Dragon's Dismay with Absent Family

Chapter 12

Sting usually didn't like transportation and neither did Rogue. They did have motion sickness but every time they were to get in a vehicle they made sure to take some pills or something to ease their illness before getting into the carriage. It was a good thing too because he didn't have time for the after affects of his motion sickness when they arrived in that village Xander was taking them too. Rogue had lent the man a cloak so that he wouldn't be easily recognized by Jose or the other kidnappers when they did arrive there since he was the one driving the carriage. From what he had told the two about the auction they were probably going to still have some time to find their daughters before it started. They were driving there in the middle of the night after all and the auction wasn't until tomorrow. As much as he would like to rush off and find Peyton he was probably going to need some rest too when they got there before they started looking, but he only promised and hour's worth of sleep to Rogue, an hour and half was as far as the blonde was pushing it.

"We'll definitely have to find Rio before the auction starts." Rogue growled.

"I know, she won't be alive by the time the auction starts if we don't make it in time. I'll send Xander to go with you. He'll probably know where they'll be keeping Rio which is probably separate from Peyton since she's been planned to become someone's maid. How sick, my little princess a maid." Sting spat.

"What's wrong with maids?" Rogue asked.

Sting blinked and realized the rudeness of his statement. "Sorry Rogue, you know I didn't mean it like that." Sting sighed. "It's just. . ."

"Sting. . ."

The blonde slowly nodded and looked back out the window. It seemed darker than what is was supposed to be, not even the dim light of the moon was able to let Sting see the outline of the trees. It was odd, sure they were going near Phantom Lord but now that Gajeel was running things it never seemed that gloomy around here anymore. Though it could have been that way due to the circumstance in which the tri were coming in this area for. It took a while to reach the village. The very tip of the sun was poking out over the horizon when Xander knocked on the carriage wall and told them that they had arrived. Sting and Rogue shuffled further into their jackets just in case anyone peeped through the tiny window on the carriage door. They had tried to wear the least fancy thing they had to this place hoping to not stand out too much but even with wear what they were they still sort of stuck out like sore thumbs.

"I live here actually. I was told after the auction I could go and see my family but now that I ran away from them we can go there and stay there at my place for a little while. I know it's not what you two are used too because of your castle but my wife will do anything to show you the best hospitality." The two heard Xander say from outside.

"Don't worry about it; as long as it's a place to hide until we take action we appreciate it." Rogue replied louder since Xander didn't have their special hearing.

The carriage only took a few more turns before it came to a halt and Xander's head appeared through the tiny window on the door. Sting and Rogue were quick to rush inside the small building before anyone spotted them and the woman inside became startled and hid her child behind them, her little boy that looked a lot like Xander. The frightened look on her face made Sting freeze and frown. It was too much like Artemis and he never like seeing or having to picture his own wife with such a frightened and upset look upon her beautiful features. He blinked and watched as the woman reached for a cutting knife on the counter but she dropped it as soon as Xander rushed inside and slipped past the two kings.

"X-Xander?" She stuttered.

Sting looked away out of being polite when the two shared an embrace. It really must have been such a long time since the two had been together. To think sting couldn't stand so few days away from Artemis he could only wonder their pain since it seemed that they were separated for so much longer. Sting only looked back up when he heard Xander talking to his little boy. Man, what was with all the reminders of him not having his family together right now? It pained him; Sting could only wish it were him holding his little girl right now. Xander's wife looked back up at the two and frowned again

"It's ok Ivory, I'm helping them. I've gotten into quiet a pinch lately and I'm sorry. I'm helping them to get their own children back. Dear, these are the Kings of Sabertooth, Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney." Xander told her.

"O-Oh! I'm so sorry! Please forgive my rudeness from before your majesties!" She bowed politely and the flustered look on her face could only remind Sting more of his own wife.

The blonde walked forward and grabbed her shoulders straightening her back up again before smiling softly down at her. "Don't worry about it. I've heard you and your little one have been struggling without Xander here. I understand your actions."

"Yes . . . some man, he seemed familiar but he just came in one day and took Xander away threatening our lives." Ivory whispered while placing a hand on her son's head.

"Well you won't have to worry about it for much longer. My wife, Queen Artemis, seems to have made a deal with your husband. We'll help you and your family since he's helping us to get our daughters back. You won't have to live like this for much longer." Sting assured her.

This seemed to bring tears instantly to Ivory's face as she flung her arms around Xander and Sting could hear her mumbling something about being so grateful and how someone was watching over them. Rogue walked up next to Sting and put a hand on his 'brother's' shoulder. Sting turned his head and gave a faint nod to Rogue. By the time he looked back at the two Xander's golden orbs were locked on the two kings again.

"We don't have many rooms, just one guest room. I don't need any rest I'd rather spend time with my family before we leave. One of you can take our bedroom and the other can take the guest room for now." Xander told them.

"Thank you, we appreciate it." Rogue said and gave a curt nod before the two stalked off to the bedrooms they were directed too.

Rogue let Sting have Xander's room for the hour or hour and a half that Sting promised he would sleep for. Sting made his way into the rather small room. For a commoner it would seem big but he was royalty, he was used to the big rooms since he was just a little boy but he wasn't going to complain. These people were going out of the way for him and Rogue, for their family. Now that he thought about it, Xander's wife seemed like too nice of a person to live in a village that was considered to be cruel. He couldn't wait to see what the others were like though. If any of them were going to put high money on his little Peyton he was going to kick their teeth in, well that was if he didn't reach her before the auction started. If the auctions starts before he gets his hands on Peyton Sting was going to have to think quickly about how he was going to free his little girl. Sighing at this thought he trudged over to the bed and crawled under the thin blanket. For now a good rest wouldn't hurt and his eyes immediately shut the moment his head hit the pillow.

"St . . . ng . . . ting . . . Sting!"

The blonde bolted up from his spot in the bed and his sapphire eyes shot up to see Rogue hovering over him at the bedside. He quickly looked out the window to see that the sun had risen higher in the sky a lot more then it was before he fell asleep. He quickly shuffled out of bed and fixed his jacket, something he had forgotten to take off before he fell asleep and quickly slipped his boots back on.

"Seems like you needed more than just that hour and a half of sleep." Rogue muttered.

"Oh great, how long have I been out?" Sting panicked trying to find a clock among everything else in the room.

"You only slept and extra hour longer then you wanted too. Don't worry; we still have plenty of time just calm down."

The blonde sighed in relief and ran a hand through his hair trying to flatten it just a little to make it look presentable. Hearing a knock on the door the two kings turned and looked to find Xander walking in with a pile of clothing articles in his arms. The dark blue haired man threw them down onto the bed and then pointed at the clothes that the two were already wearing. Sting looked between what he was wearing and what was on the bed. He could tell that the clothes on the bed seemed fit more for a commoner which is what he and Rogue were trying to pretend to be though the clothes they were currently wearing still seemed a little too fancy even if it was the blandest thing in both of their closets at home.

"be better if you wore these to blend in better." Xander explained.

"Probably." Sting agreed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Once you two change we'll get going to where Rogue's daughter is being held. Peyton is probably somewhere else but she'll be safe still for now. It'll be best if we get Rio before they, well you know, and then well go for Peyton."

Sting agreed with the plan. As much as he wanted to go after Peyton Rio was in more danger of her life being taken away while Peyton still had some time before she was sold off as a maid in the auction. Quickly Xander left the room and Rogue took one of the outfits to go change back in the guest room. Sting threw off his outfit and slipped the less flashy one on. He wasn't used to wearing the dark colors but he had no choice at the moment. He slipped out of the room leaving his other outfit there and smiled at Ivory and her son when he walked into the kitchen.

"I made some food. It's probably not the big banquets or whatever you're used to but-"

"Don't worry about it. You don't have to do everything for us. Just letting us stay here for this short amount of time is enough." The white dragon slayer smiled and took one of the plates of food off of the counter.

The meal was small like Ivory had said, one piece of sausage, two strips of bacon, and a small portion of eggs scrambled. Sting smiled down at the plate. It definitely wasn't what he was used to but it was so simple he still loved it. He sat down at the table and began to eat as his 'brother' walked out in his change of clothes with Xander behind him. The two took the chairs on either sides of him and sat down to eat their morning meals as well. There were moments when Xander's son would come up handing Sting some of his toys. The little champ was awfully sweet. Ivory had taken his plate to the sink for him but his head turned when he heard a knock on the door. Ivory was quick to be the one to get it knowing that neither her husband nor the Sabertooth kings should risk being seen. The blonde looked over at Rogue. The two may have been far from the door but it was times like these that their dragon ears came in handy.

"May I help you?"

"There's been a change in plans. Everyone is to meet at the central square in ten minutes. That's when the auction begins." The man at the door had said before Sting and rogue heard his footsteps recede.

Sting froze in his chair. They only had ten minutes before Peyton was to be sold. That wasn't enough time to get Rio and make it in time to save his daughter as well. Rogue new this too. They had to change plans and they had to think of something fast. Sting bowed his head pressing his forehead to the table as his finger intertwined with his blonde truffles of hair. Ivory came back with a grim expression on her face and Xander dropped his fork down onto his plate. It seemed like the golden eyed man was able to catch a little of that small conversation as well.

"Change of plans I guess . . . I'll go with Rogue to get his daughter. Ivory will take you to the central square but you still have to stay low. If Jose is there he'll notice you instantly unlike the rest of the village." Xander sighed.

"That would work well but how am I to get Peyton out of there still?" Sting asked looking back up at Xander.

"I'll help. I just need a little bit of money and I'll get your daughter out of the auction for you." Ivory butted in. "Your wife has offered to help our family so I want to help you too just like my husband."

Sting smiled and nodded. "Thank you. I may have some in my change of clothes I left back in the room. Looks like we have no choice now."

Standing up he walked out of the kitchen and hurried to the room to rummage through the pockets in his clothes. Only five-hundred jewel. Sting knew that these people in the village were poor but there might be others that will be there that might come from other places, people with a lot more money than just five-hundred jewels.

"Here."

The blonde turned and looked to see Rogue holding more money in his hand. Looking it over it would probably help to give them a total of a thousand five-hundred jewels. Slowly the blonde took the money and smiled up at the Shadow dragon slayer before patting him on the shoulder.

"Thank you, you go get Rio, Rogue. She needs you and fast before her life is ended too short."

"Right . . . Sting, be careful." Rogue replied, his ruby eyes showing deep concern for his older 'brother'.

"Always pal."