Interlude ~Base Convos Part 28~

As Ike walked through the hallway, he heard someone from a distance within the castle.

"I can't believe it," Guy muttered to himself. "Master Karel seemed to have cut my lessons short..."

Ike's attention went to Guy as he seemed sullen by the recent turn of events. Out of all the people who joined, Karel was the one who joined the latest and demonstrated the best sword skill. Guy hoped to learn enough under him.

Raven and Priscilla were present with him. The latter gave a supportive gaze while the former gave a tired look. Raven was not having it.

"Let me guess, he got tired of you pestering him to train you?" Raven asked to which Guy shook his head.

"Not really," Guy answered, confusing the pair. "In fact, he complimented me that I'm strong enough. He told me to forget my plan to duel him at first, but I made a promise to him I would become strong in a year to face him. So I can't stop here!"

Priscilla looked at Guy fondly before nodding.

"I'm sure you'll be one of the best Tellius has to offer alongside brother, Guy," Priscilla added to which Guy responded with a cheeky grin.

Raven's brows were raised for a moment before returning to normal and shaking his head. Guy was far too focused on swordsmanship at any rate. He was headstrong on proving himself to become the best swordsman in not just Sacae, but various worlds.

"Just remember we have a job to finish here..." Raven reminded Guy who nodded. "When we go to Ike's homeland, you might be able to hone your skills there. You remember Ike's father being the best, right? Maybe you'll learn a thing or two from him."

Guy fervently nodded as he was reminded of the tales Ike had about his father, Greil. Greil's swordsmanship was extraordinary and boasted of being the best in Tellius before age supposedly caught up with him. Perhaps he could help him polish his swordplay.

"You're right! By the time we get to Tellius, I'll be one step closer to being the best swordsman in all the worlds!" Guy declared as Raven sighed at his companion's enthusiasm while his sister giggled to herself.

"Tee hee, I'm sure Ike's homeland will have lots to offer. I think I'm sure to make good friends with Ike's sister, Mist," Priscilla remarked daintily. She gave a determined gaze to her beloved family with a smile. "I hope I can offer my services as much as I can. I may not be the sole healer of the group, but I'll do my best despite not being skilled in battle."

While Priscilla was not experienced in the way of battle, she possessed decent magical strength to complement her comrades. Using anima magic and staves while on horseback was an invaluable and versatile asset as a proper mercenary. Everyone believed she was far too modest in evaluating her abilities.

Guy gave a thumbs up to Priscilla while Ike was in the distance giving an approving nod of the head. She had come a long way from the pampered girl who remained in the castle. She was ready to protect her family no matter what.

Raven gave a softened gaze to his little sister. "Just leave it to me to protect you as you watch my back, OK?" Raven's expression soon turns to a scowl as he's reminded that among Ike's father's company, there was another one akin to Sain, the troublemaker. He was going to have the man avoid causing the rest of the troops trouble. "Scratch that, Guy and Lucius can also help me protect you and ward off certain fools. We can't let another Sain roam freely with the members of our company or anyone else."

He remembered all kinds of shenanigans as Sain managed to flirt with every single woman on their side regardless of who it was. There was a moment when he was about to flirt with Countess Louise until his commander had to stop him in his tracks in Nabata. If Gatrie was some sort of counterpart to Sain, he had no doubt there would be trouble awaiting.

Guy and Priscilla pondered for a moment to contemplate Raven's words before being suddenly reminded of the blue-armored knight of the Greil Mercenaries in Tellius. Ike mentioned him plenty of times to the point where one could consider Sain and Gatrie to be long-lost brothers. Something that Kent would personally dread over the thought of the two being in the same vicinity.

"I swear, there better be some boundaries set if we end up working together..." Raven shuddered as he spoke.

Somewhere in another world, a certain brown-haired knight sneezed and thought a beautiful woman was talking about him. Ike chuckled to himself and left the trio to themselves.

"No way. There are no wyverns in Ilia..." Farina voiced out as she looked at Dart.

Ike came across the pair as they looked at the map with great detail. They seemed to be in disagreement about something.

"Still no luck on treasure hunting?" Ike called out to the pair. Their attention went to the young mercenary commander as he interrupted their deciphering of the clues.

"Oh, Ike! Didn't notice ya!" Dart exclaimed. He scratched the back of his head and looked at the map. "Still trying to find Han Gak's treasure. I thought from the 'hidden white fang' bit that there would be wyverns in Ilia..."

Farina shook her head as she pointed out: "As I said, we don't have wyverns in Ilia, so get your mind out of the gutter, Dart."

Just as Dart was going to be dejected, Ike cupped his chin in thought and was suddenly reminded. There was something related to wyverns in Ilia, dragons. The Mountain of the Ice Dragon. Nils and Ninian's former birthplace...

"Doesn't your home have a mountain dedicated to an ice dragon there?" Dart's eyes widened in excitement as Ike mentioned a potential clue. Farina froze for a moment before recollecting herself upon realizing the interpretation to be valid. "Florina and Canas mentioned your country to have a place where people give thanks to the dragon that lived there. Maybe search for a clue so long as you don't cause any trouble to the mountain or place of offering."

Farina narrowed her eyes in suspicion at the mention of Florina, as she believed Ike didn't fall for her sister. As she was about to scrutinize him, Dart interrupted her with a roar of his voice.

"Alright! After this journey is over, I'll run straight to that mountain and maybe become the legendary pirate king!" Dart announced excitedly. He mused on the idea of getting to the treasure and becoming the next king of the pirates. "Think of all the sea dogs just waiting to find the treasure that I claimed from Han Gak. They'll know me as Dart, king of the pirates! The great corsair who redistributed few copies of the map to the treasure and pirates all over to look for my treasure that I rehide."

Ike was astounded by Dart's goal, realizing he didn't care for the wealth but the glory associated with it. Sure enough, it would bring his name to be known, but to make a new treasure hunt out of it...?

Meanwhile, Farina looked flabbergasted by Dart's reveal of what he wanted to do with the treasure. All the more reason she wasn't going to let him find it...

"And here I thought you were just in it for the loot..." Farina voiced out in shock. Her expression soon turned neutral but more greed-like look in her eyes. "...You are the stupidest pirate I have ever met... I know my way into that mountain that Florina spent a night in, I'll find that treasure first anyway..."

With that, she walked off before Dart could retort. His teeth clenched as he showed an angry expression but without any real hostility.

"Over my dead body! You'll never get that treasure!" He declared as she continued walking, paying him no mind. Dart turned to Ike and whispered: "Just between you and me, I'll find the treasure and place it in your continent. Only the adventurous sort will go the extra sail to another world of lands unknown to find the legendary treasure of Dart, King of the Pirates!"

Ike's mouth gaped open as Dart spoke those words. It seems as though he was informed by Anna or his fellow crewmate, Jake. Dart ran after Farina in the direction she went leaving Ike to give no response. Instead, the only thing Ike could do was smile for the pirate who believed in his friends.

"Sniff... Oh, Leila... At least..."

"Matthew?" Ike's voice snapped out Matthew out of his sorrow. His eyes still reddened even after being detected by Ike.

"Oh... ha... got found out easily, huh?" Matthew uttered as he attempted to recollect himself wiping away his tears. "Sorry for having you see me like this, Ike..."

Matthew was within a small corner where most wouldn't notice, yet Ike came across after hearing someone sobbing. Matthew was a trained spy, yet he was far too distraught in an emotional state to realize he was found by one of the army's leaders.

"I'm sorry," Ike voiced out, surprising Matthew with an apology. "I know you wanted to take revenge for the one you loved. I know you should have that right. But-"

Ike was interrupted by Matthew's raise of the hand. The thief wanted the mercenary leader to halt from speaking further.

"I tried to kill him..." Matthew confessed, surprising Ike. "Several times when he wasn't looking, I tried to strike at him and he kept evading me... But my last attempt... I tried bluffing my way into making him believe Nino was captured, but..."

"Nino... her brothers, they would never allow her to be harmed. Neither would her relatives... Your lie couldn't become more obvious..." Jaffar remarked as he threw back the knife after pinning down Matthew. Matthew still held a deathly glare after failing in his latest attempt to kill the assassin. In the next moment, he just looked down and punched the ground while kneeling.

His beloved was dead, her killer still roaming like it was nothing, and his lord... Matthew's tears fell as he was about to bawl from the injustice and unfairness of it all. At least until he heard the Angel of Death's next words.

"Your name, Matthew..." Matthew's tear-filled face looked up at his mortal enemy whose expression was still emotionless, yet calm gaze. "That was the name the woman last spoke while clinging to her final breath... 'Matthew', Leila thought of you in her last moments..."

Jaffar remembered the name uttered by Leila after he was ordered by Ephidel to kill the spy. Even after being struck, she held a yearnful gaze and called out to a single person.

Matthew gritted his teeth in response. "What gives you the right to utter her name!?" He shouted as he got off his knees from the ground and stood up. "You killed Leila... You stole her life. Her voice, her smile... You stole everything! So what makes you think you deserve to live, let alone obtain happiness!?"

Jaffar remained silent, staring at the young thief. But what puzzled Matthew was what gaze Jaffar was giving. He always believed Jaffar was nothing more than a cold-blooded killer. The only person he'd ever show such a gaze was to the girl who adored him, Nino. So why give such a gaze full of... empathy?

"I do not... I don't deserve happiness..." Jaffar admitted to the spy. "In fact, knowing that Nino has family surrounding her, I can be happy with just that. I could die right now being content knowing she will be fine... But I will not."

Bringing out a pendant with a blood stain on its cord. Nino showed the portrait within the pendant to Canas and left the keepsake with Jaffar for safekeeping. Jaffar looked fondly at the entrusted memento in a rare display of emotion.

"Knowing that leaving her alone, Nino will be sad. I will not allow it... She deserves every bit of happiness, even when a wretch like me doesn't deserve to receive it from her..." Jaffar spoke in a soft tone. "Perhaps I'll meet the same end of the one you loved... I was to know nothing of joy, sorrow, anger, dread. I was to have no will of my own... And yet, I fear the same sorrowful emotions you feel upon Nino should I die... I don't want that..."

Jaffar turned in the opposite direction and walked away from Matthew. Matthew stood silent until he once again faced Jaffar. He had no idea why he wanted to say this, but he felt like he had to.

For a moment, Matthew saw his lord and Leila looking at him, as if expecting something from him.

"Hey!" Matthew shouted, causing Jaffar to halt. Jaffar gave a slight turn of the head to look at the Ostian spy, who gave a determined look to the former assassin without anger. "If you don't want to cause that girl grief like mine, then live! Live with the sins you hold deep in your soul! No matter how sinful you are, at least make it up to a single person you dedicate your life to. Don't hesitate or regret not doing anything. Make everything count even when you don't deserve to be happy!"

Jaffar stood silent for a moment but eventually nodded. The former Angel of Death went his way as Matthew saw the figure going off. Somehow, in that moment, Matthew saw Leila nodding approvingly at him... Alongside their beloved lord...

"...All I could think of was how to bring him down. If I could do that, I would... be able to mourn Leila... That's what I believed..." Matthew uttered to Ike, who remained patient the entire time. "The moment I gave up, I saw her smiling..."

Ike knew Matthew must have agonized over Jaffar effectively being let go. However, it seems as though a large burden was taken off Matthew's shoulders. He seemed to have made peace with the way things were.

Jaffar could not be forgiven, yet he chose to move forward for the one he loved. So long as there was one person he could cherish, it would mean a lot to give back to the world. After meeting Nino, he understood what it meant to empathize with people...

Matthew snorted and shook his head. "I'm no saint like Lucius. I wonder if this is what he felt like when he forgave Renault back at the boat..."

It was then Ike shook his head. "Lucius is on a completely different scale from us. They say Saint Elimine was a very forgiving person, maybe he's her reincarnation," Ike teased with a grin.

Matthew chuckled to himself. Lucius was indeed a saint compared to most acolytes. He chose to forgive a man and move forward for the family he loved and fought alongside to protect what was most dear to him. His convictions were to be an example to all.

"I hear Saint Elimine was a beauty," Matthew remarked. "Lucius certainly fits the bill!"

Somewhere in the palace of Ostia, a beautiful blonde man sneezed wondering if someone was saying something rude about himself.

The two laughed merrily with Matthew's spirits raised. Meanwhile, Athos looked at the pair who were in jubilation. He remembered his former friend was indeed beautiful.

People have elevated her almost akin to a goddess instead of devoting themselves fully to God. Unbeknownst to most, she was not as forgiving and accepting as most people believed... Athos lamented the fact she did not live long enough to change her opinion on dragons... When he helped in the founding of Arcadia with the Divine Dragons who lived in the desert and Nergal, that was the start of it all...

A transient time that he came to wish that he could work to diminish the gap between humanity and dragons. A wish to resolve the conflict between both sides. In the end, dragons were people, and people would fight among themselves for whatever reason or justification...

Athos reminisced about the times he fought and worked with dragons in Elibe. From the sorrow, joy, and discovering new mysteries... Regrets were useless, the time for action was now. With a new resolve, it was time for the next generation to take the reins of history and maybe build a bridge between the two species. If only he could see it now... The future was far too uncertain...

"Eliwood," Ike called out to the young lord in the dead of night. Just like Nils, he stood outside but within the woods of Ostia.

His expression could not be seen, yet it was clear he was distraught. Lyn must have told Eliwood everything.

He was attended by his retinue sparsed throughout near the woods. They left their lord to himself to mull over the current events as they continued to remain vigilant against intruders. However, they allowed Ike to meet Eliwood even though he wished to be alone.

"I can't believe it..." Eliwood muttered to himself. "Our greatest enemy... the man who killed my father... he was nothing more than a pitiful wretch who forgot his own family..."

Ike remained silent in the face of Eliwood's turbulent emotions. Everything was revealed to Eliwood: Nils and Ninian's full heritage, Nergal's descent to madness, and how all of his actions up to this point were a misplaced desire to regain his family. The irony of the entire situation was almost like a cruel joke.

"And you knew...?" Eliwood asked Ike without turning his head to face him.

Ike nodded his head in response and spoke: "Since Dread Isles, I concluded along with Ninian and Nils right before we departed for Nabata. I believed they could reveal the matter to you eventually, but now is the time."

It took a moment for Eliwood to process Ike's words and nod. He took a deep breath before exhaling and looked up into the stars.

"Nergal brought you here to this world for a purpose whether he intended to do so or not. I assume his desire was the source of your visions you've had since you met Nils and Ninian... and to bring you here..." Eliwood surmised a plausible explanation.

Eliwood remembered back in Pherae when Ike first visited that he received visions. His judgment was also impaired when allowing Nils and Ninian to leave on their own. He didn't think much of it at the time other than to have his knights keep watch for the siblings.

"You won't blame them, will you? For not telling you?" Ike queried Eliwood who took a moment to shake his head.

"Of course not," Eliwood faced Ike with an offended expression. "In fact, I will not place any burden on the one I love for her father's actions. She and her brother have done nothing wrong. Their greatest burden is theirs to keep but I will help alleviate it in whatever way I can..."

Eliwood stood with a determined look towards Ike and declared: "I care not if they are the children of my enemy. I care not that they are dragons. No matter how atrocious Nergal may be, they are not responsible. But I care for the grief that they must feel for the man who they once called father. I am ashamed of being the one to cause them that grief causing them to believe that they should be punished. For that, I must beg for Ninian's forgiveness for her distress. I hold no hatred in my heart towards the man who killed my father, but only pity."

He could not blame Nils and Ninian for their darkest secret. Nergal was responsible for his own actions. He chose a dark path that led him to lose something far more important, the memories of his family. Eliwood was genuinely considerate of the one he chose to love and held no grudge towards them.

It took a moment for Ike to recollect himself before Eliwood's determination. Eliwood's resolve to make amends with his loved one and her brother made Ike astounded. He reciprocated Eliwood's perseverance with a determined gaze of his own.

"Right, tomorrow is the day you fight for your right to wield your ancestor's blade, Durandal, the Blazing Blade," Ike responded in an uplifting tone. "I'm sure you'll be able to save Ninian."

Eliwood nodded at Ike's reassurance. "I will... We all will because you are all my cherished companions... With everyone at my side, we cannot be defeated."

Fae's Adventures in Tellius Part 6

"Bah!" Tibarn spat out at the dinner table. "I bet you the rascal got involved in the slave trade. Those nobles and mercenaries were probably involved in it..."

They sat at the dinner table after hearing the entire tale of what events led to Fae being present in Goldoa. Somehow, the Hawk King surmised Fae to be taken and kidnapped by the company she met where they probably coerced her supposed elder and teleported themselves and her to their desired location. But it probably did not go as planned as she was sent to her distant brethren in Goldoa for safety while the beorc she was with were warped elsewhere.

After Fae, Prince Kurthnaga, and Prince Reyson had finished their meal, they left their fellow Kings and their attendants to themselves. Kurthnaga had requested a favor from Reyson, a favor which the latter obliged under permission from Dheginsea. While that was happening, the remaining guests and the King of Goldoa discussed the past events with the former scrutinizing the people she met before warping to Goldoa.

"I dunno about how King Caineghis speaks fondly of this beorc when his son might be doing something nefarious..." Janaff remarked while Ulki silently nodded with his partner. "Does her village really live in peace with humans...?"

"Yeah..." Tibarn muttered with suspicion. "She's the honest sort... not a single bad feather on her, yet her community seems a lot better in laguz and beorc relations compared to the rest of Tellius..."

It was difficult to fathom how her supposed home lived in harmony with beorcs. Even her best friend, Sophia, was said to be a child between a dragon and a human. She could not transform like Fae, an expected outcome from those who are "parentless".

"Still... where she came from... is it truly the Desert of Death?" Ulki pondered along with his fellow laguz compatriots.

It was an enigma whether Fae truly came from any place or territory they were familiar with. Begnion's Grann Desert was certainly not her homeland. Moreover, she is known to be around the same age as the three hawks combined (they are about a hundred years old each). They knew dragon laguz lived the longest and aged the slowest, but Fae seemed to be an outlier variant among the race. Perhaps her fellow dragons within this Nabata Desert also lived long lives like her.

Dheginsea sat quietly and enjoyed the berries brought by the hawk tribe laguz, unable to come to his own conclusion until he met this Ike and his associates. He would probably allow people from Fae's hometown to be invited for further clarification (mostly limited to dragons). However, his stern and neutral expression turned uncharacteristically sour the next moment. Ulki also seemed to have sensed or rather, heard similarly, as his ears perked upon the faint footsteps that came their way.

"She's descended from the dragons who you could say have come to disagreement with my tribe in the past and left to a desert..."

The source of the voice came from the latest draconic guest. The hawk laguz present could discern that this man was no beorc, yet they could tell that he was unlike most dragons in Goldoa.

"Jahn..." Dheginsea spoke with slight apprehension. "Do you have something to share while we have guests here?"

It was a warning to avoid exacerbating conflict. Dheginsea knew Jahn's character as someone who could provoke conflict between races. The man in question, however, merely shook his head.

"On the contrary, I'd rather learn more about guests here... My name is Jahn, consider me a... Fire Dragon variant of dragon laguz," Jahn replied as he cupped his chin while observing the Phoenicisian guests. "Tell me about your tribe, your habits, your avian cousins..."

The trio of hawks raised their brow at Jahn, wondering where this man came from. Fire Dragon? When was he invited into Goldoa? Suddenly, they were reminded of the time they first discovered Fae while catching the raven laguz who were skulking into their territory. They thought there was only just a single woman found in that reef. Was this man present with her at the time?

This made them realize what favor Kurthnaga wanted from Reyson. She was not present for the feast. That made them realize the favor was not as simple as they originally thought.

Suddenly, Ulki's ears perked up from noise, or rather singing from a distance. Tibarn gave a single glance to Dheginsea who nodded in response and then gestured to Ulki and Janaff to leave the dining room.

"Fine then... Jahn," Tibarn answered with narrowed eyes as his eyes and ears left the vicinity. "In return, tell us about yourself... and that woman." Dheginsea's eyes flickered and stared intensely at his fellow draconic being.

Jahn shrugged and nodded his head. He supposed he would exchange information about his kind's conflict with humanity. He did want to understand the strength and knowledge the hawks possessed before coming to a conclusion.

Jahn was curious about other races that were present in Tellius. However, he disregarded Fae's origins entirely, considering whatever "Arcadia" to be rubbish. At best, from Jahn's perspective, it was just a small community of humans who encroached on the Divine Dragons' hiding place and were scared into submission. They would likely never leave Nabata to avoid having the dragons be caught or exposed to the rest of humanity.

Dheginsea narrowed his eyes also hoping to hear what Jahn had to say for himself. The night continued with the guests conversing, watchful of Jahn's equally observant eyes.

"Who was that weird guy, Ulki?" Janaff queried to his fellow hawk to which the Ear of the King remained silent.

Ulki shook his head as he continued walking, only hearing the sound of a serenade being sung by Prince Reyson. He was supposedly singing a galdr, or seid magic as some call it. They could tell this was the Galdr of Rebirth from the occasional times that Reyson sang this tune to his father, Lorazieh without much effective power.

The dragon was certainly unusual. He did not have a single irregular heartbeat. In the pressure of such laguz royals, most strangers would be nervous. Whatever their king would discuss with the intruder would likely be relayed to them as well.

The pair finally reached the room where Prince Reyson was singing with Gareth at the side. They both heard the last verses being sung aloud.

"~uamaros~ uamaros~"

The pair looked at Gareth who nodded and softly knocked on the door after the last verse.

"Please come in," Kurthnaga's voice came from inside the room. The pair of hawk laguz obliged and opened the door to see Prince Reyson safe and sound at the bedside of the white-haired woman Janaff had seen days before. Upon closer examination, he could tell she was a beauty to behold.

Janaff whistled which brought the attention of everyone in the room, including Ulki. "My, she's gorgeous, Prince Kurthnaga! Aren't you supposed to be the one singing to her instead of Prince Reyson?"

Kurthnaga became flabbergasted by Janaff's remark with his face and ears reddening as a result. He would not dwell too much upon the rude comment but it was embarrassing.

Ulki shushed his comrade as he gave a light smack to Janaff's arm to which the latter rubbed to ease the pain. Gareth seemed to glare at Janaff for his offense but knew it was not the time to speak up. Ulki pointed to the source of why he needed to keep his voice down. Prince Reyson sighed as he soon turned to Fae, who lay happily sleeping at the bedside of the white-haired woman.

The woman in question remained mostly unresponsive to the serenade he gave, which evoked no response aside from the snoring of Fae who fell asleep midway into the galdr. But he noticed the woman, named Idunn, hover her hand over Fae and gently stroke the magenta-haired child's head ever so softly. Kurthnaga snapped out of his embarrassed state and was pleasantly surprised by Idunn's kind gesture.

She turned to Reyson and nodded. "...Thank you... Fae worked hard today to get me the berries you brought..." She gave a slight smile to the Heron Prince who was shocked for a moment before reciprocating with a smile of his own.

"My pleasure..." Reyson turned to his bodyguards and nodded. "Let us depart..." He spoke quietly as Kurthnaga also stood up and accompanied the trio out of the room, but not before the dragon prince gave a slight smile to the woman still lovingly stroking Fae's sleeping figure.

They left the room with the door closed while Gareth remained in place to tend to Fae and Idunn. Gareth gave a single glance to Janaff and Ulki to ensure that they escorted the Prince back to the dining room, Janaff in particular whom he gave an intense stare.

As the royals and the bodyguards walked across the hall, Reyson decided to break the ice.

"Prince Kurthnaga, is that woman also a dragon?" To which Kurthnaga nodded. "I see, but why is it that the woman holds no emotions until the end?"

Ulki and Janaff raised their eyebrows in response to Reyson's question until they realized the woman held a neutral expression until she looked at Fae. It was strange, that despite the Prince not holding as much magical power to invoke the full extent of the benefits of the galdr, most people would be invigorated or have mental ailments plaguing them to be gone.

At the very least, Fae was lulled to a deep slumber. Idunn seemed slightly happy near the end and smiled which was great progress. But she continued to be unable to do anything on her own unless someone assisted her.

"That's the problem. I hoped for your assistance to mend her lack of emotions... but she..." Kurthnaga trailed off until Reyson nodded his head.

Suddenly, Ulki's ears perked up hearing heavy footsteps from the direction of the library and muttering from someone he served. Janaff also seemed to shudder from his liege being spotted from a distance. When did their lord relocate to the library?

"There is no trouble. But I wonder if humans may have caused her ailment..." Reyson spoke with some venom in his tone. In the next moment, he could feel chaotic energy emanating from the direction of the library of the palace and looked to see Tibarn approaching them with a livid expression.

"Not quite..." Tibarn's agitated voice answered Reyson who was stunned by the negative emotions from the man. He walked and faced Kurthnaga who was visibly surprised by the Hawk King's intense expression. "Prince, I suggest you double your guards for the little one and that woman. And watch out for that... fire lizard..."

Kurthnaga remained stunned by the anger from Tibarn before understanding who he was referring to. Jahn.

Tibarn exhaled and continued: "Put us in a quarter near them, that way, my feathers don't ruffle from the thought of that cur even being near me or the children..."

Jahn was placed in a far away quarters for a reason. Tibarn would rather keep Janaff and Ulki on the lookout for the other dragon guests.

While Tibarn voiced his concerns, the library was filled with tension with two dragons present. Dheginsea exhaled out a foggy breath with his pupils turned to slits. He remained in his beorc form but was ready to transform if needed if the one standing before him decided to continue his provacatory statements. It was a warning.

Jahn remained calm in the face of the hostility displayed by the King of Goldoa. No matter, with much instinct to protect his brethren, he could rest assured that humanity would be powerless against the might of his kin and maybe the birdmen as well. Still, what intrigued him was the protective emotions displayed by both Kings for the Divine and Demon Dragon. The talk was short, but Jahn was honest. Far too honest, in fact.

He mused that he agreed with the Hawk King on one thing, they could never learn to live with humans...