Rygel started at Crichton's slap on his shoulder. The Hynerian was a lump under a blanket, only the tufts of his bushy eyebrows sticking up.
"Nice to see you brigh eyed and bushy tailed," Cricton said. "It's good to know I slept safely, with you ever vigilant. That's our Sparky."
Rygel shook himself free of the blanket and said, "I wasn't asleep, merely contemplating the most efficient way to defend our location, should we be attacked."
"With your eyes closed?", Chianna snarked, packing away her stuff.
"I'll have you know, such tactical considerations take deep meditation, especially when much of your energy has been wasted awake, listening to you two carry on like a pair of tralks!", Rygel sniffed.
"Rygel, make sure the next time you want to consider tactics, you talk to one of us. That way, we know your tactics will be sound...and not your sleep," D'argo rumbled. "And the next time one of us catches you sleeping on watch..."
D'argo didn't finish. Rygel gulped, then recovered his composure.
"A thoddo such as yourself wouldn't understand my methods, I see," he sniffed, putting his small pack into his hovering palaqin. "I suggest we forget this dren, and find out where the hezmana we are."
"Workin' on that, your Lordship," Crichton said, pointing at the road. "Last two hours, there's been a fairly stead stream of wagons heading what would be northwest on Earth, if the local sun is anything to go by. Not nearly as much traffic the other way. I'm guessing wherever they went is some kinda hub, or something important, interesting, hell, I dunno...beats just sitting here."
"Right," Rygel said. "Let's be on our way then."
He held his head high as his palaquin hummed forward.
Chianna shook her head and said, "That frelling greebol. He's thinking merchants and treasure, that's what."
Then, she seemed to be lost in thought, looked at D'argo, and a sly grin spread across her face.
"See ya in town, handsome!"
She stroked him under his chin and said, "Hey Rygel, hold up! Slow down, before you run into those Frelniks in front of you!"
Rygel stopped, looked around, shot Chianna a dirty look. She laughed and trotted after him.
Crichton looked at D'argo. The two men stared at each other for a moment, then chuckled. They moved on behind the party's schemers, enjoying the moment's peace.
Elsewhere in the world, Aeryn Sunn had been flying for...a long time. She had no idea. She was exhausted. Her Dragon was even seeming drained, listlessly flapping his wings.
Ahead, she saw lights, and what looked like stark grey buildings. Utilitarian, spartan, cold.
And rising to meet her, three black dragons, all with riders...