Price of Survival

Part 4

There were two guards, each wielding a lance that they held to their sides. Both wore light leather armor with some metal plates around the groin and shoulders for added protection as well as design as it made them look more intimidating. The guards stood their posts diligently in front of the wooden door that was barred shut. They were given strict orders to not open the door for anyone other than Marl himself and they had no intention of breaking those orders.

Duncan had other plans for them. He peaked around the corner of the hallway, catching a glimpse of them without them seeing him, the flaps on the side of their helmets cut down their peripherals and focused their sight ahead which was currently just the wall on the other side of the hall. They occasionally glanced to their sides and shifted from foot to foot. They had been there for sometime and were wondering when their reliefs would get there.

The reliefs, another two guards in the same dress were dead. One with a clean cut through his gut and another through his face to quicken his death, the other's head was hidden away in some corner as its owner's body laid slumped against the wall of the latrine where he had been caught unaware. They wouldn't be getting up any time soon.

"You think one of us should go looking for them?" One of the guards, the shorter of the two who had a wiry mustache and a bit of a belly that stretched his tunic, asked his taller and more gangly counterpart. He rubbed his shoulder to show his discomfort at having stood guard for nearly eight hours now. "They should have been here two hours ago."

"Maybe they got caught up." The other guard answered. He was more timid, less prone to be proactive about problems. "There is a lot happening today." His eyes shifted, his thoughts on the worst case scenario which wasn't as far from the truth as he desperately hoped.

The shorter guard now rubbed the back of his neck. "They could have sent someone else, then. There aren't that many of us to stand guard here on top of this blasted mountain. It would be nice to get off work on time today, I hear that Wilson has some coin to lose." He chuckled. "I don't know where he keeps getting to money, but he loses it so fast. He's horrible at cards."

"I wouldn't know." The other looked away. He wasn't much for betting, he hated the risk and why risk losing something when he could not bet and keep what he had?

A nudge with the tip of the lance startled the taller guard and the other one laughed. "Of course you wouldn't. You don't do anything fun." He stretched his arms over his head. "You spend all of your time reading those horrid manuscripts and books." He shivered as if the idea of printed words were something to be afraid of.

The tall guard frowned. "It's better than losing an entire week's pay in a day and then coming to me for a loan." He looked down through the corner of his eye. "A loan that hadn't been paid back yet."

"I'll get you the money." The man said in a higher pitched tone and then grumbled. "Not like I can run away from it, not here."

Duncan decided that he had had enough of the two, even if their exchanges were rather humorous. If he listened too long, it would personify his enemy which was a rule of combat that he didn't dare break. He had done it before, one time and though it was the one time he didn't regret it. He had been told to kill Nedric, all those months ago and he considered it as he faced down the boy in the woods. He remembered how Nedric was all dirty and sweaty from the hours of running he did. He had been running for his life and Duncan was sent out to hunt him down like swine. When he did have the chance, he looked at Nedric in the eyes and he saw the small child that he had practically raised.

---

"I'm relying on you, Duncan." Marl said, kneeling so he could be face to face with his squire. "I'm going to be gone for some time and I need you to watch the household for me." He had a serious look on his face, though his eyes told a different tale.

"You can count on me!" Duncan shouted louder than he should have. "I'll fight off any invaders that might try to raid the estate." He swung his arms like swords. Though Duncan was fifteen at this time, he was still very energetic and often very child like a times. Marl tried to fix that by having him be tutored by his guard captain, Theran, who was known to be the saltiest man alive, but that did little. The boy always seemed to have an upbeat attitude and Marl eventually just decided that he was going to simply live with it until it naturally went away with age.

"Not only do you need to watch the house." He ruffled Duncan's shaggy hair which fell in front of the boys eyes. "I need you to protect the people inside as well."

"I will." Duncan brushed the hair out of his eyes. It always did that and everyone told him to get it cut, which only made him keep it how it was, letting it grow longer and longer with each passing day.

"Good man." Marl stood up. "I take my leave."

Just like that, Marl left and Duncan was left in charge. Theran was going with Marl, along with much of the house guard to attend the trial of Lord Nelson. He had been captured. He sat in his cell for two years before the last of his followers either surrendered or fled. Now he was drug out to face charges of treason and waging open war against the crown. He could face death and all of King Justin's followers wanted to see the result.

Other than Duncan, there were a few guards who spent their time either on patrol around the perimeter of the compound that was protected with only high hedgerows since this was the capitol. There hadn't been any sort of attack on the home of a Lord in many years so security was rather lax. Plus, there was usually the Lord's guardian as well, but just like the guard captain, Ferelis was going with Marl which made the compound of five acres rather defenseless, but again, it was in the capitol.

Just like the good defender he was, Duncan grabbed his sword, the same one that his father made for him and went on his own patrol. He started at the main gates, large steel bars with pointed tips would keep anyone unwanted out, though Duncan found that he could slip between the bars if he tried hard enough. He'd have to keep an eye on that.

He than followed the hedge that surrounded the entire property, separating this house from all of the others. The capitol was an old city and the houses were packed into a tight grid as all of the Lord grabbed up as much of the real estate around the base of the castle. It put a lot of power in a small amount of space. Another reason of why Marl wasn't all that concerned, if his guard count was down, he could rely on the help of his neighbors. Duncan on the other hand treated this very seriously. As far as he was concerned, he would have to fight off an army alone and he would gladly do it.

The perimeter check was uneventful. He passed by multiple guard stations, most of which were empty, but a few were still stationed by a guard or two who looked bored out of their minds. They were eager to do something and were relieved to see their young counterpart come up to them.

"Duncan, how goes the watch?" Tristan, the only guard at this particular station, no more than a large yellow post in the ground near the back of the compound, hidden among some trees to signify its mere existence, brightened up.

"Well." Duncan nodded and walked up to the guard who towered over him with his tower shield strapped to his back and a spear in hand. "Anything to report, Tristan?" Duncan knew all of the guards and they all knew him since they all lived there and had been working together for many years. Duncan had become a favorite amongst the staff.

Most people would have been offended at being spoken to in such a way by a boy, a squire, but Allen knew that it was just Duncan doing his job since Marl hadn't really left anyone in control. "Nothing to report, sir." He added the last with a grin. "Same old boring perimeter." He waved down the long row of hedges. "Same old boring station." He then waved to the area around him. The back of the compound a nice array of trees growing there. To have enough property to grow and trees was a way for Lords to boast a bit, but it did create a security concern. The trees provided cover for anyone who tried to sneak in, even though they would have to cross a lot of ground to get to anything of worth, it still required a guard back there at all times.

"Good to hear." The sarcasm and tiredness either ignored or just not heard by the overly serious boy. "Keep up the good work." He walked away, much to the disappointment of the guard who would have preferred if he had stuck around and chatted some more. There was no time to chat though, the house needed protecting.

The rest of the patrol went like this. Whenever he came across a guard, Duncan asked them if anything happened and then moved on until he was back where he started.

Satisfied with the results of his patrol, Duncan headed inside. The first thing he or anyone saw upon entering the massive structure of stone, wood and iron was that the outside appearance that was more like a keep that would scare off any would be attacker was nothing like the inside. The floor was marble, giving a nice white contrast to the gray stone walls that were line with colorful tapestries and paintings. Suits of armor stood an endless watch over the foyer.

Duncan immediately began to do a sweep of ground floor, going down the halls, hand on hilt as if an assassin was going to jump out at him at any moment, He cleared the kitchen where the chefs were busy at work and didn't notice the small boy. Then he went to the guard's barracks that were in the west wing. There were some off duty guards who were busy talking and laughing over some ale and like the chef's didn't see Duncan as he swept by. Duncan was always able to move through the house quietly and without being noticed which made him all the more confident as he checked on the rest of the ground floor. There was nothing amiss, time to move onto the second and third floor.

There were many ways up to the other floors. Each corner of the house had tower that could be used. There were servant passages everywhere that led everywhere to allow servants to move through the house without getting in the way if there were important guests around. Then there was the main grand staircase in the foyer. Two massive staircases of stone brick and luxurious red carpet hugged the walls of the room and led up to a balcony.

Duncan ran up the steps two at a time, careful as to not trip. Even though there was carpet, there was still that hard stone underneath and personal experience was enough for him to know that no matter how much carpet there was, he would always feel the stone underneath.

The second floor was where all of the sleeping quarters were for guests. Each room was identical and somewhat sparsely furnished since guests often brought their own things with them to make the rooms feel homely for them. It was actually rude for a host to give a guest a fully furnished room just because of that. The only exception was for family since a host wanted family to feel as if they were already part of the household and therefore there would be no reason for them to have to furnish a guest room.

There were no guests currently so the entire second floor was empty, with the exception of a few servants who were busy cleaning and keeping things tidy.

Off to the third floor.

Duncan took one of the tower stairs this time wanting to make sure that no one could get a read on his movements. The third floor was smaller with only a few rooms. There was a small library, some bedroom for family guests, the master bedroom where Marl and his wife slept, all around a central living space that had a fire pit. It was a very friendly space that just drug people in to sit around the fire pit and have a good time.

Duncan wasn't here for any of that though, he was here to check on one thing, the most important thing on the entire compound.

There was a room off in the corner that Duncan went straight to. He opened the oak door slowly, making sure to not make a single sound as he stepped into what appeared to be another room meant for a family guest. It was just that, or rather it had been when it was first designed, until a new addition to the house was brought in.

On the bed, still sound asleep was Nedric, wrapped up in a protective cocoon of blankets with pillows thrown all around him. He had more pillows than necessary, but he wanted them, so he got them.

As quiet as he was, when there was no other noise, even the small squeak of Duncan's sandals was loud enough the stir the small child from his fitful slumber.

Small hands rubbed away the tiredness from his eyes as Nedric blinked to see who had woken him. "What time is it?" He asked, voice hushed by a yawn.

"It is past noon." Duncan said and walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. No need to try and be quiet with the child awake now.

Nedric, too small for the overly sized bed of cushions and blankets meant for a couple scooted to sit next to the person who he looked up to like an older brother, which over time, would turn into more of an uncle. "Where's Dada?" He asked though he knew somewhat that his father had left that morning since he had come in the previous night to say goodbye.

"Left a few hours ago." He felt the boy lean up against him. His eyes were already drooping. The child never seemed to be fully awake, always preferring to take naps rather than go out and play in the sun. Not under Duncan's watch.

It took half an hour, but he managed to coax Nedric out from his bed and downstairs where the cooks, updated by the many servants, were already preparing a meal for their young lord.

They set up a simple breakfast of oats, some ham and a single scrambled egg. It was a small meal, for a small person. He was only three years old.

Nedric, quickly ate his food under the careful watch of Duncan and the servants who stood at the ready in case he needed something since it was not at all uncommon for him to spill. He was still mastering the art of feeding himself with a fork which he held clumsily in his hand. It would be some time before he would be given the opportunity to even attempt to use a knife.

Once breakfast was done, the servants began to clean up the table and Duncan took Nedric outside where the child enjoyed many hours running through the gardens. He chased butterflies, birds and other things. Duncan stood close by or let the guards watch him at times. The grounds were very well secured as per Lord Marl's instruction with regular patrols doubled since the dragon's own watch had to be covered.

Ferelis would often prowl the perimeter on an hourly basis and with him attending Marl, the guards were kept busy on nearly a double shift to make up. They grumbled, but did their job since they were also being paid extra and it would only be for a short time.

Duncan found Nedric at the end of the day, curled up in a patch of daisies with three armored men standing in a half circle around him, guarding him diligently, but without disturbing him.

"The little master has gone and tuckered himself out." A guard chuckled from behind his faceplate. "Will you be taking him in?"

"I will." Duncan replied and kneeled down next to the sleeping form. He slipped one hand under his head and the other under his legs and lifted him up. Nedric was very light in his arms. He was smaller than many other children of his age, but the practitioner had assured Marl that it was natural and that he was due a growth spurt soon. Until then, it made Duncan's job of carrying him back to his bed that much easier.

The guards went back to their duties and patrols while Duncan headed back inside with his precious cargo. Nedric didn't stir in the slightest, instead rolling a bit to snuggle his face into Duncan's shirt. He looked so at peace with his dirt streaked face and matted hair. Duncan, at times like this, wished that he never grew up.

Duncan retired to his own quarters which were on the second floor. A guest room had been given to him and although he could furnish it however he wanted to, he kept it simple. There was a stand where his leather armor was that he wore during training hung. It was simple leather, but Marl promised something more sturdy once he was sure that he wouldn't outgrow it in a month. Duncan placed his sword the side where a hook kept the sword upright. There was a trunk with Duncan's clothes and personal effects which weren't many since he was allowed to visit his father who live scarcely a mile away on his off time.Even then, he didn't have much there. Some extra clothes and small knick knacks that meant little to him. He found that he was happiest when at work.

He crawled into bed, exhausted after a hard day's work, by his standards, and was fast asleep seconds after his head touched the pillow.

It was dead silent and pitch black when Duncan opened his eyes again. He was warm, comfortable and still very sleepy, there was no reason for him to wake up and yet there he was.

Duncan listened to the darkness, trying to figure out what had awoken him. This house didn't creak and groan, being made almost exclusively of stone and the servants don't wander at night to make noise.

It was utterly silent, but then, there it was. A slight rustle, faint and muffled as if someone was trying to hide their presence. If someone was supposed to be there, then they wouldn't put so much effort into being unheard.

Duncan, at first, jumped out of bed and grabbed his sword. He was about to head out of the room and go charging ahead with the desire to catch the intruder, but then he stopped. His hands were shaking and his breath quick and shallow. It was a strange feeling, one that he was familiar with, but he knew about.

He was scared all of the sudden.

He had always been headstrong and boastful, so sure of his abilities. That was when he was in a position where he couldn't prove it either because there was no way or because, like with Lord Marl, he wasn't allowed to. Marl wasn't here. The guards were on patrol outside and there were minimal patrols in the house itself. If anyone had gotten inside, they could do what they wanted, unless Duncan did something,

There was no longer a worrisome man watching over him, in fact, Duncan had orders, he was to protect the household. He had permission to do everything that he claimed he could. Now that he could, he found that he couldn't.

He reached for the door, but his arms felt heavy, as if weighed down by bags of sand. The sword, made with pride and the hope that it would be used for great things, drooped, its tips scraping against the ground.

Fear gripped him. He didn't know what was out there. It was dark and this wasn't going to be anything like sparring with instructors or guards. There was no intent to kill there and they always stopped before anyone got seriously hurt. This intruder wouldn't be like that. There was no obligation to not kill him if he did find himself at the blade.

Duncan closed his eyes and focused on his heart that thumping in his chest. He felt light headed as the strength left his knees. He wanted to go out there. He wanted to prove that Lord Marl had rightfully trusted him, but...

There was as shrill scream. High pitched and terrified. It pierced the darkness and brought Duncan's head up. It was Nedric.

Fear was still there, but something else took precedence. It could have been love for the small child that was very much like a younger brother to him, though Duncan didn't think of it at the time. He could only bolt out of his room, sword in hand and run towards the young master's room where the intruder awaited.

---

Duncan couldn't sit through anymore pointless banter. He didn't even know why he even sat through the past ten minutes in the first place. He was here to rescue Nedric just like he did all those years ago. Kidnapped and rescued by him, rinse and repeat.

"Where are those reliefs?" The guard grumbled and shook out a growing knot in his calf. "You should go check it out." He prodded the other guard.

"That won't be necessary." Duncan stepped out from around the corner, his menacing blade drawn and ready.

"Who are you?" The guards didn't immediately recognize the threat since it had never even crossed their minds that they would be attacked.

Duncan didn't answer. He lifted the blade up and grasped it with both hands, hoisting it over his head with the blade pointing forward and slightly down in a ready position. That got the guards attention who lowered their own weapons.

"Stop right there!"  The shorter of the two shouted and gave a wary glance at his partner, unsure. They weren't the battle hardened soldiers that Kar had once led into battle. Those soldiers had long since retired, that left the fortress defended by a garrison of green men who barely knew the sound of two blades clashing. Duncan on the other hand was battle hardened and more than capable of dispatching the two.

Duncan ignored the order and lunged forward and brought the blade into and arc, pre staging a devastating side slash meant to decapitated both guards in one swipe. It almost worked.

Duncan twirled around the two lances, quickly passing through their small kill zones and used the momentum of his twirl to put some more force into his swing.

The heavy steel blade caught the taller guard right on the unprotected part of his neck. The blade, sharp as dragon's glass, cut through it like a hot knife through warm butter.

The second guard, being shorter, was able to duck and roll away while giving off a girlish shriek.

If the guard was skilled in any way, he would know that Duncan had left himself vulnerable to a counter attack after his swing. He would be a perfect target as his heavy blade continued to swing around into an arc, forcing Duncan to take time to recover. This was not a skilled guard in anyway. The guard opted to stand his unsteady ground as he watched his friend's headless body topple to the ground.

Duncan recovered and brought his blade back up and looked the guard in the eyes.

"Please!" The guard sobbed. "Let me go, this isn't worth dying for." He had snot coming from his nose and streams of tears from his eyes. His face was swollen and contorted with fear and desperation. It was a pitiful sight that really quite disgusted Duncan. He didn't pity the man, but it did leave a rather foul taste in his mouth. The man wasn't worth the effort to kill.

Duncan stepped over the corpse of the first guard and quickly closed the distance.

---

The scene outside was getting tense. Marl's forces and Kar's stared down each other. Very few words were exchanged between them and looked as if that wasn't going to change any time soon.

Nedric backed away from the window with a depressed sigh. He had failed to get out on his own and now he only had the letter from before. So he waited and waited. Now Marl had come to collect him and Nedric was beginning to think that who ever had sent him the letter only did so to raise his hoped simply to crush them in some twisted game of self pleasure.

He had contemplated jumping out of the window, but the fall was high enough that he could break his legs and the walls were smooth enough that he couldn't climb down. He could use his sheets from the solitary bed to make a rope if he had about six more. Kar had given him enough to keep him comfortable, but not so much that he could escape.

Where was Ferelis? Nedric wondered. The dragon was meant to protect him, be a mentor and a friend. He could only imagine what was going on with his guardian. How he must be worried.

*Crash*

Nedric turned his head towards the sound of the disturbance. It was coming from outside the door where Nedric knew guards were posted to keep him in.

The door crashed in, splintering as a man in a guard uniform fell through to the ground and remained there unconscious with a rather large goose egg on his forehead.

Nedric looked up at the door to see who had caused this.

"Hello, old friend." Duncan gave a smile as he strolled in as if he hadn't just knocked someone through a door. "Took me a while, but I finally found you."

Nedric couldn't help but have a massive smile plastered onto his face. "Duncan!" He exclaimed and ran over to his savior. "You're the last man I expected to see." He clasped the man's forearm.

"It took some time and a lot of digging, but when I heard that Marl was off to a meet with an old foe for reasons unknown, I needed to know why. A few well placed coins here and there told me the rest." He looked around the room. "Looks like you would have been fine if I was a bit late."

"Would have preferred it if you moved a little faster." He nudged the swordsman. "But beggars can't be choosers."

"No they can't" He motioned to begin moving towards the door. "C'mon, we need to get moving before this place turns upside down."

"What do you mean?"

Duncan kept moving, leading the way out of the room and down the hall he came from. "Marl isn't here for you. He's here to tie up loose ends, which involves killing Kar."

"I guess Kar is in for a surprise."

"Well, we won't be around to see his reaction." He led them out of the building and into the mines just as the battle started.

---

Marl fired his crossbow and felt the satisfying thump as the arms, pulled tightly back, snapped forward, sending the iron bolt soaring through the air and into a guard's neck.

The man dropped his swords and grasped at the bolt that protruded at an awkward angle from his neck for a moment before falling down.

The battle was going well for Marl. The garrison had been caught completely unaware and were scrambling to throw any kind of defense together and with Feil keeping that pesky dragon, Caval busy, he would have the fortress under control soon.

Everyone ducked as the two spiraling dragons came falling to the ground like a falling star. They crashed into the courtyard, smashing the solitary tree that grew there and sending men scattering in all directions.

They quickly picked themselves up before taking to the skies again with Feil chasing Caval. That was good, Feil would kill Caval and that would mean everyone who knew about him taking the egg would be dead. He just needed to hold out until then, the garrison wouldn't throw down their arms as y long as they had a dragon of their own fighting for them. Once they did, Marl would find out which ones knew too much and have them removed.

Marl had several of his personal guard with him as he moved towards one of the stone stairs that would lead up to the top of the wall where he could have a better vantage point of the battle. He wanted to see the fortress fall.

Bodies laid strewn in the courtyard and most of the fighting had moved to the buildings where brutal close quarters combat was taking place. The garrison was being pushed back and many had already surrendered, laying their blades down. Those that did surrender were being corralled towards the front gate area where a few soldiers were posted. Everything was going as planned, but plans rarely go smoothly.

There was a trumpet blast that roared over the sound of metal and death. It wasn't a trumpet that Marl recognized and it came from outside the fortress.

"There you are." A heavy, blubbery voice called out. "You bastard."

Marl turned and looked out of the fortress to see something that he did not expect. The color drained from his face.

"I have come for you, you murdering dog." Claudius was mounted atop a mighty steed, the only one that could really carry him a long distance. Behind him was a host of men, hundreds, all armed.

"What is this?" Marl whispered over to his guards who looked on with uncertainty. Marl turned towards Claudius. "What are you doing here?"

"I have come for revenge." Claudius exclaimed and threw up his arms with some effort. The man was always overweight, and seemed to have gained some extra weight since the last time Marl had seen him. "I have come to collect payment for the funeral my sister never had."

Marl turned towards the battle and cried out to his guards. "Defend the gate!" Some came, but many were too occupied fighting the last remnants of the garrison.

Marl hoped that the dragon would come, but as he looked up at the sky, they were nowhere to be seen.

---

"Feil!" He yelled to the heavens. "Where have you gone?"

The fight between the two dragons drifted away from the fortress and now the two wyrm were alone among stone tipped peaks. They clashed, teeth snapping and claws slashing as their bodies collided with enough force to break stone.

Feil had the obvious advantage due to both his size and his experience. He was nearly twice as heavy and he used that to his advantage, using his mass as battering ram to pound the smaller dragon continuously.

"Give up." Feil snarled as he rammed Caval with the spines on the top of his head. The sharp pointed were mostly deflected by hardened scales, but a few found small niches in the dragon's armor and drew blood.

The smaller dragon, fell from the sky with a cry of pain. The flames that once shrouded his body were gone, his natural oils expended. Even then, fire was hardly the weapon to use against another dragon, even an ice drake such as Feil. It was meant to ward off smaller animals that would harass him and be used as a show for mating purposes.

Caval hit the rocks hard and tumbled several meters before coming to a slow stop on a small outcropping on the side of the mountain. He was limp for a moment as he collected his thoughts. Everything hurt as a small pool of blood collected around him. He had scratches and gashes all over his body while he had only managed to get one decent bite on Feil, even then, it was on his hind haunch.

The weakened and tired dragon slowly lifted himself up, favoring his left paw which had been torn apart when Feil had gotten a hold of him earlier. It would heal in time and leave a disfigured limb, if he survived.

Feil hovered above the wreck of a form below him, his massive wings gracefully cutting through the air. "You are beaten. Yield."

It was an empty gesture to Caval. It was obvious to him now that he was meant to die, but he wouldn't go down with his tail tucked for he did believe in miracles. He had to. If he somehow survived, he would have a chance to rescue his only child, his legacy. It was everything to him to ensure that his line lived on the way it was intended, with him to father it and watch it grow. It was a goal of nearly every male to see their offspring prosper and watch them fly from the nest when they came of edge. Now he may never have that opportunity.

"I will never yield." Caval hissed, raising spines that went down his back, half of which had been ripped or bitten off, leaving meaty wounds that twitched. "I cannot yield." His vision blurred as his blood raced and he had to shake his head to clear it.

Feil was impressed by the young dragon's tenacity, most would have cowered before him the moment he arrived. This dragon was fighting tooth and nail until the very end.

"Very well." Feil said and dove down at the dragon with the intention of ending right there.

Caval managed to leap out of the way as four bladed paws landed where he stood only moments before. The ground shook as the massive beast landed and the outcropping began to crumble and fall into the abyss below.

Caval didn't know if he had the strength to take to the air again, so instead he clambered up the mountain side. He dug his claws into the rocks and mustered what he could to climb.

Feil kicked back off the outcropping and took to the air once more. He still had plenty of energy, but the bite on his leg caused him to get off balance a bit and that gave Caval enough time to get to the next outcropping which was larger and wouldn't fall under another strike from Feil.

"Why do you continue fighting." Feil watched the exhausted Caval fall down as he used his last vestiges of strength to pull himself up. "Why fight when there is no hope?"

Caval drooled a bit and grimaced as he lifted his head up to look up at the dragon. "I..." He was out of breath and had to take the time between words. "I fight for the chance... to see my child." He was actually weeping at this point as he said what was quickly becoming impossible. "Would you do not do anything for your children?"

Feil looked down at Caval. He did not know that Caval had a child. Marl had simply came to the king and requested his aid in dealing with Kar. He had accepted since he had a debt to the man and asked no questions since that was not his place, but this was treacherous. Men had no place in the dealings of dragons, especially not when it came to their children.

This was beyond any debt that he had to the man and he wished that he had known better than to simply trust.

Caval waited for the end to come, he waited but it didn't come. Instead Feil slowly lowered himself to the ground next to the dragon. The words that were spoken next filled his heart.

"I will help you find you child." Then he would need to speak with the king. It would seem that while dragons held up their side of the old treaty, humans weren't that would need to be fixed immediately.

---

Nedric and Duncan were making good time down the mines now that it was just a dash to get out. Duncan quickly explained the simple key to navigating the miles of dark tunnels.

"Wish I knew that." Nedric said as he closely followed his savior. He had a sword that he picked up along the way. It felt strange and off balance in his hand, but it was better than relying of Duncan entirely. "Would have escaped on my own a long time ago."

"We all wish for things." Duncan said and pushed forward. It was still some way and he wanted to get out before it got dark.

"How did you find me?" Nedric asked.

"I was hired by your father, your real father some time ago and I had originally planned to meet up with you at the Grey Marshes." Duncan ducked under some cobwebs and took a right when he came to a fork in the tunnel. "Then I heard news that Claudius was looking for you. I learned that you were gone and I immediately suspected that Marl had gotten to you, so I raced back to the city and used some of my old contacts in Marl's house and learned about this meeting."

"Why did Lord... er... my father wait so long to come for me?" Nedric walked around some abandoned mining equipment that was scattered across the ground. It seemed that the miners had left in a hurry.

"He didn't."

---

Duncan ran as fast as he could up the stairs, his way illuminated by a single candle stick that he managed to grab along the way. The hot wax burned at his hand, but he kept going.

"Help!"

Another scream that got Duncan going faster. He leapt with each step, skipping three stairs at a time, an impressive feat for someone of his size. He reached the top in record time and burst through the door, which swung wildly on its hinge and slammed into the wall.

"Ahhh!" This time it wasn't Nedric's voice, it was too hoarse to be that of a child. "You bit me!"

It was coming from Nedric's room. The intruder hadn't managed to leave yet, Nedric must have put up a fight.

Duncan gave a quick breath of thanks and ran into the room, abusing the door in the same manner as before.

Inside was the intruder, clad in black cloth and leather to keep him movements quiet. He had Nedric grasped in his arms. The boy was kicking and struggling to break free as the man tried to bind his arms and legs. They both stopped as Duncan entered the scene.

"What's this?" The man said as he quickly took advantage of Nedric's stop of movement. He gave a quick couple of twirls with the rope and had the boy tied off and tucked under an arm. "I was expecting guards, not the stable boy."

"I'm no stable boy." Duncan growled and raised his blade.

"What a pointy stick." The man chuckled and drew his own blade, a sleek rapier with a jewel encrusted handle. This man was one who liked to indulge. "Run along before I cut that hand off and know that I don't give warnings twi..."

Duncan didn't give any warnings as he quickly closed the distance and made a jab at the man's legs. He couldn't aim higher or he ran the risk of hitting Nedric who was quiet and watched him with glossy eyes.

The man easily parried the attack and leap back towards the only window in the room. "Oi!' He exclaimed. "That's not proper. Didn't anyone teach you the rules of engagement. You don't attack a man in conversation."

"Rules of engagements are for those who are afraid they can't win." Duncan said as he made another jab and again was blocked with a quick flick of a wrist. "And I have every intention of winning."

"I have no intention of sticking around to be prodded at by some stable boy." The man said and leapt out the window.

Duncan ran to the window and saw the man land below on the roof below. There was also a rope attached to the window sill with a metal claw. The way the intruder got in the first place.

Duncan didn't hesitate to jump as well. The fall wasn't that high, five meters, but to someone who barely stood high enough to reach cabinets, it seemed much farther. He landed with a painful thump that sent a shock up Duncan's legs and back.

The man was already running off and Nedric was screaming again, squirming, slowing down his captor to a point where Duncan had a chance of catching up.

"Halt!" A guard from below yelled. The guards had finally woken and were now responding in force. "Halt I say." He raised his bow, but didn't fire as he saw and heard Nedric in his arms. "Release the boy!"

The man ignored him and continued down the roof which led to another hook and rope. He would need to climb down this one since he was still two stories up and he needed to move fast so the guards wouldn't be waiting for him below. He looked over his shoulder and saw Duncan coming at him in a full out sprint and although he was sure that he could beat the boy in a fight, he still had to move fast.

"Stop squirming." The man said as he reached the rope. He had the dilemma if climbing down with the struggling captive in his arms. He couldn't risk hurting the boy, his employer was very, VERY specific about that. He opted to keep the boy under his arm, he would climb down with one hand and his two legs.

Duncan watched the man disappear over the lip of the roof. He pushed his little legs even harder. When he reached the rope, he thought about cutting it, but once again, he couldn't risk hurting Nedric, so he began climbing.

"Hold on!" Duncan called out to Nedric as he, having two hands available, began to slide down the rope, ignoring the rope burn as much as he could until he was right on top of the man.

The man pushed off of the wall and jumped off, falling the last few meters. "Need to do better than that, boy."

He landed running and took off towards the edge of the property. Guards were starting their pursuit and they released some hounds as well, massive dogs meant for hunting boar.

Duncan couldn't quite leap off so he slid to the ground and gave chase, hoping the dogs wouldn't mistake Nedric as a target.

The first dog reached the man, but was welcomed with a quick strike to the face with the pommel of the rapier. It went flying off to the side where it whimpered and recovered to give chase again.

The second dog got luckier. The man, winded and still struggling with his prize, missed his slash and was met with a bite at his lightly armored ankle and tripped. He tucked and rolled, using his body to keep Nedric safe, though he did lose his grip and the boy rolled away crying.

The man reached out for Nedric, but the dog took another bite at his leg and the man screamed in agony and sliced the dog's upper muzzle off with his blade. The dog reared back, making guttural noise and squirmed in pain, rolling and pawing at its half of a face.

This was the moment Duncan was waiting for. He got between the man and Nedric who was picking himself up. The guards would be here soon, the dogs knew Duncan and were backing him up, the man had lost.

"Give up." Duncan held up his blade at the man who now had a bit of a limp.

"I may have lost, but I don't give up." He said and made a dash for the the perimeter. The dogs instantly chased after him, but Duncan did not. He was concerned with Nedric who had just gone through one hell of an ordeal.

They boy was scratched, dirty and distressed, but otherwise, fine. He ran over to Duncan and cried into his shirt and Duncan watched on as the man managed to give the dogs a slip and disappear into the shadows. If one thing was for sure, he would be sleeping in Nedric's room.

---

"Really!?" Nedric said. "I don't remember that."

"You were only a small child at the time and your mind probably blocked out what little you could remember." The two were well into the mines now. The air was growing stale and was taking on an acrid scent. "That man who tried to kidnap you turned out to be hired by Lord Noel to bring you to him before being ransomed off. He wanted to see your face at least once."

"A strange way to see a bastard son."

"I find it a bit touching."

"I guess that means this is the second time you've saved me."

"Oh, no this is like eighth time now."

Nedric stopped for a moment. "Eight?"

"I'll tell you about them later, once we..." He stopped and held up a hand. "We're being followed." He quickly turned around and drew his sword and pointed it at the dark.

Nedric held his own blade.

"The last time someone stood up to me, I melted him inside of his own armor." The voice echoed through the tunnel.

"Ferelis!" Nedric recognized the voice immediately. He didn't need to see the dragon to know that it was him. He dropped the blade and ran off into the dark. Duncan was about to stop him from just running off, but he too knew that voice. It was engraved in his mind since he had lived with it longer than Nedric had.

Nedric walked back into the light with his arm wrapped around the familiar dragon's neck. The dragon in turn nuzzled the human back even going as far licking him across the face.

Duncan gave them their moment, understanding the deep bond that human shared with their guardian. He had seen such affection, not quite like this, but affection nonetheless between Marl and Ferelis. It was a sacred bond that few shared.

"I thank you, Duncan. I thank you for doing what I had failed to do." Ferelis looked up to the man with a newfound respect and then back to Nedric. "I failed you."

"You're here now." Nedric patted the scaly hide, relishing the familiar feeling of the warm scales under his hand. How he missed that feeling, in more ways than one. "That tell me that you did something at least."

That didn't convince the dragon. "As much as I appreciate the efforts of Duncan here, I should have saved you. It was my duty."

Duncan cut in before Nedric could reply in a guiltless fashion that would have only drawn it our more. "Look, you two can discuss this some other time, but we have a long ways to go."

"I am sorry." Ferelis said with a slight bow of his head.

The trip through the rest of the mines was uneventful and Duncan, Nedric and Ferelis quickly met up with the rest of Duncan's party who had some interesting news for them.

They informed them that Claudius had marched a host of men up to the fortress and upon hearing this, Ferelis filled in the gaps.

"So Marl will be dead by the end of the day?" Nedric asked, quite unsure of how he should react. He hated the man, he hated him for everything that he had done to him... to his mother. Then again, he loved the man that he was before, the kind, nurturing man who had raised him. He missed that man who tucked him in and took time out his busy days to spend time with him.

"I doubt Claudius had any intention of leaving him alive." Ferelis confirmed. "You saw how he was when we first arrived at his doorstep."

"I suppose you're right." Ferelis caught the hidden undertone in Nedric's voice, but kept it to himself. There would be a time to talk later.

The group saddled up and rode off before any more armies arrived on the scene. When news got back to the capital, there would be all kinds of hell as Lords and scrambled to grasp and fight over the remnants of Marl's possessions and Kar's fortress since neither actually had heirs. The king would surely have something to say if word got out that his dragon was involved. He would need some kind of story or some sort of excuse in what would appear to be a sanctioned assassination of a former rival by using a recent ridiculed ex-Lord which would be quickly taken out by a disgruntled relative. It was grasping at straws, but there would be the accusations and the king would have to come out and say something.

The group didn't care about such things, they were focused on the last thing that needed to be done to finish the job, take Nedric to his father.

---

Marl coughed up blood. It came out in ragged, chunky red bits with each moist and hacked cough that strained the aging man. He grasped at his chest, fingers clutching around the shaft of the arrow that had gotten him right between the ribs. It was not a wound to recover from.

He clawed at the dirt with his other hand, dragging himself through the dirt in no particular direction since there was nowhere to go. Everyone he had brought was gone, either dead, dying or in chains. They fought bravely, very bravely and if there was someone to scribe it, it would have been worthy of the royal archives, but there was not, no one would remember their names in the end since the only person who knew them all was him. Their names would fade away just like his life was.

The dying man made it another foot before he collapsed onto the ground, pushing the shaft deeper into him. He would have cried out, but there wasn't even energy for that.

Thrice they pushed Claudius back, thrice they drove away torrents of soldiers from the gates, but still it was not enough. They broke through the line on the fourth charge and when Marl tried to rally his men, he was struck by an arrow and fell to the ground. From there he watched battle around him, helpless to fight back as those he trusted and cared for died around him.

Now he was alone in the silent courtyard that was littered with bodies of all kinds and all loyalties. It was a bloody mess and now that he saw it, Marl had wished that he had just sat in his house and left it there. He had gone to far, he had stretched his hand too much and now he was paying the price.

Deep down he knew this would happen, he had done too much wrong, taken too many risks for him to come out ahead. Deep down he was done with the killing, the fighting and scheming. He should have been done after he put the king on the throne, but he kept going. He didn't even know why. Was it his ego, did he want power? He didn't want to be king. He was just so mad at losing that stability he had, he had lost it all, that safe feeling that he had when he was raising Nedric and the discovery of the truth had torn that net to shred. He should have left it at that and all would have been fine in the end, but he didn't and now he was paying for it all.

There was the crunch of boots that shook the ground with each step. They were labored steps. Marl didn't need to look, he would hear it, the timing of the steps, the labor of each movement and then he heard the breathing. It was the breathing of indulgence where the fat got in the way and rippled with each breath. Claudius was coming to finish the job himself. Marl hoped he died of a heart attack afterward.

He didn't look up or listen as the man spout out some gibberish. He didn't want to give the man the satisfaction of seeing him cry right before the blade came down.

---

The house was empty, completely empty. It wasn't much of a house, it wasn't even thee "house" that Marl had lived in. It was a small cottage in the woods, it actually belonged to a hunter that was gone since it was the off season which ensure that no one would stop by. No one did stop by since it appeared empty and barren of anything worth stealing, though inside was a rare treasure.

The dragon knew nothing of the world outside of the box it was in. The box was all it knew along with the things in the box. There was corner with food, some meat that was going rancid. He would not eat that anymore since the last time he did so left him with a stomach ache. He would continue to survive off of the small creatures that lived under the box and occasionally came from holes in the side. They did not taste good, but they stopped the gurgling in his stomach.

There was a corner where he went to empty himself, it was a foul corner that the dragon did not care to go to unless he had to. There was the corner to sleep in. That corner had soft things that were warm and kept him safe from the cold of the night. It was his favorite corner. The last corner had a round metal thing that had something to quench his thirst. The round thing dripped the cool liquid that quenched the thirst, it was a mystical corner that the dragon did not understand, but did not question so long as it continued to quench his thirst.

The box had openings that weren't openings. They gave a glimpse of tall green things and a blue thing that hovered over them. Occasionally a yellow thing appeared and brought warmth, but the dragon didn't look at it, it hurt his eyes, but he laid in it glow when it appeared every morning. It had a nice warm glow and he cried when it went away.

It was home, the box was home. It was all he had and all he needed. It provided all he ever wanted to get through the day and he never thought of the outside. He had awoken the first day in the box, alone and he believed that on the last day, he would go to sleep in the box, alone.

That notion quickly changed one day.

The dragon had awoken like normal when the orange, warm glow came from the opening and the dragon quickly sat himself in it, basking in the heat that made gave him the energy for the rest of the day. Once the glow was gone, the dragon cried for some time. He thought of the light as a friend and quickly got over it, the light, that warm light would be back again.

Next he waited by his hole for some time, waiting for the small food creature to appear. They didn't show up this time, they often didn't. He would go hungry until one showed up. It was alright, he had one the day before and so he was good for now. He emptied his bowels in the bad corner which was starting to get worse and worse. The dragon wondered what he would do when the bad corner started spilling into the other corners. He thought about this until he grew thirsty and drank some of the liquid. It was cool and tasted good.

He would have lounged for some time on his soft things, maybe even take a nap, but there was a noise. Sometimes there were noises, strange croaks and chirps of sorts. The dragon had tried to mimic them and got them to reply, but that grew boring quickly. This noise was something else, some sort of swishing noise.

Then there was a thump and other noise that went high and low, up and down. He did not understand, nor could he imitate it very well.

It went silent for a moment and the box suddenly disappeared, or at least the upper half and part of the mystical corner which made the dragon angry at whatever had done that. That anger subsided as he was enveloped in his friend, the warm light. It never left, it was just playing peek-a-boo and he had found him.

There was the rest of the world as well. Strange growths came out of the ground, leading up to the green tips he saw and the blue thing that was above them stretched beyond sight. The air was cooler and easier to breath which the dragon hadn't noticed how hard it had been to breath. He blamed the bad corner for that, it was nothing but bad.

Then there was something else, a large beast, nothing like the small food things, this was not a food things. The dragon suddenly felt scared. Was he now a food thing?

As if sensing his fear, the larger thing, black and almost oozing lowered its face to his. Its head was as large as his body. It opened its mouth a bit and instead of eating him, it made a soft noise, a noise that seemed familiar as if he should know it. He mimicked it perfectly and suddenly this beast wasn't some monster to eat him, he felt as if it was there to keep him safe. He walked to it and felt safe. The box was no longer his world.

---

Nedric was unsure as he stood at the gate to Lord Noel's manor. It was not large nor imposing, Lord Noel was not rich or very powerful, but reliable. Still it wasn't anything like that which scared him, it was the fact that this was his father that he was about so see. He didn't know him at all, he didn't even think that he knew him.

"You don't have to do this." Ferelis said and stood next to his human. "We can leave, I'll protect you."

"I know, but..." Nedric bit his lip. "I should. He is my father and Duncan has told me of how he has tried very hard to get to me."

He stood there for a little longer. Duncan was back at the tavern. He had assured Nedric that this was something that didn't need someone watching over his shoulder for and that the man had been very excited to hear that Nedric was there. Duncan had convinced Noel to let Nedric come to him, on his own time and so after a week, Nedric finally decided it was time.

"I'm right here." Ferelis nudged Nedric gently, purring. It was a strange thing, to hear a massive and ferocious beast such as a dragon purr like a kitten. It sounded exactly the same and Nedric learned from Ferelis that it was something that dragons used exclusively with family. It was an honor to be considered family.

"Well..." Nedric took a deep breath. "No time like the present." He pushed open the gate and walked in.

The door to the manor opened up as Nedric came to to the stone steps that would lead to the house. In the doorway was a man than looked a lot like Nedric, so much so that he wondered how no one noticed that he was his son earlier.

Nedric climbed the steps and Ferelis stayed behind.

"Like I said." Ferelis said when Nedric looked back at him. "I'm right here."

Nedric nodded and went up to face his father.

"Son." Lord Noel said, his voice confident, but his eyes full of fear. He was afraid that he would be rejected and that all the time and effort he put in was for not.

Nedric gave the man dressed in simple cloth a hard long look. He saw the same fear that had once filled his eyes many times before. He didn't feel any distrust, he saw an honest man who wanted to be a father to him. He wanted someone to fill that role.

"Father." Nedric replied and the fear was washed away, from both of them. There would be no more running now.