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Hi folks! hope everyone had a great xmas and are looking forward to a great new years as well! I had a good time and in a spooky way - my sister got me a gorgeous bright crimson silk chinese dressing gown with..a dragon in gold on the back...didnt i write about something like that in chp 8? weird..I know she hasnt read the story too. website is still unfinished (cringe) due to the busyness but one thing i must say ..those folks who were kind enough to donate YOU RAWK!!!

I was totally gobsmacked at the amounts too..*flush* Ill have to see if i can work donators into the story somewhere. I want to do something nice to show my appreciation. It inspires and encourages me that you think my writing is worth something and that means a lot to me.

So this chapter is dedicated to those donators. respect...

XXVIII

The next morning James and Cill made their way up to the training area where Joe and several novices were in deep discussion. Joe broke off to murmur to James 'Tommy's missing. He was on patrol last night but wasn't there when the guard went to relieve him. He hasn't been in his room nor is there any sign of anything untoward happening"

James raised his eyebrows as he passed this information onto Cill.

"You think he's run away" he asked the man-at-arms while idly stroking Cill's neck.

"I don't think so. The gate guards would have seen him if he left through it. We can usually spot when a novice is unhappy or planning something unusual. Have you heard anything?"

Both novice and dragon shook their heads "We were very busy all night at the clan ceremony"

Joe's eyes flicked down to the large gold ring adorning Cill's right foretalon "I take it was a success then?" he murmured with a grin. "Congratulations"

James couldn't hold in a smirk "It was fantastic. There must have been fifty dragons of all sizes and colors. I got to meet some cute hatchlings too"

"We were wondering if you could fly round the Keep and have a look for Tommy or some sign of him" he looked up at Cill who nodded eagerly at the request.

"Where was he patrolling?" she asked. Joe pointed up at the battlements on the west side of the keep "Up there. He was on a standard night patrol that just meant him walking the walls and keeping out of trouble."

Cill nodded and spreading her wings wide she leapt up into the air until she was flying in a slow circle around the perimeter of the keep. She hovered over one point and sent a private note of alarm to James "There is a travel ring here!" she exclaimed. "Come and see"

James murmured to Joe and the pair made their way up the stairs and ladders until they came to the crudely scratched portal.

"This isn't one of mine" Cill said as she looked over the runes "Sloppy"

"Can you tell who made it or where it goes?" asked James whose knowledge of portals was limited.

Cill shook her head "I don't know how to. But it makes sense that if Tommy was up here when whatever dragon made those runes appeared ..." she trailed off mutely.

James nodded "He may have been taken as a hostage?" he asked and moved to her side to caress her.

Cill nuzzled him gently "I don't know. I can't smell any blood or sense harm. He may have gone willingly or been tricked into entering the portal"

Joe looked down at the ring and shook his head. "What are we going to do?"

James exchanged a look with Cill "Marre?" he murmured to her "could he trace the portal?" Cill nodded slowly "he could but this isn't good. It means someone knows where we live now. Marre won't be happy"

James sighed and kissed her gently "We knew it was only a matter of time love"

Tommy was actually enjoying himself despite his perilous location. Tomako wanted to know all about humans as they had little knowledge save that from their parents filtered through centuries of unequal combat. He chatted with the young male eagerly all unaware that Shalla was quietly going frantic in her room.

"Would you like to come back to the keep with me and see for yourself?" he asked. "We would be honored to show you round. Shalla too" he added, surprising himself as he thought of the emerald dragoness.

Tomako fidgeted on his bed. "I'd love to but father wouldn't let me. I'd have to go without his knowledge. Shalla wouldn't mind though. She can get away with anything"

Tommy grinned "Females usually can. Cill seems to have James well and truly under control"

Tomako cocked his head 'How is that possible?" he asked "I mean they are mated now. How did that come about? Why did she mate with him?"

Tommy tried to think of a good answer but just shrugged "I think they just felt right with one another. When you find the right mate I guess you know"

Tomako bobbed his head in agreement "I haven't found a nice female I want to mate with yet. They all remind me of my sister and she's a pain in the tail"

They both started at a harsh mental whisper coming from the door "Not as a much of a pain as you'll feel when daddy catches you with a human"

Shalla's head pushed past the hanging curtain into Tomako's room, her yellow eyes narrowed in anger.

Tomako growled and leaned forward "You brought him here. That makes him your responsibility and you have to get him home"

Shalla flushed and played nervously with the end of her tail "I can't." She hissed "Daddy is asleep in the lair. We can't get near the portal"

"Cant you make another one here?" asked Tommy curiously as he looked at the dragons.

"They would feel it and wake up"Shalla said, shaking her head slowly "they have alarms set, besides I'm not supposed to make my own portals"

Tomako snorted derisively "but you made one to bring poor Tommy here" he pointed out

Shalla hissed nastily at her brother "Yesssss. I wanted to bring him here quickly. If you'd told me the ceremony had finished I would have been able to get him home in time!"

Tomako gaped back at her"How was I supposed to know you were going to kidnap a human so you could experiment? You didn't exactly tell me"

Tommy sat back on the bed as the conversation between the two siblings deteriorated into hissing snarls in their own language. He found his gaze wandering over Shalla and comparing her with her brother. Both were emerald green with yellow eyes. He wondered if the color came from their father or mother. Though he realized it probably wouldn't be a good idea to hang around and find out.

He hid a grin as he wondered just what Tomako had meant when he said 'experiment' and why it had upset Shalla so much. He waited until both dragons were snout to snout and coughed politely.

"If you left a portal at the keep, wont Cill know how to use it?"

Both dragons blinked at him, they hadn't thought of that and neither liked the implications.

"She could follow it back here." Shalla exchanged nervous glances with her brother.

Tommy pondered "So why can't you sneak me past your father?"

"He would smell you and he doesn't like humans at all" the young dragoness explained as if to a simpleton. "He would wake up and ..." she made a surprisingly succinct paw gesture. "crunch"

Tommy nodded slowly and looked at Tomako "So it's just my smell?" he asked.

Tomako nodded "I could use the portal and take you back if we could get you past the sleeping loungers" he scratched his chin thoughtfully and looked at Shalla with a broad dragon grin.

"What?" she said warily while backing towards the door." I don't like that look"

Tomako smirked and pointed a talon at her "You have to mask his scent. I can't do it but you can"

Shalla blinked slowly "what do you mean?" she asked as her brother murmured to her, her eyes growing wider "you can't be serious!"

Tomako nodded "you have the marker scent, I don't."

Shalla looked panicky, her gaze flicking between the curious human and her annoying brother "but if any other dragons smell him, they'll think we've... er..."

"We're just taking him home" Tomako quickly reassured his sister. "We can drop him off and be back in no time"

Shalla still looked dubious at this so Tomako murmured the final nail in the coffin "Or you can explain to father why you brought an armed human into the lair"

He looked pointedly at the short sword on Tommy's hip.

Shalla's wings slumped at this as she realized she had no other option "If you tell anyone..." she threatened as her brother made conciliatory gestures "On my honor. No-one will know from me".

Shalla glowered at him as she moved towards the door "I'll hold you to that brother. Wait here" .

She slithered out the door and back to her room as Tommy watched bemusedly.

"What was all that about?" he asked the grinning dragon who was gleefully rubbing his paws.

"Females have a gland that marks their mates with a particular scent; it's quite powerful to dragons though even humans should be able to smell it. It shows that male is 'taken' by a particular female and not to be messed with" explained Tomako

"Shalla is going to use it to hide your human scent and it won't wake father up as its part of her natural scent. You'll have to stay close to her for it to work though"

Shalla reappeared in the cavern with a slightly damp cloth .The smell from it made Tommy's heart pound and his face flush "th-that's a good smell" he said wanting to compliment her.

Shalla growled and wiped his face with the cloth "Don't talk about this to anyone you monkey" she threatened as she dabbed him all over until Tomako was satisfied with the results. Trying to hold back his grin he nodded in agreement

"That will work. But you have to hold him against you so there's no break in the path" He gave a surreptitious wink to Tommy who was already having a hard time preventing his arousal showing.

"What do you mean" Shalla asked suspiciously, thinking her brother was making a fool of her.

"Hold him against your chest as we walk past so the smell is masked further and there are no strange footsteps as well" Tomako explained "We don't want them smelling his footprints do we?"

Shalla sighed and nodded, giving in "Alright." She looked at the human who smiled at her. "I have enjoyed my stay" he said and patted her paw gently.

Shalla looked down at her paw and impulsively leaned over to lick Tommy "Let's take you back and perhaps I can come visit sometimes"

Tomako stuck his head out of his door to peer down the hallway. "They're both still sleeping" he murmured. "Lets go"

Shalla nodded and gently gathered Tommy up against her chest, her ruffs flushing as she felt him pressing against her breasts.

Tomako slid down the hallway and peered round the corner at the travel portal before giving the all clear to Shalla and her passenger. She moved up behind him "go ahead and start the spell. I'll come round when it's almost ready" Tomako nodded and slipped out to the portal where he began the incantation whilst watching his sleeping parents.

Shalla clasped Tommy round the waist as he wrapped his arms round her neck, grinning to himself. James wouldn't be the only one with a tale to tell tonight he thought.

Tomako signaled to the pair that the spell was ready and Shalla loped across the intervening space between the portal and her parents easily.

Tommy gaped at the huge sleeping dragons as he passed them. The male was indeed the same shade of emerald green color of the twins and his mate was a brilliant blue and white-streaked mountain whose sides slowly rose and fell with each breath.

Tomako finished the spell and the three faded from the portal.

Marre listened to the worried communication from Cill and silently cursed. Their safety compromised so soon? He pondered how to deal with this "can you describe the runes?"

Cill lowered her head and scrutinized them carefully "Yes. They look almost familiar" she murmured to him as she read them out to him.

"Are you sure of that final rune?" he asked, trying not to let the tenseness show in his communication. Cill concentrated and managed to send an accurate image of the ring to her mentor. He gloomily confirmed the source of the runes with a sigh.

"It belongs to Clan Dracalar alright and if my suspicions are correct those are the family sigils of Divitchka and Nakkour" He shook his head slowly. "I know Divitchka and he was one of the more vocal clan members against having a human in the clan. Why he would kidnap a human is beyond me though."

Cill shared a look with James and then gasped as a chill mist slowly began to rise off the stones within the portal. "Someone's coming through!" she stepped back and slipped in front of James and Joe defensively, her talons scoring the stone as she crouched in combat readiness.

Both humans winced at the bright yellow flash and then gaped at the pair of dragons standing in the ring, one clasping a somewhat bedraggled Tommy to her breast.

"Shalla?" both Cill and James said in unison. Cill blinked and cast a sideways glare at her mate "You've met before?" an odd chill entering her mental voice.

James nodded "She was at Marre's on the day of the ceremony" he murmured to her "She seemed very spoilt and thought I was your pet"

Cill's eye lost its dangerous cast and a sly somewhat evil look replaced it instead "Oh I'm going to enjoy this"

Joe and James looked at the trio on the portal. The young male James quickly recognized as the drummer he had spoken to during the ceremony and noting the similarity of color between the two swiftly came to the same conclusion that they were related.

His gaze shifted to the flushed Thomas who was seemingly reluctant to relinquish his place against Shalla's breasts. "Are you alright Tommy?" he asked carefully. He didn't look harmed at least or too uncomfortable for that matter..

"Er...I'm fine James. I've had a ...interesting evening though" Tommy replied after swallowing a little. He sounded a little subdued and not at all like his usual cocky self James thought to himself.

"I see you made a couple of new friends?" hinted James as he looked at the pair of dragons. Shalla flushed and let Tommy down slowly before playing nervously with the tip of her tail.

Cill had yet to comment but had Shalla pinned with a tightly focused gaze as she shifted from side to side in a rocking motion..

Tomako at least had the good sense to look apologetic "Good to see you again James" he said. Trying to relax and defuse the situation he lowered himself to the flagstones and looked at his sister.

"I'm afraid my younger sister there" he stressed the 'younger' "Took it upon herself to find out more about humans and... inconvenienced your friend"

Cill's nostrils flared as she looked first at Tommy, then back at Shalla and an evil smirk shifted to her muzzle. Shalla flinched and her ruffs glowed in embarrassment.

"He certainly smells as if she sated not only her curiosity but something else as well" Cill was practically humming with amusement. Her private mental channel to James was alive with mirth "He has her scent all over him! I think her daddy is going to be VERY angry with her"

Shalla shook with emotion at the suggestion "I did not! I had to get him past Daddy and used scent to mask him. As if I would stoop to coupling with a human..." she tailed off as she realized this wasn't the right thing to say in the present company. In truth the idea sent shivers of secret naughty delight through her but she'd have all her fangs pulled before she was going to let Cill know that.

Cill bared her teeth at Shalla in anger "But you wanted a pet monkey. Is that it?"

Tomako looked at James and his gaze spoke volumes. James sighed and stroked Cill's neck slowly.

"Let her be, love" he murmured to her quietly. "Your parents thought the worst too"

Cill turned to snarl at him, she had disliked Shalla since meeting her and her stuck up parents years before at clan gatherings. "She must have found out where we were from someone. Someone we know and trust. How do we know she hasn't told her father? You heard what Marre said about him"

James looked at Tomako "Well? Does your father know you are here? Can we expect an angry bunch of dragons to 'port through and incinerate all of us?"

Tomako swallowed nervously then shook his head emphatically "Shalla and I snuck out while he and mother were asleep. They have no idea of Tommy... visiting" He made a complicated gesture in the air with his foretalons and bowed to Cill "I so swear"

Cill nodded and relaxed a little "On that oath I will accept your word. But remember your life is forfeit should it prove incorrect"

Tomako nodded "I understand, But I enjoyed meeting Tommy and ...I was wondering if I could have a look around?" he waved a paw, taking in the keep "This is more exciting than sitting at home playing drums" He looked at Tommy with a grin.

Joe and James exchanged a look "Well? ...If Cill trusts him. I don' see why not. Tommy, why don't ya show Tomako around?" said Joe while privately thinking 'or lord, not another one?'

Tommy grinned widely and before Shalla could react he leaned up and kissed the wide-eyed dragoness full on the lips much to the amusement of James and Cill. Leading the young male dragon down the battlements he enthusiastically pointed out the highlights of the keep until they were out of sight.

Shalla looked confused but also felt the pleasant sting of the kiss for long moments after the human had left "What was that he did?" she asked the amused pair watching.

Cill gave a throaty chuckle "that was a kiss. A strong human mating gesture" she purred to the young female "I think he likes you"

Shalla's paw wiped at her muzzle vigorously "Ewwwwww"

James grinned broadly and kissed Cill in much the same way only making it a lot longer and noisier until even Joe groaned in embarrassment and looked away. Not before he caught the horrified look on Shalla's face though.

James chucked Cill under her chin as he broke off the kiss "So Shalla, How many others know of the keep now?" he leaned against Cill who nervously pawed the stones.

Shalla sighed and shifted nervously in place. "Only Eriga and Gergid. I didn't want to cause any trouble" her tone shifted to that more reminiscent of a scared female "I-I just wanted to find out more about humans" Despite her earlier misgivings she found she honestly wanted to find out more and her mind kept holding up the mental images of the enthusiastic mating her mother had shown her.

Cill pondered, she didn't know Eriga or Gergid but if they were as flighty as Shalla there could be a future problem "And who told you where we were?" she asked the nervous dragoness pointedly.

Shalla decided honesty was the best policy, especially facing an angry dragoness with her mate "I asked Moona, He didn't know I was going to visit though and he made me swear not to tell. Tomako only found out by accident when he found Tommy in my room!"

Cill snickered silently at this revelation and wondered what Shalla had been going to do before her plans had been abruptly altered.

"Do you like Tommy?" she asked, innocent curiosity dripping from her tone as an idea suddenly came to her. "Would you like to see him again?"

Shalla wrestled with herself and was surprised at the burst of emotion she felt at the words "I think he is nice for a human and would be a good friend" she replied cautiously. "I know he wouldn't hurt me. Yes I would like to see him again"

Cill sent an amused thought to James "I think that Tommy has made an impression on her. Shalla has always thought of herself first in my experience"

James looked back at her and kept his reply on a private band "You think that he has the same feelings for her?" he gave her a gentle poke in the ribs "are you matchmaking love?"

Cill sent a quick image of a sexually sated emerald green dragoness to him. Tongue lolling and clasping a human to her breasts.

"If she has ...an attachment here she won't be so quick to tell others about it. Especially if her brother visits too"

James couldn't suppress a chuckle "I doubt her brother will hang around long. He strikes me as looking for adventure and excitement."

Cill looked at Shalla "Alright. You are welcome to come and visit as long as you keep your travels quiet. If you want to see Tommy though, that's up to him and I don't think he'd enjoy being thought of as a pet"

Shalla nodded slowly and then blurted out "W-why did you mate with a human Cill?" her ruffs flushed as the burning question forced its way from her mind.

Cill smiled and leaned against James who obligingly scratched at her neck "He loves me for what I am, our hearts called to one another and fate brought us together" she lowered her eyes and murmured to Shalla privately "Isn't it strange that the first human you meet when you visit kisses you passionately when he leaves your side?" Shalla flushed at the connotations and nodded shyly, not knowing what to say.

* * * * * *

Tomako was enjoying himself greatly. He always wanted to try and learn new things and here he was walking with a human and talking about famous battles both human and draconic. They stopped by the blacksmiths as Tommy showed him the assorted weapons and armor while the blacksmith hid nervously behind his anvil. Tomako picked up several pieces of armor as an idea came to him

"Have you ever made armor for dragons?" he sent to Tommy who gave a chuckle "I don't think it's ever been done before"

Tommy gestured to the blacksmith who hesitantly came forward, his large burn-scarred hands twitching as if itching to be holding one of his swords..

"My dragon friend here is interested in armor, could you make him some?"

The blacksmith straightened up swiftly forgetting his fear for the moment, this was business "I don't know Sir" he said respectfully "Tis not something I've been asked before. I would have to make some measurements and figure out how to link it together" he rubbed his hands together "And of course it would cost a bit...all that ironwork... and the enamel inlays."

Tommy grinned "It is a good idea..." he looked up at Tomako "It would weigh a lot though. Could you fly with it on?"

Tomako snorted "Of course I could. As for cost I'm sure Father wouldn't miss a nugget or two from his hoard" He missed the gleam of avarice that suddenly appeared in the blacksmith's eye. Trade with a new prospect was a major event in any culture.

Tommy nodded "Cill and James say they are going to fly patrols together. I don't know how he's going to stay on without a saddle though"

Tomako snickered at the thought "I've never seen it done. You humans are breaking all the rules. No wonder father gets so upset. Putting a saddle on a dragon would really get him going"

Tommy nudged Tomako in the side amusedly and thought to him "I think James has been riding Cill in a way that really gets a lot of dragons upset"

Tomako nodded holding up a shield with a rearing lion enameled in red on the front and saw himself proudly wearing such armor on his chest and sides "red pennons too" he murmured to himself, lost in the vision of bold adventures and young females clamoring for his attention.

"As I said before I hope James knows what he's getting into." He cast a speculative yellow eye at Tommy "As I hope you do too now Shalla seems to have taken a liking to you"

Tommy flushed "Why do you say that? She couldn't wait to get rid of me" he said grimly as he recalled her displeasure.

"She was just scared as one of her plans went wrong... as usual" Tomako snickered as he replaced the shield on the bench, giving it a loving caress as he did so. "She's not a very good planner but she is a good friend to those who know her. I think you'll be seeing more of her" he finished with a slow wink that made Tommy burn with embarrassment.

Walking slowly from the blacksmiths Tommy looked askance at the large dragon "And you? Will you be coming and visiting again?" he asked quietly.

Tomako nodded slowly "I like you and James as you don't seem to bear much resemblance to the stories we've been told. I think that was as much a shock to Shalla as anything else" he waved a paw at the keep as they walked along the bailey together.

"And I think we can learn off one another. I really want some armor too" he looked back at the blacksmiths longingly "I've never seen a dragon with armor before"

Shalla was quiet as she met her brother and kept casting querulous glances at Tommy as they talked about their plans. She thought the idea of armor was amusing but vetoed the idea of raiding their father's hoard to pay for it "You know he counts it every night and would miss a few specks of dust if they went missing"

Tomako nodded "I'll have to think of another way then" he said and grinned to himself in a way Shalla found disturbing. She had never seen her brother so taken with anything but drums before. Now something new beckoned and it had ribbons on it.

They walked slowly along the dusty path until they met up with James and Cill who were having an animated if private conversation. There seemed to be a lot of amusement in it however and Tommy's ears burned as he was certain he was part of it. Cill kept flicking her gaze between him and Shalla and he wondered how long before the entire keep was talking about him instead. Rumors went through the keep like turpentine through a sick donkey.

Shalla's talon drew random embarrassed patterns in the dust before she turned to Tommy and gave him a slow lick along the cheek, murmuring "I'm sorry for getting you into trouble and I hope I can come visit you again?" there was a wistful/hopeful tone in the communication and Tommy found himself nodding eagerly "Oh yes. I'd love to see you again" he replied while feeling a heat rise along his spine from the lick.

James and Cill shared a meaningful look with one another and led the pair towards a raised area that Joe was surrounding with balks of timber, sweating as he heaved another log into place with a thump.

"This 'ere's gonna have to do as a travel point" he panted as Cill stepped inside lightly and inscribed a portal on the ground. "Least till we can make a proper one that wont wash away in the rain" Cill's talon made sure the runes were deep and clear before she slithered back over the logs and gave James a hug "Oh this is fun. We have to invite Marre and Father now" James blanched a little at the thought of Nokala apparating his full size in the bailey and the resulting terrified reactions from the inhabitants.

"Lets just let them get used to seeing smaller dragons than your father for a while shall we?" he murmured while a graphic picture of panicked citizenry flicked across to her.

Shalla gave a squeak as she abruptly remembered her father who would likely be awake now after his nap "You mustn't tell papa we were here. He would be so mad that ..." she broke off but James caught the tail-end of a none-too flattering image of something small and hairy swinging in a tree. "He wouldn't understand" she finished lamely.

James nodded "I think it would be a bad idea to let him know you visited and plan to keep on visiting Tom- us. But at least let him know that you don't think all humans are bad though"

The two siblings nodded and strode into the ring "We'll see you in a couple of days then" Tomako said with a wave and then he and his sister seemingly evaporated and vanished from view as they returned home.

James slumped a little and leaned against Cill "Well, I knew we'd have some curious dragons but I wasn't expecting terrible twins" Cill gave a giggle and stroked his back slowly with a forepaw "It could have been worse...it could've been their father." She suddenly twitched and remembered something "Marre! We forgot to tell him who it was. He must be worried sick!" She stepped to one side and swiftly made contact with the old blue who was indeed upset and curious as to the visitors.While Cill was busy explaining James sidled up to Tommy and offered his hand.

"Well done" he said with a grin "You'll have to tell us all about what happened over dinner tonight".

Tommy couldn't help but grin back as he shook James's hand warmly "I will. It's been a momentous day. That's for sure" he ran a hand through his hair and was surprised to see it tremble as he brought it down "I need a big drink..." he added tiredly.

James leaned closer and murmured with a grin "better have a bath first though or folks wont want to get too close to you. You smell like dragon pee"