Saphira awoke when the sun set. Slate's tail had curled around her own in the night. He had moved so that their sides were touching. He yawned, and caught her staring.

For warmth, he muttered.

Of course.

Warmth in the middle of the desert.

Saphira crawled from their cave, Slate following her closely. Beating their wings, both dragons lifted into the sky.

Neither spoke of the bickering the night before. They flew in silence.

Saphira caught herself watching Slate closely. He had truly changed. What had happened to the puppy that followed Súndavar's every move? The cocky, self obsessed dragon that couldn't put together a sentence? He was an equal now.

His powerful wings formed eddies in the air as he stroked them. His golden eyes were focused straight ahead, never straying from his goal.

Slate didn't notice Saphira's examination of him. He felt her presence beside him like a fire, burning in his mind and heart.

No, he told himself. Shadow needs you. Think of Shadow.

But as hard as he tried, his mind kept straying. The female dragon that flew at his side captivated him in a way he had never been captivated before. Her scales shone like magic in the moonlight.

Besides, he scolded. She is older. Stronger. She would never accept you.

What is age when you have eternity? The other half of his mind argued.

The dragon shook the thoughts from his head. You're being silly. Stupid.

Stupid. That was all. Silly.

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

"It's ill luck, I tell you! Ill luck!"

The slaver's eyes flicked to his fellows nervously. "They're fay. Least she is. A witch! Look at the bird, he's under her spell!"

"Aye," agreed another, drawing his horse alongside the first. "And what of the eldest? He's elf blooded, you can be sure of that."

"Selling magic is worse than selling your soul to the devil!" cried one in fear.

"Not even the devil would wrestle with fay!"

Hane turned his horse to cut off their path. "Any more fuss and you'll join them!" he growled.

The group of slavers settled into uneasy silence. Several exchanged fearful glances.

"Don't fear them," Hane continued strongly. "They're worth ten times more than the others."

One slaver dared to meet his single eyed gaze. "It won't matter what they're worth if we're dead."

Hane narrowed his eye. "They're in irons. The irons have been spelled. What more do you want?"

The slave dealer shrugged.

"This conversation is over," Hane concluded. "Think of the women and mead of Dras-Leona we'll buy with the gold when the fay is off our hands!"

The men cheered, worries banished by thoughts of riches.

Rune and Cladi watched them from their cart, the children huddled around them tightly. Cladi had untied them all, knowing the slavers would do nothing.

"We're stuck in the cart," she had said when Rune asked what she was doing. "Even if we got out, there's nowhere to run."

"Dove, will you always be with us?" asked a little girl who called herself Princess.

"I suppose not. We can't all be sold in Dras-Leona, can we?"

Cladi shook her head. "Some of you were born in these carts. Some of you will die here. But wherever we end up, we'll always be together in our dreams, right?"

"Our Dreams of Freedom," they coursed.

Cladi smiled at them like a big sister, her hand on her stomach. Rune touched her tenderly, feeling the baby kick inside the other girl. Cladi gasped in pain, biting her lip. Her eyelashes fluttered like a wounded butterfly.

Rune caught her hand. "Cladi!"

Cladi let out a tiny breath, her body shaking.

"It's coming soon, isn't it?"

"I…I'm fine…" Cladi muttered between clenched teeth. She forced her eyes open and looked around, pain in her gaze. Rune squeezed her hand, looking for reassurance.

Cladi gasped again, falling back against the cart's side.

"Arianna!" Rune cried, the elf girl dashing to her side. "Hold her hand. Cladi? It's going to be alright. Don't worry."

Beads of sweat were beginning to break on Cladi's brow. Rune darted to the cart's front, peering out at the horses that pulled it. A slaver rode on either side.

"Hey!" she cried. "Hey get over here!"

"Shut up," one of them growled, not looking back.

Rune clenched her fists. "Get over here!"

"Pipe down, slave girl!"

Rune bit her lip in concentration. What would get them to pay attention to her?

"Hey, ugly! Get your fat butt off that pony and help me!"

They both turned, eyes blazing.

"Cladi's baby is coming!" Rune yelped.

"You're the witch," one sneered. "Help the whore yourself."

Tawnyclaw bristled from where he perched on the top of the cart.

Attack?

No. They're not worth it, Rune answered. She turned back to a gasping Cladi.

Hope have mercy, she prayed silently.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Matrix smelled blood. Dragon blood. Her nostrils flared with the marvelous scent, drinking it in like mead. Her heart turned.

Dragons.