Adeena: "Demon child, go away!" *to Suzi*

Rath: "Demon, where?"

Adeena: "There" *pointing at Suzi running down the hallway*

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Knights. I just like tor... uhm, teasing them.

Chapter Five: Sneaking out again?

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Dragon Castle, main entrance hallway

"You look ok. No harsh words from her?" said Alfeegi to Ruwalk as they entered the hallway hand in hand.

"No harsh words but something very ... uhm, unexpected" he replied, giving Alfeegi a quick hug. "We really don't have time to waste in my telling you right now. I hope you guys managed to pack everything we might need for a long journey."

"We packed everything we could think of," replied Kai-stern. "What was with her this morning?"

"She was just being her everyday self. She tried to apologize to you all for the way she treated you. I do hope you'll forgive her – she had to act that way or risk breaking down before she had the chance to talk to me. I should thank you all for delaying that encounter but I think you were wrong in doing it, so I won't."

"What?! We tried to keep you from getting hurt like you were when we thought we lost her years ago" Tetheus said. "We didn't want you to go through that again. We weren't even going to tell you who she was until Sarazar made her prediction."

"Calm down, all of you" Adeena said from the doorway. "What's done is done. Let's get going Ruwalk, Zoma. We have a long way to go. We'll talk when we get back" to Alfeegi, Kai-stern and Tetheus.

"See you later" said Ruwalk as he, Zoma and Crewger follow Adeena's lead by gathering up their packs and walking out the door.

"They didn't even say goodbye to the Lord," said Alfeegi. "Couldn't they have waited a couple of minutes?"

"It's alright. We said our goodbyes upstairs" came Lykouleon's voice from behind them. "I hope you wished them well" as he turned and walked away.

"Huh?" came from three different throats in startlement.



In the streets of Draqueen

"Can I ask you a question Adeena?" came from Ruwalk after they'd been walking about ten minutes.

"Sure" she replied.

"Why do we have four packs when there's only three of us?"

"There will be one more member to our party. He's a little tied up right now but Raseleane will see that he's not too far behind" came the reply as she turned onto the street leading out of town right near the gates.

"Oh. Who is it we're waiting for?" he queried.

"You'll see" she said and deliberately walked a little faster, managing to put some distance between them. "Come on. We'll be meeting him outside the gates."

And so Ruwalk, Zoma and Crewger moved to catch up with her as they passed through the gates.



Dragon Castle, main entrance hallway

"You are not going with them," said Alfeegi sternly.

"What gives you the idea that I would?" asked Lykouleon in return. "There is business to attend to here after all" as he headed for his office with the three Dragon Officers following.

"Lord, could I see you for a minute?" asked a female voice from an open door.

"Certainly, Cernozura. Gentlemen, if you would wait in my office" as he stepped into the room from whence the voice had come and shut the door behind him.

"Let's go," said Tetheus to the others, pulling slightly on Alfeegi's arm, as they continued towards Lykouleon's office. Upon entering, they see Raseleane sitting behind the Lord's desk.

"What are you doing here?" asked Alfeegi suspiciously.

"Taking over while Lykouleon's gone. Sit down. We have much to do" She replied, indicating chairs at the table and moving towards one herself. "Don't bother trying to catch him, Alfeegi. He's long gone by now."

At which statement Alfeegi turns back around and goes to one of the chairs. Tetheus and Kai-stern follow suit and soon the group is deep in discussion about current problems within the kingdom.



Fields outside Draqueen

"Do we have to wait much longer? I promised Cesia I'd look after her and protect her. I can't do that standing around here" complained Zoma.

"Not much longer" replied Adeena, pointing towards the gates. "There he is."

At which statement both Zoma and Ruwalk turn to look for their traveling companion. Crewger, however, had already started running towards him.

"It took you long enough" Adeena said icily. "Let's get moving" and started walking again.

"Sorry. Had to dodge Alfeegi" replied Lykouleon, taking one of the two packs from her as he walked beside her. "Hello Zoma, Ruwalk. Nice day to be traveling" and he started whistling.

"The Dragon Lord?" asked Zoma in surprise.

"Yes" replied Ruwalk with a slight smile. "He's also a Dragon Knight, and it appears this journey is going to need all five if we're to be successful. Come on, before they get too far ahead."

And so the party moves onwards towards the faerie forest, there to try and locate the Dragon Knight of Water and convince him to tag along with them.

Adeena: "Party of 4. Do they become a party of 5? How fast can these 4 move? You'd be surprised. Tune in next time, same Bat, scratch that, Dragon Channel, same Dragon Time."

Suzi: "Boo!"

Adeena: "Rath!" *indicating Suzi*

Suzi: "Eeepp!" running away as fast as she can.