Nixiesocean: Hello! Okay, so maybe it isn't five seconds. The point is, that reviews take such little time…

I know, I've relented, but I had a stroke of genius!

Responses:

Osmuda Regalis of Daybreak: (to both) Mira's just ten! But, I guess… if you want to see her as suspicious…. go ahead… (wink). Ceara's story was shorter. I guess I wanted a Ceara POV without doing another seventeen chapters, (lol).

Simplegrl007: Fine. Your reviews count as two. Fair? Sadly, no, Mira doesn't tell her story until next chapter. (sigh) gotta love cliffs. (wink). Ceara's rather honest, yeah. How can you forget about my recurring villain? Probably because I don't talk about him much… (sigh) Wanna be my beta? You give me the best ideas… maybe your reviews subconsciously affect my stories (attempts to push simplegrl007 out of her head)!

Read, enjoy and review!

-EDIT-

Lord Coven's age has been changed from 20 to 30. Thank you simplegrl007 for pointing that out… (oops!). I forget things like that sometimes… Now it's actually biologically and logically possible…

-END EDIT-

Chapter 19: Mira's Father

Mira's tears stung me. What right did I, Ceara Adele, have to put such a sorrow-filled tale upon this little child? I brushed a tear away from her similar face. She had delicate features, like all dragons, and her brown eyes were shining with unshed droplets.

What right did I have?

"Mira," I whispered. "You don't need to tell your tale; I'll be okay until you are ready."

She shook her head. "If I don't get it out now, I'll get scared about it, and not tell anyone." I nodded, breathed deeply and waited for her to speak.

"I was born a Gold Dragon." She told me for clarification. "My mother was a servant, a commoner you might say, and my father…" She trailed off, eyes sparkling. I waited patiently. "My father was… is…" I held her hand tightly. She barely gave me notice.

"My father is Lord Coven."

- - - - - - - - - -

"How do we find it?" I asked, wanting to find Ceara as fast as possible. Something deep inside me told me to hurry, it was like a heartbeat. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

Normally, I listened. This was one of those times.

"We have to find the Red Oak," Fiona explained over again, since I wasn't listening the first time, "And then, find the root that looks like it was scarred by fire. After that, we follow the way the root points, 'til we get to the clearing, it will be surrounded by trees of every color of Dragon: Silver, Gold, Blue, White and Green. We go to the tree of the color of the Dragon-Ruler."

"And, how, exactly do you know that?" Everett said. Syan and Sara were quietly talking back and forth, ignoring the older people – not that I consider myself old.

"My ex-husband told me one night," And she blushed.

"I see. Are you sure we're going the right way?"

"Yes."

- - - - - - - - -

Lord Coven paused outside of the Dragon-Queen's parlor. He heard two voices, hers and Mira Eyens's.

"I was born a Gold Dragon," he heard the ten-year-old say. "My mother was a servant, a commoner you might say, and my father…" His mouth twitched impatiently. "My father was… is…"

Come on! He hissed. Who's your father? Then, I can go ask him…

"My father is Lord Coven."

All the air went out of him. He was Mira Eyen's father?

Then, a thought came to the surprised now-father. He smiled evilly and went on his way, whistling a merry tune; few had seen the lord in such a good mood. I can use this connection…

- - - - - - - - - -

"Who is the current Dragon-Ruler?" Everett asked Fiona after Ade, Syan and Sara had gone to sleep. Sara was perched on Ade's lap again, and Syan on his.

"I don't know the first name." Fiona admitted, blushing scarlet. "But the last name is Adele."

"Adele?" Everett's eyes widened. "Are you quite sure?"

"Yes… why?"

The thirty-or-so man put a knuckle to his forehead. "We're taking Ade to the house of the advisors of King Lance and Queen Katharine II."

"Who?" Fiona questioned, now wanting more information. "Is the Dragon-Ruler Cyrun or Bamien?"

He sighed. "Neither."

"Oh my goddess." Fiona whispered. "Ceara Dragonborn?"

He nodded. "I knew there was something special about her when she visited."

Fiona bit her lip. "Should we go through with it? I mean, when I spoke with Ade, he seemed very eager to go. He thinks 'Adele' is the first name of the ruler. I didn't know the first at the time."

Everett nodded. "He needs her as much as she does him." Syan stirred. "Shh…" He patted his child's head and began to stroke her blonde-and-silver hair. She sighed and fell back into her deeper sleep.

"Do you still think we shouldn't tell him?" Fiona's eyes were wide and Everett shook his head. "Why? Shouldn't he know?"

"If she intended for him to know immediately, she would've found a way to come herself, or send someone."

Fiona nodded. Her eyes went wide. "Someone like… Hyane?"

"Hyane?"

"The Chieftain's daughter." Fiona explained nervously. "Do you think that's why they're chasing us? To give us – Ade – a note?"

Everett shrugged. "In any case, it would give him – and him alone – safe passage. Syan, Sara, you and I would be captured and sold into slavery. You would probably suffer the most – being an escaped slave and all."

"Yes…" Fiona sighed and wound her hair in her fingers nervously. "So… we shouldn't tell Ade, we should find it on our own and avoid Hyane's group at all costs?"

"Exactly."

- - - - - - - - - -

"Mistress." One scout told Hyane. "They're still trying to avoid us."

"And they've already failed." She hissed, holding Ceara Adele's letter closely. "We'll keep corralling them into the Gate of Dragons."

"Yes, Mistress." He bowed reverently. "Are you sure this is-"

Hyane's lightning-fast hand whipped around to smack the unruly guard on the cheek, leaving a few welts and a red mark – anyone knowing Hyane would know her mark. "Do not question me again." She hissed.

He bit his tongue. He was known to be as rash as his mistress. "Yes, Mistress."

Just for good measure, Hyane barred her teeth as he left, to let him know who ruled whom.

- - - - - - - - -

Daughter,

I hope you are doing well. I hear the Dragons are under very strict control – that is good. How is Bamun? Did you indeed get a lady-in-waiting?

Have you found him? The queen is sick with worry, and I don't know how much longer she or I can take the stress. Tell me, daughter, when you find him. It will be faster for us to relay messages via Dragonback than with these silly Humans on horses.

Are you managing finances well?

I want to plead with you: DO NOT ANGER LORD COVEN! It may be too late, as yours and his morals clash greatly. The horrors I know about that man from Cyrun are too terrible to be put into words. They shake the foundations of the word "evil".

He might threaten your child, even him if he can find him. Am I clear enough?

If I can find some open time, I may be able to visit you, Cyrun and Bamun.

Stay safe, daughter.

With all my love,

Bamien

- - - - - - - - -

Have you found him?

No.

Why do you hesitate?

I don't.

I cannot wait forever.

I know.

Act faster!

These things take time.

Damn time!

Time is essential. Time is life.

Don't give me that crap.

I don't intentionally do it.

Any gleanings?

I know a weakness.

What is that?

Weakness: the handmaiden of the Dragon-Queen.

That comes as no surprise.

That isn't only it.

I am not known for patience.

I know the father.

And who is that? Who can I hold as a hostage and hear the screams?

Me.

- - - - - - - - -

I hope you enjoyed it!

Way too many cliffs, if you ask me!

Review about my cliffs!