'm worried about "he chuckled "they might end up wearing my breakfast if I get sick"

Cill sniffed deprecatingly and shook her head "You'll get used to it...or Ill carry you in my talons and use you as a weapon - you can be sick on outlaws then"

James caught this image in his head and howled with laughter, giving her a poke on the shoulder. "Ok ill get the saddle after the training session - you can keep Shalla and Tomako busy"

Cill nodded "Father said he would come over today too. He wants to say hello to them and make sure they know what they are getting into"

James nodded slowly "I know Tomako wants to stay here and learn smith work - but what of Shalla? I think she's only coming here because of Tommy"

Cill agreed with him "There's no other reason she has to come here other than Tommy, she knows her brother can look after himself."

James stood up and stretched luxuriously, groaning as he did so "Well, I'd better go and get ready for my lance run. Joe will be getting impatient by now" after pulling on his clothes he kissed her once more on the snout and slipped out the door heading towards the training yard.

Cill found herself yawning widely and stretching also, she was still rather tired from the use of the spell and wondered if she should catch up on a little extra sleep when her thoughts were interrupted by a small and delicately polite cough from above.

Turning around slowly she narrowed her gaze and tilted her head upwards where a pair of fairies were standing warily in a window slit. The larger one bobbed a graceful curtsy while the smaller made a somewhat clumsier bow.

"F-forgive us for interrupting Mistress" The larger green-hued fairy stammered as Cill gazed steadily at them. "We just wanted to introduce ourselves and to welcome you to the forest on behalf of his Majesty King Dougal of Light Oak trod."

Cill relaxed a little as she looked at the pair. She had heard of the mischievous fairies and knew the correct etiquette, but she had to be sure of one thing first.

"Seelie or Un-seelie?" She asked with a stern look on her snout, pinning the pair with a frown as they nervously quivered in place.

"Oh, definitely Seelie Ma'am. We have no truck with those who practice the dark arts and they would find no welcome in the Shee"

Cill nodded slowly, hearing the sincerity in the proud fairy's voice "Then be welcome on my hearth and fear neither iron nor talon here"

Relief was palpably visible on the fairies faces as they fluttered down and once more nervously curtsied and bowed respectively before the green-hued lass spoke once more.

"I am Jasmina of the hunters and this is ..." she waved a hand dismissively at the small male who rolled his eyes "...Ploom...of the Shee and we bring welcome to the new lady of the forest and her mate"

She waved her hands expansively in what in Ploom's and Cill's opinion was overly theatrical but they let it pass without comment.

Acknowledging the fairies greeting Cill lowered her head in a modest bow "I am Cill and I thank you for the welcome and I hope I shall meet your King Dougal sometime soon." She murmured quietly.

Ploom was unable to hold himself back any longer "I am sure he wishes to meet you without delay Madam Cill. We acknowledge your claim of territory and are pleased to have such a puissant dragoness protecting us!"

Cill blinked. "Protecting you?" she asked. The two fairies exchanged glances rapidly.

"You did claim the territory and all within it as yours and your mates, Ma'am" said Jasmina with a warning glare at Ploom. "And according to the law that means accepting responsibility for all those beings in that territory and dealing with them faithfully and fairly"

Cill gave a groan, cursing the ale that she had drunk that night. "And how many fairies are there in this Shee?"

Jasmina shifted nervously "about three hundred Ma'am as well as a few Gryphon's and Pegasi as well a few other secret races" She gave a sniff "We aren't as common now thanks to the humans"

Ploom was holding out as best he could but young fairies aren't so good at patience or tact and sensing a break in the conversation he couldn't help opening his mouth and letting the words tumble out.

"I-is that human your mate? He seems really small and weak but nice though"

Jasmina turned on him swiftly "hush! She doesn't need to answer your foolish questions"

Cill couldn't help a grin from curling the corners of her muzzle "Yes, As a matter of fact he is my mate" she said calmly to the suddenly quiet fairy.

"Is that a problem?"

Nokala hovered invisibly over the Keep and flapped slowly towards the forest where he landed quietly and grunting with the effort, worked the spell that forced his sizable bulk into the form of a human and strode off back towards the Keep.

He thought slowly as he walked, enjoying the change of angle as he looked round at the forest. It certainly gave you a different perspective as a human he thought.

He caught sight of the gates and grinned to himself after recognizing the two guards who were yawning and leaning on their pikes.

"Morning Lads" he said, trying to keep a straight face. "I need a quiet word with your Lord again"

Terry and George jerked and scrambled frantically as they recognized the dark man standing in front of them before bringing their pikes to bear.

"F-friend or F-foe" George stammered while Terry was trying to get his helmet on straight and hopping nervously as his belt also seemed to be giving him trouble.

Nokala folded his arms and shook his head "Haven't we been through this before?"

George sagged and looked helplessly at Terry whose eyes were wide and fearful.

Nokala held out his hand "here - give me that "He said pointing at the pike and George who obviously wasn't thinking clearly, handed it over to him.

Spinning the pike in his hand Nokala nodded "It might be useful in some situations but here... let me show you how I'd deal with it"

Holding the pike in one hand he squeezed it firmly in the middle - there was a loud crack, echoed by a squeak from both novices as the pike snapped cleanly in two whereupon Nokala brought the split ends up to his face and with a light breath ignited both of them.

Handing each stunned novice a flaming piece of the pike he patted them on the shoulders and walked into the keep hiding his broad grin until he was well inside the gates and heading for the donjon.

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