Chapter Thirteen: Undercover

Aaron and the other soldiers undressed the deceased. Washing the armour in a nearby filthy stream. It will have to do. The armour needs to look decent enough to pass through enemy lines. Aaron glances up at Iolene who is sitting quite a distance away from him and Lei.

"Are you mad at her?" Lei whispers.

Aaron tilts his head and continues to scrub the armour pieces. "In a way, But this is her choice... She never used to have any. The only form she had of a choice is to rebel or run away. I am not going to be the one to tell her what to do, like everyone else in her life." Aaron whispers as he glances back up at her again. She looks content as she talks to Lexi. "But yet I am happy to see her, she is here now and I will protect her with my life. Mali knows I will."

Lei smirks as he had other thoughts about Aaron and Iolene.

"What?" Aaron whispers as he sounds confused to Lei as he noticed that smirk.

"Nothing..." Lei says as he shakes his head, trying to shake his smirk away. Lei isn't a fool, he noticed that Lexi and Aaron haven't slept together since that night in Macdan. Especially with Iolene running away to Lei... Lei and Lexi spoke of that night. Aaron wasn't in the mood, he wanted to practice more of his reading. Lexi wanted to do it but did not push him and read the book with him. They never actually slept that night. Lexi understood, their relationship was just a fling. She was not hurt by it all... Being friends is enough for her. She just didn't fully understand Aaron's and Iolenes friendship at that point. Aaron was going to explain to Iolene in the morning... Until they found out she ran away. Then everything of that night went sideways, Lexi and Aaron spent the rest of the night trying to find Iolene. Lei looks up at Lexi and Iolene, they couldn't hear what the women were saying. But it's great seeing they have become great friends.

The northern soldiers remained on guard. One of them sent a crowdrag to the general of what happened. A battalion can claim this trail.

Lexi and Iolene sit next together as they usually do. Sitting on rocks near the stream, Iolene sits like a lady as always while Lexi slouches with her axe holding her balance.

"So how did you get here?" Lexi asks.

"The Empress's clearance..." Iolene smirks as she takes out the lightning medallion.

Lexi chuckles. "I am sure she will be happy with you using the clearance in this way."

"I made my choice. They are just going to have to live with it. Like I did..." Iolene looks down at the stream. It's only a small stream created by the storm that ravaged the area. Then looking up at Aaron and Lei, the armour pieces are finally cleaned.

Lei and Aaron try on multiple sets. Lei finding a set that can fit him just enough. A little large, but tying the straps tighter and to the naked eye it wouldn't be noticeable.

Aaron however is having no such luck... Being six feet tall and muscular, the armour is small and tight. The people of Lan-Se are usually an average size or smaller. But Aaron wanted to try in case anyway, it'll make sneaking into southern areas easier.

Iolene and Lexi watch closely as he grunts in frustration as he tries to wrap a piece around his bicep. Giggling like young girls, Aaron looks up and sees them.

"Oh, so you ladies think this is funny!?" Aaron shouts as he throws the piece away.

Fred rolls his eyes as he tries to flaunt his large bodybuilder muscles to Iolene. She ignored him. Fred knew that the armour was way too small for him. He needn't bother trying... Only wanted to show off. Fred is by the largest out of all of them. Like Aaron, he actually keeps up his exercise routine, even though his fighting skills are questionable.

Frederick Kaiser Prince of Demir, a title he hasn't heard in a long time now. Missing his home as he remembers, his palace and his sexy maids at his beck and call. Now he is on a mission, to be paid a massive amount of money. To help Prince Lei with his problems.

Looking at Iolene he has always wanted to take such a beauty as a wife or a mistress. Bearing him many sons that would make his own father and brothers jealous. If he was back home, she would already be married to him... She will have no say in the matter. All Fred would have to do is tell the family that he will marry her. Since Fred is a prince further down the line of inheritance he will have no problems... The family will still have to give him a dowry no matter how little it is. Money, a dragon, what valuables they have... It is the way of his world. Iolene deserves a prince... Like him. He thinks to himself as he looks at her laughing with Lexi.

Iolene has an impish laugh, innocent and sweet. Aaron gives up on wearing the armour and runs over to hug her and wrestles her to the ground. Aaron refrains his strength as he tickles her. Like they used to do as children.

"THIS WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH!" Aaron jokes.

Beau looks at them and smiles. He remembers when he was a pup as his mother nudged and tickled him. Sitting in the nest with his brother and sister... He forgot such things... As when they got older fun and games could not exist. His father Tyrannous was busy fighting the dragon-human war. He was never the most loving father... Only Ironclad mattered.

Beau stumbles over and nudges the two young humans. He doesn't know why they are having fun... Aaron and Iolene lookup. Iolenes cheeks bright red from blush as Aaron tackles Beau. The dragon is surprised as Aaron tackles him and rolls him onto his back with all his strength. Like a dog, Aaron and Iolene scratch Beau's underbelly. Beau had a minor heart attack as he felt exposed. But it felt good being scratched there!

As the others were playing around Lexi walks over to Lei as he looks an almost perfect southern soldier.

Lexi picks up the armour pieces and begins to change out of everyone's sight. She fits into the medium armour set and binds her breasts. She walks out as Iymp hardly recognised her. But he will always know it is her, even disguised. Her red draconium energy is present in her bones. He need not to worry about losing her in a crowd. They are soul partners, a concept the usual dragon and human do not understand...

Okimi grabs an armour herself and with Lexi's help, she does the same. The armour looked a little big on Okimi, but she didn't mind...

Then it was Iolenes turn. Iolene didn't like the idea of wearing armour that a man has just died in... She swallows as Lexi and Okimi help bind her breasts. Iolene holds her breath, she is surprised at how much they have grown since the previous year. Lexi remarks this... She really is growing up... Every time she bleeds, her future prospects come to mind. One day she will have to bear children. She is the last of her line, She must do this... When and who? She always thought. Akvor wanted to have that privilege... A privilege he will never have.

"FRED! COME ANYWHERE NEAR HERE I WILL CUT YOUR BALLS OFF!" Lexi shouts, breaking Iolenes thought.

"There!" Okimi proclaims as she places the helmet onto Iolenes head. She walks out of the bushes.

"Aw... Look at the little soldier!" Aaron jests as Iolene stumbles into view. She is not used to wearing such things. Very much prefer elaborate garments and dresses. She begins to practice walking around trying to seem less like a lady.

"Women and armour don't mix... Stay with dresses ladies." Fred blurts out. "Except for Lexi, she can pass as a man."

Everyone remains silent as they all make funny faces. Lexi may love to burn other people but there was no healing from that...

"Do you ever shut up?" Lexi yells at Fred after a long silence. "You wish you can be half a man like me."

Everyone else laughs as Lexi strolls over to Fred as he sits looking up at her. "Man or woman it does not matter, I am always better than you..." Lexi was about to close her fist, as Okimi and Iolene quickly intercept her knowing what she was going to do.

Okimi immediately breaks the tension as she needed to teach everyone basic southern protocols. Lan-Se and Unmei may seem similar but their mannerisms are different. Bowing from the waist, always remain quiet when walking around (a challenge for Fred to be sure), and politeness is a must for a civilian. Their accent is even different. Okimi made everyone repeat her many times and every conversation must be done in this style. For Aaron, he admitted this is difficult as his Prisshek accent is always a standout. He would have to practice most of all.

The matter of dragons is going to be a small problem. Unmei is similar to Lan-Se with dragon rights. However, it is rarer to see dragons from other nations. Since the Blue Empire has always isolated itself. Beau can keep himself disguised, much to his detriment. Keeping it up for so long makes him exhausted. But he feels like he is getting better at it every day. He looks a little different to other dragons in the country. But it is no big deal, he can be a mixed breed.

Iymp and Duryss however needed to make up a story. As to why their kinds would be far away from their environment. Iymp looks at Duryss and begins telling their new background story. Saying it in the human tongue so the humans can understand. "So we are dragon refugees from the war of our nations. Being friends, we came here to seek a peaceful life."

"That's a start, it makes sense," Lei says.

Iymp continues on. "We lived in quiet until the war started. We were attacked by northern soldiers, we fled and came across a group of southern soldiers. You lot... And you took us in."

Everyone smiles and nods, even Duryss agreed. However, Duryss mentions that he and Iymp will have to get to know each other better. As awkward as that will be... Their countries have always been at war. Even at times when war has ceased they always mocked each other's cultures. Fred and Lexi will have to do the same. They cannot keep fighting as they did earlier. Even though Fred is really the problem...

Lexi nodded in agreement, her best solution is to ignore Fred entirely. She couldn't stand the man, even if he wasn't from the Green Empire. She still would have hated him...

The women in the group however will have to remain quiet. The northern armies have women volunteers similar to Vulkania. In the south of the Blue Empire, women are not allowed to fight. Even though Okimi knows her father will eventually have to do it. As the armies of the north and Light-Blue Empire greatly outnumber theirs. But it is always best to be safer than sorry.

Aaron simply says that he is a mercenary. A simple story enough... Fred shrugs his shoulders... He doesn't care. But the money makes it worth his while. Same as Aaron he decides to be a mercenary.

It is time to move on, Lei pointed out. The day is going to be over soon.

"Good luck my Prince." A soldier says as he bows to them. "And to you my lady..." He bows to Iolene. Everyone packs their things and begins to leave.

Beau lowers himself as Aaron helps Iolene get onto his back. Beau looks at Aaron for a moment as he didn't jump on.

Lexi gets on Iymp as Fred jumps onto Duryss's saddle.

The group begins to move forward, Iolene looks back having a thought of the fallen soldiers. If I want my home back... People will have to fight for me as they have done for Jona... She then faces forward and breathes slowly. Let's do this...