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ok..finally heres 40!...it took so long as I basically had to scrap a plot twist I was planning on and do another one instead. The original twist will likely occur at a later date once I deal with the upcoming situations - RL was also causing more interruptions but as I am now off the emergency callout pager my stress levels are lower now than the last couple of weeks ..Other than that life is good.

A funny thing did happen last week though, I swim each morning for a wake-up exercise and spend ten or so minutes in the hot-tub afterwards to warm up before heading out into the winter- one of the guys I know there is a movie producer - not naming any names but he and I have good talks and he was going on about how great the sci-fi and fantasy scene was but the mass markets were so dumb - I mentioned that my fantasy story had been bumped for an award by a webcomic and he said 'your story?' so I gave him the basic premise and then HE said "Is it filmable?" I kinda blinked and went dumb for a moment before replying "not without some work..but ill give it a go" we discussed it for a bit but we realised it wouldnt really do for the mass-market people who only understand 'good-guy -bad-guy" stuff but who knows..maybe itll do as an art-house type thing but he's got craploads of money to throw around.

next month..Ill have been doing this for a whole YEAR..damn! times flown..that works out at a chapter every 1.3 weeks on average! not bad really hehe..ill have to try and keep that up! there will be a hiatus in oct/nov as i travel to europe and then hawaii for a dolphin trainers conference - life sucks huh? staying at the regency hyatt on waikiki for a week ^.^

XXXX

Cill finished off cleaning her house, her hurried attempts had at least made the room somewhat more respectable and although it wasn't a true lair in the sense that it lacked a large hoard of gold to impress the fairies it would be sufficient.

She stepped over to the door and was about to call James when there was a polite knocking. She opened it slowly revealing Duncan and James. She bowed her head politely to Duncan who removed his cap and bowed floridly in return.

"Good morrow Lady Cill, may we enter?" he said grandly, replacing his wide cap upon his head.

"Be welcome in peace Lord Duncan" Cill replied formally, leaning back and letting him in.

Cill grabbed James as he walked in and gave him a hug before looking at him critically "Tsk, go get your uniform on" she said, pushing him urgently towards the chest "I expect they will be here shortly"

James grinned and dashed over to the chest, pulling his dress shirt on and struggling out of his breeches. He dressed swiftly and pulled his boots back on; thankfully, they were still shiny and polished, as he had not used them since the ceremony.

He had just tucked the tail of his shirt into his trousers when he felt that telltale tickle upon the back of his neck. He looked up and winked at Cill "I think they're here" he .murmured to her on a private band before standing up straight.

Cill sat back on her hindquarters and looked around the room, her gaze fixing on the ledge of the window where Jasmina and Ploom both stood and waved to her. She smiled at the pair and beckoned them down into the room.

Both fairies fluttered down nervously onto the table and gave an elegant bow to each of them before Jasmina cleared her throat delicately.

"Good day, Noble One," she said formally to Cill, ignoring the pair of humans for the nonce "May I present his majesty King Dougal, honored liege of light oak trod and the shee within"

She stepped aside as a rather plump, red-faced fairy in an elaborate gem laden cloak and what appeared to be a crimson kilt of sorts fluttered down between them, brushing himself down before smiling up at the dragoness.

The pair stood still for a moment, Cill looking over the diminutive form atop the table. She could sense powerful magic around him and decided to be cautious.

"Your Majesty" she murmured and gave a respectful bow to him "I am pleased you have come to visit. Your envoys spoke highly of you" She cast a mischievous eye at the suddenly blushing fairies.

Dougal had also been looking round carefully and noting the attitude of the pair of humans waiting quietly, he felt a little befuddled, as they showed no signs of surprise or awe in the royal presence.

"It is indeed a pleasure to welcome one of the noble dragons to our forest once more" he exclaimed, relaxing a little. "It has been too long since we have had a worthy protector and champion" he waved a hand towards the pair of humans.

"I believe introductions are in order?" he murmured, rocking back and forth slightly on the heels of his slippers.

Cill smiled and stepped back "Certainly Sire, May I introduce my mate Squire James Lawrence and the lord of the Keep, Sir Duncan Tarrant"

Dougal swallowed hard, so it was true. A dragoness had taken a human mate.

Turning to the pair of humans, he addressed them grandly.

"It has been many centuries since we have spoken with humans. Perhaps it is time once more for us to do so. I am pleased to have met you both and I am sure we shall have much to discuss

James looked to Duncan, holding his tongue until the lord of the keep had his say.

Duncan smiled at the King "I am indeed pleased to meet your majesty. Truly it has been a time of marvels" he cast a look at Cill "and of change that is perhaps long overdue"

Dougal smiled and turned to James "And you, young James. How is it that you come to be chosen as the mate of the Noble one here?"

James bowed a little nervously "That is a long story your majesty, suffice it to say that I love her with all my heart and that may have been sufficient" he smiled at Cill who gave his cheek a quick lick.

Dougal chuckled and waved to Ploom who disappeared swiftly and then returned with a rather ornate chair. The king arranged his robes and sat down carefully "that's better" he said gratefully and clapped his hands.

"I too have some introductions" he exclaimed and grinned up at them "First I would like you to meet Lord Pepper" He turned in his chair and waved peremptorily up towards the window. Lord Pepper swallowed hard and fluttered down to his king, carrying the royal scepter, which he proffered to Dougal once he had landed.

Dougal laid the scepter over his knees as Pepper looked nervously up at the humans and dragoness. "I have decided to make Lord Pepper my ambassador to the keep," he stated, not seeing the color drain from the elders face as he said this.

"He shall be responsible for carrying our communications to and fro and he shall be amply aided in this by my heralds Ploom and Jasmina of the forest fairies"

Both fairies gaped and looked at one another. This was a high honor and one that would normally have gone to far older members of the shee.

Dougal bowed to the fairy elder, it seemed better than offering his hand in greeting. "Pleased to make your acquaintance Lord Pepper," he said quietly.

Lord Pepper coughed and made his own bows, "I look forward to making this historic time beneficial for all races," he said somewhat nervously.

Dougal nodded and whispered to Ploom who shot back up and out of the window.

"The last member of our little delegation belongs to the Darktail Gryphon pack" he said "would you be so kind to open the door for Lady Katreen, Lord Duncan?" he finished, as there was a gentle tapping from without.

Duncan swallowed and walked to the door, opening it carefully, not knowing what to expect.

Human and gryphon stood and stared at one another. Katreen's golden eyes met Duncan's with an almost palpable shock as she stood on the doorstep. She was almost as large as he was and he felt both nervous and yet thrilled as she looked him over, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest.

"May I enter?" she asked, the words coming with difficulty to her, rendering it husky and low. The human's intent scrutiny of her was a little unnerving.

Duncan jerked and nodded "My apologies, Lady Katreen" he murmured, remembering the name the King had given. "Please enter and be welcome"

Katreen stepped lightly into the room her talons clicking quietly on the flagstones, bowing before Cill and the others "This is truly an ...unusual gathering" she said, "I am glad to be present and hope I may be able to contribute"

Dougal rubbed his hands "Ah good, all here...now then, let us be seated and discuss a few things..."

Tomako looked around the Elder Wyrm's quarters, they were a lot more Spartan than he expected, and where was the huge hoard of gold the wily elder was said to have stashed away?

Osedax poured out some steaming tea into a tankard and motioned for Tomako to sit before handing it to him "Drink lad, it'll help calm you down"

Sipping nervously at the tea Tomako looked at the elder Wyrm "Thank you Clanmaster" he murmured "but its nothing really..."

Osedax shifted to his lounger, grunting as he positioned himself carefully upon it "Nothing? You stink of fear youngster," he stated flatly, pointing a chipped talon at him "You are terrified of something and you are going to tell me what it is and what you plan to do about it"

Tomako nodded and between sips of the calming tea and a few interjections from the elder told Osedax everything from when he had met Tommy and gotten involved in Shalla's problems.

He finally finished his tale after several long hours and sat back with a huge sigh and a sense of relief at being able to talk freely with a neutral dragon.

Osedax scratched idly at his long chin whiskers "Your sister...do you think she loves this human?" he asked quietly.

Tomako thought for a moment or two and then nodded "She tries to hide it but there is definitely a connection there. He cares for her deeply too"

Osedax nodded "I know of Lagaligo and how he treats his mates" he frowned at Tomako "this goes no further...do you understand? Not even your sister"

Tomako nodded and swallowed nervously. "Yes Clanmaster" and made the sign of secrecy with a talon.

"Very good" Osedax stood and paced up and down "You may have put yourself in the right place at the right time Tomako" he stated bleakly "We have been watching your father and Lagaligo for some time now. They are old friends and that is why he may have been selected as mate for your sister"

Tomako nodded in understanding but said nothing.

"From what you have told me, you said your mother was aware of your visiting the humans and learning from them. This may have been what precipitated the rapid decision to bring Lagaligo in now." continued the old dragon, walking slowly back and forth, his tail dragging in the soft white sand covering the floor.

"There is also another reason they may have for this mating. Once Shalla becomes Lagaligo's mate, she can have no secrets from him. The mating bond will not allow it. This means that they will know the location of our two newest members"

Tomako gaped, his jaw dropping "they would sacrifice my sister for that information?" recalling his own vow of secrecy to Cill and James.

Osedax nodded "Your fathers views on humans are well known - are they not?"

Tomako felt a boiling rage rising in his chest despite the tea's effects "And Lagaligo gets my sister in return for the location of James and Cill's home" he growled.

Osedax nodded slowly "So it would seem. We know it is only a matter of time before they are discovered but Marre is trying to teach James how to defend himself and Cill as well as control other things before they are compromised"

Tomako's paws clenched tightly as he realized just what was going on. This went a lot further than he had suspected. "What shall we do?" he asked, "If we leave we shall bring shame to our parents and the clan"

Osedax sighed and lowered his muzzle briefly "Yes, that is true... but which brings more shame? Leaving an unhappy home for a potentially better future or aiding the destruction of innocents?"

Tomako gritted his teeth and nodded shortly "I understand" he murmured quietly, putting the tankard back down on the table "thank you Clanmaster"

Osedax grinned and held out his paw "Glad to help son, give my regards to James and Cill wont you?"

Tomako gripped the elders paw tightly and smiled "I shall Clanmaster"

Sitting on her haunches and looking round slowly Katreen was aware of the older human's scrutiny, and she could not help her own gaze flicking round now and then to perform her own appraisal. It was odd, she had a sudden urge to reach out and touch his odd naked, furless skin, shaking herself in perplexity and to take her mind off the alarming desire she looked over at the dragoness and her human mate and watched them carefully.

The fairies had been right. The human was in truth the mate of the noble one and it showed in his behavior and look. The dragoness responded and returned the emotion with as much- if not more feeling.

The gryphoness leaned forward to listen intently to what the king was now saying.

"You say there shall be more dragons visiting? That is wonderful news. We saw two the other day though they did not seem to be terribly friendly"

James and Cill exchanged glances.

"That would be Nokala and Tomako," murmured James "I know Nokala is teaching Tomako to fight and hunt" he let his gaze slide to Katreen. "Will this be a problem in the future?" he asked, recalling Nokala's warning about the gryphon packs.

Katreen gave a little start as she realized the question was directed at her.

"Are they going to be hunting very often?" she asked quietly "A pair of hunting dragons could empty the forest of prey in short order!"

James looked at Cill "I don't think they would do that. Nokala certainly wouldn't need to hunt for himself - How long would it take Tomako to learn?"

Cill flushed a little "It didn't take me long...I was stealing sheep within a few days. Hunger is a good teacher"

James chuckled and stroked her on the neck "well he certainly won't need to do much hunting if he keeps up working here as he will be able to eat at the mess. As for fighting, well Nokala will be teaching both of us in that regard"

The king shifted a little on his makeshift throne "teaching you to fight? Other dragons? Did he say why?" he leant forward in curiosity; perhaps here was a clue of the prophecy Pepper had spoken of.

"A lot of dragons didn't like me mating Cill." James stated bluntly, "So I have to be able to defend her and our home"

Dougal and Pepper shared a dubious look but nodded in agreement "I can imagine such a pairing causing an uproar"

James gave a rueful laugh "I think uproar would be a mild way of putting it" he felt a little odd talking to a man no more than six inches tall. "Somehow I managed to share in her power after we mated and well...I have to learn how to control that now too"

Dougal tried not to faint in horror as he realized this skinny human stripling was in possession of dragon mana. No wonder the other dragons wanted to find them and destroy them!

"Ah" he managed to stammer out, his face white as he shared a stunned look with Pepper. "And you are receiving help in this regard?" cautiously probing.

James nodded slowly, recognizing the look on the small kings pale face "Yes, An elder of the clan is helping me. I do not want to harm anyone or anything but I don't want them to be able to hurt us either"

Katreen looked back and forth between the young human and fairy king, feeling out of her depth. Something important had just happened and she had missed it. She moved closer to the human lord and murmured in his ear "What was that about?"

Duncan shivered as her warm breath tickled his ear; something about the nearness of her made him feel strange...and the sharp beak by his ear made him nervous.

"Uh...James apparently gained some powers when he mated Cill." He whispered in return. "I know Nokala said he would be very powerful and be able to do many things"

Katreen nodded slowly and shrugged, her wings brushing against the lord's side "I think the king is upset about it" she murmured in reply, simultaneously berating herself for wanting to touch the human - damn her curiosity and damn that fairy for telling her about how he looked naked.

"And what do the other humans here feel about having a noble dragon staying with them?" Dougal asked, looking up at Duncan and trying to recover a little more stability "It is certainly a great honor for them"

Duncan grinned, "It is indeed" he replied evenly "though some had misgivings at first and there are still a few who are unsure and afraid, but to be honest there have been few problems and it does seem there is another couple who enjoy one another's company"

Dougal shared a glance at Jasmina and Ploom who nodded, they had seen Shalla and Tommy walking together the first time they had visited the keep.

"You mean that there are other dragonesses who wish to er...join with humans?" he asked carefully.

Duncan nodded "So it would seem, though of course there is resistance to be overcome on both sides... but I am sure that is being dealt with properly"

Tomako ran back through the clan hall quickly, still seething with the knowledge of his parent's arrangement with Lagaligo and thinking hard about what to do next. He took a deep breath as he stepped into the travel portal back to his home and shuffled his muzzle into as much of an expression of normality as he could so as not to alarm his parents when he arrived.

Lagaligo was still seated on his lounge and talking quietly with his mother, there was no sign of his father so after bobbing a quick, cheerful greeting to them both Tomako made his way back to Shalla's room. He stepped in without asking and quietly bolted it behind him "Sis?" he murmured to the tightly wrapped unhappy ball of scales on the bed "we have to go...now" he murmured to her.

Shalla's head rose, eyes red from weeping. "Go? Where?"

"Back to the Keep" he held up a paw "No questions now. I've been speaking to the clanmaster and he has given me his blessing in this. But we have to leave now." He tugged her to her feet and led her to the door.

"Pretend to be going to get some paints and jewelry, act like a giddy dragoness" he whispered to her as he quietly slid the door open "

Shalla held back reluctantly "But... we just cant leave without saying good- " she broke off at seeing his ferocious expression. It was deadly serious and she knew he was not exaggerating.

"Trust me Sis, We have to do this. If we don't - things will be far worse," he stated flatly "now put on a silly grin and don't make them suspicious"

Shalla nodded nervously, thinking she was out of her depth. What had the clanmaster told Tomako to make him so fierce? She had never seen him so angry.

Nervously she shifted out of the door and towards the main hall and the waiting portal.

Dougal felt he had enough shocks for one day and had learnt more than he cared to know but he steadied himself on his makeshift throne and smiled at the dragoness.

"I shall look forward to meeting them then" he said diplomatically "But is there anything that we of the faer can do for you?"

Cill began to deny there was anything she needed, but a tendril of warning slipped abruptly into her head. She had realized that she would not be able to master glamour of sufficient quality to afford her protection amongst humans for some time. But weren't fairies masters of glamour? She pondered a moment phrasing her question while the nervous king fidgeted with his scepter.

"There is one thing you could assist me with" she murmured "As you are aware...we dragons are able to shift into human form for limited times. I have not been able to master this yet and it is important that I am able to do it soon. Are you able to cast a glamour that makes me human in appearance for a period?"

The king turned to Lord Pepper and the pair murmured together briefly with much nodding and gestures before turning back to Cill with a grin.

"I believe we can manage that" the King enthused "have you been able to adjust your size at all?"

Cill nodded eagerly "That I have mastered already. The glamour eludes me yet. I will be able to do it eventually but it is hard for me to maintain for now"

Lord Pepper humphed and nodded "Do you have a mental image of the human you wish to look like ready?" he tugged a scroll from his sleeve and peered at it myopically while muttering under his breath.

Cill nodded and shared it with the diminutive elf "How long will the glamour last?" she asked curiously, watching the pair as they organized themselves.

Pepper looked up from his scroll "oh...about two days per casting" he said waving a hand in a to-and-fro manner before looking back down at his scroll. "Give or take a few hours"

Cill thought for a moment, better to take the risk of a possible premature failure than having to hide while this Caroline wandered round the keep with her mate.

Idly tapping a fang with a talon she came to a decision "I'll do it..." She smiled at her mate and rapidly recalled the human form she had laboriously constructed in her mind. "I know it will be worth it...hold on"

Taking a breath and concentrating, she swiftly murmured the size-shifting portion of the spell and carefully controlling it began to shrink down to human size. It was getting easier each time now as she grew more experienced.

Duncan and Katreen looked on in interest as Cill slowly adjusted her size to match that of James - giving the lord of the keep a new insight into just how the couple was managing to do what they did.

Dougal waited and conferred a little more with Pepper before turning back to Cill "Do you have some item we can enspell?" he asked "we would not cast this upon you but link it to an object and a control word - something close to you that will not be unusual or out of place"

Cill grinned and lifted her paw where James's wedding ring glittered on the talon, shrunk along with her "Will this do?" she asked quietly.

Pepper nodded enthusiastically as he looked over the ring "Gold is excellent for holding the spell - It will not fade and can easily be recast once replenished"

There was a slight click as Cill tugged off the ring and laid it on the table beside the fairies who dragged it between them. The king puffed a little but he eventually nodded at Pepper who began an eerie, crooning tune. Dougal following shortly thereafter with his own chorus, the songs weaving between each other.

James could not help shifting nervously back and forth on his heels, watching as the ring glowed with various colors as the spell progressed. The two fairies did not even seem to pause for breath during their odd, tuneful spell-casting nor did they take their eyes off the ring.

It was clearly taking an effort though as Pepper's small brow furrowed and beaded with sweat as he and the king ended their song, leaving the ring looking ordinary upon the table once more.

Cill leant down to look at the ring "It doesn't look any different" she murmured, picking it up and snicking it neatly back onto her talon.

The king wiped his brow and nodded "And so it shouldn't" he said stiffly "we only laid the spell for the glamour upon it - not the glamour itself" he folded his arms with pride "Would you like to try it?"

Cill nodded eagerly and leant down as the King beckoned her closer and whispered something to her that James could not hear, Cill nodded slowly as she learnt the word for activating the glamour.

"You do not have to say it out loud" Pepper stated "Merely address your desired form towards the ring and think it"

Cill looked down at the ring and murmured under her breath. There was an odd sort of rainbow flash. Cill felt an odd rippling pass over her body and the sensation of coolness against her hide. There was however, a loud gasp from both James and Duncan as she turned to face them.

"We shall not be long mother," Shalla said eagerly "I just wish to go and get some new shades of cosmetic and some of that new powder that glitters in the sunlight. Tomako is only coming along to help me pick some nice shades"

Nakkour looked carefully at her daughter; she was hiding something but otherwise seemed the usual cheerful dragoness she had raised. Her own plans seemed to be working although it was not the way she had wanted to send her offspring out into the world. She had known of Divitchka's desire to mate Shalla to Lagaligo for some time now and had decided to take the chance of inviting him in to precipitate the decision she was unable to make for them.

"Very well dear" she murmured, feeling a surge of emotion welling up within her breast. She hated having to pretend this way but she had to get them away safely and of their own accord whilst not alerting her mate in the process. The unspeakable presence of Lagaligo was starting to annoy her as he kept wondering aloud if the daughter was as accomplished as her mother was and leering meaningfully at her.

"I shall tell your father that you have both gone to the traders" her paws twitched in front of her awkwardly.

Shalla was young, but could still tell there was something out of the ordinary "are you all right mother?" she asked, taking her mother's forepaws gently in her own.

"Yes, yes," Nakkour stammered, feeling the prickling of tears in her eyes "I'll be fine..." She squeezed Shalla's paws gently "W-will you be alright?" she murmured finally.

Shalla's eyes widened but she wisely kept her head "We shall be just fine mother," she murmured, licking along Nakkour's long jaw "look after yourself and don't let father get too upset"

Nakkour nodded slowly and stepped back "well then - off you go" she said briskly as Tomako walked into the room with a large leather satchel on his back, its sides bulging with what he had managed to stuff into it in the few minutes remaining.

Nakkour took one look at the set of his muzzle and quailed inside, he looked exactly like his father did when angry and she had experienced that anger many times herself.

"Let's go Sis" Tomako grated, giving his mother a cursory nod as he strode meaningfully over to the portal. He was still furious with Nakkour and her apparent part in this plot.

Shalla stepped over to him and murmured quietly to him for a moment and the fire banked in his eyes somewhat as she did so. He looked up at his mother and noticed the tears glistening in the corner of her eyes. He felt like a stale fewmet and stepping out of the portal went over and hugged his mother tightly

"We shall see you soon mother, have no fear" he murmured to her and turning to Shalla, led her into the portal which after a few moments flashed brightly yellow and then was dark.

Nakkour suppressed a sob and dashed the tears from her eyes, steadying and composing herself before returning to Lagaligo. At least her young were safe now and in the company of friends. Now all that remained was to prevent Divitchka from learning of her part in the affair and how they had escaped. Swallowing hard she left the main room and walked back to the lounge.

"What?" Cill said, taking in the dropped jaws and expressions on the faces of her mate and the lord of the keep. James hurriedly grabbed a blanket off the bed and wrapped it around her. She could not suppress a sudden shiver at the sensation of it against her...skin? She looked down at herself, as far as she could see nothing had changed but the reactions of the others told a different story.

James grinned as he pointed her towards the mirror in the corner. In its reflection, she saw a slender human woman of about James's height with long blonde hair, well-formed legs and - here she patted her 'face' disbelievingly, feeling only fragile bare skin where her snout should have been.

The king look quite smug as he stood on the table, his arms folded "Well, do you like it?" he asked "It's isn't as advanced as dragon shifting but it'll do for the meantime"

Cill was still searching for something to say "what about clothing?" she asked finally "will it fit over me? I don't look any different to my eyes..." she looked down at herself and gestured expansively.

"Ah well," said the king "you have to imagine those as well..." his eyes sparkled with mischief "I thought you would have worked that out"

There was a muffled snort from Duncan, who quickly regained his composure when Cill glared at him.

"I believe you neglected that little fact," she huffed and concentrating once more, imagining some clothing on the mental image she held before requesting it of the ring.

There was the subtle rippling once more and Cill stood there before them dressed in simple country clothing, much like Jane wore only - James admitted to himself, they looked a whole lot more appealing on Cill.

"Is that better?" she asked, twirling round in front of them, the grey skirt swirling round her feet as she did so.

James nodded enthusiastically and took her in his arms "that's amazing" he marveled, feeling only soft skin where she touched him "but there is one problem"

"Oh?" Cill murmured, rubbing his chest with her hands "What's that?"

James smirked "Caroline is going to be soooo green with jealousy"

Cill flushed prettily and gave him a lick, much to his amusement. He was about to explain about kissing properly when there was a tentative knocking at the door.

Duncan moved quickly towards it "Who's there?" he asked firmly "it had better be important"

"It is I, Lord Duncan" came the quiet reply "Tomako and my sister Shalla. We met earlier - may we speak with Cill and James?"

Both Cill and James nodded to Duncan who opened the door to the pair "We would not intrude without desperate need" Tomako said, bowing politely as he took in the company and turning to Cill.

"We beg leave to stay in your territory until we are able to establish lairs of our own as we have encountered - problems" he hesitated briefly, swallowed nervously before continuing "at home...and are unable to return for the time being".

Cill hastily cancelled the human glamour and returned to her normal appearance before walking towards the door "You are most welcome to stay - both of you, would you like the use of my old lair by the lake in the meantime?" She noticed with alarm that both young dragons seemed a little wild around the eyes.

Tomako nodded eagerly "that would be wonderful Lady Cill, We have a lot to tell you but that can wait till later as you are obviously entertaining"

Cill smiled and gave the pair instructions on how to find and enter her old home and the pair loped off together slowly, deep in conversation.

She turned back to the king and smiled at him "well that has increased the local dragon population by two" she murmured and looked over at Katreen "I shall ensure they do not over-hunt your territory Lady Katreen, I think that Tomako will be staying near the keep for some time though as he is apprenticed to a human here"

She cocked her head and looked at James with a grin "Shalla...may also be spending more time here - depending on her fancies..." she trailed off and smiled up at Duncan. "She is rather attached to Tommy, as you are aware"

Duncan nodded slowly, "as long as they are happy together," he said, feeling an odd desire to stroke the gryphon's neck feathers, as he stood close beside her. "What about Tomako though? Has he found ah ... a ... mate also?"

Cill shook her head "I do not think so. Shalla said something about him not liking any of the females in the clan so he may be looking elsewhere for one."

James grinned, "He wants to learn blacksmithing first and how to fight properly" he added "Though Nokala's going to teaching us both that"

He wrapped his arms round Cill's neck and pulled her head down to his shoulder so he could scritch her chin gently.

The king smiled broadly and stood up, the two younger fairies swiftly taking the chair up as he brushed himself down absently "I can see you have important issues to attend to so I shall take my leave. I am pleased we have been of service Lady Cill and I look forward to a long and prosperous association".

He bowed respectfully towards her and James "It has also been edifying in that some humans can be trusted and that we have perhaps made small steps to bringing our kinds closer together"

He felt rather proud of the little speech and was surprised when the younger human bowed low in return "Your majesty, It was our pleasure and an honor to meet and host you in our humble home. I cannot express my gratitude enough for assisting us with Cill's glamour and hope we are able to return the favor soon" he finished gratefully.

The king smiled at him "It was a minor thing, I hope one day you and your mate shall visit our trod to meet the other faer in the forest - I know that they are all eager to meet their new protectors"

He turned to the other fairies and told them "let us return to the trod, we have much to discuss" Bowing once more to the dragoness and humans before flitting swiftly back out of the window slit with the other fairies close behind him.

James let out a long slow breath he had not realized he had been holding "phew...that was - interesting" he managed to say before sinking onto the bed.

Duncan nodded and grinned at Katreen who was still standing deep in thought.

"You seemed rather quiet, lady gryphon?" he asked, meeting her level gaze.

"I am quite new at being an ambassador Lord Duncan, and did not wish to embarrass myself," she murmured softly, her tawny eyes meeting his almond ones. "Though I am sure such mistakes would not be remarked upon too poorly, I wished to listen more than talk."

Duncan nodded and throwing caution to the winds, extended his hand toward her "In that case, would you like to see the rest of the Keep?"

After a moment's quiet thought Katreen nodded slowly "that would be excellent Lord Duncan", she murmured before turning towards James and Cill. "I hope we shall have the opportunity to speak again soon"

"Likewise Lady Katreen" the pair replied, respective eyebrows and eye-ridges rising in quiet surprise as the gryphoness linked arms with the human lord and stepped out into the bright morning sun.