Adeena: Peace and quiet *looking pointedly at Rath and Alfeegi who have their mouths taped shut with duct tape*
Lykouleon: Was that really necessary? *pointing at Rath and Alfeegi*
Adeena: Would you like to join them?
Lykouleon: *sweatdrop* Uhm, no. Are you ready to continue the story?
Adeena: *smiling sweetly* Of course.
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Knights.
Thursday
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The next day Rath found her in the library. She was reading a book about the differences in statecraft of the nations on Dusis, dry reading as far as he was concerned. He decided he could interrupt her, she had told him to bring her the form when Alfeegi gave it to him after all.
"Selora, could you help me with this?" he asked placing the form on the table in front of her. "You said you would."
She smiled at him and then scanned the form. She picked up the pen she had been using to take notes and quickly filled in the appropriate spaces and then showed him where to sign.
After he signed the form, he held his hand out to her to help her rise from her chair, saying "Ready to go face Alfeegi with me?" She smiled as she took his hand and stood. Together they walked through the corridors to Alfeegi's office.
Upon receiving permission to enter, Rath opened the door and motioned Selora through, then followed and closed the door -- to avoid anyone overhearing Alfeegi's answer to his request of Selora going with him to get his sword. He moved around her to Alfeegi's desk and handed him the form saying "Here's your form. Can we go get my sword now?"
Alfeegi took the form and looked at it. It was extremely legible, an oddity he would need to check out. "Who filled in your form Rath?" he asked curiously.
"I did" came a soft voice from behind Rath.
"Why?"
"Because he asked me for help. In exchange, he granted a request of mine" once more the soft voice came.
Alfeegi signaled Rath to move, indicating he wanted to see who was behind him. When Rath did as requested, Alfeegi saw the young lady from the garden. He'd seen her around the castle, mainly in Raseleane's company, but did not know her name, not having been introduced to her yet.
"And you are?"
"Raseleane's cousin, Selora" Rath said. "I asked her to fill out the form so you would be able to read it. My writing gets sloppy when I get excited, you know that."
"For which service she gets what?"
"To go with me to pick out the sword. She said she could find Fire's true sword" he said in a rush.
Instead of saying anything, Alfeegi just gave Rath a look of are-you-out-of-your-cotton-picking-mind and then turned to Selora. "Is what he says true?"
"Any particular part or the whole thing?" she inquired with the beginnings of a smile.
"The whole thing" came Alfeegi's starting-to-get-irritated reply.
"Mostly. I suggested the deal, not him" she replied with the same smile.
Alfeegi just looked at her.
"Everything is in order, isn't it?" she asked, not showing it but starting to get a little worried.
"Yes. Let me check with the Lord. You two stay here" as he walked out of the office heading towards Lykouleon's office.
"We're not in trouble are we?" she asked Rath as they waited for Alfeegi to return.
"I doubt it. I think we shocked him" came the light-hearted reply.
They only had to wait a few minutes for Alfeegi to return. With him came Lykouleon. As they entered the room Alfeegi said "Are you two ready?"
Rath looked at her and grinned, then said "Ready, but why is he here?"
"I'd like to see how Selora picks the sword" replied Lykouleon with a gentle smile for both the youngsters in the room. "I was unaware of there being a specific sword for the other dragons."
"If you're ready, we can leave now" Alfeegi said, signaling the others to leave the room. The group proceeded to traverse the castle corridors and then the paths outside to the door behind which the swords were kept.
As he opened the door, Alfeegi said "Remember Rath, leave the big one alone. Find one of your own, not the Dragon Lord's."
"Alright, you've said it enough for today already. Selora, do you need a hand?"
"That would be nice. Thank you, Rath" she replied taking his arm as they moved into the caverns. Lykouleon and Alfeegi following slowly behind.
"Where's Fire?" she asked after a few minutes. As soon as she asked, Rath's hair moved on its own and Fire appeared. He'd been even smaller than usual and had hidden himself in Rath's hair. She smiled as he moved from Rath's shoulder to where her hand was resting on Rath's arm.
As soon as Fire touched her hand, she lost almost all awareness of where she was and stumbled. Rath quickly steadied her. As she regained her balance, Fire moved to her shoulder instead of Rath's, causing Rath to look at him curiously. But instead of saying anything to him, Rath asked Selora "Are you alright?" noticing the distant look to her eyes.
At the sound of his voice, she turned her head towards him and said, in a strange monotone "Yes. We go that way" pointing to the right hand passage in front of them.
Rath continued to guide her stumbling progress until they came to a dead end. It appeared there wasn't anything there, just rock.
"Selora, are you sure this is where the sword is?" Rath asked as he stared at the rock face. "There's nothing here but rock."
"So trusting of your physical senses only" she sighed. Reaching up she lifted Fire from her shoulder and held him out to Rath. "Here. Take him, close you eyes if you must, and walk forward. There is a ledge about five steps in front of you. On it lies the sword for Fire."
"Ok" he said skeptically as he put Fire on his shoulder. "If you're sure" and at her nod, he walked forward and into what appeared to be solid rock. After two steps he disappeared from view but they could clearly hear his exclamation when he found the sword.
When he came back into view he was carrying a sword slightly smaller than Lykouleon's that had a red glow around the blade, as if it were on fire. He was grinning from ear to ear with delight and Fire was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Fire?" asked Lykouleon.
"In the sword. He practically jumped in when he saw it" Rath replied, taking a few practice swings with the new sword. "This sword feels great. How did you find it Selora?"
"Fire told me" she replied with a smile. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to see the sun before it sets. Can we leave now?" turning to Alfeegi and Lykouleon with a pleading look in her eyes. They nodded and the group left, locking the door behind them and separating upon exiting, each to his or her own pursuits.
Lykouleon: Do you have problems being in closed in spaces?
Adeena: Yes. Any other silly questions?
Lykouleon: Just one. Are you going to untape them sometime?
Adeena: Next chapter, if Suzi doesn't do it first.
