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I paced for some time after Artos left me, trying not to fret but generally failing. It was one thing to be left alone at the keep that I was familiar with, with at least some people that I knew, and quite another to be in a strange place with people who were obviously ill at ease and with at least one person who wanted me kept away from Artos.

It wasn’t likely that the seneschal knew what I was, or at least I certainly hoped he didn’t, and that worried me all the more. What would he think if he found out that I was a dragon? Most humans wanted to harm me and it seemed this one would be all the more likely to.

I finally settled myself on the bed, trying to keep my mind from running on, my thought from tumbling over and over about all the horrible things that could be happening to Artos or what could well happen to me.

It suddenly occurred to me that I was more worried for Artos than myself.

This thought brought me up short. Up to this point my whole concern was focused on my person, what was going to happen to me, how would I find food, shelter, safety, and just survive. I had never thought much about what others needed or wanted outside of feeling somewhat bad for stealing from them.

I slid off the bed and started to pace once more, wondering at the changes in my mind and in my feelings, somewhat disturbed by them. I paused and frowned, just mulling them over, then felt a smile slowly come over my face. Surely this was a good thing, to think outside of myself, to consider others or at least Artos.

The smile fled near as soon as it came. This new concern also brought new fears. Fears for myself were familiar, fears for others were not. I rumbled to myself and paced anew. Again, these thoughts, again, these changes. What did it all mean? I had no idea how to manage them.

My thought was interrupted by the door opening and I dove to hide behind the bed, chirping in alarm. I peeked out to see Ren walk into the room and huffed a sigh of relief and annoyance. I resolved again to try to be less frightened of what was going on around me.

“Hello, Dracius,” Ren said cheerfully. “Just came to check in on you.”

I nodded to him and climbed onto the bed and just watched as he walked over to me. “You doing okay?”

“Scared.”

“I can understand that. Artos being away, this being a strange place and all. Still I’m sure things will be fine! These people aren’t out to get us and we’ve traded with them before.”

I shook my head. “Different.”

“How’s that, Dracius?”

“Artos say not the same here. Feels different. The people are scared, the man who led us here did not want me in the room, they are trying to keep us all apart.”

Ren frowned. “Well, I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

I shrugged. “Servants are scared.”

“Well, it’s normal for them to be nervous of nobles.”

I shook my head again. “No, not the same. I tell Artos, Lady El agree. Not same. Not the same. They are scared, bad scared.”

Ren looked at me carefully. “I think you may be right, Dracius. I think you’ve got good instincts for this sort of thing and you’re obviously worried over it.”

I huffed. “Not worried,” I said trying to be brave like Lady El had hinted I need to be.

He laughed. “Oh no, you’re only rustling your wings and your speech gets more choppy when you’re upset.”

I stared at him and grumbled. “Worried.”

“Yeah, now I am to. I’ll keep an eye on things, Dracius.”

“Use magic?”

Ren hesitated. “I might. I’m not really supposed to beyond just basic things, but I think Phaegus would understand.”

“No trouble,” I said, then shook my head. “Don’t get into trouble,” I said again trying to say things correctly.

He reached out and patted me on the arm. “Don’t worry about me, Dracius. I’ll be just fine.”

I rumbled and huffed another sigh. “What can you do with magic?” I asked him, trying to keep my mind off where Artos was and what was going on.

“Well, not that much right now,” Ren admitted. “I mean, I can theoretically do a lot of things but Phaegus forbids a lot of that till I have more practice and certainly not while he’s gone.”

I cocked my head. “What are you allowed to do?”

Ren ginned. “Oh, light torches, basic housekeeping things, keeping myself warmer or cooler, a few basic shield spells, and a weak force bolt to practice with. It can’t hurt anything; it would only feel like a light shove if it hit you.”

I blinked. “Try?”

Ren looked surprised. “On you?” I nodded to him and he looked troubled, shaking his head. “No, Phaegus told me never to try magic on you after what happened when he cast that detection spell. He said it hurt you and he doesn’t want that to happen again.”

I thought back to the moment when Phaegus cast that spell on me and shuddered. “Hurt,” I said quietly.

Ren nodded and patted me on the arm again. “I know, Dracius, and that’s why I’m not going to risk casting on you.”

I smiled and perked my ears at him and he grinned back. I gave myself a small shake, resettling my wings, then looked around the room again with a small sigh then climbed off the bed and started to pace. Ren watched me sympathetically.

“Worried about Artos, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“He’ll be fine, I’m sure. I doubt the duchy wants to do anything that could start a conflict or war with Highkeep.”

I winced at the thought of war. “War…we win?”

Ren shrugged. “I’m no expert but we have a good guard and El is one of the best. She’s not just a hunter but a skilled warrior and tactician. Under her lead the hunters have become more of a small guard unit unto themselves not just a group to maintain the wildlife and feed the keep. I think we would win.”

I shuddered. “Do not like fighting.

“Neither do I so lets hope it doesn’t come down to it!”

I paced for a time, trying to keep my thoughts focused and my worry under control. Ren watched me for a bit then sat down in one of the chairs and pulled out a book to read. After a while he set it aside and got a look of concentration on his face. He gestured his hands and muttered something that I couldn’t quite hear and I noticed the same wisps of energy starting to gather around his hands that gathered around Phaegus.

I leapt back a short ways and whimpered before I could stop myself. Ren stopped and looked at me. “What’s wrong, Dracius?”

I frowned, trying to think of the words. “Things…lights were around your hands.”

Ren looked surprised. “You can see the energy?”

I cocked my head. “Energy?”

“It looks like thin wisps of light, kinda glows. Here, let me start to cast again and you tell me if you can see it. I can only see them if I’m using a spell to light them up.”

I chirred nervously as he started again and sure enough I could see wispy strands starting to gather around his hands as he muttered. I pointed. “There.”

Ren stopped and grinned. “That’s amazing, Dracius!”

I looked at him, puzzled “Why?”

“Well, I think it means that you have some sort of magical ability. We’ll have to ask Phaegus when we get back.”

I nodded nervously, not certain that I wanted Phaegus doing anything with me regarding magic.

The door opened and I hissed and leapt back, wings flaring, startling Ren off his chair. He landed on his bottom with an oomph as Artos walked though the door. “Ah, Ren, you’re in here with him. Good! Why are you sitting on the floor?

Later I sat on the bed watching Artos where he sat at the table, patting his rather full belly and going over some papers. I tasted the air, hoping there was some food for me as my stomach was starting to rumble.

“Artos, hungry- “ I started then shook my head “Artos, feeling hungry.”

“Oh!” Artos said, looking over at me. “I had some food set aside for you and it should have been delivered here.” I shook my head and he frowned. “I’ll ask one of the guards to find out what happened to it.

“Yes, Artos,” I said as he went to speak to the guards. I hoped they would hurry up and find it as I was certainly feeling hungry which made me nervous. As I have said, it wasn’t too long ago that I was starving most of the time. It took some years before being hungry stopped making me nervous.

Artos walked over and sat on the bed next to me and rubbed my back carefully. “They’re going to find out what happened and get you some food, Dracius. We won’t let you starve!”

I snorted and sighed happily at the rubbing. After a moment I looked over at Artos. “Meeting?”

“What’s that, Dracius?”

“Dinner. You talked?”

“Oh, a little bit.” Artos frowned again. “The duke doesn’t seem quite himself. I’ve only met him a few other times but he seems…different some how.”

“Different?”

“Yes. Can’t quite put my finger on it. El and Peter will be by later to discuss the dinner and I’ll get their thoughts along with some others that were there.”

I nodded and stood up to start pacing, waiting for my food. Artos watched me pace back and forth, a grin on his face. I noticed and stopped, looking at him, puzzled.

“It’s nothing, Dracius. You’ve got so much nervous energy I wish I had half of it!”

I rumbled at him and continued to pace until there was a knock at the door. I took a few steps towards the bed as Artos got up to answer. One of the guards stepped part way into the room with a tray of food in his hands.

“I’m sorry, Lord Artos, but the food you sent was evidently thrown away. I got this from the kitchen after nearly bullying one of the kitchen staff to give it to me! Never come across a bunch of more surly, unhappy people as these, Lord Artos.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed. Thanks for getting him some food and for standing watch over him.”

“It’s not a problem, Lord Artos. He’s getting on well then?”

“He’s doing fine.”

“Glad to hear! By your leave,” the guard said with a bow and stepped out.

Artos set the tray down on the table and I went over to it eagerly. He removed the cover and looked at the food with a sigh. “This is just the slop the servants eat.”

I hesitated, looking up at him, not sure of what to do. He looked down at me. “Well, there’s nothing for it I suppose and I’m pretty sure you’ll eat it no matter, won’t you?” he said with a grin.

“Hungry!” I said, ears perked.

“I’m sure you are, Dracius. Go ahead and eat!”

As I ate Lady El and Peter came to the room. I hesitated, not sure if I should continue eating while they were present but Artos waved at me. “You’re fine, Dracius. Keep eating. I nodded and went back to eating, keeping one ear trained on the conversation.

“Something is amiss, Lord Artos.”

“Well, we knew that much, El.”

“Ok, seriously amiss then. I had my hunters do some looking about and what Dracius says is true: the servants are nervous and it’s not just typical. Something has gone wrong.”

Peter nodded. “And Duke Halard didn’t seem quite himself, either. I’ve only met him briefly before and he seems different somehow. Thinner, not quite himself from what I remember.”

Artos frowned. “I’ve never met him before but he’s not quite as father described him, either.” He looked at Lady El, “Have your hunters gathered any gossip at all?”

Lady El shook her head. “No. No one’s talking. Everyone is far to afraid of whatever has happened.”

Artos shook his head. “We’re going to have to find out more information. I’ll stall the agreements until we know more.”

“You’re assuming they even want them,” Peter said.

“You think this is a trap?” Lady El said, looking startled.

Artos shook his head. “No, I don’t think they’d go that far.”

“I wouldn’t bet your safety on that, Lord Artos. I think we should leave a guard at your door as well as having you escorted,” Peter said.

“Oh that’s not going to draw any suspicion,” Artos said with a groan. “Great! Why do things always have to wind up so complicated?”

“Danger?” I asked, looking worried.

“No, Dracius, I’m not in danger,” Artos said.

“Don’t lie to him, Lord Artos,” Lady El said and looked at me. “Yes, Dracius, it’s possible he’s in danger. You need to stay alert and tell us if you see or sense anything suspicious.”

She looked back to Artos. “It would be good to have him look about the keep and observe people and see what he can find.”

“Damn it, El, I don’t want him involved!”

“Then you should have left him at home. He’s already proven useful in alerting us to the servants being scared and we’d be foolish to not make use of any other abilities he has.”

Artos looked frustrated and I walked over to him and cautiously put a hand on his arm. “I will be careful.”

He looked down at me with a worried expression. “I don’t want you putting yourself in danger.”

I cocked my head. “But I can help?”

“Well, I suppose you could I just. . .” He sighed.

“Allright, Dracius, but I still don’t expect you to leave the room without someone being with you. Ren, myself, Peter, El, one of the guards, someone has to be with you at all times.”

“Yes, Artos.”

I was of course terrified of being out without Artos but what else could I do? He had protected me up to this point at risk to himself and now Lady El said he could be in danger. I had to try to protect him even if it cost me my life.