Chapter Thirty: A surprise Guest

Iolene smiled non-stop as she saw the beginning of the festivities. The fans, the lanterns, the fashion, the smells, the mood. Everyone is happy and dancing saying for their grand prince to be married. Everyone dressed in colours except blue, the draconium power of their city.

Aaron and Iolene walk arm and arm down the long line of market stalls. With Mali and Beau following close behind. Iolene had to convince Aaron to see the festival. With Mali in turn convincing Stein to let Iolene leave the palace to see the festivities for a while. Aaron feeling anxious keeps sharply looking around everywhere. Holding onto her tightly making sure she doesn't wander off. Which he knows is always in her nature.

People and dragons prancing around throwing leaves like confetti. The last party he has seen is when King Marlowe and his family visited Watersgate.

"Look, Aaron!" As Iolene pulled his arm to a nearby stall of various jewellery.

"They look so pretty!" She says excitedly clapping her hands. Being a sheltered girl from a priest monastery, she never thought she would attend a royal wedding. She remembering talking to some of the women priestess apprentices who come back with jewellery and trinkets.

Mali sneaks a few coins into Aaron's hand. Aaron raises his hand and looks at the coins.

Iolene after looking at the necklaces turns to him. Aaron looks at Iolene with a blank expression. He has never bought anything before... As a slave he is already fed and only has the great sword on his back.

Aaron mumbles for a moment. "Which one would you like?"

Iolene has the largest grin he has ever seen he couldn't help but smile.

Iolene looks and holds each necklace and hair clip carefully.

"A beautiful necklace for a beautiful young lady!" The merchant says as he holds a heavy and gaudy necklace. Iolene shakes her head no. Aaron decides to take a look at the hair clips.

A beautiful large silver and light green dragonfly hairclip get his attention. He pokes Iolenes attention as she gasps at it.

"It's so beautiful! I love it! So sparkly!" She holds it gently in her hands. Holds it up to clear sky as the jewels sparkle in the sun.

"You want that one?" Aaron asks shyly.

"YES PLEASE!" Trying to contain her excitement by not shrieking.

Aaron looks at the coins confused. With Iolene being distracted by the clip. Mali gives Aaron quick instructions of how to use them. Aaron pays the merchant.

Iolene then quickly turns facing her back to him. "Can you please put it on?" She kindly asks. "Sure" Aaron then clips it into her hair.

"Thank you!" She says with tears in her eyes.

Beau raises his nose to the variety of different smells. It has been a while since he gets to walk free. Hoping his magical disguise is enough. Like Aaron, he isn't invited to the wedding. Not of noble birth... He sighs as everyone is feeling the exact opposite of him. He is healed but feels different and lost.

He decides to watch Aaron and Iolene from a distance. He hated humans... He hated them so much... He is watching them have fun.

He misses Iymp as he is with Lexi to prepare for the wedding.

"Beau! What do you think?" Iolene shines her clip in front of him.

He nods yes in approval. Iolene then drags Aaron away to other stalls.

"Iolene!" An old woman shouts.

Everyone turns back to take a look at her.

"Eleya!" Iolene shouts as she runs to her letting go of Aaron.

Eleya having healed from her bout of the flu. She remains at the palace cleaning with the servants.

"It is time Iolene! Time to prepare for the wedding!" Eleya gently taps Iolenes hand.

"Well... Aaron and Beau. Have fun in the festival. Don't get into trouble!" Mali saying with his cheeky grin waving his index finger. He then holds onto Iolenes hand as they walk away.

Aaron waves as Iolene looks back and waves in return.

Aaron then drops his hand and wanders around. Beau walking next to him Side by side. They both remain quiet as they witness the festivities.

"Do you want to train?" Aaron asks as it is the only thing he knows.

Beau shrugs his shoulders and groans. Aaron chuckles. "Alright, let's go..." Aaron grabs Beau's long chin as they walk into the palace to the training arena. The place is empty as all the soldiers are in the city and protecting the palace.

He scratches Beau's forehead as he nudges Aaron.

Aaron then begins to jog around the arena. Beau in a moment follows as he trots next to him. Aaron looks to his right as he sees him matching pace. Aaron then runs faster. Beau looking and matches his speed. It was in a moment they were running in full speed together. Both having large smiles on their face as they race to the other side of the arena. Beau winning by a small margin.

"You have gotten faster!" Aaron says excitedly. Beau smiles with confidence. The dragon relieved that he is no longer crippled by his curse.

Aaron leaps back to his bag and takes out his rice balls and dried fish. Beau runs a long way around as he sneaks behind Aaron. Quickly magging and stealing his rice ball.

"HEY!" Aaron shouts as he chases after Beau. The dragon trotting with superiority as he eats the rice ball. Beau smacks his lips as he enjoyed the flavoured rice ball.

Aaron sighs as he knew the rice ball is gone. Throws his arms up in defeat as he returns to his bag. He grabs out another rice ball and rips it in half. Waving Beau to come forward to give one of the halves.

"Ugh!" As a loud familiar voice shouts out.

"Fred?" Aaron shouts as Beau looks at the tall man. Beau has never seen a human so huge. Large muscles, brown hair, white skin with large green tattoos covering him.

"You aren't going to the wedding?" Aaron asks as nicely as he could.

"NO!" He pouts. "I don't want to be around these weird-ass snobs anyway." He kicks a rock away in frustration.

"Do you want a rice ball? I have some dried fish?" Aaron holds a ball up to him. Some sort of peace offering for the other day.

"No... I do not touch anything a slave has touched!" Fred says as he snubs Aaron away.

"But... Slaves would have cooked your food in your palace?" Aaron points out.

"Shut up!" Fred says with venom in his voice.

Beau rolls his eyes. These are the kinds of humans he hated. He expected all humans to be like Fred... But he met Iolene first. It took Aaron a long while to warm up to him. But even then he knew Aaron had more of a kind and shy nature.

Aaron shrugs his shoulders as he rips another rice ball in half and gives it to Beau. The dragon happily eating it. He has never had anything like it before. Soft and delicious he thinks to himself.

ROAR!

A large bellowing roar can be heard. As a large bull dragon walks into the arena. Beau stands up with pride as he sees another male dragon.

"Who is that?" Aaron asks.

"Duryss my dragon! He has been living his own life. None of your business anyway... Although he can kick Beau's ass any day of the week."

Beau is taken aback by such a comment and he growls.

"Why are you such an ass!?" Aaron asks as he couldn't stand his attitude any longer.

"What's it to you? Slave!" Fred then flips Aaron the finger.

Aaron sighs and remains sitting eating his food. While Duryss walks past Beau ignoring him.

Aaron looks up at Beau as he looks down at Aaron. "I will never understand men like him. He is not the first and not the last..."

It was quiet and only the festival can be heard. Aaron then stands and stretches his back. They then run around the arena together some more. Like before Aaron leaps high and grabs onto the window of the palace. It is a small bedroom for no one. It is empty and bare with nothing of value.

Beau looking impressed as he sees Aaron sneak in. He roars to get Aarons attention. And Aaron looks down at Beau from the window and waves. Beaus waves back with his tail.

Aaron smiles as he looks over the horizon. However, something gains his attention. A small human figure sneaking around the arena. Something Aaron wouldn't have noticed if he was on ground level.

Aaron jumps out of the window and lands on a wall. He runs across quickly signing him to stop roaring. He does.

Aaron then focuses on running across the arena on the wall. The person jumps up doing parkour up the palace. Aaron trying to shout at the guards but it was too late. They get stabbed in the back.

ASSASSIN! Aaron thinks to himself. However, his shouting has caused the assassin to notice him. The assassin raises his hand and reveals an arm gear. It shoots small shurikens in a crossbow fashion. Aaron tries to dodge them however a few scraps his arms and causes him to bleed. Aaron had no choice but to take cover behind a wall on the roof. He rips his shirt and wraps them around his arms. Aaron pretending that the pain doesn't exist.

He then looks above the wall and sees the assassin walking towards him. Assassins have no choice but to kill everyone who sees them...

Aaron quickly realises he left his weapon on the ground floor near Beau.

SHIT! SMART AARON SMART!

The assassin then jumps to Aarons right side and attacks him. Aaron slides away quickly missing a throat slash. Aaron kicks the assassin knocking him over. Aaron has a detailed look at the assassin.

Wearing sleek detailed black draconium armour. His yellows eyes glowing with power as he sees Aaron as a target. He is no assassin from the Mordecai. He is from the Black Empire. Aaron full well knowing that they are never up to any good. The soldier Leaps at him!

Aaron using his fists manages to punch him away. Aaron then charges at him! The assassin dodges every attempted hit and ones up him as he mag pushes Aaron far from the palace building. Aaron free falls twenty stories waves of panic as he couldn't grab onto anything. Aaron fearing that he was going to die closes his eyes embracing for impact.

But in a split second, he can feel his fall slowing down. He opens his eyes as he sees Beaus face in front of him. He couldn't help but smile with relief. Beau grabbed him with his mag powers and holds him close to the ground.

"Thanks, Beau!" He says softly and gratefully.

"But we have to warn everyone that assassins are afoot! Let's go!" Aaron says as he and Beau race together to the palace.