Disclaimer: Me not owning Dragon Knights. We cool, ja?

Thank you, FireyFlames, for reviewing, um, sorta. By "No Rath" Alfeegi and Lykouleon mean not to tell Rath about Nick and try to keep them apart. I think that plays in later...That's what I'm hoping, anyway. Nick's gonna be bipolar in these chapters. That's kinda purposly. She's trying to figure how to act around these new, strange people. Short chapter, hardly any dragon-hating. Score.

Chapter 5: Keeping up Appearences

"They're keeping me here," She said aloud. "They're not acting right!" Anger swelled her voice.

Just relax. Do you know where we are?>

"Does it look like I do?" Nick asked trying to burn a hole in the wall with her glare.

What did that man say?>

"Nothing. He hates Master, though."

Yes, well, Master is very detestable. Come, let's leave.>

Nick rose and turned to the empty room. "I TOLD YOU HE'S KEEPING ME HERE!"

Don't raise your voice to me..

"Don't play parent to me."

You're alive because of me.>

"I know."

You're alive because of me.?

"I know."

You're alive because of me.>

Nick didn't reply this time. She looked at the white wall in more helplessness than rage. The silence finally got to her. "How?" she asked.

Listen, my child. I won't lead you astray.>

"…But she seems a little strange to me. His Highness' sure got weird taste." Thatz finished saying.

"She seemed well-mannered to me," Rune said as he watched the thief eat his ice cream, "unlike some we know."

"Has Rath met her?" Thatz asked, his mouth full.

"I don't believe so. Why?"

"'Cause he knows I'd like her!" Thatz and Rune jumped back at the sight of the demon-boy.

"Geez, Rath," Thatz said clutching his chest, "give a little warning next time! You about gave me a heart attack."

"You're too young to have a heart attack," Rath mumbled. "Anyway, are we going or not?"

Rune gave the thief a very stern look. "Going where?" he asked.

"No where," Thatz said kicking at the ground, "Just, out."

"If you're going to the dragon fighter's place again-"

"We're not! I swear!" Thatz clapped his hands together and bowed (not like Thatz but go with it). "We're…Meditating!"

Rune hit him on the head. "Like I'd believe that."

"Why are you standing like that?" Rath asked. Then added as a second thought, "I hate meditating, no way!"

"Shut up," Thatz said grabbing the back of the boy's shirt and dragging him away from the elf.

Rune just shook his head. He honestly wasn't in the mood to scold those two blockheads. He was feeling rather content, actually. Almost…at peace.

"Who're you?" A voice said from behind making him jump-again.

"Oh, hello, um, Nick. You remember me right? I'm-"

"The Water Dragon Knight, right…" The girl looked almost puzzled. "I…didn't recognize you from behind."

She looked rather upset. Rune couldn't help himself and asked, "What's wrong?"

She looked up, her gray eyes contained swirling storms different from any Rune had seen before. They cleared when she smiled. "No, nothing Mr. Rune. The Lord said there were three of you. Who are the other two?"

"You met Thatz, remember?" Rune asked as he began walking towards the castle. "And the other is Rath. You just missed him."

Nick followed him, trying to balance on the cracks in the ground on her toes. "I don't understand this place," she said.

"What don't you understand?" Rune asked, though he could probably guess. She had lived with Nadil. That was about the exact opposite of the Dragon Lord. In fact, Rune was surprised to find himself treating the young woman as his little sister. She had that quality about her. However, she seemed different from the last they had met. She was more open, and he reminded himself to keep on his guard, just in case she was still working for Nadil.

"Aren't there any prisons around here? What does the lord do to those you don't obey him?"

Rune had to think. The last he'd seen a prison was in Nadil's castle. He'd never seen anyone but Nadil's minions oppose the Dragon Lord.

"Oh, I get," Nick said. Her tone was morbid. "He kills them. So that's how he rules."

Rune turned. "No," he said forcefully. "You don't say such things. The Lord doesn't have prisons because no one but demons attack his lands. He's a good leader. Why do you question what's good?"

"Because nothing is good," she stated. "Everyone has some hidden agenda. You only joined the Dragon Tribe because you thought you could save your girlfriend and now you feel you have to pay them back. Thatz is only here to steal things and Rath wouldn't like anything better than to leave you all behind."

Rune's features softened. "You should do well not to judge things you do not know, Nick. I only hope you learn to trust us."

Oh, Nick, How stupid you are...

TBC...