Author's Note: This is part one of a two-part story… It's short and simple, nothing fancy. I randomly thought of it one night and threw it together. I'm just getting the hang of short, fluffy stories, so pardon me if it seems a little awkward.
Pre-Dragon Knights story… Rath is still just a wee little guy who isn't all anti-Dragon Tribe. It's inspired by Rath's story of him following Lykouleon out of the castle.
The Priorities of a Dragon Lord
Part One
Lykouleon, the Dragon Lord of Dusis and the single most powerful and noble man on the continent, unraveled the dusty and tattered cloak from around his shoulders. He shed his ragged and dirty clothes, tossing them behind a door in his elegant, royal bedroom so that they would be well hidden from the prying eyes of his bothersome White Dragon Officer, Alfeegi.
As he was dressing in his usual, majestic attire and tidying his frizzled golden hair, the Dragon Lord spared a moment to offer his Yellow Dragon Officer and closest friend a questioning look. Ruwalk leaned against the wall by the door, his face grim despite the small smile spread across his lips.
"I won't get caught," Lykouleon assured him for the seventh time as he spun a luxurious silk cape around his shoulders, tying it in place with a golden thread. Though he was quite sure of himself, Ruwalk did not seem to share his certainty.
"Alfeegi is going to find out that you've been sneaking out of the castle if you keep doing it every single day! And he'll have a cow!" Ruwalk muttered, folding his arms over his chest. He gave his friend a dreary look. "Somehow, he'll make it into my fault, and then I'd never hear the end of it."
"It will be a sad day when Alfeegi doesn't blame you for the things I do," Lykouleon commented, attaching ornate, golden jewelry to his pointed ears. Ruwalk huffed behind him, causing the smile on his face to spread.
"It's all fun and games to you until Alfeegi really loses it and comes after me with a sword," Ruwalk grumbled, flicking his long hair over his shoulder. He raised his head a bit, turning up his nose. "What will you do then?"
"Nothing," Lykouleon breathed, his eyes twinkling. "I have faith in you. I know you'll fend him off as best you can. And when you're exhausted and he's still after you, perhaps then I will step in and try to save you."
"Thanks. I appreciate that," Ruwalk grumbled. He rubbed his fingers over his forehead, scowling. "I'm serious, Lykouleon! This is the fifth time in the last six days that you've come across and had to fight a demon! I know you're powerful, but one of these times, you're going to get a scratch on you that Alfeegi will notice immediately, and then all of this running around will come out into the open!"
"Bah," Lykouleon replied, waving his hand at his friend as he wandered out the door of his bedroom, fully dressed and groomed, the epitome of nobility. Ruwalk made a sound reminiscent of a growl, and then he followed him.
"If he catches on to us, he won't let you out of his sight. Do you really want that?" asked the Yellow Dragon Officer, trying with another approach.
"You forget. He'd blame you and be after you, not me," chuckled the Dragon Lord in response.
"Why do I bother helping you? I dig myself into these holes…" Ruwalk groaned. He rubbed his hands down his face.
"Alfeegi won't find out," Lykouleon said, softly and more confidently than before. The soft smile on his face caused Ruwalk to straighten up, appearing a bit less frazzled than before. "And, should he happen to find out, I'll take full responsibility, Ruwalk. I won't let you take the blame for this." Then, in a very soft voice, he added, "I appreciate your help."
Ruwalk heaved a sigh. "Fine." Then, he appeared upset again. "You do realize that it's probably not a good idea for you to let Rath tag along behind you, though, right? Even if Alfeegi doesn't catch on to us, don't you think Rath'll let something slip?"
"I can't stop Rath from following me," laughed the Dragon Lord, innocently.
"You know he's behind you before you even leave the castle!" Ruwalk retorted. He glared down the hall, causing a passing Dragon Fighter to cringe and hurry past, slinking as though he were afraid of Ruwalk's chilling eyes. "You can't play innocent with me!"
"I wouldn't let Rath get into any trouble, and you know that," Lykouleon said, calmly. He slipped around a corner and then entered his office, finding his way to the chair behind the large desk scattered with papers. He gracefully set himself down, tidying up his work area.
"But still…" Ruwalk started, following the Dragon Lord into the room. He closed the door behind him, holding it shut as though he expected someone to try to barge in.
"I don't have the heart to make Rath stay in when I won't stay in myself," Lykouleon explained, looking toward Ruwalk. "At least he follows me instead of running off on his own. Besides, it's almost comical watching him facing the demons who have attacked us. If only you could have seen him with his sword trying to intimidate a yokai twice his size…"
"You're encouraging bad habits in him!" Ruwalk said, heatedly. "You're promoting fighting demons and playing with swords in a six-year-old! He's out there swinging his sword and frolicking about! It's weird!"
"It's cute," Lykouleon corrected, snatching a pen off his desk so that he could scrawl his signature on the nearest sheet of paper which demanded his attention. He then dipped a stamp in red ink and blotted it on the paper, leaving an official seal on it.
"I guess I just don't get it, then," Ruwalk mumbled as he set his hands on his sides. "Fine, but when Rath accidentally spills the beans and Alfeegi figures out what's going on—"
"It's my fault. Yes, I know, Ruwalk," Lykouleon said before his friend could even finish his statement. The Yellow Dragon Officer sighed one last time, scratching his head. When Ruwalk said nothing else, the Dragon Lord raised his head and an eyebrow, offering him a puzzled look. "Is that all? There's nothing else you've been fretting about that needs my attention?"
"Give me a minute," Ruwalk replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He looked up at the ceiling for a long moment, and then he shrugged, a crooked smile overcoming his face. "I guess I've got nothing else to whine about right now. I can't do marathon ranting like Alfeegi, I'm afraid."
"What a pity," said Lykouleon, teasingly.
Ruwalk chuckled. He silenced and shuffled away from the door when a pounding resounded from the other side. Lykouleon hastily told the person on the other side of the door to enter. The door creaked open, revealing the soft face of the Dragon Queen's dear friend and servant, Cernozura. She peeked around the door at Ruwalk, then slipped into the room, bowing before the Dragon Lord.
"My Lord, I have a message for you. Lady Raseleane told me to tell you that something is the matter with Rath," she said, hastily. Her words caused Lykouleon to sit up straight in his chair, his lips forming a thin line. The woman continued. "She asked for your presence in the east garden."
"I see," Lykouleon responded, rising from his seat. As he was making his way to the door, he asked, "Did something happen to Rath?"
"I… am not certain, My Lord," Cernozura responded, standing. She offered him an apologetic look. "I only saw Lady Raseleane in the garden when she told me this. Forgive me…"
"It's quite all right, Cernozura," Lykouleon told her, smiling to assure her that he was not displeased with her. She nodded at him, and so he twirled and exited the room, leaving Ruwalk with one last command as he went on his way. "Would you mind signing some of those reports for me, Ruwalk? They should have been done this morning, but…"
Lykouleon had wandered too far from the door, and his voice had faded away. The Yellow Dragon Officer raised an eyebrow, then glanced curiously at Cernozura. Throwing his hands up in the air, he slipped around the desk and flopped down into Lykouleon's royal chair, snatching up the elegant golden pen which had been left behind.
"There he goes again, leaving me to clean up his messes," said Ruwalk, a smile washing over his face despite the heavy tone of his voice. Cernozura was confused by his reaction to the Dragon Lord's request, tipping her head to one side.
"Again?" she asked, puzzled. "You make it seem as though His Highness is irresponsible…"
"He's not," Ruwalk replied, chuckling. He began to scrawl his name on the documents lying on the desk, stamping them when he was finished. He set them aside, making an attempt at organizing them. "His priorities just lie elsewhere, that's all."
Cernozura frowned at his comment, but the Yellow Dragon Officer simply smiled and continued with his work.
OOOOOO
Lykouleon made his way through the vibrant gardens which surrounded his castle with incredible haste, his white cape twirling in the air behind him as he went. His emerald eyes shot all around, piercingly searching in every direction so as not to miss a thing. Beyond flowering vines, blooming trees, and glistening fountains, he searched for his queen and beloved wife. Near the far end of the garden, he found her standing by a row of tall, bushy trees.
Raseleane's dress billowed out on the ground around her, flapping in a gentle breeze. Ornate jewelry glimmered in the sun all across her body. Her clear eyes were directed at one of the trees, troubled and filled with concern. Her long, dark hair washed over her shoulders and poured all around her, the gentle waves glowing in the sunlight.
"Raseleane, what's the matter?" asked Lykouleon, pausing just a few steps away from her. Concern strongly tainted his voice, and his eyes were filled with apprehension. He began to move closer to her, but when she raised her hand and pointed at one of the nearby trees, he paused and gazed up at it.
"It's Rath," she told him, worriedly. She motioned him closer, and so he moved to her side. The Dragon Queen continued to point up into the tree, her finger trembling slightly. "I think something is the matter with him, but when I asked him what was wrong, he seemed frightened and climbed up into the tree! He won't come down, and he hasn't answered me in quite a while!"
Without another word, the leader of the Dragon Tribe stepped away from his queen and approached the tree, extending his hand toward it so he could touch the thick trunk. Standing directly under the twisted and full branches, he gazed up and searched for the child in question. Far near the top of the tree, he recognized a dot of black among the foliage, something which could definitely turn out to be a misplaced child.
"Rath!" Lykouleon called out to it, but he received no reply.
"Can you see him?" questioned Raseleane, anxiously. She joined her hands together under her chin, solemnly looking to her husband.
Lykouleon offered her a brief nod before tugging the golden thread from his cape, shedding the heavy, royal garment and tossing it aside. Raseleane frowned at first by this display but quickly realized what he intended to do when he tightened the gloves he wore over his hands. Then, the Dragon Lord reached up and firmly took hold of a branch, hoisting himself upward.