Adeena: Update?! Update? Is that all you people can think to say?

Suzi: What do you expect? They don't have access to your notebook.

Adeena: *hits Suzi and knocks her out with the notebook of death*

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Knights.

Chapter Nine: Off to the Library

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Decision time: dawn next morning

Around dawn the next morning the group started discussing what they were going to do.

"We're getting to be too many to hide," said Ruwalk. "We should send a couple back with news."

"I agree," said Lykouleon "but how do we keep the ones we send back safe?"

"By dragon" came Adeena's voice from the edge of the clearing. "We send Kitchel and Ringleys to the faerie forest on Earth and Kai-stern to Draqueen on Water, with their Knights of course."

"Why not send Ruwalk instead of Kai-stern?" asked Thatz. "And why send me to the faerie forest instead of Rune?"

"Because Kai-stern lost a lot of blood the other day and needs more rest" replied Rune quickly.

"And Rune would want to stay instead of returning" remarked Lykouleon with a smile for Rune.

"Oh. So what will the rest of you be doing while we run them to their destinations?"

"We'll be waiting for you right here," answered Lykouleon.

"Why do we have to go?" asked Kitchel.

"Because you will be protecting what you were sent to find, and Ringleys needs to be returned to the faerie forest – he's one of very few faeries left," answered Lykouleon. "I agree with Rune's assessment of Kai-stern, so he will be going back. Zoma and Ruwalk will continue, mainly to keep the rest of us on track."

"Thanks, I think," said Ruwalk. "What's this?" to Kai-stern, who was handing him a folded piece of paper.

"From Alfeegi" came the reply. "No, I didn't read it. I didn't need to – he was a bit agitated when he handed it to me. Should Rune and I wait for a reply?" But he got no answer because Ruwalk had quickly read the note and walked into the woods towards the stream.

"There will be an answer," Adeena told Kai-stern as she got up to follow. "Finish making your preparations and plans" to the rest of the group.

"Should we let them alone?" Kai-stern asked Lykouleon.

"Yes. This is something she needs to know and he's the one who should tell her" came the calm reply.

She came up quietly behind him. Wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his back she said "Tell me about Alfeegi."

"How did you … never mind. We'd always been friends; you know that, as part of the original group. He was the one who was with me the most after we returned to the castle. Somehow he dealt with everything I did and said – he saw me through the worst of it. We grew to be even closer friends until … " and he trailed off into memory.

"Until?" as she squeezed her arms together causing him to have trouble breathing.

"A few months ago. Something happened to him on a mission – tore him apart. I tried to help him the way he'd helped me but …" with a slight smile and a dreamy look on his face that she couldn't see.

"Let me guess. Things got extremely complicated – emotions got out of hand – you two declared an undying love for each other," she said in a contemplative tone. "And now that I've finally returned, he's jealous of me and afraid of what I might do to this relationship. Right?"

"In a word, yes," replied Ruwalk. "I don't know what to tell him. I love you both and I don't want to lose either of you."

Moving to face him Adeena said, "Tell him."

"Tell him what?" as he put his arms around her, holding her close.

"What you just told me" came the reply. "Someone packed writing materials in my pack. Just leave me a little space at the bottom of your note so I can write a quick message to him too."

"Ok" he said and gave her a kiss that left both of them wanting more. "Let's go. I'm sure Rune would like to get going sometime today."

So they return to camp and she digs out the writing materials. While Ruwalk writes his note she gets something to drink. Ruwalk hands her the note, which she reads and hands back saying in a stern voice "Fix it."

Kai-stern watches as Ruwalk writes something on the paper and hands it, and the pen, to Adeena. She reads what he wrote then writes something herself. She then folds and addresses the note, then turns it over and seals it before handing it to him saying "No peeking Kai-stern. That is strictly for Alfeegi's eyes. If he wants you to know what's in it he'll tell you."

About this time Rune walks up and says "Ready?"

"All set" he replies slipping the note inside his coat.

"Hurry back Rune. We don't have much time" says Lykouleon as he clasps the young Knight on the shoulder. "We'll wait here for you and Thatz. Take care Kai-stern" and the two move off to where Water was waiting for them.

"Everything ok back home?" Lykouleon asks Ruwalk, who blushed a bright red before answering affirmatively. "Good. I hope things work out for the three of you" watching Rune and Kai-stern leave before helping Zoma clean up from breakfast.



Moving on, next day

The two Dragon Knights returned late that evening and reported no problems making their deliveries. All had gotten a good night's sleep and were packing to move on as Adeena prepared a hot meal for them. "It's ready" she called. "Eat quick. We need to get going."

They all ate quickly, then sorted themselves for traveling. Ruwalk was riding with Lykouleon, Zoma with Rune, the packs with Thatz and Crewger with Adeena. When all were ready, they took off; heading for the last place anyone had seen either of the two they were searching for, Mt. MFartha.



Dragon Castle, Alfeegi's office

When Kai-stern entered his office after breakfast Alfeegi thought nothing of it. He had seen the other man arrive, via dragon, yesterday and knew he would eventually get around to checking in, especially since he knew Alfeegi was waiting to hear about Ruwalk.

"Want your mail?" Kai-stern asked with a teasing smile "or just my report and what funds I have left?"

"Your report and funds first, then my mail" came the reply, echoing back from the desktop since Alfeegi had his head bent over the desk studying something.

"Ok, but I thought you might be more interested in this" waving the note from Ruwalk and Adeena under his nose.

"Give me that!" Alfeegi said, snatching it before Kai-stern could pull it away. He quickly broke the seal, smiling as he read Ruwalk's part of the note. When he reached the section Adeena had written he got a confused and distracted look on his face, which caused Kai-stern to ask "Is something wrong?"

"Huh?" as he tried to refocus his thoughts. "No, nothing's wrong. Have you seen this before?" taking a piece of paper and drawing something on it, then passing it to Kai-stern.

After looking at the paper a few minutes, Kai-stern replied "Yeah. I seem to remember a book in the library with markings like this."

"Yes!" said Alfeegi, smacking himself on the forehead. "How could I have forgotten?" and quickly left his office heading for the library. So intent was he that he didn't notice Tetheus just barely able to move out of his way.

"Where's he rushing to?" asked Tetheus of Kai-stern as the latter emerged from Alfeegi's office and closed the door.

"The library. He got a note from Ruwalk and Adeena, and it had some writing in it he couldn't decipher. Seemed rather important to him that he be able to" came the reply as they started down the hallway together.

"Ruwalk and Adeena? How'd that happen?"

"I gave Ruwalk Alfeegi's note, he must have shared it with Adeena while they talked in the woods. She followed him after he read Alfeegi's note and when they came back she made him write a reply. When he finished she wrote something at the bottom and sealed it. I have no idea what the note said so don't ask. He took it with him."

"I hope it's something good. Don't need another officer moping about" implying that Kai-stern was.

"It seemed to be" came the reply as Kai-stern turned down another hallway. "See you later" and stuck his tongue out at Tetheus' back as Tetheus walked away smiling a real smile.

While somewhere in the library stacks "Yes! Here it is!" from Alfeegi as he pulls an old worn book off the shelves and starts flipping pages. "Aha!" as he finds the symbols he was looking for. Quickly working his way through the symbols on the note, he reads Adeena's final sentence, which causes him to blush, but still makes him so happy he starts whistling on his way to dinner.

Adeena: Chapter nine over. What was it Adeena wrote to Alfeegi? Wish I knew but even I don't and I'm writing this story. Maybe the answer will appear in a sequel.

Suzi: The sequel is already written, fool. She finished the sequel before she finished this story.

Adeena: Hush demon child!

Rath: Demon?!