In Malfoy Kingdom.
Draconis had refused to leave his room the last two days, he claimed he was ill, and his father who believed that the common people were filthy and disease ridden believed him saying he had caught something from them and hoped it wasn't deadly. Severus had visited twice and each time Draconis pretended to be asleep. Every time his hand maidens entered the room Draconis shooed them out and stood on the balcony ledge, the one that overlooked the royal gardens.
Inside his head Draconis was plotting ways to escape the life he had been born into, he was not brave but knew he could no longer live like this anymore, escape was the only way he would survive with his sanity in tacked.
Being a Malfoy meant he had been born into clever and cunning blood, and by the next night, Sunday, four days till his fiancé and his family were due to arrive, Draconis had transfigure an old outworn set of robes into a set of merchant boys clothing, nothing close to elegant but nice enough to avoid the term rags or outworn, he did not want to look too good for fear of being discovered and robbed.
He filled a pack with a bottomless charm and did the same to his pockets after placing a notice-me-not charm on both pieces of clothing , he filled the pack with several bags of gold and jewels, hoping it would be enough to last him a while, several quills and parchment, some books, food magicked not to go bad was also placed in the bag along with several blankets and some extra transfigured clothing and cloaks, a dagger was stashed in his magicked pocket although with no knowledge on how to use it he deemed it safer to have than not at all. Glancing around his room Draconis spotted a necklace he could remember wearing all his life, it was a dragon carved from a large piece of sapphire with a moon stone eye the size of a tear drop, if he ever decided to come back he would need proof he was not an imposter, slipping the necklace into his pack he tucked it at the very bottom lastly he tossed a black cloak around his shoulders and slipped into the shadows of the hall way.
Security inside the castle was lax to be polite, and Draconis soon found himself outside, avoiding the lit areas he slipped out of the still open gate and quickly got off the main path and headed towards civilization, but knew that the nearest town would be one place to never go, they would look for him there when he could not be found in the castle.
Draconis walked for two miles his feet were killing him and he had to shake off a feeling of regret for leaving several times, groaning he looked up and saw a farm house on top of a small hill. Horses were grazing in the field ignoring the boy trying to herd them back to the stables. Draconis checked to see it his long hair was still tucked into the cloak before approaching the boy.
"Excuse me," he said and the boy looked up "how much for one of these horses?"
"Ye gunner have to ask me master," replied the dirty boy, and I nearly cringed at his speech.
"And where can I find your master?" Draconis asked.
"Me masters at he's home, he eats supper right now, if ye helps me heard theses horseses to stables, Jack will takes ye there, whets ye say?" asked the boy now known as Jack.
"Very well then, we have a deal," Draconis agreed to Jacks deal and headed over to a nearly all black horse, he seemed to be the leader of the other horses, he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and the horse looked up, they connected eyes, "come along," Draconis told the horse as he neighed loudly and came to the now outstretched hand.
Draconis smiled he knew horses well, it was the only thing 'manly' his father would allow, the leader horse poked Draconis's hand with his nose and he reached up to gasp the reins, "Come along," Draconis told the horse again " and call your friends." The horse neighed several times and then snorted which Draconis gave a chuckle at, and Jack watched him in amazement as Draconis lead the head horse into the barn followed by the other nine horses.
Draconis turned around to see Jacks shocked face, "Yes?" he asked him.
"How did ye do that?" Jack almost yelled.
"I have always had a gift with horses, my father used to own many and I loved taking care of them, now you promised me something," Draconis reminded as Jack lead him to his masters mansion.
As Draconis approached the large door he began to regret his decision, the was a lords house and he was terrified that they might recognize him, but then a light bulb went off in Draconis' head, his father always made him were the face veil, quickly straightening up as Jack knocked at the heavy door.
It was opened several seconds later by a sad looking house-elf "yes," it squeaked.
"Tell master he's gouts a vister, wants to know bout' some horseses," said Jack in his mutilated version of the English language.
The house elf nodded as he invited them into the entrance hall and asked them to wait before scurrying off to tell his master.
Draconis and Jack waited almost half of an hour before a man Draconis recognized from around the court walked in followed by his only surviving son.
"Ah you must be the man inquiring about my horses," said the elder of the two men.
Draconis nodded "yes I am Lord Zamblini."
The man eyed Draconis for a second before replying "and what makes you think I am willing to sell?"
"I do not know Lord, but I have some coin and I am willing to buy, but a word of caution I know much about horse's and will not be fooled" replied Draconis trying hard to keep a calm when Lord Zamblini's son, Blaise was eyeing him like a delicate sugar treat.
"Master, cans I speak?" asked Jack bowing low to the ground, Lord Zamblini nodded so Jack continued "He's lies not master, he tells truth, he's got all the horseses in tha stables houses by looksing shadow ins thee eyeses."
"Impressive," nodded the
Lord "shadow only listens to me."
"I have a gift with
horses Lord," replied Draconis "and any horse I buy from you will
be treated well."
"Very well then but they are priced high, I truly hope that you are able to pay my price," said the Lord.
"I shall try to match what is asked," replied Draconis "shall we leave to the stables so I can choose my steed?"
"Yes, yes of course," smiled the Lord, and Draconis could tell that he was going to try and milk him for every coin he possessed; one does not get a scandalous reputation by being honest and fair.
While walking to a barn Draconis dug out his lightest money bag and pocketed it before entering the barn, Jack was running around the barn lighting a few oil lamps, the lord was standing by Shadows gate, while Blaise sat on a hay bale and licked his lips as Draconis walked by, keeping his distance as he had heard from some of the castle maids that he liked pinching behinds of women and men alike.
Walking around the barn Draconis chose a nice looking, but none to fancy mare with a light brown coat with white socks, "I should very much like purchase this one."
The lord nodded not even looking at the horse he had chosen "two hundred gold."
"That's outrageous, that's twice more that she's worth, I only carry one hundred and four in gold," lied Draconis holding up the gold bag, when really he carried several thousand in gold and five times that in jewels.
"Well then I guess we have no deal," replied the Lord heading towards the barn doors.
Draconis thinking quickly glanced at Blaise who was still eying him, and winked his small pink tongue darting out to wet his lips.
"Father one hundred and four is more that she's worth, we won't get a better deal anywhere else," came Blaise's voice stopping his father in his tracks.
"One hundred and four it is then," came the Lords voice turning around, Draconis handed the sack of gold to him and collected the now saddled horse from Jack "thank you lord."
"Your welcome, take care of her," said the lord gleefully counting the golden coins.
"I'll ride with you to the end of our lands," said Blaise riding up beside Draconis on a darker brown horse.
"That's alright it won't be necessary, but thank you anyway," thanked Draconis.
"But I insist and I always go for a late night ride, I shall accompany you," said Blaise, and Draconis nodded.
"Very well then, shall we be off?" asked Draconis.
"Of course," agreed Blaise as the two rode off into the night.
Half way down the path Blaise turned to Draconis "you know you owe me,"
"For what per say?" asked Draconis.
"For helping you out back there, father would have never of let you buy that horse without my help," said Blaise.
"Oh, well thank you then," said Draconis hiding his fear quite skillfully, knowing what Blaise was trying to do.
"So you owe me," said Blaise again, getting a little impatient.
"And what do owe you?" asked Draconis keeping his eyes on the path ahead of them.
"Perhaps a roll in the hay if you get my meaning?" suggested Blaise wiggling his eyebrows up and down.
"Perhaps not, it have far too much ground to travel," replied Draconis.
"Then perhaps a kiss?" suggested Blaise "and not just a stupid little peck, but a real kiss, on the lips."
Draconis did not reply, when Blaise suddenly pulled his horse in front of his, "It is a yes or a…" Blaise smirked wickedly as Draconis sighed and slipped off his horse, Blaise quickly followed suit.
"Very well then but just a kiss and not…" Draconis was cut off as Blaise grabbed him pulling him close to his chest and kissed him deeply, Draconis who had never been kissed before felt his knee's weaken and no matter how much he disliked this man in front of him he was glad to have him there to hold him up, "there you have your kiss, may I go now?"
Blaise nodded as he let go of Draconis, but not before he pinched his butt, getting a little yelp from Draconis.
Chuckling Blaise got back on his horse "ever need anything you know where to find me cutie, but next time you better put-out," and Blaise rode back to his home in a small cloud of dust.
Draconis mounted his new horse, "I guess it's just you and me now girl," he kicked her into a run and rode off down the dusty road his destination, the town of Silverdale.