Nixiesocean: Yes, I know, this chapter is way shorter than my normal ones, but I'm addicted to Rose Petals. I'll keep updating this, but 110 percent of my efforts is going into that story. After all, I've just gotten to the part just before the climax. I'm excited even though I know the whole plot.

Pathetic, I tell you!

Responses:

ShadowinRW: Thank you for the review! I'm sorry about the tenses… :-D but thanks for dropping a review by, that was really nice!

x-baby.doll-x: Nah. I'm not a genius. Just a new writer getting her muse whipped into shape. You want genius on fanfiction? Check out some of my favorite authors, lol…

Onto chapter 22.

Chapter 22: The Call of the Queen

We were running again, Syan in my arms, Sara in Everett's. I desperately wanted to hear that voice again. It'd been so long since I had last seen her, going on two months. Fiona fell into her running, something I never expected from the former maid. Everett seemed to fly on invisible wings; he was so balanced, even with a child in his arms.

I was the awkward one.

I kept up the pace, though. Something was singing in me, as we took the route the natives chose for us, because we knew they were leading us where we wanted.

Toward the Dragon Gate.

We spent another day, spiraling, and it was all very tiring, since the natives wouldn't let us stop to rest during the corralling. I wanted this stupid chase to end.

- - - - - - - - -

"Lord Coven," I said in greeting as he came over to Mira and I. "How was your day so far?"

"Don't place innocent," He growled. His eyes were trained on me, and I noticed he was shaking in anger.

I smiled happily. "Whatever do you mean?" He glared at Mira. My happy grin faded just as I wanted. "Oh, you mean my handmaiden? She's very kind."

"She's mine." He hissed angrily.

I clucked my tongue. "Tsk, tsk, Coven." I said, patting Mira's shoulder. "There are no children slaves. How old did you say you were, Mira?"

"Ten, my lady." She mumbled. I hadn't meant to bring her into it, but it just happened.

"See there, my lord? She's ten. Therefore under my new law protecting children." He lashed out and struck Mira, since he knew the repercussions would be worse if he hit me. Mira's eyes watered but she kept silent, though she was sprawled on the floor and would probably be bruised. "You are out of line, Matk." I condemned, holding his hand. "Strike me or Mira again and you will not see the light of day, you will be so far down in the dungeons."

His eyes narrowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."

As he turned to leave, I smiled. "I hope that bond-removal didn't hurt too much, Matk Coven. It must have, because you brain seem to be dulled, or was Mira's brain the thing that kept you sane?"

He growled again, but kept walking.

"You shouldn't have said that." Mira whispered from behind me. She was slowly standing. "He has allies even I do not know about."

"I know he does. But he doesn't know my allies either." I grinned maliciously. "After all, the Dragonblooded must answer a call made by me, and not him."

Mira gawked. "All?"

"All, my dear. The call of the rightful ruler of Dragonhold is rooted deeply in them, and it always will be. Do you know how many Dragonblooded there are in the world?"

"No!" Mira cried happily.

"Over a million. Nearly everyone, royal, noble or commoner, has some sort of Dragon in them, some are only more prominent, and the more Blood, the harder the call is to resist."

Mira grinned and we left.

- - - - - - - - -

It was nearly a week gone. We were slowly making our way toward the gate, and on the evening of the most recent, we arrived in a clearing, trees of assorted colors shining in the darkness.

There were many colors of trees, ranging in hues of purple all the way to the red spectrum, and silvers, golds, bronzes. So many colors my eyes were assaulted and I will never forget it.

"Which is the Ruler's?" I asked, looking around at all the different colors.

Fiona blushed in the darkness. "I do not know."

The trees rustled and a figure stepped out. I already had my sword drawn, Fiona's knife was out and Everett guarded the children. I growled deeply when I saw the form.

Hyane.

"Get away!" I shouted, pointing my sword her way. She was alone, I noted. It didn't dull my hatred.

Her eyes looked my way. "You speak lightly of one who is higher than yourself, Prince Ade of Furde."

"You – you…" I babbled. "You speak Common and you never gave a damn to speak it so I could be spared some bruises and cuts?! You b–" I launched myself at her.

Fiona's voice cut through the air. "Ade! Stop!" I impatiently stopped; knowing my rage probably blinded me to reason. I breathed deeply, regaining my control. I still trembled in rage. Syan was looking at me with wide eyes. Fiona turned on Hyane. "Speak."

"I am here as a liaison from the Dragon-Ruler." She replied calmly. "She asked me to take this letter to Prince Ade of Furde. My people led you to the Gate, so you could enter and speak with the new ruler."

"I would not call corralling 'leading'," I hissed.

"Shush, Ade." Fiona reprimanded. I obeyed, despite that I was royal and she wasn't. "Continue."

She stepped forward and placed a letter on the ground. I jumped for it and took it. In precise handwriting, it said, 'Prince Ade of Furde'.

Hyane lifted a finger and pointed to a silver tree. "That is the Gate." She disappeared.

I was left with the letter. "Should I open it?"

"Yes." Everett said. "But let's get into Dragonhold first, in case the Gate changes."

I hid the letter and followed the others through the Gate into the legendary Dragonhold.

- - - - - - - - -

So I'm really sorry about this being shorter than normal. It's shorter for two reasons.

1. I'm really loving Rose Petals as stated above, and thinking more about it than this one.

2. The next chapter really needs to be its own.