Disclaimer: All characters and names belong to the creator and owners of Dragon Knights and are being used for a fictional and nonprofit story by a fan.
UnforgettableNow with more calcium!
Chapter Twelve: Blood Relations
"That girl is a menace!" Alfeegi yelled. "A horrid! An absolute Rath times a million! HORRIBLE!"
"And you're screaming about this why?" The Dragon Lord asked. He couldn't help asking again. Alfeegi was so funny while explaining.
"She…She…! It's too horrible to say again!"
"It's not that bad…" Lykouleon tried.
"Yes it is! My lilies! My begonias! All ruined!"
"Not to mention the demolished garden shed, the, ah, derailed west wing stair case and a few doors a hundred feet high missing from the throne room but hey, the flowers are a lot more horrifying." Lykouleon laughed heartedly.
Alfeegi couldn't stand to look at his lord. "I wouldn't mind so much if the entire perimeter of the palace didn't look like a battle ground!" He was referring to the five foot trenches the young lady had dug to dig up all the flowers which now made the palace look like a haunted house sitting atop the hill with it's own mote (if anyone knows how to spell the word correctly, tell me please). The blond while escaping from Alfeegi had done all the other damage. Except the doors: they were still wondering about those.
"How do you think she managed in dodging that pillar you threw at her," Lykouleon mused, "I mean, it was seven inches from her head when she slipped on that rug…"
But Alfeegi was too traumatized to even function in the reality of his world and utterly shut down as he muttered curses and nonsense on the way to his room. The Lord was still in tears about the situation when he noticed two bright, gray eyes peering at him from around the doorframe (the door being misplaced and all).
"Come in, come in," Lykouleon said whole-heartedly to Nick. "He's gone, you're fine."
When she entered, the girl was on the verge of tears. His Highness' laughter hadn't stopped just yet and she felt even more horrible.
"Come here and sit next to me," Lykouleon smiled at her. "I won't bite, promise."
The remark made her cringe, though she wasn't sure why.
"I…I s-sorry…M-mister Dragon Lord," she managed to say without crying.
"Of course you are," the Lord cooed. "You aren't evil, and it was a mistake. An accident, alright? Don't worry, we can plant more plants. You could even help if you wanted. Would you mind telling me why you chose to pick all the plants around the palace, though? It is a bit curious."
"I just wanted to pick some flowers for you. And Rath. So you'd like me. And Mr. Tetheus because I thought something pretty would make him smile. Oh, and for Lidan when he comes back."
Lykouleon smiled at the innocence of the girl. They hadn't had that since Rath's child years. It was somewhat refreshing. "I like you fine, Nick. I only wish you'd feel more comfortable here. As for Rath, I think he's actually quite taken with you. I'm sure you impressed him with your Anti-Alfeegi maneuvers. Who is Lidan? I don't believe I've ever heard his name before, though it sounds familiar."
"Oh, Lidan's very nice. He's my dragon! My mentor and healer and best friend and father. We're inseparable, except when he occasionally leaves. I should introduce you to him when he returns. He's never gone for long."
Curiouser and curiouser. "A dragon did you say? What kind?"
Nick suddenly got a chill. She had forgotten it's meaning, however. It was the sense that she shouldn't be sharing information but in was unidentified to her mind since Lidan's healing session.
"A black one," she said.
A black one! Lykouleon was instantly thinking back to the rain, the blood, the village. He had seen a black dragon that day. Running right up to Nick, before anyone knew who or what she was. Actually, now that he was thinking about it, no one still knew anything about that girl drenched in blood.
His thoughts were interrupted by a polite knocking on the doorframe.
"Yes, come in."
Ruwalk entered, looking amused. "What happened to the doors?" he asked. "And the railing on the stairs?"
Nick turned a shade of red.
"Never mind that, I'll tell you later. Call it renovations." Lykouleon waved him over to join the two at the stairs before the thrones. "What is it you came for?"
"Is this the girl of everyone's concerns?"
"This is Nick. Nick, this is Ruwalk. He was the one absent from the dinner last week."
"Nice to meet you, Nick," Ruwalk said with a smile.
"Um, hello," she squeaked.
"What news, Ruwalk?" the Lord asked again.
"From Delte. The girl's fortune. Would you like me to wait until we are alone?"
"It's Nick's fortune, she has a right to know." Lykouleon looked to Nick for a conformation from her. None came. Nick's eyes were glued to the floor. Honestly, she had desire to hear it again.
"Well, it seems that Nick has not merely been captive to the Demon Lord." Ruwalk cleared his throat. "They are related. We're not sure how, just yet. Only that Nadil and Nick hold a common bond with one another."
Well, Lykouleon thought, things just got more complicated.
To Be Continued...
Anti-Alfeegie maneuvers not included...