Dragon2

Dragon's Gate

(A VS side story, post Fledgling)

notes: //...// thoughts; //...// Chang talking in Waking world; "..." Kildean; shonen-ai, language

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The sprawling caravan camps on the outskirts of Xian were considered an area worth avoiding for anyone who could manage it. Ashley kept a firm grip on his blade as he wearily pushed his way through the crowded alleys. He had no interest in providing a pick-pocket an easy dinner. The city was doubly disorienting for him after his extended visit to the more mountainous, depopulated areas of the south. The secluded temple there continued to flourish, unmolested by recent border disputes and revolts. As usual he had enjoyed his time there immensely, selfishly delighting in the restful atmosphere. It had become something of a pattern over the past century, to take a break at least every two decades for a year or two, and lose himself in the nameless routes and mountains of the vast Asian continent. He had learned early on that to be an immortal in the West, and remain in the same place for more than a decade, would lead to nothing but trouble. He slowly mastered the art of living many brief lives. The wanderer attempted to remake himself as uniquely as possible, traveling to new areas and forming ties and friendships sparingly. In the end he always had to move on before his neighbors could become suspicious, so it made no sense to grow too attached. It would have been a lonely style of living if not for a few carefully chosen exceptions. The gentle monks at the temple were one of them. In Venice, his next destination, there lived another.

// I wonder how long it'll take my message to reach him. //

It had been over a month ago that the lengthily note had reached him, the small mechanical bird fluttering over the wall of the garden and almost falling in his lap while he meditated one afternoon. The little clockwork construct had all but fallen apart due to distance it had traveled, but Ashley had been delighted both by the letter and by the innovation apparent in the little silver bird. It had taken several days to determine how it was manufactured, and three times as long to make the appropriate repairs and improvements, but he was certain his reply would fly more swiftly and safely than it had arrived. The Riskbreaker was constantly amazed at the improvements /science/ was making in the world, even among hard-line magical circles. The changes were starting to come faster lately; he was almost certain on his arrival in Italy he would be greeted by a wave of new inventions and ideas from the past five years. But there was still the matter of reaching the distant city. Hence he found himself wandering the caravans once more, searching for a group that was westward bound.

There were any number of ways to cross the miles back to Europe, but ever conscious of drawing attention to himself, Ashley found his choices rather slim.

// I could go by myself, but even running the whole way, 'twould be a tedious way of spending two months, and I'd need a spare pair of boots. I could magic myself there, but traveling that distance in one jump would likely make me sick for a week, not to mention any apprentice with in twenty leagues of Venice would know /someone/ had arrived... I could summon a dragon to carry me across the waste, or a wind elemental, but neither is entirely trustworthy, nor are they subtle in the slightest... Which leaves us with more mundane transportation: the caravans, or the ships. //

The knight had gone drinking once in the eastern port cities, and had heard the tales of the sailors; the decision had been an easy one to make. He deftly deflected a pair of sneaking hands from his pack and pushed further toward the edge of the bazaar. The braying camels were being meticulously inspected; large bales of rugs and carefully wrapped lacquer-ware were being loaded onto the long wagons. His height and build easily caught the eye of the group's quartermaster, and the small scarred man quickly waved him over.

"Looking for work?"

"Heading west?"

"That we are." The wizened man grinned appreciatively at the set of swords at the knight's waist.

"Pay?"

"Four hundred--half now, half in Constantinople, is good?"

"Yes."

"We leave tomorrow, I'll show you the wagon you'll be walking." He limped quickly along the row of carts. None of the other laborers or mercenaries gave the knight a second glance. Ashley's hair, having grown out considerably and been dyed black, was tied back into a traditional braid. His dark tan could almost pass for local, but he easily towered head and shoulders above the other men. Ashley sighed when he arrived at his post; he had been assigned tail position. The prospects for the long journey suddenly looked considerably bleaker.

// Serves me right for signing on late... well, this will be fun. //

The wagon-driver waved sympathetically at him as he stored his pack and joined the man in the shade of the bales of silk. "Welcome to the dusty-end, my giant friend. I admit, I was cursing my fate until you came along. We're dead last, you know. When we're not eating the dust of the first fifteen wagons, we'll be tripping over their garbage, or getting caught in their ruts, or being beset by savages, what a world... The rest of the muscle is all striplings, but if you can fight half as well as you look to, we ought to be fine, hmm?"

"All trials can indeed be overcome..." Ashley murmured a greeting to the other guardsmen lounging in the shade around the loquacious driver, and curled against the wheel to rest out the midday heat.

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"You found yourself transport then?" Sydney idly dangled a finger in the stream to flick a spray of water.

"It leaves tomorrow. I'll make Venice in...oh, about six months I suppose... probably less... depends on the roads really." The knight observed the blonde's fidgeting a moment longer before setting his book aside on the grassy bank. "Something troubles you."

The mage did not respond for a moment, staring contentedly at the gentle roll of the meadow and the sandstone walls of the tower perched beyond. "Perhaps..." He flashed a knowing smile. "You do seem to have the worst luck when traveling, you know. But I am cautiously optimistic."

"The last time was a fluke..."

"Right, and what about the irate coven of witches in Russia?"

"I was in a hurry, they were in my way, it couldn't be helped."

"And the time before that."

"How was I supposed to know those things had a mating season?!"

"And the elves?"

"We're not ever mentioning them again."

"Ashley, you're hopeless. You know that, right?" Sydney was still laughing when he was scooped up by a strong pair of arms and pulled into the tall grass. Warm brown eyes stared down at him as he was pinned to the ground, a hint of a smile playing around the corners of the larger man's mouth.

The knight exploited his temporary advantage to nuzzle the now exposed skin on the blonde's neck before fixing a stern gaze on him. "But you love me anyway... right?" Sydney rolled his eyes in merriment and kissed his nose.

"Oh, I suppose..."

Ashley snorted in amusement. Eyeing his tempting captive for a moment, he toyed with the idea of forgetting the conversation in favor of other things, but then decided they could wait. "Good. Now how about you tell me what was truly bothering you. You had your 'I've got bad news' look about you earlier. Out with it... it can't be that unpleasant."

The mage made a face and shifted them both until he was comfortably ensconced in the dark man's arms. "No. Merely inconvenient. I received a message from Müllencamp earlier."

"...And...?"

"I am to be called away on an errand for a little while. She has some chores she'd prefer I take care of..." Sydney grinned as he felt the knight bang his head once on the ground in frustration.

"Again?! Is there /one/ neglected, murky corner of this multitude of realities that she hasn't yet sent you to with instructions to 'Dust and dust thoroughly'? It takes her a decade to think of something for /me/ to do, but she has /you/ hopping every couple of months, it seems... At least since that party a few years ago..."

"Ashley, that was a 'lifetime' ago...some sixty years almost. And 'tis hardly more than one task every year or so..." The knight's snort of irritation ruffled his hair. " As I recall, your attendance was required on the last one. 'Tis not like you're being left completely to your own devices. Her timing is just poor, that's all. I dislike being out of touch when you're traveling."

"Her timing is /always/ poor. 'Tis part of her charm."

"That's one way to put it, yes."

Ashley shifted to look the mage in the eye. "I can take care of myself, whelp... but what about you? There's nothing that I'm doing that cannot be delayed..."

The smaller man shook his head. "There is naught but the Dark where I'm headed. Well... and lots of 'dust' as you are so fond of saying..."

"... and no idea of how long you'll need..."

"Time /is/ subjective..." Sydney airily waved at the sky. The sun was hanging low in the sky as the wind direction began to shift, a land breeze rippling through the leaves of the nearby oak. It would be dusk soon.

"When do you leave?"

The blonde gave him a quizzical look before pretending to think deeply. "Well, she did say 'As soon as possible'... Shall I go now, do you think?" The knight stood and hauled the teasing man back to his feet.

"It can wait." He steered the smirking cultist back towards the coast of their merged domain.

"How romantic." Sydney returned the taller man's amused glare. "Oh... and I have already told Chang that he's to keep an eye on you. So you can bother him if you need anything. I took the liberty of /not/ telling Livia... although I'm sure she'll stop by anyway..."

Ashley snorted again. "One of these days she's going to fling herself at me and I swear I'll shove her head through the tabletop. Not that it will stop her incessant /talking/..." He winced at the memory of the aristocrat's irritating voice.

"Oh you can't do /that/..."

The Riskbreaker gave his partner a curious look. "You've never expressed any familial loyalty before..."

"/Forget/ family... I would just hate to miss it! If there's going to be anything painful and/or embarrassing happening to that woman, I want to be there." Sydney's wolfish grin drew a bark of laughter from the knight.

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// Sand... sand... sand... bandit... sand... // Ashley shook some of the blowing grit from his hair in a futile gesture and kept a marginally interested eye on the tell-tale lump of 'rock' set back from the trail. The well-hidden man was likely a scout for the local group of thieves, and as soon as the caravan was past, would retreat back to their cave and report.

// Wonder if they'll bother us... 'tis been almost a week since the last group tried... // He resumed his contemplation of the burning sands on the horizon. // I hate desert... just another month of eating grit. Next time, I find a 'no-sand' way of getting back and forth... // With a sigh the knight cast his gaze backwards. The 'rock' was on the move, scuttling over the small dune and disappearing. The other guards trudged along wearily, unaware of anything amiss. It had been a mere month since they had set out from 'civilization' and they were already well past the last of the inhabited rest areas. All that waited ahead now were the miles of desert, the occasional well-used oasis, and an assorted collections of cutthroats. The wagon-master was once again singing off-color folksongs to his camel. Ashley sighed. It couldn't be Venice soon enough.

The Riskbreaker slipped once more into a bemused reverie, his idle mind making vague plans for his arrival and the destination beyond the familiar watery city. A bath figured prominently in most of them.

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" There's been a slight change in plans, /darling/... "

Sydney snapped his wandering attention back to the goddess with a startled, "What?" She merely smirked and rearranged herself on her stylized throne. It vaguely resembled the bastard child of a golden whale and a small couch; it was also fuzzy.

" Don't tell me you /wanted/ to go monitor the flows in the borderlands... No, I passed that little chore on to Titus. He needs to get out more. For you I have saved for a slightly more interesting task... "

The blonde vaguely wondered if it was too late to run screaming. He and Ashley had long since learned to be wary when Müllencamp tossed the word 'interesting' around. It was usually synonymous to 'painful' or 'life-threatening' or some combination of the two. She appeared to be decided, however, and fixing his smile firmly in place he nodded in agreement.

" Always such a /good/ boy... The job's quite straightforward actually. I got a request for help the other day from an old friend. It seems her Underhill is having a bit of a problem with humans trying to stir up trouble. Usually this wouldn't be a problem for her, but Ulie is about to enter a regenerative cycle and her powers are at their lowest. I told her I'd send /you/ since you have the most delicate touch. "

" Thank you... I think... " Sydney digested the information slowly. " So this is to be a militant sort of 'assistance'? Perhaps I should fetch Ashley... " He thought briefly of his last experience with a fairy realm. // Hobgoblins... and forest spirits... and giants... and /elves/... oh this'll will be a grand way to keep my promise... 'Yes, Ashley... nothing's going to happen... very /dull/...Don't worry!' Ha ha ha... oh dear. //

" What? Ashley? Didn't I tell you? Chang's borrowing your Riskbreaker for a bit; something about dragons... Besides, given the man's track record with Underhills, I think it best he sit this one out. " Müllencamp smirked. " He may be handsome, but he's no politician. "

" /That/ was a simple misunderstanding. "

" Of course it was. " Sydney was positive that the woman was laughing despite the lack of evidence. " /Anyway/. You are to do your best to settle these things /verbally/. These people are nobility, not bar-brawlers. But remember you are there as a sign of /strength/; a demonstration or two may be in order. Stall any political maneuvers that may cause her problems until after she Regenerates, and keep the trespassers from causing too much trouble. Come back as soon as it seems she has things well in hand once more. And /enjoy/ yourself Sydney...your Chosen will be well looked after, I have every confidence. "

// That makes one of us... // The mage simply nodded again, and watched as the woman stood and opened a glowing portal with the flick of a wrist.

" Since you /are/ going as my official representative, I've taken the liberty of temporarily re-establishing your direct link to the Rood. Ulie's realm is far enough from here that you might feel a strain otherwise. I trust you'll use it discretely? "

" Oh, of course... " His all too innocent expression gave Müllencamp a moments pause before she laughingly waved him through the gate.

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" /Ashley/! "

The knight fumbled and dropped his jeweler's screwdriver, promptly losing it under the table. He bit off a curse at the unexpected distraction.

" Where are you! You giant walking man-mountain! " The sharply accented voice continued on, unapologetic as it drew closer to the workshop. Chang's head eventually appeared in the workshop's doorway and almost missed the crouched form near the table. "What in the hell are you doing?! Hiding?"

"No." Ashley continued to examine the grooves in the floor for any sign of the delicate tool. It was /gone/. With a sigh he hauled himself to his feet, cracking his head on the edge of the table on his way up. The Mongolian was very careful not to laugh as the larger man patiently caught himself and stood, rubbing his head and muttering.

He stared at the assortment of delicate gears and springs on the table. " What's all this then? More of your bizarre weaponry? "

" No, actually it's more of a toy. I was thinking I'd make something for the whelp... but so far it goes slowly... " Ashley shrugged and scooped the pieces back onto a tray and put them on a shelf. " Now... what can I do for you? But make it quick, I'm pulling triple shifts in the Waking on this trip so I can't 'sleep' long. " His eyes went distant a moment as he tried to gauge the time in the Waking World.

"/Triple/?! How short staffed /is/ this caravan? What happened? Somebody drive a wagon into a zone of shifting sand? " Chang raised an amused eyebrow.

Ashley shrugged again and led the man outside. " No, we had a fever sweep through at the last oasis. And the last bunch of bandits was semi-competent... but there are still plenty of guards. I just take the extra shifts so that the younger ones can get some more rest. Not like I need it. Before I was Rood Bearer I used to get by on four hours of sleep a night... Strange that I sleep /more/ now, but then I do have things to do /here/ as well... "

" Yes... Not to mention the Cub would be un-amused if you decided to spend less that two hours a day with him... But that's a whole other issue. Ashley, I've spoken with Müllencamp about a certain... /problem/ I have... and she has agreed to let me 'borrow' you for a short period. Luckily for you, it's only a little out of your way. " The short man smiled cheerfully. Ashley gave an eloquent snort.

" So. What's the problem... " The Mongolian's smile turned sickly under the impassive gaze.

" Well... 'Tis like this... "

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Sydney's dark cloak fluttered menacingly behind him as he was quickly escorted through the halls of the rambling castle. He didn't really need the escort; he had already absorbed the layout of the surrounding territory, the most recent political intrigues, and all other relevant information he needed from the minds of the two unwitting representatives who were waiting for him at the gate. But what they didn't know, he had no interest in telling them. The courtiers watched the cultist stride past with curious faces, following him with their eyes as he was shown through the large doors at the end of the hall. He was the first visitor Lady Ulie had allowed in weeks. The mage gave the reclining woman a small smile and waited for her to dismiss the others from the room.

"You must be Lord Sydney. Forgive me if I do not rise to greet you as a proper host should. I'm currently... not at my best."

"So I have been informed."

"I will introduce you as my personal councilor for the period of my... 'confinement'. Müllencamp assured me that you have some knowledge of politics?" The frail-looking woman fixed him with a steely gaze.

"I have already acquainted myself with the particulars of your current troubles, my lady, and I have every confidence in my ability to smooth out these difficulties. Might I ask how long you anticipate this... regeneration... taking?"

She flicked a strand of hair behind a delicate pointed ear. " Not long, three weeks at most. It wouldn't be an issue, but these /raiders/... they are raising a Hellish amount of trouble. It needs to be dealt with /immediately/, but I'm... well... "

"I understand."

The elderly monarch gave him an approving smirk before pulling the bell for a servant. " I'll let you get to work then. You can probably trust /my/ retainers. I wouldn't rely on the court for more than a knife in the back if I were you."

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// I wish Sydney were here... //

Ashley was careful to keep that commentary to himself as his phantom companion continued to grumble; it wouldn't do to antagonize the Mongolian. The small man had arrived and promptly began ranting on his favorite subject over three hours ago however, and if the Riskbreaker had to nod in agreement one more time to a "dragons are really a superior society" comment, he would have to kill something, anything.

// Or alternatively my head will fall off. That could be amusing... for about a minute. //

They had left the caravan at midnight, disappearing into the sandy wasteland while the others slept. The knight didn't feel too bad for the absence. There were no bandits detectable for miles and he didn't plan to be "lost" that long. With any luck he could perform this one chore and be rid of his occasionally irate neighbor before he did anything permanently damaging to their relationship. Chang's ghostly presence was nothing like the mage's. Ashley hadn't realized how accustomed he had grown to the blonde's soothing aura until he had allowed the smaller man into the Waking world. The Mongolian's thoughts, so alien in nature, were almost abrasive. He morosely eyeballed the next sand dune's height and slowly slogged after the floating specter, the desert night winds sending his robes tangling around his legs. They arrived in the valley just as dawn was lighting the sky. It looked initially like a nondescript sort of place; reddish rock walls protected it from the ever-present winds, and at the floor an odd collection of boulders were tucked into a small grotto. If it weren't for the massive skeleton on the far side of the sandy area Ashley wouldn't have looked twice. The dragon bones, worth a small fortune, lay bleached and dead, exposed to the bright sun. The creature must have died some time ago.

// Which is why we're here. After all, /someone/ has to be here when the little ones hatch. Someone has to guide them to where they'll be looked after. That someone being Chang, of course. I just have to be here to make sure nobody else gets a different idea. A motherless hatchling is easy prey, apparently, although I have a hard time imagining how a dragon could /ever/ be easy prey... //

Still, the knight took a closer look at the 'boulders,' sensing the life rippling just beneath their thick weathered surfaces. They had lain undisturbed for over a year, and according to his current partner they could be ready to hatch in a matter of weeks or maybe even days. The sturdy-looking shells were actually at their most vulnerable in this final stage of development, and Chang was determined that they should keep constant watch until the dragon-pups could be evacuated to safety. Any hope of being able to rejoin his caravan before they left the desert was long gone, but it wasn't as if he needed the money. He settled himself higher on the rocky wall and prepared to keep his vigil.

// 'Tis a good thing Sydney isn't waiting for me, this could take a while... and with nothing to do but watch Chang mother those damn things... Should've brought a book. //

Ashley reached into a deep pocket and pulled out a tattered sketchbook and writing supplies. There was a new design to be thought about, and there was little else to do. Below him the ghost continued to coo over the softly thrumming eggs, whispering encouragement to them in their hissing tongue. To say the man was protective of the nest was to describe a sand storm as 'a bit of inclement weather.' The knight shook his head in disbelief and, carefully blotting the quill, continued his notes.

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// Strange being solid again... Pity Ashley isn't here. 'Twould be a novelty to be together with him in some place not of my own making. And it would certainly /liven/ this place up a bit... God I'm /bored/...//

Sydney tapped a finger against the elegant woodwork, randomly making the pattern into a little song. The elder statesman continued to drone on, unaware or uncaring that the majority of his audience was already snoring loudly. Reaching out with a delicate probe, the blonde absorbed the gist of the past half hour's lecture as well as the realization that the old man had no idea what he was talking about. He resisted the urge to bang his head on the table.

"Right then. /Thank you/. You can sit."

"But I'm not done!"

"Yes, yes you are. Trust me." The mage gave the old elf a small mental /push/, and the speaker found himself tottering back to his seat and sitting down before he realized what was happening. "Are there any reports left?" Several hands shot up, "/Relevant/ ones?" All but one of the hands were reluctantly withdrawn under his steely gaze. The remaining elf, a border scout, looked positively terrified to be left the center of attention.

"You. Report?"

"Y-Y-Yes Sir. Ab-b-b-b-bout the human activity, Sir."

// A stutterer. Of course... what else...//

Sydney thought for a moment before producing something he hoped resembled an encouraging smile. He hadn't needed to use one in years.

// I wish Hardin were here. He was always so good with /people/... they /liked/ him... and Ashley can at least do that 'I look completely capable and trustworthy' thing... with me they always shake in their boots and /stutter/. I /hate/ that...//

// Of course it probably has something to do with the fact that I could annihilate all of them with a look. Isn't that always the way. Although I have to admit, the thought is getting more tempting by the moment. //

"S-S-S-Sir, we've pin-pointed the general location of the B-b-b-b-breach. There's a soft spot deep in the Darkin Woods... it's very d-d-d-dangerous there! The army is afraid to go!"

"Figures."

"S-s-s-sir?"

"Oh, nothing."

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Ashley sighed in boredom as he carried a calculation onto the next page of the rapidly filling little book. He was starting to run out of ideas. The sun continued to beat down relentlessly, a prefect repetition of the weather for the past several days. Hot and baking by day, cold and shadowy by night, it was a remarkably uninteresting piece of real estate that he was guarding. It was only made worse by the fact that he had been staring at it for over one hundred hours without pause. Ashley sighed, this time in amusement. Yesterday he had officially broken his previous unwritten record for "days without sleeping," it wasn't something he had been particularly looking forward to. Chang continued his restless patrolling of the clutch of eggs with single-minded intensity, seemingly unaware of time passing. The Riskbreaker stood and stretched, scanning the horizon for a way to relieve the tedium. When the answer came, he was not amused.

" Chang, I think you'd better get up here. "

// Why? What do you see? //

" Company. "

// Crap. //

Both men stared morosely at the black wavering smudge on the horizon. Making out details was difficult at the extreme distance over the desert sand, but Ashley had a definite hunch that the troop heading their way /wasn't/ bringing good tidings.

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"This lying two-faced son of a troll stole my rarest, most valuable Golumn! I demand restitution! I know the law!"

Not bothering to open his eyes, the mage slouched further into the lavish throne and started massaging his forehead. It did no good, the headache was there to stay. He pulled a little power from the Rood and wove a healing spell.

// Do these people /ever/ shut up? Why the hell do I get stuck with the /stupidest/ bunch of pixie half-spawn in all creation?!//

// Because any other elf worth his spit wouldn't be allied with the /Dark/. Egotistical-Light-Loving-Bigoted-Separatist-Pricks... //

// True, but at least /those/ elves have culture. Not to mention higher brain functionality... //

Sydney cut off the twelfth rant of the day with a wave. "Shut up! " He glared down at the current pair of supplicants. "Do you people /ever/ stop whining?! No wonder Ulie has to regenerate every 500 years! 'Tis only a marvel she doesn't do it /more/ often! I swear the /next/ person who speaks out of turn in my presence will be in considerable pain!"

"But My Golumn!"

"That's IT!" The mage bit off a cantrip and watched as the little man began shrieking and jumping around, trying to beat out the flames. Eventually two guardsmen tripped him and rolled him in a carpet until the danger had passed. "I trust I've made my point? Next time I won't be so gentle. Now. You." The blond pointed a gloved hand at the defendant. "Yes, or no. Did you steal his golumn?"

"..."

"/Well?!/"

"..no sir..."

"Truth." The cultist sighed with relief and turned his attention to the smoking plaintiff. "Now. /Why/ did you accuse this man of stealing your golumn?"

"Because he /did/! I have witnesses!"

"Lie." Sydney smirked at the blustering elf's startled expression. "Try again, you can do better."

"Well... he was /going/ to steal it!"

"Lie."

"Well... he's a /troublemaker/!"

"/Really/..." The statement was more of an opinion than a falsehood so the cultist let it slide. "And why is that?" The paunchy elf said nothing.

"... If you please, sir..."

"I do."

"This isn't about the golumn at all..."

"Truth! Pray, continue."

"...Well...'tis about his daughter, Moiré... she and I are in love you see..."

The mage blinked in amazement and then buried his face in his hands, defeated. "... You mean to tell me this is all about a /girl/?!"

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Ashley wiped the blood from his face and took a moment to get his bearings. All around him bodies lay in haphazard piles. The brigade of "egg collectors" was now little more than a stain on the moonlit sand. He grabbed the nearest body by the legs and dragged it further away from the lip of the valley and onto a pile.

// Well. That's done with. God, what I wouldn't give for a bath... // Once the sun rose, he could only look forward to the way his soaked clothing would stiffen. He grimaced in self-pity. // And then there'll be the smell... //

// ASHLEY! IT'S TIME! //

// Oh God. I want to go /home/. Check that, I want to go anywhere /he/ isn't... //

" ... Coming... "

The Riskbreaker carefully made his way down into the shadowy crevice to stand beside the glowing ghost. The giant eggs were beginning to thrum with power. One or two were even beginning to wobble slightly.

// Come on! Come on! You can do it! /Push/! You're almost there! //

Ashley resisted the urge to start laughing at the smaller man's eager antics. The eggs continued to gently wobble, seeming to pay no attention to the pep talk. " Chang? How long do you expect this to take? "

// Soon now... only another sixty or seventy hours... //

Demonstrating the god-like patience that had made his reputation as a man eternally 'cool' under pressure, Ashley briskly nodded his head and returned to his post higher in the small chasm. He made certain that the litany of curses he was murmuring under his breath were in a language the Mongolian wouldn't know.

// 'Soon.' /Right/. //

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"The Humans are /attacking/, my lord!"

"Really?" Sydney sat up, the delight on his face not reassuring the panicked courtiers in the slightest. "Thank God. Where?"

"The forest..." The short soldiers scurried out of the way as the cultist all but sprinted out the door.

// Finally. People I /can/ kill. // Examining the large map in the courtyard, the mage found his desired destination, checked his pockets for a few useful items, and blinked out of existence.

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The band of mercenaries stared in dismay at the cloaked figure that appeared out of thin air to block their progress. They were prepared for sentient trees, lesser dragons, trolls, orcs, hobgoblins, pixies, even the elven guard, but /this/ was unprecedented.

"Maybe 'tis a wraith..."

"Or a demon..."

"Or a banshee..."

Sydney rolled his eyes at the murmurs and threw his hood back. "Oh /please/. Don't be stupid, wraiths don't have /feet/, demons don't live in /live/ Underhills, and banshees are /girls/! Don't you know /anything/?!"

"... He looks sort of like a girl..."

"... loud too..."

"... but we haven't turned to stone..."

"... I think he has to 'scream' first..."

"Don't tempt me." The mage felt his headache coming back with a vengeance.

// I'm surrounded by /morons/. How would /Ashley/ handle this situation... oh yes. He'd probably start breaking things. //

"Right, I suppose I ought to give you fools an ultimatum or something. How about 'Get out and I won't have to kill you.' There, that sounds about right..."

The mercenaries eyed the man in disbelief. "Like Hell! We're here for the Leavenwood! And we're not leaving until we get some! For God and Country!" Sydney smiled beatifically at the surging mob, arms spread in welcome.

"I was so /hoping/ you'd say that." With a flourish, Sydney tossed the contents of his pockets into the crowd. The fine sand spread with unnatural ease through the gloom, settling onto everything in sight. "Congratulations gentlemen, you were right. You're never leaving." Sydney smirked. "You are all about to be come a permanent part of the local scenery. Remember to stand up /straight/, please!" Pausing a moment to gather his will, the cultist began to chant. The men collapsed, writhing in pain.

// They can't do anything right. They even make stupid trees... //

Sighing in frustration, the mage finished the enchantment and shook his head in disappointment. The new grove of trees was twisted enough to resemble a mangrove.

"Ehhh. Close enough." He began to leech off the residual life energy hovering around the clearing, using it to repair the weakened section of boundary between the Underhill and the Waking world. "At least 'tis quiet now..."

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Ashley had long given up any hope of getting through the next few days with his sanity. He was beginning to find the most random things intensely amusing. A lizard crawled along a nearby rock, the quick movements of its tongue mesmerizing. He scratched another small mark in the wall next to fourteen of its fellows.

// Not good. If I go much longer without sleep, I'm going to start hallucinating... // Rubbing his face with a dirty hand, he scanned the horizon. There was no sign of anything but miles of baking sand. Vultures had stripped the recent carcasses in less than a day. He had found them the sorriest, scrawniest vultures he'd ever laid eyes on. // At least /someone/ had a good day lately... //

// ASHLEY! IT'S TIME!!! //

// If he says that once more, I swear... //

The Riskbreaker could swear he heard his joints creak in dismay as he stood up. He was /tired/. Staggering into the slightly cooler shadows he stared, impressed, at how several of the eggs were exhibiting massive cracks, strange cooing sounds coming from within.

" Wow, they're hatching... "

// Of /course/ they're hatching! They've been hatching for days! //

The large man simply nodded, refusing to argue the point. " So... Do I help? Or do I sit down again... "

// You /are/ looking a little ratty... why don't you wash up or something? //

Ashley simply /stared/ at the man.

// Oh, /Right/. No water. Sure, now that the shells are breached... go ahead and help, just /be/ /careful/! //

" Right. "

Methodically assisting the mewling lizards by the simple expedient of pulling the breached eggs wide open to let the contents flounder out, in less than an hour he could sit down again, watching in amusement as the kits flocked around the happily crooning ghost.

// That's /right/. Who's a good baby...? You are! Yes! Welcome! Once you guys feel up to it, we're going to go some place grand! There will be lots of people to take care of you and pamper your every whim! //

// Wow. // Too tired to feel more than mild fear at the Mongolian's too-cheerful tones, the Riskbreaker idly watched one of the clumsy creatures start waddling his direction. It sat at his feet and 'cheeped' curiously.

" Hello. "

It cheeped again.

" I have no idea what you want. "

The glassy eyes blinked mournfully. With a defeated sigh, Ashley reached out to give the cute creature a pat on the head. A second later he was calmly attempting to swallow a shout. The baby, though small, still possessed the lightening reflexes he had encountered in its larger cousins, and had unerringly succeeded in attempting to swallow his arm. Feeling the sharp teeth, already over an inch long, penetrating his hand and forearm, the tired man analyzed the situation to the best of his ability. He gave up.

" Chang. If you don't get this little bastard off my arm in the next thirty seconds, I'm not responsible if you're one dragon short on arrival. "

// What?! Oh God... No Mateo! Bad! Not /food/! // The ghost rushed over to assist.

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"What do you mean 'marriage'...?" Sydney was feeling decidedly cornered as he carefully maintained one piece of furniture between himself and the decidedly amorous High Lady. Young once more, the elf was startlingly beautiful, and apparently feeling rejuvenated in more ways than one. Ulie was a young and energetic sixteen; an eager one too.

"You'd be a perfect consort! You /have/ to stay. Imagine how beautiful our /children/ would be... and how /powerful/! I really insist!" The mage ducked another attempted 'pounce' and grimly deflected the glamour spell.

"Look, I'm /flattered/... /really/... but I have to go!"

The determined elf stomped her foot in irritation. "But you can even /dance/... it would make weaving the spellsongs so much easier if I had a focus like you to partner me. We'd be unstoppable!"

"I'm not a dancing girl, I don't do it for hire."

"Come /on/. Name your price."

"This is embarrassing!"

Perfect pink lips formed into a pout. "You don't like me, do you. You think I'm ugly..."

Sensing the argument had taken a turn for the worse, Sydney took the opportunity to edge back towards the door. "Now, I /didn't/ say that..."

"You brute! You ... you... Human! Get Out! /OUT/!" The mage took the threat at face value, demonstrating his grace by spinning on a heel and bolting for the corridor.

// If I /ever/ go to an Underhill again... // He ducked the first two vases, only to have the pot of lilies smack him in the head. Shaking off the fragments and patting the welt on the back of his skull, the cultist moved out of range and pulled the transport spell out of the air, fed by the Rood's sympathetic response to his irritation. // I want out! Out! Out!... /Home/! //

Sydney staggered to a relieved stop on the sandy beach and gazed at the familiar surroundings in joy. Later on he was vaguely proud that he didn't fall to his knees and kiss the ground. // Ashley will laugh himself sick when he hears about this. He'll never let me 'go solo' again... // The complete truth of the statement took a moment to sink into his relieved brain, but when it did, he paused in thought. // But if he never finds out... //

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The abandoned oasis, when Ashley finally arrived, was a Godsend. He fell face forward into one of the pools of water, not caring if he sullied it. He could almost feel every cell of his parched body attempting to absorb the moisture.

// Never... /ever/... /again/... //

When he was fairly certain he could open his eyes without seeing double, he pulled himself to shore and happily gulped down some of the now muddy water. He had been walking for almost two days to reach the next oasis along the caravan route. It was officially mid-afternoon of his twentieth day without sleep. Ashley looked up at the lazily bobbing top of the palm tree and began to laugh for no reason, not caring if the smile hurt his sunburned face. // Stupid... When Sydney finds out, he's going to /kill/ me... // The sobering thought provided him with enough energy to haul himself out of the water and attempt to structure his thoughts. // Well... Ideally, he'll never find out. He hates 'riding' along with the caravan anyway... So long as I make good time to Constantinople, he'll never know the difference... // Course of action decided, he curled up in the shade and fell blissfully into a deep sleep.

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The Riskbreaker found Sydney in the library. The blonde was curled in the oversized chair, books stacked around him in a haphazard pile.

// He looks as tired as I feel. The whelp must have just got back... Good, then he won't have noticed how long I've been away... I hope. //

Careful not to wake his mage, Ashley smiled in contentment and gently lifted the smaller man, carrying him upstairs. It wasn't until he had settled them both into the bed that the cultist cracked a lazy eye.

"Ashley...?"

"Indeed."

"You look... really tired..."

The knight grinned, "You're not much better off, whelp. Long trip?" He swore he saw the blonde twitch at the reply but wasn't certain if it was from suspicion or something else.

"Something like that... 'Tis good to be back. But you've been gone over a day... Been busy lately?"

The dark man eyed his sleepy lover, cautiously choosing his words. "Something came up, but it was pretty dull, really. Yours? When did you get back?"

The cultist's smile was perfectly innocent. "Less than a day ago. As for the chores, nothing happened worth mentioning... very dull."

"Ah."

"Indeed."

// Well, he bought it...//

Ashley pulled the blonde closer as he allowed himself to doze off. Whatever the reason, the mage seemed genuinely unaware of any attempted concealment. The Riskbreaker was grateful for the small blessing, well satisfied with the fall of events.

// I didn't even have to /lie/... //

Sydney settled with relief into his customary place against the large man's chest, the strong arms supporting his back. He carefully counted the blessings of loving a 'simple man.' The knight's implicit trust was both gratifying and unnerving.

// Thank God. //

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notes: Two words, "Odd couple"... anyway... another non-sequiter story for you. Just another day in the life, and a good example of why the two of them prefer to work as a team even though they are more than capable of going solo... They need someone to help them cope with the stupidity at the world at large... or something. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Lunar

(4-12-2001)

www.roodinverse.homestead.com