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I looked at the door, then back at Artos. He was also staring at the door with a troubled expression until he noticed me looking. He quickly schooled his face back into a more pleasant expression.

“Are you hungry, Dracius? Of course you are, you just said so didn’t you! What would you like to eat?”

I tried to keep the distress I was feeling from my face and out of my voice. “You get.”

“Alright, Dracius. Nothing in particular you want? Beef? Lamb?”

“You get.”

“Okay my friend,” he said and reach out to run his hand over my head and down my neck a short ways. I nudged his hand with my nose and he went to door. I chirred nervously; I couldn’t help it.

Artos turned. “I’m going to have food sent up, Dracius. I won’t leave.”

“Thank you, Artos,” I said, trying to make my speech as smooth as I could. Lady El though it important and I feared what she may do if I didn’t learn to speak more smoothly.

"You're welcome my friend."

Artos sat himself down at the small table with the pack that he carried and pulled out a sheaf of papers, laying them out to read over with a huge sigh. I watched nervously for a moment, not wanting to bother him but also not wanting just to sit about being useless.

It seemed to me that El was implying that I had no other value to the dukedom other than to be used some how to gain advantage in the negotiations. I wasn't sure what that would entail but had the terrible feeling that it would not mean the best for me.

I considered how to make myself useful to Artos and not just some pet that followed him around creating troubles.

I know it was said Artos and that you tried to keep it from me. That was the past.

I went to the table and climbed up in the other chair and looked at the papers Artos was going over. He glanced up at me and smiled, then went back to looking, a worried expression on his face.

"Help?" I asked.

Artos looked up at me and frowned. "What's wrong?"

"No. Help you."

"Oh! Well, I'm not sure what you could do, Dracius. All I'm doing is going over these papers to try to figure out how to negotiate better trade and maybe defense agreements with the Duchy of Highriver."

There is a strange amount of places in the various duchy's with the word high in them as well as other place names. I have never determined a reason for this.

“Trade?” I asked.

Artos smiled. “Yes. Our Duchy produces things that the their Duchy would like and they produce things we would like so we trade for them.”

I cocked my head, considering this rather odd concept. “Trade what?”

“What’s that, Dracius?”

I frowned, trying to figure out how to put the words together more easily, trying to relax. “What do you trade for?”

“Oh, well, they have certain woods and metals that we don’t have access to and they keep different kinds of sheep than we do so they have different wool. We have different wool than they do as well as certain crops they cannot grow and goods they don’t make or make well.”

“Goods?”

“Yes, we have craftsmen skilled at woodworking and metalsmiths that make hinges, jewelry, fine work things like that. We don’t have many that make good armor or weapons though, not the same quality they have and so we’re trying to trade for them.”

I cocked my head the other way and nodded to him. He smiled and went back to looking at his documents and and carefully moved closer so I could watch him as he worked and read what was written. He smiled at me from time to time and would reach out and stroke my back absently as he worked, the both of us focusing on the documents.

I’m not sure how long we were reading when there was a knock a the door. I hissed reflexively and took several steps back. Artos ran his hand over my head. “Easy, Dracius, it’s just our food.” He went to the door and cracked it open, then opened it all the way to allow Ren into the room.

“Hello Dracius, Lord Artos,” the boy said cheerfully. “The wanted me to bring up the food to avoid making Dracius any more nervous.”

“Good idea,” Artos said, stroking my back.

I darted my tongue out at the smell of the food and nearly started drooling. Whatever it was smelled wonderful and like nothing I had ever encountered. Artos walked over and looked into he bowl with a sigh. “Stew. Lovely.”

Ren looked at him, puzzled “What’s wrong with stew?”

Artos laughed. “Not one of my favorites! Which is good as father doesn’t like it because it’s ‘commoner food’”

Ren laughed. “Yes, well, it’s how us lowly peasants eat.”

Artos picked up a piece of freshly baked bread and inhaled, smiling. “Well, at least there’s fresh bread. I really love bread.”

Peasant food or no, I found it to be quite wonderful. After I finished eating I curled up on the bed and watched Artos pour over his parchments until I fell asleep.

We awoke and continued on our way, Artos escorting me down the back stairs once more to avoid being seen. The forward riders insured the way was clear and we rode out of the hamlet, making our way to Highriver.

If I ever take Artos up on having land granted to me I am going to name it Lowriver, or Lowhill, or something like.

As we rode I started to relax some, getting use to being on the road with Artos, being outside without being chased. I was still nervous, yes, but Artos presence is ever calming to me. I would glance over at him every so often, reassuring myself that he was still there.

Late that afternoon we stopped to eat and I groaned as I climbed down from my horse though I was not nearly as sore as I was the previous day. I made my way over to where Ren was and nodded to him.

He smiled. “Did you need something, Dracius?”

“Medicine?”

“Oh, still hurting a bit?” Ren said in sympathy. “Well, lets go find Artos; I gave him the rest of it. It’ll be no trouble to brew up some more.”

He patted me on the shoulder and I managed not to flinch. I still didn’t like others touching me but Ren had done so before and was always friendly.

I followed him to where Artos was talking with Lady El and the guard captain. Peter, I think the captain’s name was. Lady El, of course, saw us coming and, of course, frowned at me.

I was starting to get used to that as well. I think if Lady El smiled at me when I came up that I would run.

Ren paused, respectfully waiting to be noticed. I simply walked up to Artos, ignoring the looks of others, and reached out for his arm, looking up at him from under the cowl I was wearing.

He smiled. “Hello, Dracius! Did you need something?”

Ren coughed. “He needed some more medication, Lord Artos.”

Artos suddenly looked worried and knelt down to look at me, his previous conversation all but forgotten. “Dracius?”

I glanced at the other two then back at Artos. “Sore,” I said quietly.

“Oh, I’m sorry Dracius! I should have had the medication brewed as soon as we stopped. Come, I’ll get it ready for you.”

“Lord, Artos,” Lady El said meaningfully.

Artos stood and looked at Lady El with a frustrated expression and Ren coughed again. “I can get it for him, if he’ll allow me, Lord Artos.”

I hesitated, unsure of what was going on. Then more so than now I had trouble figuring out human’s little social cues and rules. The complexities of human relationships still puzzle me at times but I have better understanding of them now than then.

“Dracius, go with Ren. He’ll get the medicine brewed for you okay? I’ll come see you as soon as I’m done here,” Artos said, carefully rubbing the spar of my wing.

I hesitated, and looked over at Peter and Lady El nervously, wondering what they wanted with Artos, then nodded. “Yes, Artos.”

He smiled at me and gave me a quick pat. “The medication is in my left saddle bag, Ren.”

“Yes, Lord Artos,” Ren said with a short bow. “Come along, Dracius!”

I followed reluctantly, sensing that something was out of place, at least to me. Why did Lady El and Peter want Artos to stay with them? I knew Lady El wasn’t always pleased by me being around but it frightened me that she may want to separate me from Artos.

Ren retrieved the medication and started it brewing then turned to me. “So how are you doing, Dracius?”

I looked back to where Artos was standing. “Good,” I said shortly.

Ren laughed softly. “More nervous I’d say, probably about Lady El and Peter talking to Lord Artos.”

I turned to him in shock. How did he know that? Ren smiled. “I’m starting to learn your body language, Dracius. The way your tail is twitching, the way you’re holding your wings and head, I can tell you’re nervous.

“I know you’re nervous of other people and would’ve preferred that Lord Artos get you the medication and I know Lady El makes you particularly nervous.”

He grinned at me. “She makes me nervous too sometimes!”

I stared at him for a moment, eyes wide, then smiled back hesitantly, one ear up and one ear down. Ren carefully reached out and stroked my nose a few times then rummaged though Artos’ saddle bags for the medication. “Alright, Dracius, this won’t take but a moment to mix up for you.”

I watched as he mixed, occasionally looking back over at where Artos stood. Every so often the one Ren called Peter would wave his arms which made me nervous. Why was he gesturing so at Artos? Was it about me? I had not done anything wrong that I knew about.

“Okay, dragon,” Ren said and handed me my cup.

I looked down at it then back up at Ren. “Dragon?” I asked softly.

Ren blushed. “I mean, you do look like a dragon and all. Sorry, not sure why I said that.”

I shook my head. “That is fine with me, if you want to call me dragon.”

“Thank you, Dracius!”

I drank down the medication, wincing sightly at the taste, wondering why Ren had called me dragon just a moment before then used my name afterwards. Humans still puzzled me at the time, still do really.

I settled back near our horses, still watching Artos as he spoke with Lady El and Peter, still wondering what they were discussing. Artos finally nodded and hurried over to where I was standing. My ears perked up as he came over, a reaction that I cannot always control.

“Are you feeling okay, Dracius?” Artos asked looking worried.

I nodded. “Okay,” I said. “Ren made the medication.”

He looked relived. “Good. I don’t want you in any pain.”

I ducked my head slightly then gestured to where Peter and Lady El were talking. “Talk?”

“What’s that, Dracius?”

“You, Lady El, Peter. Talk.”

“Oh!” Artos said. “We were just discussing routes and possible trade strategies.”

I cocked my head. “Me?”

He sighed. “Yes, Dracius. And you.” I looked up at him with misgiving and he smiled. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, Dracius.”

I nodded, wanting to believe him. I looked around to see if anyone was watching us and then went to him and lay my head against his side and he pet me, laughing softly.

I was starting to realize that some people didn’t like me being so close to Artos and I didn’t want to create trouble for him by seeming to be affectionate while others were around. Artos never paid much mind to it.

We continued on the road and I have to confess that I was enjoying being out far more than I expected. Watching the birds fly about, the clouds rolling across the sky, the wind blowing through the grass, and even the sounds and smells of the horses was wonderful.

I still watched the humans I didn’t know nervously, wondering if they were going to turn on us because of me, but it seemed they respected Artos enough to leave me be. I was starting to think Artos to be the most powerful man in all the world, being able to make these people leave me alone.

Stop laughing, Artos.