Chapter Three.
 

Ballor packed the last of the bags and looked around their room, then handed it to Liset so she could load them on the horses.  Their contract with the mages was up and they appeared to be letting them go.  So far people had only tried to engage them as bedpartners now and then.  Someone had asked if Xahar charged for his time but a wry 'if he did, no one would want him' had stopped that thought. He looked over as Liset came back, and Xahar came out from the cleaning area, he had been braiding his wetted down hair again.  Then he took one last look around.  "We're done."

Liset checked their boss, he was back in his fighting leathers and his hair was firmly braided.  "Then we can go."  They walked down the stairs after him, her taking their small payment casket and Ballor taking a small bag of food and waterskins for their trip.  "Thank you kindly," she said, smiling at the housekeeper.  The woman wanted Ballor desperately but understood a widow's grief so had only tried to approach him twice each day.  She went to load those onto their horses too, looking around at the courtyard.  Xahar came out after talking to the head of the order for a moment, Ballor right behind him just in case, and she mounted up, walking their horses forward.

"It's been a pleasure helping you find inspiration.  If you need me again, simply write," he called, smiling and waving at the people in the windows. "It was very nice of them to stop their work to see us off," he noted as he mounted his mare. He rode off after Liset, Ballor following him.

"Boss, did you ever learn how to forge stuff?" Ballor asked as they rode out into the forest.

"I learned just enough to help fix my sword or to cure a large dent in it," he admitted.  "That was part of my fight training.  It was thought to be necessary.  The same as I can mend my own leathers and armor if necessary."  He looked around at the trees surrounding them.  They were just a bit too quiet for his liking.  "Guys?" he asked quietly.

"I noticed," Ballor admitted, pausing to look around.  "Let's head to the village, now."  He waited until his boss had taken off to follow, guarding the rear position.  It was his favorite one and Xahar was a very good rider. He heard Liset shout and spurred his horse on to jump a bush, a shortcut to get to her faster.  His axe came off his back and into his hand as he rounded a particularly large tree and found fairies attacking Xahar and her, diving in to help them.  He noticed Xahar was being cut off and moved to try to help him but the fairies concentrated on keeping them apart.  Xahar had his sword out as well, slashing at the little creatures attacking them so he might be fine until they could break through the barrier.

Liset looked up when she heard bigger wings coming in, gaping at the creature joining them.  "Dragon!" she shouted, pointing at it.  The dragon took a swipe at her, which she ducked and her horse stumbled as she moved.  Ballor's horse wasn't so lucky, it was gored and his arm was gored by an accessory claw.  They heard another horse shriek and saw the dragon taking off with Xahar and his horse in her claws.  "Ballor!" she yelled, taking out more of the fairies.

"I'll live.  We should follow."

"With one horse?"

He slashed the last fairy and looked at her.  "We need to follow.  You head ahead, I'll do what I can here."  He was clutching his arm.

"Hold," a deep voice called, landing beside them.  "That was one of mine, I will talk to her and get your employer released.  She does have some poison on her claws, human, so you will have to get that treated.  I'll have Xahar sent back to the village here to gather you as soon as I can."  The dragon Goldenflight stared at them. "Go, rest, recuperate, while I speak to my herd.  They will help me on this.  It's not good to steal humans."  He took off again, heading for his homeland.

Liset looked at his arm, then at the bags on his former horse's saddle.  "Okay, we should do that.  If it's got poison, you'll need a healer."  He groaned and took his saddle off his mare, letting her put it across hers, then she led him off, taking him to the village.  The mages hadn't had a healer when someone got burned earlier in the week, they couldn't help with this now.  "Do you have the gold?" she asked quietly.  He nodded.  "Good idea.  We might need some of it."  They came out of the forest a few minutes later and saw the villagers gathered around.  "A dragon took Xahar.  He was gouged and the other dragon following him said she had poisoned claws."

"Lead him to my hut," the herbalist said, coming over to help.  "Did he say what sort?"

"No, ma'am, but I could tell she'd eaten recently, she smelled like rotted meat."

"That's fine.  I can probably guess and it's about the same.  Bring him inside, your horse can be tied up front."

"I'll leave him with you and get us a room at the local inn," Liset offered gently.  She nodded so Liset went to do that, taking the horse and both saddles with her.  The innkeeper gave her an odd look.  "He was gored by a poisoned claw.  There's a dragon going after him.  We'll be here for at least a week and I'll need stabling for my horse."

"That's fine, it's our off season," he assured her, getting her a room.  "One room?  Or did you need more?"

"One's fine.  He'll be better if I can watch him.  That way he can't die on me and leave me alone with Xahar once he gets back."  She went back to the healer's hut once she had put their saddles upstairs and made sure no one could steal anything.  Her horse was more than happy to rest in the stables behind the inn while she went to check on Ballor.  "Goldenflight will get him back, he promised," she reminded when she saw him fretting.  "He won't take it out of our checks.  We had no way to chase him for two weeks to get to the Thanorsis mountain, and that would only get us to the foothills, not to mention how long it'd take us to find a particular female dragon in his kingdom and kill her."

"I know but it still feels wrong to me not to follow him."

"We can't always," she reminded him.  "You couldn't when he got taken by that sorcerer and his many trunks, you can't now.  There's no way for both of us to chase him and if I left you here, you'd probably die of moping because you couldn't go.  He'll understand.  Xahar is like that.  Remember, he understood having to get himself out of that trunk too."

"It still bothers me," Ballor said grimly.  "Our things?"

"At the inn and I doubt anyone would steal from us," she said patiently.

"At the inn?  Only some of the maids."  The healer smiled.  "O'course, we'd know."

Liset smirked.  "I realize that.  It's that way in all small villages.  Even the one I grew up in.  My mother used to be the town's laundry lady."  She helped by holding Ballor still while the herbalist tied a poultice around his arm.  "How long?"

"Bring him back in about four hours, so maybe lunch?"  She nodded.  "Make him rest, keep that dry.  It should burn a bit if it's working."  She dusted off her hands.  "I'll name my price when you get your boss back."

"Thank you, ma'am," Ballor said, grabbing his axe and following Liset back to the inn.  He found two girls in there.  "My, the turndown service is even better than at most palaces."  They both looked very guilty.  "Whatever's missing, I'd bring it back now.  I'm in a cranky mood and she's worse."  They nodded and ran out, getting a third person, who brought back the scrolls and the money.  It was handed to him and all the maids left, closing the door behind them. "This is nice.  One room?"

"That way I can watch over you," she agreed grimly.  She sat down to count it.  "It's all here," she said with a touch of amusement.  "Most of them would have kept a coin or two figuring we'd never notice."

"Honest thieves, I like that," he agreed, taking the bed as his own.  He was entitled since he was injured.  "How long?"

"Depends on if he rides back or gets flown back and how long the dragon's stubborn."

"So, a month?"

"Probably.  I told him we'd pay weekly when I paid him earlier."

"Fine.  Was lunch included?"

"Didn't think to ask," she admitted.  "I was more worried about your stubborn hide."  She went to get a cool cloth to put across his forehead, it always made her feel better.

***
 

Xahar looked up as he was released, checking his mare first.  "You okay?"  She was just shaking so he got off and released her saddle and bridle, laying them aside so he could tend to her.  "Shh, it's all right.  She won't do it again or I'll get her myself," he soothed, whispering in her ear.  She slowly calmed down.  "You go graze, you deserve it.  I'm sure the other dragons will leave you alone," he soothed, patting her on the side.  She moved off a few feet to nibble on some grass.  She had lost a lot of fluid and former food on the trip up here.  It had been a few hours and she had been very scared.  He glared at the dragon roosting on top of the cave. "I should slay you now," he said angrily. "How dare you take me away from my guards and injure my horse!"

"I could eat your horse," she said smugly.

"If you try, I can also slit your stomach open and reach in to play in your bowels," he snapped, showing his temper now.  It wasn't often he got this mad, but this time he had had enough.  "You could have killed my guard."

"He's a warrior, there's plenty of those in the world."

"He's my friend!" he shouted. "You don't do that to my friends!"  He pulled his sword and lunged, getting her foot when she stuck it out, and getting past it when she howled, going for the easier stomach shot.  She tried to block him with a wing but he went through that and managed to get her slightly nicked in the stomach before another dragon arrived.  He glared at this one.  "If you're her King, I'd punish her before I do.  She could have killed Ballor!"

"He's fine.  His arm was gored but he should live."  He glared at his female, who shrank down a bit.  "You dared touch a human?"

"He's pretty and decorative!"

"And deadly, let's not forget deadly," Xahar said in a deadly cold voice.  "What I do is for more than show, dragon."

"I have a name."

"Do I care?" he snapped back.  "I do not converse with beings who kidnap me!"

"Enough!" Goldenflight ordered, bringing more attention.  He watched as Xahar went to try to calm down his horse again because more dragons were trumpeting and flying in to see what was going on.  "Bring her into the cave, Xahar."

"Horses have a very sensitive sense of smell," he said more calmly.  He had to be calm or his mare would die of fright soon.  He glared at a dragon coming in to land.  "Do not come near her.  She's already frightened nearly to death!"

"I was going to mesmerize her," she offered calmly.  She looked at the horse, staring her in the eyes.  "Calm yourself.  We will not eat you here."

"Shh," Xahar whispered, stroking her neck.  "They won't hurt you.  If they try I can hurt them back."  His mare slowly calmed down again.  "I thank you."

"You're welcome.  You are?"

"Xahar."

"Ah. Then the girl there stole you?" she asked lightly.  He nodded, glaring back at the young dragon.  "What happened to her wing?" she asked patiently.

"Me and I'm about to go finish her off for nearly killing my friend, who was trying to protect me."

"Your friend will be fine," Goldenflight said firmly.  "She was wrong to steal you that way or to injure your guardian and friend."

"There are many warriors, he can replace them," she sneered.

Xahar looked at her. "Obviously you are friendless," he sneered back.  "Otherwise you would know the value of what you tried to take from me and how I should finish killing you so he won't have to."

"I told him I would come for you so he could get his arm seen to," he said quietly.  He looked at the dragon.  "You are in trouble.  This could start another war.  He is well liked."

"I only wanted him to dance for me," she complained, holding her injured wing.  "He attacked me."

"His style of dancing is a fighting style," the female dragon noted. "I've seen him dance before."

"I've danced for kings, both legal and not, and queens and many other heads of state.  What makes you think you can command me to dance for you?" Xahar sneered.

"I'm a princess."

"Yours?" Xahar asked dryly.

"Takes after her mother unfortunately," he said bitterly. "I've always doubted about who flew her mother before she hatched."  The girl screamed in outrage and turned to attack him so he batted her across the back with a wing.  "Shush, child!" he ordered.  "You are in very deep and not even your mother would let you get away with this!"  She shrank down, giving him a slightly scared look.  "You are in so much trouble when she hears about this," he decided.  He looked at Xahar.  "I would gladly help you get home, Xahar.  What she did is not right.  Would your mare make another trip the same way?"

"Not tonight.  This kind one had to mesmerize her. I'm not so sure she won't die of fright anyway."

"That's fine, Xahar.  We meant you no harm, she is simply spoiled."

"If he's staying he could still dance," the dragon princess offered.

"Even if he did, you would not be seeing it, daughter," Goldenflight said firmly.  "He could have killed you when he attacked you.  Did you want to die this week?  As is, you're already very injured."  She shrank down again.  "Go call your mother."  She tucked and rolled into her cave, going to whine to her mother about what her father had said.  "Let me remove you to somewhere better.  If you'd follow me?"

"I'll move him to my cave, Highness," the female helping him noted.  "It's safe and has some good grazing.  That's where I keep my sheep."  He nodded so she looked at him.  "It will require a short hop but she's still so stunned it shouldn't harm her."

"If you think it'll be okay.  I've had her for quite a while now.  She was my training present."  He gathered up his saddle and bridle, walking his horse into the open hands she was holding out.  The horse started to balk so he covered his eyes with his shirt, letting her take them.  Once they were put down, he removed his shirt and stepped back.  His mare was known to kick when she wasn't happy. She'd be doing that once she was over her shock. "Hey!" he said when she tried to kick one of the sheep.  "Leave it alone!"  His mare glared at him. "Like it's my fault the princess was that spoiled."  She snorted and went to graze in a corner of the field.  "I know you've been spending too much time with the guards now, that was a look you learned off Liset."

The dragon laughed.  "Come, you can have a corner of my cavern and I'll fix you dinner."

"I was taught to never accept dinner from a dragon," he said quietly.  "I don't want to be kept, m'lady."

She looked at him.  "You won't be.  Not by me. I will abridge that requirement for my own table," she offered.  "Though the others would have to do that for their own."

"I'd rather not risk it. You would lose respect if others had heard about it," he offered.  "I do have some travel rations with me."

"They can't be very tasty.  I was going to do a pig," she tempted.

He smiled.  "Nay, m'lady, I should not. It would harm your reputation and mine should I do so.  It's not honorable, though I will accept a corner of your cave for the night."  He watched as a younger dragon flew in, getting closer to the saddle and bridle since he had left his sword with them.

"I wish to challenge you for your new human," the female dragon said chipperly.

"He's not a new squire or menial," the older female said dryly.  "He's the one our princess kidnaped.  He's a dancer.  That's Xahar.  Xahar, this is Melodial."

"Greetings, m'lady," he said, bowing to her, but keeping an eye on her.

She cooed. "Oooh, you're adorable!  I've heard of you as well.  Would you come amuse me and my humans tonight?"

"Unfortunately my music is back with Ballor," he admitted.  "It's how I get people to bring my guards to me.  So it would be inferior I'm afraid."

"Even without it, I would still be delighted," she offered happily.  "Even if all you knew were some peasant dances.  My humans are bored senseless at the moment.  I was hoping you were a new squire with stories."

"Actually, I may have some scrolls," he admitted, patting down his packs.  He pulled them out and waved them.  "Three new to me."

"Oh, how wonderful!" the younger dragon cooed.  "Please, at least come *read* tonight.  I will reward you of course.  I know a man such as you lives off his beauty and talents."  He smiled and nodded.  "May I, Riventna?"

"If he wishes," she said dryly.  "Do you?"

"I wouldn't mind.  It would make this a profitable sidetrip," he said dryly.  "I'm just glad that Ballor and Liset had the money with them."  The women laughed.

Rivetna looked at her younger counterpart.  "Our princess stole him right after an engagement with some mages for their inspiration."

"Well, we knew she was an odd one. I still say our King should foster her out with a far distant clan.  The one I suggested would have eaten him instead of enjoyed his other tastes."  She laughed at her own joke.  "I mean, he's adorable, but he doesn't even have wings.  She could never fly him."

"I have no desire to fly anyway," he offered.  "Mating flights are pretty but I'd say fairly dangerous if not timed right."  Both women nodded.  "Then may I leave my horse here tonight, m'lay Riventa?"

"If you desire to go amuse her, I would not care to watch over her for you, Xahar.  She seems very well trained."

"She's a former warmare.  I got her when I finished my dance training."

"Then I'm doubly impressed.  You obviously need that sort of help," she said dryly.  He nodded, smirking at her.  "Go change.  Her menials are horrible when she's not there.  Do all sorts of mean things, like rearrange the furniture on her."

"Of course."  He walked behind some rocks with his clothing bag, changing quickly into one of his more loose and easy outfits.  Not his dance pants, those had been behind Liset, but a practice outfit in light cotton that still flowed about the same.  He came out, tucking his leathers into his bag and tying them onto the back of his saddle again.  "There, I'm ready."  He gathered the scrolls.  "I'm just thankful it was you and not elves."

"You have problems with elves?  They're fairly decent once you get past them."

"My father was a Knight during the last crusade against them," he admitted.  "He rode through their holy monument."

"Ah.  Then you would cause our princess even more troubles.  We do have dealings with one group of elves, though they're not the prissy, prancy sort that you normally see in Court."

"That's something at least.  I could never stand to live like that.  That's why I left my father's home.  He was holding court for marriageable daughters for me.  The whole lot of them scared me stupid."  The women chuckled. "Besides, too many mages. It's pitiful that I have to pay an alchemist for potions to keep my hair manageable, but it's necessary."

"You don't use magic? I can sense some around you," Melodial offered.

"I know, but I don't have the time, nor the inclination, to train that rigorously for that skill.  I did my training in my dancing when I was younger and I know how long it takes to train as a mage.  Even if I did, I would have been like the creators we were just with."  He shrugged. "Whenever you're ready, m'lady."

"Of course.  Best get back before they decide to rehay my nest again."  She let him climb up into her front paw, watching as he wrapped himself around her wrist, then waved the other hand before taking off again.  "I'll bring him back in a few hours," she called.

"That's fine, Rivetna agreed patiently.  She looked at the mare.  "I'm not going to eat you and any young who would try here would be quite stupid."

The mare snorted and glared again, but got comfortable in her corner of the field.  There was some defense from all the large rocks.  She would be safer down there.

***
 

Xahar landed in the clearing and waved at the dragon returning him, smiling brightly.  He had read for a great many other humans and performed some of the more modest dances, which were still enough to send some of the humans present into the bushes with their chosen mates for a while.  It always amused him when people broke and ran for cover with someone they wanted because of him.  He tucked the six new jewels and his scrolls into his bag and checked on his mare, who was still glaring at him.  "I went to read to them, nothing more. You could have come," he said dryly.

"Is that you?" Rivetena called.

"Yup, 'tis me," he agreed, heading that way.  "I amused a great many humans tonight," he admitted, smiling up at her.  "It was nice."

"I'm glad you had fun," she offered.  "Come, I've set you up a bed on some furs.  I hope you don't mind?"

"It's better than the bare rocks.  I've done that before," he admitted, following her. He could sleep in these clothes, he had in the past.  Actually, all of his clothes were things he could sleep in if necessary.  Even his fighting leather, though it usually took him extra time to fall asleep when he tried to sleep in them.  He headed to his pile of furs, sinking in with a sigh of pleasure.  They were a thick pile and he adored this greatly.  It was better than his bed at home.  Even if he did get hot, it was still very nice.  The fur stroked his skin and made him warm but he would not do that while a guest at someone's house, especially not a dragon's house.  He flipped onto his side and watched his host settle into her nest, smiling at her similar sigh of pleasure. "How was your pig?"

"Very nice once I toasted it enough.  Your horse watched me and snorted, as any good warmare would.  You should rest, Xahar, it'll be a long flight tomorrow."

"I know," he admitted with a small sigh.  "I'm just glad no one's going to try to keep me."

"Me as well.  That would require the rest of us to go fight for you since it's our fault you're here.  Don't worry, we would."  She shivered her back scales, laying them flat.  "Happy sleeps," she offered.

"Happy sleeps to you as well," he agreed, closing his eyes.

She smiled once he started to snore, allowing herself to drift off.

***
 

Goldenflight's daughter, spoiled brat that she was, looked at her menial human.  "I wish you to go capture that dancer, bring him to my hidden cave, and keep him there," she ordered.  "He has a warmare, so be careful.  Also, he can fight so watch out for weapons."

"I'm a mage, mistress, I can simply knock him and his guard out before taking him," he said patiently.  "I may not be a great creator, but I am skilled."

"Fine.  Go now.  My spies say he returned from giving others pleasure a bit ago.  He should be heading to bed soon."  He nodded and hurried off to the cave not that far distant.  "No one turns down Princess Soulfire, and that uppity human shall learn his lesson," she said cooly, settling in for a short rest.  It'd take time for her mage to get Xahar to her hidden caverns and chain him up, or whatever mages did to keep people in one spot.  Her servant came back a few hours later, nodding silent that her will was done.  She got up and headed out to fly to her caverns.  Not even her mother knew she had moved part of her hoard to another location or what she had done to get said hoard.  All her mother knew was that she was mildly ambitious and that she had needed a healing potion earlier due to her miscalculation.  Her mother thought it had been about a potential mating gone wrong.  Her mother's spies would tell her differently tomorrow, but by then she'd have the human convinced to serve her and he would be hers for the rest of his meager life. Or however long he stayed pretty, she didn't really want to keep someone around who wasn't pretty any longer.

She walked into her new caves once she landed, looking around.  Her servants had arranged things as she had ordered.  Her hoarded jewels and gold were pleasingly arranged around the caves.  Her nest was artfully arranged so she could both see outside and create an impressive image on it.  It was even raised off the ground by a few inches to make her look more impressive and bigger than she was.  She was only an adolescent, she wouldn't reach full mature growth for another century.  Let's see how big her father thought she was when he saw her on this nest.  He wouldn't try to bring any more dull old dragons around to look her over.  She'd be the one picking who she flew.  She settled herself into her nest, looking at the sweetly sleeping human in his gilded cage.  She had stolen the golden and jeweled cage from some princess or another.  She had been tasty and getting old and cranky in it anyway.  Yes, her new human would be most appreciative since her mage could help him stay young and firm for a very long time.  Maybe even years.

***
 

"Get me out of here!" Xahar yelled, rattling the cage's bars.  "I'm not going to allow this to go on!"

"Oh, hush," Soulfire said as she woke up.  "You're a noisy and troublesome human."  She stood up and stretched, showing that her wings were whole once again. "How do you like it?  No one knows about this set of caves," she said smugly.  "You're all mine now. Since it appears you don't have anything against performing for dragons, you may start whenever you're ready."

Xahar gave her a bitter look.  "It won't happen, princess.  I'm not going to amuse you, I refuse to amuse you, and I'm not going to do anything amusing by accident either.  You might as well let me go."

"The only use a human like you has is pleasures of the body and pleasures of the sight organs," she sneered.  "You will serve one way or another."

"I don't fly," he said sarcastically.  "Besides, sleeping with something like you would make sure I never touched another being again.  Even if we were compatible species, it wouldn't be happening."  He sat down and pulled his braid around to play with it.  "You might as well give up now.  I'm known for being stubborn when I'm taken against my will."  He looked around.  "And if you do die from this, just think about what everyone else will get, including me."

She snorted, shaking her head. "It's not possible.  No one knows we're here and my mage is guarding our privacy."

"Mages are human, they can be bought off or killed," he pointed out dryly. "Don't you think someone's going to come looking for you once Rivetna figures out I'm not there but my horse still is?"

"She'll figure you've went off to make more people happy," she sneered.  "It's going to be a while before anyone misses you, Xahar. Your reputation will work against you this time.  Everyone knows what libidinous creatures dancers are, they'll probably figure you're flying with one of the other humans.  Which you'll only be doing for me," she finished smugly.  She gave him a satisfied look. "You might as well get used to it."

"Humans don't fly and we don't mate in that manner," he said grimly.  "We're not equipped to fly.  Nor are we compatible species, Soulfire."  She gave him a shocked look.  "Yes, I heard allll about your delusions of grandeur last night from the other humans.  They all know.  Someone will ask one of them."

"They're only human, no one listens to them.  The same as no one will listen to you," she finished coldly.  "You might as well make yourself useful."

"No."  He crossed his legs.  "I'm not going to be useful or pretty or decorative for you.  I refuse.  Even if you try to kill me, I still won't."

"I do know where those smelly *friends* of yours are," she sneered. "I could go pounce them for a bit.  Bring you back a bloody part for dinner perhaps?  The male's naughty bits since you're so worried about him?"

Xahar laughed.  "You couldn't do it even if you really knew where they were.  What makes you think they're not back with the mages?  Or that they're not on their way here?"  She frowned at that.  "Didn't think of that, did you?  They may be my friends but they're still my guards.  I do pay them for their rescuing skills.  I'm sure they'll be here soon enough.  As will the other dragons."

"I doubt it since none of them know where you are," she said dryly, smirking at him.  She settled back into her nest.  "If you will not cooperate, that means I don't have to do anything pleasing for you, like let you out to go to the bathroom or to eat.  I don't take care of beings who aren't useful for me."

"Technically I can use the bathroom right here, it won't bother me that much to turn this floor into a latrine.  I did it when I was training, I can do it now."  She gaped at him.  "See, the reasons humans are in more places than dragons is that we're adaptable.  We can get through most anything and keep going merrily along.  That's why we spread over so much of this planet, how we learned to cross seas, how we figured out trade negotiations, and why we have art, to help us adapt to things.  Besides, you're only making my next dance more realistic since part of the series I dance is about when he was captured."  He let his braid go with a flick of his wrist to send it back over his shoulder. "You really didn't plan this very well, Soulfire.  Rivetna knew I'm leaving today, your father or someone is supposed to be flying me back. If I were going to entertain someone, I would have changed clothes and taken the scrolls I have with me. Which are also still in my pack, on my saddle, back in Rivetna's clearing with my horse.  So she'll know this wasn't a leavetaking of my own decision fairly quickly if she pauses to check, which she'd probably do since she seems like the sort."

She snorted.  "Rivetna is an older woman, she cares naught for smelly humans."

"Really?  You sure about that?  She was a great hostess last night," he said smugly.  "She made me a wonderful bed, made sure I went to sleep first, offered me food and wasn't insulted when I didn't take it."  Soulfire glared at him so he smirked harder. "Yeah, my father was a knight.  I know better than to take food from your kind.  I don't really want to stay up here."

"Daughter!" Goldenflight yelled from outside.  "Get out here, now!"

"No!  This is my cave, I've moved out and I'm staying.  If you enter, I do have the right to harm you, father."

Rivetna walked in, grabbing her by the head and dragging her off.  "We'll be right back, Xahar."

"That's fine, it's comfortable enough."  He stood up and walked over to look at the lock, frowning when he saw it was a magically hidden one.  "Oh, just great," he said dryly, squatting down to get closer to it.  Well, everyone was right, locks were dangerous.  Fortunately, he did know a *touch* of magic.  Three spells.  One to press his clothes.  One to braid his hair - which he had learned when he had broken ribs and an arm in a bar brawl defending himself.  Plus one for locks.  He whispered the little cantrip and the lock opened, letting him out. He walked out and looked around before going to look in the nest.  There were some very pretty things in there, some things that he could even identify who they had belonged to. "Hey, I know her," he said, picking up a really ugly broach.  "I wonder if she died."  He looked over as Rivetna walked in.  "Think she killed the former owner of this piece?  I usually do a dance for her around Spring Equinox for a party every year."

"I don't know, she's not admitting anything," she offered.  "Which means you can't take anything."

He smirked and walked out there, looking at the princess, then at her father.  "I will say she stole me if it helps.  I had no intention of every coming near her again."

"I realize that but by dragon law, the victim's word is not enough."

"Then get her mage.  He had to have stolen me.  I'd have woken up and I'm sure Rivetna would have woken up by another human sneaking into her cave."

"I hadn't considered that."

"He's a human servant, he has no standing in dragon law," Soulfire sneered.

Xahar tapped her on the shoulder, then hit her on the snout.  "You'd be surprised.  There's always a loophole.  By the way, did you kill Countessa Morganis?  I need to know if I'm going to have her party time free this year."

"Who?" she sneered.

"The one you got the ugly broach in your nest off of."

"I got that off a peddler."

"Really?  Because she never took that thing off, they weren't in financial trouble, and that was an heirloom piece from her mother's line.  The woman wore it on her nightgown, Soulfire.  Do you expect me to believe that?"

"It's the truth!" she shrieked.

"Uh-huh.  That's fine, I'll stop in on the family on the way back."  He looked over, glaring at someone who was peering at them.  "And you are?" he called.  The man squeaked and tried to run but Goldenflight turned and caught him in his paw, lifting him up.  "Nice reflexes.  I'll have to remember that."

Goldenflight smirked at him. "Most of us do have them.  It's handy for catching running prey."  He looked at the human.  "You stink of magic.  Are you her mage?"  He shook his head.  "Tell me the truth or else I will squeeze you to bits."

"I'm not," he gasped.  "I'm here to take something back from her for a royal house."  The fist eased up and he panted, looking at her.  "I'm here at the request of King Plyamon."

"Why would he have anything to do with my daughter?"

"She ate his and stole her captivity device, plus a few other things, like her crown.  He bade me steal the artifacts back and to kill her if feasible."

"That cage was rather too pretty to be made to hold men," Xahar said dryly.  "Rather comfortable though when I was stuck in it."

"You were put in it?" the mage asked, staring at him.  Xahar nodded.  "Why?"

"She stole me last night."

"Oh. I'm sorry.  Why would she steal you?"

"I'm Xahar, the dancer Xahar."  He shook the man's hand.  "I danced for the king many times."

"I've seen," he agreed smugly.  "I can give you a lift back if you'd like."

"No, son, he's heading north to some mages for a requested performance," Goldenflight said patiently.  "You may not steal him from us."  The mage shrugged a bit and wiggled down, going to find the things he was there to get.  He dragged the cage out with the rest inside, waving at them.  "Is that all of them?"

"The crown is missing."

"She has a display of crowns in an outer chamber," Rivetna offered, leading him that way.  He came back and tossed that crown into the cage as well.  "From her displays, we'll be getting a few of these visits, my King."

He glared at his daughter, who continued to look defiant.  "I will be punishing you, daughter."

"You can't.  He's mine, I took him, that's dragon law as well.  Unless he's rescued or escaped, he's mine to play with."  She looked at Xahar.  "And played with you will be."

He snorted and shook his head.  "I think not.  I do believe I've already escaped and been rescued."

Rivetna snorted, shaking her head. "He can't *fly* you, girl!" she laughed.  "Humans and dragons mate differently.  They do so in a bed or on other flat, non-moving surfaces.  Dragons fly in case your mother never told you.  We have to be flying to mate."  Soulfire glared at her. "I told you to foster her out, my King, she's being taught wrong by someone if she wishes to mate with a human.  Though a nice human, he is still human."

Goldenflight sighed and nodded. "You are correct.  If I charge her, she'll bring this incident and her reasons out into the open."  He looked at his daughter, then at Xahar again, and sighed again.  "If I do so, my other children will be looked at funny and won't have much chance of a peaceful rulership.  Would you relent for a bribe?"

"As long as she's fixed I will accept a bribe," he admitted.  "It's more than I usually get for being stolen."  Goldenflight smiled at that.  "But she probably should have to give back those crowns."

"I have a young son who's bored," Goldenflight admitted.  "A baby dragon is often sent as a messenger.  I'll have him do them."  He looked up at another pair of wings and groaned.  "One of her sisters."  He shook his head.  "Now your mother will hear too."

A pretty green dragon landed and looked at her younger sister.  "Oh, mother already has," she said smugly. "She heard last night and she bade me give this fine dancer her apologies for her obviously mentally damaged daughter, who she would be fixing before sending her off to some far distant land, and bade me give him this," she offered, handing him the bag she carried.  Xahar stumbled under the weight.  "She said that was probably about a tenth of what my sister had in there and wouldn't upset anyone since those are some of her oldest treasures."  She smiled at Rivetna.  "By the way, that horse you imported?  It was delicious, but dying when I put it out of her misery."

"She was?" Xahar demanded.  "What happened to my horse?"

"Apparently one of the goats decided to ram her into a few rocks.  She defended herself but her ribcage was shattered in a few places.  She could barely breathe," she said sympathetically.  "I did it out of mercy."

"Hopefully it was painless for her," Xahar said, sounding sad.  He'd had her most of his adult life.  He'd miss his mare. She had been a longtime guardian and audience when he practiced.  Rivetna pulled him closer, enfolding him under her wing.  "Thank you, m'lady Rivetna."

"You're welcome, Xahar.  She was quite a horse if she got my goat back.  Is he dead as well, Emerald?"

"He was when I got there.  The mare got him back by caving in his skull."  They both nodded at that.  "May I fly you somewhere, Xahar?  Mother said she wanted this mess cleaned up as quickly as possible."

"I will," Rivetna promised.  "I housed him last night until he was stolen."  She gave him an extra squeeze.  "Come, Xahar, I'll take you there so you can gather her things then take you to a big market so you can find a new friend."  He nodded, wrapping himself around her wrist.  She nodded at her king, then made sure he had the bag before taking off.  It did not do to upset the King's wife.  She was his second wife and they still wondered how she had driven off the first one.  She landed in her own field, seeing the clear signs of combat and the dead goat, dragging him off to eat him now, before any bugs could get into him.  She had missed breakfast and he was a most filling brunch.  She'd be fine for a few hours of hard flying to get him somewhere near a good horse market.  He attached the bag to the back of his saddle, putting that around his own back and the bridle around his shoulder, then waited patiently for her to lick her claws before climbing back on.  "Any particular horse market?"

"The one by the giant Bazaar usually is fairly good, and if not, there's another one within a day's walking distance."  She nodded, heading that way.  It wasn't that far.  He'd still have to ride for a few days to get back to his friends, but they would understand and that was The place to get a horse when you needed a good one. Even other warmares.
 

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