"How could he be so mean? I mean I thought he came looking for me because he was worried about me and not because of some stupid gauntlet." I whimpered feeling fresh tears welling and I hurriedly wiped them away. Slowing down Quiksilva looked up at me and gave a snort, gently nudging my face. "Thanks 'silva. At least you care about me." I sighed as I sat on his back and pretty soon I heard Decepshun's footsteps. Turning slightly in my saddle I gave Moordryd my best death stare and he cringed.
"Look I'm...sorry." He told me and when I kept staring at him, apparently not convinced he frowned. "Its the truth. Can we just drop it and move on?" He asked and when Quiksilva gave a snort I finally nodded. "So where are you going?"
"Beats me. I do have a problem with my memory right now so I hope you know." I replied as Quiksilva came to a hault. As I sat there I tried to figure out just where we were but I eventually realized that I was completely lost and I sighed. "Man this is really annoying."
"Don't let it get to you. You have fallen on your head a fair few times since I met you." Moordryd pointed out and I rolled my eyes at him. "Maybe we should see my father, Word Payne." He suddenly offered and after thinking about this for a long moment I nodded. As Decepshun and Moordryd led the way I couldn't help wondering if he was still trying to find out about that silver and black gauntlet. As I thought about it I glanced down at my wrist and as I made sure that no one could see the gaunlet I jumped when Moordryd called out, announcing that we were here. "Heh you're a bit jumpy aren't?" He asked letting out a chuckle when I growled at him. "This is my father's citadel." He told me as I tilted my head back and when I let out a gasp he grinned.
"Wow its amazing!" I said as I kept staring at the tower and after a few seconds I leaned back too far, letting out a yell as I toppled off Quiksilva's back. "Ow." I whimpered as I rubbed my suddenly sore rear end and that;s when Moordryd cracked up laughing at me. Frowning at him I climbed to my feet and dusting myself off I climbed back onto Quiksilva's back throwing a dark look at my friend. Once he had finished teasing me Moordyrd led the way and a few minutes later he climbed off Decepshun and asked me to do the same. "Um...I feel better when he's nearby." I said and I couldn't help the slight tremor in my voice as I looked at Quiksilva whose amber eyes stared into mine. Right at that moment I felt scared that if I left him alone for more than a few minutes he might vanish and I'd be alone. And that's when I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to find Moordryd looking down at me.
"He'll be fine." He told me and after taking a deep breath to steady myself I nodded and giving me a slight nod Quiksilva followed Decepshun and as he disappeared around the corner he gave me one last glance. "Anyway let's go." Moordryd said taking his hand off my shoulder and I followed him though not before glancing at the shadows and hoping that my dragon really was safe. It wasn't long until I found myself in a large open room and as I followed Moordryd I heard a man's voice and I paused, not sure who it was but for some reason I couldn't explain I didn't want to find out. When I stopped and stood there Moordryd soon noticed that I wasn't following him and he muttered under his breath before he turned around. "Are you coming or not?" He asked and I frowned for a moment before I finally gave him a brief nod and he resisted the urge to roll his eyes at me, knowing that I might get mad again and refuse to go with him. Minutes later I finally met his father and I have to say that he was kind of intimidating as the moment he laid eyes on me he hurried over and I hate to admit it but I hid behind Moordryd. Trying not to laugh at me Moordryd rolled his eyes instead and firmly pushed me in front of him and I blinked as his father looked down at me.
"So this is the little thief who stole my dragon?" He asked and even though he was looking at Moordryd when he asked the question being called a thief made me pretty angry.
"I didn't steal Quiksilva. He chose to follow me." I told him and he stared at me for a few seconds before he chuckled and that's when he looked down at me again.
"Quiksilva's never chosen a rider for as long as he's been my dragon." Word told me and I shrugged not sure what to say as he stared at me, one hand under his chin. "Maybe..." He suddenly stopped and that's when I noticed a small silver and black lightning bolt smaller than my hand sitting on the table. When he caught me staring at it he walked over and picked it up. "Does this look familiar?" He asked me and noticing the blank stare I was giving him he rolled his eyes and I giggled, unable to stop myself. "And what, may I ask, is so funny?" He said and Moordryd face palmed, worried what his father would say.
"I'm sorry Wo...um Mr Payne but your son does exactly the same eye roll. Especially when I do something dumb. Not that I do." I quickly added and Word eyed me for a long moment. Then he chuckled.
"I think you may be the one I've been looking for." Word told me as he handed me the medallion and when I stared at it, more than a little confused, he gave me a smile. "When you find the gauntlet that matches this medallion bring them both to me and you may keep Quiksilva. Do not, under any circumstance, place the medallion in the gauntlet. Though it won't actually work without its chosen holder." He explained and I nodded, suddenly wanting to leave in a hurry and once we were dismissed I followed Moordryd into the corridor.
"So this medallion matches the gauntlet your father's searching for?" I asked as I followed my friend and he turned his head slightly, giving me a nod as he led me towards what I hoped was Quiksilva. But as I followed him I noticed that we were walking through a set of arches and eventually I wondered where he was taking me. "Where are we going?" I asked and when Moordryd didn't answer I began to feel uneasy. Soon I stopped and when he kept walking I frowned at his back. Then he turned a corner and I found myself alone. Thinking he would come back for me like last time I stayed put but soon I couldn't hear his footsteps and I realized that I was all alone. "Quiksilva." I muttered and that;s when I heard a voice close to my ear and I let out a yelp, jumping into the air. I turned around and that's when I found myself face to face with the same black and gold dragon that had saved my life. Confused I looked at it then at its rider who laughed at having scared me. "Oh you're so funny sneaking up on a defenceless girl and scaring her half to death."
"Geeze are you always like this?" He commented and that's when I realized that it was the Dragon Booster, the one Artha mentioned and I rolled my eyes.
"Not really. At least I don't think so. Anyway what are you doing sneaking around Word Payne's citadel?" I asked him and he grinned at me. Before I had time to question him his dragon magged me onto its back and for the second time I yelped before I crossed my arms, one eyebrow raised as I sat behind the Dragon Booster. "And what was that for?" I added and he just grinned before his dragon took off running and I ended up wrapping my arms around his rider's waist otherwise I would have fallen.