Disclaimer: Don't own.

:}

Tori and her sister seemed to be open, available people as they rode through Vega territory, the dale of Vordnar. Each sister was beloved by so many of the common people, both for the families open policy and because their father, Lord David, was a good administrator. The sisters, despite the limits of who would know what they looked like, were somehow well known in the Dale. People cheered them and their party as they rode by. To Jade, and Robbie, this was a new experience, vastly different then how almost any noble was treated when not on parade, in their stronghold. Even Beck was loved by the common people, who respected and admired all the leaders of the clan.

'This is making us easy to track.' Jade thought. "Um, guys, are we worried about maybe our enemies knowing we're coming?"

"Nope." Trina addressed the witch. "They're not paying much attention to anyone not us, so our spies keep their anonymity. No, we're gonna just ride us over to Carson City, just outside our borders, on the river, towards the sea, and we're gonna keep all the Carson's eyes on us, every step of the way. Honestly, my biggest fear is that this fake dragon might attack us before we get there."

"Oh, okay…" Jade looked to the crowds, some of them looking ragged, but overall, these were a healthy, happy people. "So, what am I missing? I mean, you're hella popular, right?"

"We're popular enough." Trina confirmed. "But it's not what you think. The clan, it's run by clan politics. That means we take care of anyone in the clan, in the extended family. That's almost all of the Dale. We're distantly related to so many of these people, it's just easier to make sure our family is taken care of. Taxes aren't always low, but we make sure the family has enough to eat, some extra for fun, and we make sure there's things worth living for. My father, Lord David, he's been good for the people. We have our methods of raising the taxes, and share enough of the profits with the populaces to keep them happy. Makes it hella easy when we need to raise the levy, and march to war. Just, we try not to head out to war. It's one of the reasons we try to keep our alliance with Clan Azur so secure. They help guard our most vulnerable border, and we treat them as family. Just, you know, those distant relatives who like to keep to themselves."

"When you're from a culture that worships powerful totem animals, and a dragon, the strongest of the totems, takes over, you do tend to keep to yourself more." Andre offered. "Loving this view of the people. Always found them to be a strong, independent people who are fiercely loyal to their own. Lord David understood the familial loyalty, and never abused it. Thinking that's why the Carson's are so interested in marrying in. Make it hella easier to trade with the Dale if they had a strong bloodline connection."

"Or easier to rule." Jade said, nodding. "Ryder?"

"I was always an outsider here." He pointed out. "The City of the Holly Woods, that's almost a different place, chartered for the simple reason that they're far less related to the peoples of the dale, and more made up of outsiders who traveled here for the opportunity. Plenty of members of Clan Vega in there, but the culture, it's more traditional city, less extended family. I've been out there, seen what it's like to be an outsider. But Sir Gary promised, put in the time, and they'll accept you. I just, my other obligations took me away from that opportunity. As a merchant, as knight, I found it hard to set roots until I'd finished my first, most important quest." He smiled at his sister. "You."

Trina chuckled. "Starting to like this guy." She told her cousin. "Puts family first."

"Yea, but a part of that is his father, not that much of a family man." Beck replied. "Travmort was an experience, and we'd seen our share of border trade towns by then."

Robbie smiled. "Ardun has too many borderlands. Comes from the way it came together, with several lands merging under our kingdom. But it makes us more a series of safe places with large, untamed regions, like Travmort, where a mountain range becomes it's own boarder. Yea, makes it hard, living in the wild, when you know, the same civilization is just a few days travel in any direction."

"Weeks." Jade corrected. "Weeks of travel. Travmort, and lets be honest, a lot of the wild lands, are big enough, and hard enough to get through, that we were weeks from anything."

"And the Grand City of Ardun is so far away." Beck added. "Makes us feel almost autonomous as is."

Sam, who'd been listening in, just absorbed as much as she could. "Worlds hella bigger then I thought." She whispered.

"And yet, compared to some of the things I've seen, it's so small." Cat said to her, fluttering near by. The rogue hadn't heard the soft beating of the fae's wings, and so was almost totally caught off guard by the sudden voice. "Still, yea, you should go see as much as you can. It's really amazing. Maybe you and Rob might wanna see the capital, some day, once this is all done? I can talk to Jade, get her to play her feminine whiles on the Lady Victoria, and help get you as part of their envoy to the capital. Great place to just see a taste of everything. Jade'll love it." He tiny face scrunched. "Or hate it. Either way, girl would react, and that'd be fun."

"People, the point is, we're being followed." Jade griped.

"Of course we are." Robbie agreed. "I think we've all known that for a while now."

"We have?" Beck asked.

"News to me." Ryder agreed.

"Since we left the city." Trina told her warriors. "I think it's some of the men we had with us, both Beck's and mine."

"I really didn't get a good look." Tori said, all while smiling and waiving to the people as they rode by.

Sam looked over, tearing her eyes from the people who stopped farming long enough to wave at them. "Need Rob or me to find out who?"

"Most concerned with how they're sending word forward." Trina told her scouts.

"Cat?" Jade asked.

"They have a thing." Cat told them. "Alchemy, so not as elegant as some things, but magic is amazingly flexible." Her brown eyes fluttered a moment. "Other magics being used too, but the biggie is alchemy. The Carson's have themselves a talented alchemist. A crew of others, but it's far easier to get strong with something like alchemy, where your raw talent is less important, then with true magics. Kinda makes sense, now. So…" She looked to Rob. "Maybe we get the sexy parts out of the way first?"

Robbie gulped. "Noting against trying that, cause you are kinda cute, in a five inch kinda way. Just, honestly, you kinda scare the living hope out of me."

"I get it, the things I've heard." Andre said.

"No, this was from before that." Rob noted. "Honestly, she's so forward, and I've never known any girl who was so, I don't know…"

"I go for what I want." Cat pointed out. "My kind, we live such a long time. Not immortal, though with the blood of the Queen in me, I am functionally ageless. But even the least of my kind lives hella long, so we don't always mate for life. Too long together, and we're like, almost always young and hot, so we make it a point to live our lives as openly and honestly as we can. Again, not easy, we're natural, and as such, we're as full of deception as anything. But we do try to be honest and open. Marriage, great concept, but we raise our tykes as a community. If I were to have one, it'd be raised by that community, and we'd keep an eye on who was related to who, for reasons they won't tell me. But we do enjoy our lives, our long, long youth.…"

"This going someplace?" Jade asked.

"I'm single, they're single, so why judge if we have us some fun." Cat explained. "I won't get preggers unless I wanna, which brings up the question, whats up with Gran? She's had like a thousand children, leading to a good ten times that in grand children, and she never once had to. And sure, I get it, unaging, so she had lots of time, but still, so many munchkins, and with so many lovers of so many types, she never once Had to carry a child, except I think she was married for a while there, and maybe wanted an heir or three. But Gran is and was one of us, the Celestial Fae, so she was living her life, having herself some fun, even as the years slowly added up. Not judging Gran for the legions of lovers, cause hello, had to be fun. Just, didn't have to have all them kiddies."

"What scares me is we can actually understand her." Beck told Ryder.

"Okay, I understand." Tori sighed. "And we're done talking about this as a group. Jade, if your familiar…"

"Familious." Cat interrupted. "Huge difference."

"Whatever, Jade, if your okay with her fornicating with Robbie…" Tori tried to continue.

"And Sam." Cat jumped in.

"… That's their business." Tori pushed through. "The bit about alchemy, that was important. But the whole relationship stuff, that's their business. We, as a group, don't need to know, unless it interferes with our ability to function as a group. Now. I have an intended to meet up with, while you all investigate what his family is up to. So, lets focus on the task at hand, kay?"

Trina chuckled. "Long way to go still." The Vega heir noted. "Jade, be ready, cause I'm not sure we'll get where we're going without some kind of challenge. If I'm the target, then a single spy letting them know where I am makes me a more tempting target."

"I'm ready." Jade told the noble lady. "I have a couple of ideas I wanna try, and then, we see what this monster is made of."

"You ready to help me be a dragon?" Andre asked.

"Not yet." Jade said. "Working on it, but I have my sex starved familiouse's grandmother to ask for the training I need for that kind of transformation."

"Okay, what can we talk about that won't traumatize out members?" Ryder asked, smirking at the uncomfortable look on several faces.

"How about what we're gonna do when we get to Carson city?" Beck suggested. "Major trade center, so it's a much bigger city then the Holly Woods."

They somehow managed to make the next several hours without the group bringing up the obvious, uncomfortable air that hung now between their scouts. Robbie and Sam further added to the heavy air by the simple fact that they were the one's the group counted upon to scout things out. Sam and Rob would sneak off to see who might be following them, check out what was ahead, and otherwise what intelligence could be gathered with stealth and a trained eye. Cat, being both invisible, and a flier, was also essential to their scouting, but the chaotic Faerie wasn't as trained as her human counterparts to know what to look for. She was more dependent on Rob and Sam to know what to look for then they were dependent on her. The fact that they had to talk among themselves, with Robbie and Samantha often using the celestial faerie as a messenger, both gave her a chance to smooth over her earlier comments, not easy since Cat knew she'd done nothing wrong, and helped them get a better idea of what they might be facing.

Everyone was grateful Cat wrote things down. Her memory was fine, but her interpretations of even the most basic message was questionable at best. If she didn't add some language that might be hard to track, she'd be adding innuendo to help seduce her target, or otherwise making her companions uncomfortable with her out there observations about the world.

Jade, thanks to her telepathic link to Cat, was left trying to decipher the young Fae's messages for the group. "Okay, Rob and Sam have managed to confirm three separate groups tailing us. From the way the groups are moving Rob thinks they know about each other, but isn't sure yet if they're communicating or not. Heck, they may not even know about each other, just that we're being followed by each group. So, what do we do?"

"Stick with the plan, and add to it." Trina told her. "I'm gonna have Tori here tell the Carson's we want to know what help they can provide. Their army, well equipped for whats essentially a large city guard, but not numerous enough to be a threat to the Dale. Still, the city's huge, and as such, they have to have something we can use…"

"Just, we monitor the scouts, and that's it." Tori added. "Nothing we do lets them know we know about them."

"I'm more concerned with if they think they can have some kind of monster attack." Jade said.

Ryder looked at his sister. "I'm surprised we haven't faced one already." He glanced towards the sky. "Just to see what we can do."

"Yea, this feels off." Trina agreed. "Okay, everyone, stay alert, cause I know we're gonna get attacked tonight, after we make camp. It'll be the only time we're not in any real settlement, farm of hamlet or whatever, along this trip, and they'll take advantage."

"Um, there is a hamlet, we just need to drift a bit to the east." Beck told her.

"Not if we wanna draw them out we don't." Trina said, a dark smile on her face. "Jade, Andre, unless we're in serious trouble, or the dragon thingy shows, you hold back on what you can really do, kay?"

Tori hated to admit it, but she'd always admired the way her sister just took charge. 'She doesn't hesitate, even when she's unsure. I know her, seen her at her most vulnerable, and she always shows that iron will. Me, dad felt I needed Beck, cause I couldn't command the men the way he could. But Trina, she just takes charge, and the men, they do as she says.'

"Okay, I totally get that." Jade nodded. "Dre, can I call you Dre?" She didn't wait for an answer. "If something happens, you stay near me and Ryder. My brother's said he'd protect me, so I'm gonna use him as a guard in the event of trouble. I'll throw a few spells, but hold back until I see a reason to cut loose."

"I'm best at range." Robbie said. "I can fight in close if you need me to, but I'm better at range."

"Just don't shoot an ally." Trina warned.

"Too good an archer to do that." Rob said, smirking. It was, to Tori's mind, far from the first time he'd shown that confidence in his abilities. While the boy had shown his skills with the bow in their first major skirmish, showing both accuracy and skill, once the enemy closed in, he fought hand to hand. Even hunting, he'd preferred not to use his bow.

'He's the only ranger I've ever seen to use traps.' Tori realized. 'Then again, haven't known that many rangers. Still…' She did see him drop Narks with his arrows, and so had some faith in his skills.

"I'll be getting in close and personal." Sam announced.

"You're more a scout." Trina said, watching the blond for a reaction.

"I'm a decent warrior, and my armors more then good enough." Sam insisted. "Layered leather isn't as strong as cuir boili, and admittedly that's not quite as strong as metal, but it's more then strong enough to turn a blade. I'm good." She saw the doubt in the Vega leaders eye. "Brigantine Buff coat. I've got metal sewn into the inside, offering me hella more protection. More then enough protection, and it doesn't weight me down. I'm good."

"Okay, Sam is gonna go face to face." Trina decided. "But your first priority is to protect our ranged combatants, Rob and Jade."

"We're a long way from a fight." Ryder noted. "Why we making plans now?"

"Cause we're a long way from a fight." Trina countered. "Not gonna wait for our enemy to be on top of us before we come up with even the most rudimentary plans. Won't always have time if we do, so this is how we're gonna play it. Assuming we have the choice, Tori, Beck and me will plan a cavalry style charge." She held up her hand to stop the knight from protecting. "I get it, you're a knight, so you think you'd fit in with that kind of attack. Only, it'd leave our ranged combatants with only Sam to guard them. Better to have you here, adding to their defense, as well as staying in reserve in case we need the help. Also, I know what my sister and cousin can do, and can count on them to follow my lead in a fight. You, we haven't fought together yet, so all I have is Sir Gary's assurances that your more then up to the task. Trust me, sir knight, you'll have plenty of opportunities to prove your mettle."

"We have bows." Tori mentioned. "Beck and me, we've been raised to fight from horseback, and we have our bows. Re-curves. Picked them up in Holly Woods. We can do a lot of damage with those…"

"And we will, if we choose to start a fight at range, or if the circumstances warrant it. However, none of us are that good an archer that we can risk shooting into combat." Trina cautioned her sister. "Ryder, got a bow?"

"I should have picked up a crossbow, back when I had the chance." He lamented.

"Me too." Sam nodded along.

"We'll get you some." Trina decided. "But it may be a while. Until then, stay alert, cause I don't think for a moment we're gonna be involved in a ranged fight, at least not for long. The Vega reputation was built on our light cavalry, and that means our horse bows. No, they won't give us a chance to unleash our bows. Better to face off against heavy cavalry, close in, then risk a fight where whatever advantages you have can be so easily taken away."

"What if they have more archers?" Ryder asked.

Andre chose to speak. "Odds are our witch can summon up some fog." He said, smiling. "Change the weather conditions to favor us, by taking away the advantage of the archers. Hell, if she can navigate through her fog, or you trust me to, we could flank the enemy in the time their vision is limited to only a few dozen feat. Take away the value of those extra archers. And if they have a full army, we take away the value of everyone, give us cover to move. No, they'll wanna get in close and personal, up until they're sure they know what Jade here can do."

"Good to know I'm not the only one thinking." Trina said, smiling at the dragon blooded. "Okay, we have our plan. And Andre, you're job is to act as minstrel and herald. Wish we had the right livery for that… But you're a non-combatant until we have to use you. Got that?"

"Kinda the roll I prefer." The musician said, smiling. "Okay, we're traveling, right?"

"Rob, you and me, we're the most likely to guess where an attack might come from." Sam said. "I'm staying near the witch, so you stay near lady Trina."

"I trust her military instincts." Rob said.

"And I don't think for one moment that whomever's behind this is nearly as good a military mind as she is." Sam snapped. "It'd be stupid to use that dragon construct out here, when you can't guarantee Tori's safety, but it's probably their only real weapon. So I'm thinking, once they know we're coming, they use it, and we have a fight on our hands. Hell, wouldn't be surprised if the goal was to kidnap lady Tori more then kill Lady Trina. We just, we need to think less like a soldier and more like a merchant. Go for what you want, and crush the opposition. The dragon thingy is supposed to be resistant to magic, and hella strong, right? Then using it risks the least loss of assets. Only hired mercenaries, who they wouldn't have to pay if they don't make it, would potentially cost them less…"

"Unless they know what Alister said…" Robbie warned.

"Even still, they don't know about Andre, or what other tricks we have up our sleeves." Sam insisted. "No, the threat, it won't get solved out here, but the dragon problem, it will be, and soon…"

"They're so forceful." Cat whispered in Jade's mind. "Kinda exciting, the possibilities..."

"God, Cat, whats with you?" Jade shot back. "I understand, your from a race with very different values and morals, but really, all this talk about sex…"

"Yea, when you've been raped, I guess my free wheeling approach can seem kinda cruel." Cat mused. "Only, and this is important, rape is a violation, power over anthers choices. It more then robs you of a single act, it can take away the ability to enjoy one of life's few wonderful experiences. A shared experience. Even the Queen on the Petrified Throne understands. The penalties for rape among my kind are… Harsh. I mean, I ended a whole city, and I have my road to forgiveness. But if I'd forced someone, raped them, then I'd have had to work a whole lot more to find my way back into the throne's good graces."

"Can we NOT discuss this?" Jade snapped, doing her all to keep her communications in her thoughts.

"Sure…" Cat agreed. "Only, we're gonna have to do more then old Aleister did, cause you, my dear, were wounded, and that wound never truly healed. If it doesn't, it creates a weakness in your soul, and we can't have you weak. We're celestial beings, so we train em good." Cat giggled. "Train em to be good too. Anyways, we do want you all healed and happy, assuming you survive the adventure. Hmm, shouldn't get attached, right? Only, I kinda like you, so…"

"Jade?" Ryder tried to pull his sister out of her thoughts. "You worried about what might happen?"

"Just Cat discussing things I'm not quite ready to deal with." Jade admitted.

"Good, tell someone." Cat urged. "But your brother, he's wazzed… Angry enough at your dad. Maybe we do a test telling, to say, Beck? He seems calm and collected. Besides, he gets it, you're for Tori."

"I try to ignore her, but in the end, I'm worried that she's right." Jade added. "I just, this isn't something I can discuss with just anyone… Maybe I can talk to Lady Trina?"

"Maybe." Ryder said. "I wish it was something I could help with. I really do. Just, for now, we need information. What are the odds we'll be attacked before we reach Carson City?"

Jade smiled. "Cat, any way to tell if and when the thing will attack?" She made it a point to say that part out loud.

"Sure." Cat replied, materializing on her master's shoulder. "We draw the thing out."

"And how do we do that?" Jade asked.

"With a summoning." Cat said, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "Just, we pretend it's something else. Let the others know, secretly, what the plan is, and we can maybe have this fight on our own terms. Just, we won't get two shots at this thing, and I'm really worried we're underestimating what it can do."

:}

So, thoughts? Lots of development, but what can you expect when you realize people you've held as family may well be plotting against you? Thinking Jade had better figure out what she'll do to stop this beast, cause sooner or later, she's gonna face it. Then again, the Carsons should also probably act quickly, cause jade is learning fast.