A/N: I didn't slow down! Honest! Okay, maybe I did. It's the winter holidays, and so I've been preoccupied with certain, er, obligations. I find that holidays are more busy than relaxing. Anyway, here's a short chapter with a little conflict.

Chapter 13: Worthiness

The warmth of the tavern flooded into Bella's cheeks. She had slipped away while the others were stocking on supplies. She stood in the doorway, scanning the room. She walked further in, glancing up at a second level. She walked over to the wooden stairs and up on the open platform. The tavern was considerably emptier than her last visit - and not much time had passed. However, the subject of her search was spotted pacing, muttering things to himself. With a gratified smile, she walked over.

"Lias was it?" she asked. The man looked up from his thoughts, a little startled. Recognizing her, he smiled pleasantly.

"Yes, that is me. I take it you have come seeking me services after all," he hazarded a guess. Bella nodded, patting a hefty money pouch attached to her side. She made sure to bring her shoddy equipment to the attention of Fayt through subtle maneuvers, until he offered to buy her better equipment. She said it would be best if he just gave her money to purchase her own equipment, and managed to convince him to hand over a generous lump sum of eight thousand fol.

"I would like you to make better claws for me," she said, taking off her gauntlets and showing them to him. "Take another look where you could make improvements. I can't leave them with you, since I need them."

"Alright," he said, taking them and examining them. He crouched down and opened a satchel, getting out a piece of paper and a writing utensil. He walked to the nearest table, and began jotting down some notes. "Is there something specific in mind?"

"No, just better. These have served me fine, so any improvement on them is enough for me," Bella said. He nodded, continuing to write down schematics and mathematical equations.

"When do you need them by?" he asked.

"I'd prefer it as soon as possible, but no later than a week," Bella responded. She knew she couldn't have them done before they left. If Fayt asked why she didn't get equipment, she can simply explain that in Airyglyph they don't HAVE equipment suitable for a woman's build, and had to get it custom-made. It was mainly true. "I'll pay you 6000 fol now for material and equipment expenses, an then a twenty per cent bonus on top of that when you are done finished, but only if you finish it before the week is up."

Lias paused from his plans and stared at her. He slowly nodded his head. "A week? I can have it done before then. Come back in a few days. You will not be disappointed," he said. Bella counted out 6000 fol and handed it to him. They shook hands on the deal, and Bella put her gauntlets back on. "Pleasure doing business."

"Indeed," Bella responded, turning away. She was to meet them and some members of the dragon Brigade just outside of the city.

Bella rushed through the streets, not wishing to keep anyone waiting. To her satisfaction, she was not the last one to arrive. In fact, she was the second to reach the rendezvous point. The only other person there was Albel. Although shivering, he stood with as much arrogant poise as ever. The feather-rimmed cloak he had wasn't enough to keep him warm.

"What is keeping those fools?" he asked no one in particular. Bella trudged through the compact snow over to him, as he stood glowering impatiently.

"It is a pity Fayt has the glowstone, otherwise we could just leave them behind and get that ring made as soon as possible," Bella remarked. He lifted his gaze and glanced over at her, the cool breeze rustling through his bangs.

"We?" he repeated superciliously. Bella gave a curt nod and stared at him with a level gaze.

"Yes, we," she said firmly.

"Why would I wait for a maggot like you? My part of the task would be over if you all weren't slowing me down," he responded haughtily.

"Because the lava caves make you uneasy," Bella responded promptly. Albel was quiet, but his silence spoke volumes to his anger. She could almost feel the heat of his blood reaching her through the wind chill, and hear the smoldering of his intense glare. Nonetheless, Bella did not remove her gaze or back down. She held her face neutral, so he was forced only to see a reflection of his own ire. "Your agitation only confirms my perception…" anger began turning to fury; his hand was on his hilt. Bella did not bat an eye. She began to slow her breathing, putting calmness over her body to counter-balance his seething anger. "Don't try to fool me; you haven't even fooled yourself with your hubris. You don't want to go back."

That was the last Bella could say before an iron grip enclosed around her throat. With little resistance, she was shoved against a tall, stone post at the end of the bridge, and crimson eyes penetrated, like hot needles. "That is enough!" he growled. "One more word, and I'll cause you so much pain you'll be begging for death!" The small group of waiting Dragon Brigade soldiers turned a blind eye to the scene - in case it got ugly.

"Don't take your rage out on me because there's some fear or pain YOU need to face. We all have them. The strong are not the exception," The words were forced out in a raspy sound, cracks of high pitched noise interrupting at the end of some words as the air was forced to press through a narrow opening. Still, obstructed as her windpipe was, she forced the words through with an uninterrupted flow, her level gaze adding weight to each word where her uncontrollable voice and tone could not. She felt the grip tighten, and her breaths unable to pass anymore. There was a hot tingling in her lips as silence hung over both of them. Just as the grip was causing her vision to blot, he released her very suddenly, turning away sharply. Bella stumbled away from the stone pillar and took in deep, rejuvenating breaths. She lifted her head, examining Albel. She wasn't provocative by nature; at least, in the way where she tries her hardest to get under people's skin. Instead, she was somewhat analytical, and curious; the sort of curiosity that has killed many a cat.

Bella watched as Albel stood still as a statue, the snow falling gently around him. His back remained to her for some time, although she could tell that he kept his hand on his sword. Bella remained quiet. She said what needed to be said, and knew saying anything more would be malicious, or at least, unwise. Bella was mildly relieved when the rest of the crew had trickled over to them. It was obvious that they could feel the tension, as they, too, were very quiet as they divided the supplies evenly, and prepared to fly back to the Mountains of Barr.

As Bella strapped herself in properly to one of the dragons, she caught a glance from Albel. It was a brief glance of red, too brief for Bella to read the complexity of the expression before he looked onward, and her view was obscured by a raised dragon wing. The next moment, the dragons were launching into the cold air. Bella turned and looked ahead of her. No matter what transpired, there was only one way to move; forward. However, perhaps now, more than ever, she had better take Albel's advice and sleep with one eye open.

They retraced their steps along the Mountains of Barr to reach Vanilla's workshop again. A tense silence continued to hang over them, except for a few small conversations between Cliff and Fayt, and occasionally Maria joined in their chatter. Bella did not say a single word, at least, to the others. She kept strictly to speaking with dragons to try and divert their aggression. It worked for the most part until…

"Bella, I don't think you can talk your way out of this one…" came Cliff's voice, as Bella faced a large air dragon. The previous slaughter of dragons by this group did not go unnoticed. Bella slid her glance towards the others, who were drawing their weapons. Bella glared at them, holding out a hand to signal them to stay back.

"Just go, I'll lead it away. Just go!" Bella said. She was tired of having to kill dragons. This was not why she had come here. She wanted to live in harmony with them, to learn from them. Then again, she didn't come here, expecting the world as she knew it to be in jeopardy.

"But-" Fayt protested.

"Go, or I'll set you on fire," Bella growled. There was a moment of hesitance, but then Fayt nodded his head, and made a dash towards the cave that opened behind a waterfall. The others followed. Bella turned her attention back to the hovering dragon.

"Do not get in my way, foolish human!" the dragon warned, preparing to dive at the fleeing company. Bella shook her head.

"They've killed many dragons so far. Together, they will kill you. Stay back," Bella warned. The dragon swooped down at her, forcing her to throw herself to the ground to evade it. Picking herself up, she looked over her shoulder, and saw the dragon hovering closely behind her.

"You know it would be easy for me to end you. Why did you stay behind, rather than work with them to fight me? You stand no chance…" the dragon asked, its yellow eyes following along her contours, trying again to comprehend the stupidity of the human race. Bella slowly picked herself up, turning to face the dragon.

"You'd be a challenge for them, even working together. They don't have that kind of time! Listen to me, lord of the skies! A threat from beyond our world has arrived, and it could mean the end of everything!" Bella cried, holding her arms out to the dragon in a gesture to show she is not a threat. The dragon extended its long neck, placing its narrow snout close to her face.

"You mean that celestial vessel that reigned searing light from the skies?" the dragon asked. Bella nodded her head. That is probably what it was… Bella thought to herself. She had not seen it for herself, just the carnage left behind. "It only strikes where fool humans are. It does not concern us. Besides a stronger power resonating from here removed that threat," the dragon discounted.

"There are more, and from what I gather, they are even more powerful. Having one of their, er, celestial vessels destroyed, they are likely more angry, and have every intention of destroying everything on this world. That includes you and your kin. So please, don't stand in their way… it was wrong of them to kill your kind, but I tried to dissuade them from it! The less intelligent dragons, however…"

"They have a right to defend their territory," the dragon interrupted. "The conquests of human kind, spreading like a plague of insects, is not something we will passively allow. Not where our land is concerned. We will aid those who prove themselves to us with strength of body and soul, but we will not tolerate crimes against us," the dragon said severely.

"We aren't here to infest the mountains! Once they finish their task, they'll be gone. I promise this to you!" Bella pleaded. Hot, steamy breath pressed against her face as the dragon snorted. He finally landed, lowering himself.

"Then I hold you to your word. If I see you enter this mountain again, once all of you leave, then I will shower death upon you," the dragon said calmly, yet managing to allow a threatening edge into his tone.

"I… I cannot accept that. I… I have other reasons for being here…" Bella stuttered. She'd come this far… only to possibly be banished?

"You CANNOT accept MY terms? Tell me, what reason do YOU have for being here? More noble than saving the world?" the dragon asked imperiously.

"No… it is rather a selfish reason to be here. I had only become entangled in their quest out of pure chance," Bella explained. The dragon waited patiently for her to state the reason for her presence. Bella lowered her head, slowly kneeling. "I… I came here to learn the ways of dragons. I am not here to enslave, insult, harm, or slaughter your kind… I just wanted to be more like you."

"A human who thinks she can become like unto a dragon?" the dragon asked, snorting again. It gave a quick flap of its wings before folding them again. Dust swirled around in a flurry until it settled again. Bella coughed. "Preposterous."

"I don't care if it is preposterous. It's my goal, and I won't be discouraged. Do you want to always despise humans, and keep them low? Or would you rather see an improvement in them? I know I can leave behind the infirmities of human kind, and become something better, at least, someone more tolerable to your noble kind…"

"I've heard enough of your sniveling and groveling. If you want to become like us, you will have to prove yourself, and kissing the dirt is not going to raise your value. You will have to take up your courage and fight," the dragon said, turning his head so that Bella was faced with one of his large, yellow eyes. "I don't mean the lowly dragons that scurry around here, that you have already pitted your wits and strength against. I mean a proper fight, against a greater dragon, and witnessed by our elders."

"You don't mean… but I can't… that's just for…": Bella stuttered, failing to finish her sentences. She felt she didn't need to. A subtle nod and change in the dragon's expression confirmed that he knew precisely what she was trying to say.

"They have produced many worthy humans, but it doesn't mean that we exclusively bond with only their kind. If they are arrogant enough to believe that we are theirs, and theirs alone to seek aid from, then they would not be worthy of our tolerance," the dragon said, lifting its head again. "When you are TRULY ready to undertake this ordeal, return here and call my name."

"And your name would be…?"

"Boaz."