The Bard and the Prince - 6. Chapter 6

The boys had opted to stay another week because it seemed that their little ruse was very lucrative. Not that they needed money, but Robin did because he told Lexi he was not going to accept charity anymore. “It's not...”

“It is. Since you found me I have paid for nothing.” They sat in the sitting room while they counted out the day's earnings. Two gold, seven silver, five copper and a simple golden band. This last was thrown in by a woman who had come to every one of their corner performances. Most likely a merchant's daughter she made eyes at Lexi every time he looked her way. “I know you are a giving person, but I have to repay you for all of this and how can I if I keep letting you pay for it?”

“Robin, I have never expected any sort of payment. Neither has Father.” Conscious of Parker being in the room and Robin's feelings he did not go to him and take his hand. They had told no one about their feelings, not even Parker, and it was to stay that way until Robin felt ready. “You being my friend is more than enough, if you feel as if you need to repay me. Being me is a lonely profession. I have Trav, Wini, Mist, and Nana, and that was it until you came along. Everyone else saw what I was and what I could do for them. Very few saw who I am and found it to be enough. Every person in my life had nothing to lose for trying to be in my good graces. Even Parker saw that being my friend was the best place for him.” The boy nodded. He may be young but he was not stupid. Being indispensable to one of the princes made his life easier and he would lose nothing by choosing this one; he could only gain. “It's not that way now between us.” They shared a smile. The boy and the prince had become friends in these past months because Parker no longer served Lexi directly and he could afford to look elsewhere for his place. Robin may not be a lord or duke, but he was a master the boy would serve faithfully. “You are the only person in my life who has everything to lose by being my friend. Your dreams, your place as a bard, even your life if Frederick has any say in it.” Robin stayed quiet having learned that when Lexi was in one of his tell all moods he should just let it run its course and keep whatever was said private. “Just being willing to give it all up is payment.”

He seemed to be done. “Is this the part where I dramatically declare I shan't rest until I have saved your life or roll over and accept it?” he asked of Parker.

“Just accept it so he'll stop whining.”

“Those sound like Trav's words,” accused Lexi. Parker would not be so rude.

“They are and he told me to say them when this conversation came up.” Parker shrugged and went back to his mending. His part in their ruse was to collect the coins and mend the clothes to look like they needed it.

How many conversations did the wizard know would come up? How many words did Parker have memorized to repeat back to them about all of these conversations? “Huh.” Robin nodded. “Fine, we'll go halves. Sound fair?” Lexi gave in only because he saw that stubborn set to Robin's shoulders.

The door banged open. Minah stormed in. “Get out now. They are here six deep.”

“Who...” Robin was about to ask.

“The Six you moron!” Lexi's face paled and Parker screamed into his shirt. “Whoever wants you dead, bard, is willing to contract the best in the business. Their minimum bounty is one hundred thousand gold.” Lexi was already darting around the room to gather up their belongings. Parker seemed frozen by fear until Minah shook him gently. “Now is not the time for fear, boy. Up and pack.” There came an muffled pop from across the street and then the balcony exploded, taking with it the entire wall and throwing the four of them to the floor. Dust and heat filled the air, choking them but Lexi was up the moment he was able to and grabbed the bag he had packed. From the blasted area came a deep chuckle.

“Nice spell, Chalindra.” Robin turned his head to see one of the most dreaded creature in all the realms. A night elf, those of the black skin, a dark elf, drow...many places called them by different names but they all meant heartless killers. This night elf was shaved bald and had strange metal claws sprouting from some sort of graft on the top of each hand, the graft looking like alligator or snake hide. He wore loose fitting trousers and a breastplate adorned with a white hourglass.

“Be quick about it, Hor'Aftu,” a cold voice called from outside. A woman's voice.

“I must apologize, but I am here to kill you.” The night elf called Hor'Aftu crouched low as a dagger spun where his neck would have been. Gods above he was fast.

“Be gone, Lost One, this one is mine.” Minah came from the smoky area and glared at the dark one.

Hor'Aftu went wide eyed. “You are treading on thin ground here, Minah.” For an answer Minah merely flicked his finger and Hor'Aftu whirled into action, those strange claws sparking as he parried the thousand poisoned needles. The feat made up Robin's mind to help the strange assassin. There was no way on the Gods' bountiful earth that he could hope to do anything but make the night elf laugh as he slid those blades into his chest.

“Run, damn you!” Minah yelled and then pulled his sword. He rushed by them even as they left. No human was a match for an elf and the night elves made an art of killing. Lexi was the better fighter of the two of them and he had no illusions that he would win against someone stronger, faster, better trained and probably ten times his age if not fifty.

Each had a pack as they bolted down a secret stair Lexi had installed for just this purpose. Being a prince made you a target, but in his wildest dreams he had never thought to be using this stair to sneak out a bard that had become the love of his life. The stairs led to the stable, but not the main one. Lexi knew that Minah was thorough and knew that he would find their mounts already saddled. What he did not account for was Nana being there. “I don't know what trouble these night elves have brought to your doorstep, Lexi, but they will not get past me.” In her hand was a strange rod a foot long that pulsed with a blood red light. She was a wizard too?

“I am so sorry to bring this on your house, Nana...” Lexi began.

“It is your house,” she said adamantly as she held Dancer's reins for Robin.

“Never has been. When I had it built I put it in your name. I only footed the bill.” She looked like she was going to tear up. “Don't you try and confront them, Nana.”

“I can now. There is a spell I know that will protect this place. Go, knowing that we'll all be fine.” He vaulted into Mist's saddle and made sure Parker was secure on the back of Robin's mount because his pony could not hope to keep up with them.

Lexi spun and they bolted down a passage that was a mostly straight run for a part of the city Robin could not even begin to know. No one said a thing as they galloped down a passage that magically lit as they passed under dimly glowing gems. The ride seemed to take hours and moments at the same time and when they burst from the tunnel on the docks Robin had to gasp because it was full night and the stars seemed to be unusually bright. “The dock gate is still open. We'll use it and then ride for the castle.” It would be a stretch for the horses, but they were strong and Lexi knew Mist could do it. The few sailors not in the taverns of the docks seemed to all be in their way and all seemed to invent curses to fling at them as they were nearly rode down.

In front of them was the gate but between them and it stood two night elves. “Told you they would get past Hor'Aftu, my brother,” said the one with the battle leathers and a huge bladed polearm. His ebony skin seemed to glow and his white shoulder length hair shone in the pale moons.

“Be quiet for once, Mordinin. Do not make this any more painful, humans. I offer you a clean and swift death.” This night elf seemed to be telling the truth. He had so many swords and daggers placed on his person and his lightly muscled frame told both this one was fast and deadly.

“I offer you a very lingering and pleasurable death,” said Mordinin whose hip was cocked out and he looked at Lexi as if he was the worlds finest delicacy. They understood him very well.

“Leave the seduction to me.” Another night elf swayed into view. She was stunningly gorgeous and so scantily clad that Robin's jaw dropped. He had seen shea dancers wear more. She wore only soft slippers, white stockings that formed to her shapely legs and a translucent negligee of white. She had no weapons but it did not take a sage to know what her real weapon was. “Come to me Robin.” She held out her hand, a gesture that like the rest of her was mesmerizing.

There was some sort of magical compulsion that gripped the bard. He felt that he had to go to her. Lexi's eyes went wide with horror and sorrow as he dismounted and took two steps forward. His eyes never left hers as he took step after step. He halted a dozen paces from them and grinned while he said, “Nice try, but my heart is taken.” She looked shocked and then looked at the prince.

“Looks like I'm not the only vamp around here.” She stepped back to let her brothers try, her only weapons sex and seduction which did not work on anyone truly in love. “Nice work, human.”

Robin began to hum a tune. “Are you humming?” asked Mordinin. “You have a lovely voice, bard, and I believe we could make beautiful music together.” Lexi wondered why he was humming. Night elves were very resistant to compulsion and mind affecting spells. An almost palpable force began to gather and the elves looked around with cautious glances. “Stop that humming!” He spun to look at the female. “Sos'Umptu stop him!”

“This is not my department, my brother.” She was already plotting her escape. “This is Chalindra's place.” That must be their wizard, Lexi thought.

With that knowledge Lexi tried to buy Robin time and raised his hand and chanted a quick spell. A thin bolt of lightning arced from his fingers to strike that polearm. The night elf dropped it with a hiss. “A mage? No one told us he knew magic.” The air between the groups was shimmering and made the elves take a few steps back.

Robin was nearly done with his spell when he caught a swift movement. He felt pain lance into his chest dangerously close to his heart but he kept humming. He had only a few more notes until the shimmering air snapped into place and hundreds of floating swords danced in the crisp night air. Robin said a few words in a language no one else there seemed to know and the blades began to slice back and forth and advance on the elves. Robin spun back and mounted while the swords pushed them out of the way. With a heel to their flanks the men were gone and through the gate. They had narrowly escaped death, but they were free of the elves for the moment and hopefully for good.

It was an hour later that Lexi noticed Robin was sagging in the saddle. He pulled up rein a bit and could see the reason. A dagger stuck out of his chest. “Gods above Robin you're hurt.”

“I'm fine, just keep riding.” He was lying and both knew it, yet to argue would only get Robin upset and he would lose more blood. Lexi took the reigns from his hand and led the horse in a different direction and off the hunter's track they had been using.

“Hold on for me, Robin. If you die on me I swear I will return and kill them or die trying.” Robin tried to tell him to do nothing so drastic, but he could not summon up the energy to even grunt.

The ride was longer and more grueling but was shorter than actually going to the castle. Robin was delirious and could not know where they were or how far they had traveled and poor Parker was still shaking from fright that he had paid no attention either. Lexi pulled up rein and called out. “Ma'akar, strusth ve'ara vro ahkba!”

A roaring filled the forested area and Parker screamed as a ghostly form stormed out of the trees and actually skidded to a stop. You are far from your home, human prince. The voice was cold and lifeless coming from a place where the head would have been had this creature been more than just a floating incorporeal cloak. An unearthly chill hung in the air and emanated from the wraith.

“I know you treat little with the living Ma'akar, but we seek shelter.”

Know you that the magi is near death? Lexi nodded. Yet you come here. Why? You know how I feast on the souls of the dying.

“Because you once asked for aid and were it not for this I would never have even considered coming here.” He was gambling that even in her death she would remember a kindness he had done her. If not they were all dead one way or another. She at least would make it painless. Their horses were exhausted and could not go on. They would be caught by the Six before they even reached the castle's sight. Yet here he was putting them at the mercy of a wraith, an undead creature kept alive by pure spite. She could drain their life quite easily and nothing Lexi could do could stop her.

You speak the truth. You have never even thought to collect and I see that you are desperate to come here. You and the other humans are safe for the night. She floated back towards her grave stone. But do not intrude upon my demesne. He nodded. He did not even bother tethering the horses and almost dragged Parker off the horse because the boy was paralyzed by the proximity of an undead.

“Parker, water the horses and get them unsaddled.” He needed to be shaken out of his lethargy. “Parker, I need you to be strong for the both of us.” The boy's eyes dragged to his face and he nodded. “There's a good man. See to the horses.” Giving him something he could do would lessen the effects of the undead. Lexi eased Robin out of the saddle and winced as he groaned from the wound being jarred. “Stay with me. I'm going to get this out and then do what I can.” He laid the man out and cut the shirts off to use as bandages. He wiped away a tear and began a chant of healing that he could finish the moment he pulled out the dagger. He gritted his teeth and grasped the hilt as he came to the last words and yanked. Robin's back arched and he let out the most blood curdling scream he had ever heard. His eyes flew open but there was no recognition in them. He was no longer there, he had retreated so far into his own mind to escape the pain that it was only the animalistic part that looked out of them. Lexi said the last word and Robin fainted as the healing spell took effect.

Lexi kept it up until he had exhausted that spell and began another. When that one faltered he began again, running through his entire divine repertoire again and again to make sure he had done everything he could and he was so tired he did not realize that he had stopped casting actual spells an hour ago and Parker had laid him out beside Robin. Parker froze when he felt the wraith glide near. You need not fear me, child, you are safe here for the night. Go to sleep if you can. She glided away again but this time towards the track. To hunt.

* * *

Robin floated in some sort of black and formless void. He knew he was dying and knew he would be going onto whatever came after, but it seemed to be taking a very long time. Was death a thing that took as long to do as living? If so he would be very bored by the time he actually died. He was not in pain, which only stood to reason because he was no longer in his body. Then he felt pain. He had not been able to let Lexi know how much he had grown to love him. He would never again be able to see his smile, to hear his laugh, to feel his arms around him. Robin began to weep. Why weep you, child? came a kindly voice from somewhere not too far away. It was a voice he had not heard for almost a year and one he thought to never hear again.

“Master Meadowlark?” Giving name to the voice gave him form and the bard seemed to be just the way he remembered.

Boy why are you crying?

“I'm dead, Master, and I left behind a life I was happy with, someone I was happy with.” He placed his face in his hands and sobbed. All of it was gone, he would be without Lexi for the rest of eternity.

Oh pish! Do you feel dead? Robin nodded. Trust me boy, this is not dead. This is close to it, but you are not dead yet. Robin looked up and the Master was squatting down to look at him. My boy, you have grown much since we last spoke but you still have much to learn, much to do before you can rest the final rest.

“But...”

No buts. You are not dead unless you want to be. If so then there is where you need to go. He gestured to a glowing light in the darkness. It looked like a stage spotlight and an open stool. It looked so inviting, so free of the worries of living...but also free of its joys. He could not leave Lexi, could not leave Parker. Just thinking their names made the light dim and a new light, a glowing red light that throbbed, was next to it.

“What is that light?”

That? That is your life. Know that you go back to all the pain of your circumstances. It did not matter as long as he could be with Lexi. Master Meadowlark pulled him to his feet and gave him a gentle shove towards life. Be safe, my boy, and know that more than I wait for you to finally come home to rest. Robin floated towards the red light and when he touched it he screamed...

* * *

Raven and Frederick were huddled around a scrying orb when the picture of the prince and Robin came into view. They lay close to each other asleep, the boy sitting up and gazing off in some direction. “It appears your assassins failed, Frederick. I am surprised.”

“As am I, Raven, as am I. So you think these two are the ones that could stop us?” Frederick had matured in the months since Robin had arrived into a cold and calculating man. He had grown into his power as well. As a sorcerer there were few that could match him now. “Have you any plans to rid us of them?”

“One and you get to do the deed.” By the look on his face he liked the idea. “Get the ring I had you study before Winter set in.” Frederick nodded and retrieved the ring. He had studied it thoroughly and wondered how it would help here. It was possessed of a spell that brought out the intrinsic nature of the target. A goodly person would be shown as goodly and vice verse. “Good. When I tell you cast the spell into the scrying globe.” Frederick nodded and began to key the ring to him. Raven chanted in a guttural monotone that sounded very alien. He placed his hands over the Crown Prince's and a bone chilling made the prince uncomfortable. “Now.”

Frederick cast the spell...

* * *

Robin sat up with a start, the pendant around his neck burning his skin. It was close to dawn and his whole body ached. Lexi stirred and groped for him.”You're alive,” he whispered with relief.

“I...I am. For better or worse I'll live.” He looked down at him with a haunting smile. Something had happened to him, something that changed him in some permanent way. Something in his eyes said that he had seen the other side, a hallow hollowness that lurked just behind that spark of the living. “And I won't let another moment pass without telling you I love you, Lexi. I love you so much I came back from death to be with you.” He looked away. “I could have stayed. Master was there...it was so light...so peacefully beautiful...but then I thought of you and I could not leave.” He looked back with a hint of the old Robin in the grin. “You're stuck with me.” He leaned in and gave Lexi a kiss. Their first kiss. It was soft, sweet, and everything both knew it would be.

Then Robin's back spasmed and he gasped as he fell over, his face contorted in surprise. “Robin? What's wrong?” Something was not right because Robin could not answer. Lexi thought his eyes were playing tricks on him because Robin seemed to be melting. “Robin!” Parker woke with a start and stared at his friend as his form began to warp and change before their very eyes. “Robin!” he screamed out. His face was elongating and taking on a blood red hue and a scaled appearance. His hands became claws that raked at his own flesh but when the skin tore all they could see was more of the red scales and no blood. The pants he wore ripped apart as he sprouted a tail and from his back grew leathery wings. Through it all Robin and Parker could not stop screaming.

When the transformation stopped they could only stare in horror. Where their beloved Robin had sat, so newly returned to them, was something out of myth. There was no such creature anymore, yet there sat a red dragon the size of a very large horse with baleful golden eyes with a hint of amber in them. It heaved itself to its four feet and gave a shake to rid itself from the blanket and tattered clothes.

The world around him seemed brighter and more filled with scents he had no names for, but one scent he knew very well and it was that scent that recalled to him who he was. He had been lost for a moment when this change came upon him, but he remembered Lexi and remembered how much he loved him. It kept his mind his. He swung his head to look at his beloved. There was such fear in his eyes. No fear of him, but fear for him. Robin tried to speak but all that came out was a deep rumbling growl. Lexi scrambled away this time in terror. No, Robin thought, I'm still me. He sat back and sighed knowing that he could not even tell him. The look he sent Lexi's way made the man pause. “R...Robin?” The dragon nodded. “Are you...still in there?” He gave him another look that said that was a stupid question. “Gods above, what happened?” He took a step closer with his hand stretched out as he would have done to any frightened animal.

Robin leaned forward and nuzzled into the hand. It shook with the fear he smelled but also with all of the emotions that had happened in those last hours. It broke his heart to see Lexi afraid of him, but there was nothing he could do. If only he could speak...He began to croon a tune in that deep resonating rumble of his new voice. It was full of his love for Lexi and laden with so much he wanted to say but now could not. Lexi began to cry as he felt the impact of the song and he rushed over to throw his arms around the huge scale neck. “Oh Robin, I don't know what happened but when we get back to the castle Trav will put this right.” The bard turned dragon nodded and looked at the boy.

“Robin, if you expect me to clean up the messes you make now you are mistaken,” he quipped trying to lighten the mood. Apparently he was not as scared as Lexi had been, perhaps knowing that Robin was still himself in a larger scaly way. The dragon chuckled and it came out with a plume of smoke. “Wow...a fire breathing dragon.”

Robin settled down with a tremendous sigh. “I know,” Lexi said. “Gods above this has not been the best day for us, has it?” He sat with his back resting against the barrel of the dragon's body. “At least you are warm,” he said trying to find any positive thing to say about this. How could this happen? Had the gods decreed that since he cheated death he should be sent back in a different form? Lexi doubted that, but it was the only working theory he had.

The dawn was lightening the sky when Ma'akar returned. This is new, she said. Intrinsic nature spell gone bad...no turned bad. Someone has cursed him into this form.

“What do you know about it?” Lexi asked hurriedly. Any information would be good.

The spell is designed to bring out the nature of a person in an animal form but it is usually cast on willing targets and this spell somehow does not feel right. Something interfered. To remove the curse you must remove its caster. That would not be easy. There could be dozens of wizards capable of this, one that just happened to be following them to kill them.

Lexi and Robin shared a look and for some reason it was not diminished by the fact that the bard was no longer even humanoid. “Lemons?” Lexi asked. The red dragon nodded. “We really need to come up with a way to talk. I know you're a great listener...” Robin shook as he chuckled.

I must seek my rest. Fare you well, Alexander. I suggest you leave as soon as you can for I will not be held accountable for a feast that stayed in my glade. She glided away into the trees as the first rays of sunlight hit the top of the trees.

Robin began to shiver and a roar cut through the air even as a scream did from Lexi. That huge dragon claw was shrinking and sought out Lexi's hand, but Lexi's was growing and losing its fingers. They looked at each other in horror and Robin could see that somehow his curse was transferring to Lexi. No, he thought, screamed in his head, but he could not halt this exchange. Parker could only watch it happen again. Lexi's head reshaped into one close to that of a dragon, but more equine. For a brief moment in the middle of the transformation they could have kissed muzzle to muzzle, but they were too caught in the throws of the spells to even think about it.

When the ordeal was over Robin stood up shakily, seemingly back to normal, naked as the day he was born, and looked to Lexi. That is no dragon, he thought. This spell brought out his intrinsic form, and Gods above he was beautiful. His coat shone a pure white and his mane was long and flowing. Hooves the size of dinner plates stomped the ground and he snorted even as he whinnied. As a horse he would have been the top pick of any county fair, but no, a horse would not have a four foot spiral pearl horn sticking out of his forehead. “Lexi, are you in there?” he asked and put a musical tone into it to try and calm him so he could find his mind.

After a pause that wondrous horn bobbed up and down. Robin felt tears start to fall. “I am so sorry, Lexi. I never wanted any of this to happen and Gods I don't know what is happening. Will it just stay with you or if I touch you will it come back to me?” He reached out his hand and Lexi took a step back. “I have to know! I have to know if I can still touch you, to know if this is real or I'm just stuck in a nightmare.” Lexi nodded and the bard came forward to lay his hand on the soft nose of the stallion. Not even the softest velvet could rival the silky feel and Robin moved forward to hug him around the neck. As tall as Robin was this unicorn stallion dwarfed him. Nothing happened. “I love you, Lexi.” A trill from a flute came from somewhere and Robin spun, but no one was there. Parker was pointing to Lexi in awe. “Was that you?” For an answer Lexi played a melody through his horn, one that was both happy and sad because it was the first song Robin had ever played for him. Robin wiped away his tears. “What are we going to do? Where will we go?” Lexi answered with a song about a wizard. “To Trav? Gods he'll kill me for letting this happen to you.” Lexi shook his head. “If you think it is best then we'll do it. Parker, can you saddle Mist while I handle Dancer?” The boy nodded. “Wait.” He took the boy by the shoulders and knelt to look into his eyes.

“I must apologize to you too. You are still too young to be mixed up in all of this but you have really shown your mettle.” The boy nodded and scrubbed at his eyes. “You'll be riding Mist back and you can sleep in the saddle.” Lexi nodded. Parker had shown he was far stronger than a seven year old boy should be. Mist liked him so he knew there would be no problem there. Now his only problem was learning to walk. A step back was one thing, but how could he move all four limbs together when he was not born to this form? He took a few tentative steps but they were halting and he stumbled more than once.

Mist came over to see what all the fuss was about once she had been let off her tether. She sniffed Lexi and snorted, but she seemed to know who he was. Mist was an exceptionally bright horse and she knew what his problem was. She moved out in front of him, Lexi for the first time thinking her tiny, and showed him how to step. Right front, left rear, left front, right rear. Repeat ad nauseum. He watched for a few moments before he realized what she was doing and then he mimicked her. Parker had to wait for them to be done before he finally was able to saddle Mist and she actually helped him by moving over to a stump he could stand on. “Thank you.” She tossed her head. Lexi gave a snort that she only shrugged at. There would be no problems with Parker and Mist.

“Are you three done playing around?” Robin was astride Dancer who seemed to want to be off from this area. “Need I remind you that there is a curse to find out about?” Robin seemed unlike his normal self. Lexi looked at him with those startling blue eyes and tilted his head in question. “Yes, I blame myself. If I had not come along you would still be human and happy.” The unicorn nodded as they stepped out and onto the hunter's trail and then shook. “Human yes, but not happy? Lexi, do you want to spend the rest of your life a unicorn or me a dragon if this comes back to me?” There came a sour flute note from behind. “Exactly.”

They were moving slowly because Lexi had not learned to move any faster. He could walk and he could canter because that is how humans moved, but cantering would be dangerous on this narrow trail. Robin had been very quiet, Parker had fallen asleep in he saddle, but Lexi's mind was racing in effort to classify every scent and noise his new senses fed him. The sound of a crash turn out to be a twig snapping above and the distant rapid thundering was a deer's heartbeat. He could not begin to even sort it out yet, but if he was to be in this form forever he would soon learn how.

* * *

“It seems that even your efforts have failed, Raven. The bard lives.” Frederick could not hide the sneer in his voice. “So much for the curse you set upon him.”

“Quiet!” he growled. What had gone wrong? They had seen him begin his shift into some sort of hideous beast that should have devoured the prince and that boy, but no. He sat astride his horse and the boy was unharmed. Alexander was nowhere in sight, so maybe the curse had been short lived but fruitful if that bastard was gone. “What is that following them?”

Frederick looked closer and his jaw dropped. “No, it cannot be.” The Crown Prince slowly turned his head. “A unicorn.” Raven spun around to look closer at the image. He could not believe that he was actually looking at a unicorn. It was too much like a fantasy tale, too much like one of the High Chant myths, a time when unicorns and dragons still roamed the planet enough to inspire such tales. He could not believe what he was seeing. All the tales said unicorns would not even approach anyone not a virgin female yet the first one seen in living memory was following a bard that had killed the bastard prince. He was bloodied, soiled and tarnished in the soul, why would a unicorn be following him?

“Can it be a true unicorn?” Raven muttered to himself. The ramifications were astounding. If he could deliver a unicorn to his master his would reward him beyond his wildest dreams “Where do you think they are headed?”

“Here,” said Frederick simply. He knew it in his gut.

“Perhaps we should send out a welcome party.”

“Twenty guards should suffice.” The prince knew what the crafty old snake wanted and was willing to go along with it. The Bard nodded and the prince left the tower to go on a hunt. This would either end up with a unicorn and the bard arrested for murder, or just the bard arrested for murder. A winning situation either way.

* * *

They stopped to water the horses and the Lexi near sundown at a creek that ran through the many acres of fields that surrounded the castle. They had maybe an hour to go and figured it would be best to enter the palace in secret lest they cause a stir...a bigger stir than they could help. Robin was exhausted and would be trusting Parker to lead the horses back to the castle with Lexi as a guide. He was cooking their supper when he felt something was wrong, something that Lexi sensed and he did not. “What is it?” The unicorn tried to think of song snippets that could explain, but he could not think of any. “Just visualize it.” Robin had always been better at picking out things from Lexi's mind. Robin closed his eyes against the mental barrage of input.

There were soldiers on their way here and they were not here for good. They were led by Frederick, except the prince felt blackened and sullied like a malignant infection had burrowed deep into his soul. It was the creepiest feeling to him. They would be there in less than an hour. “This is not what we need now. Parker, ready the horses.” He looked ready to ask why but only nodded. He knew that there must be something wrong that one of them sensed, he knew subconsciously that they had a deep connection at which they could talk. Robin doused the fire and began to pack as the sun set.

He dropped the pan he had been holding when he felt a gut wrenching pain lance up his back. He looked over at Lexi whose legs were wide apart and his barrel was heaving. No, not again, he thought but there was nothing he could do. It came as epiphany, the nature of the curse. One of them, most likely himself, had been the target of this curse, yet they had not counted on the fact that Lexi and he were so close. They were sharing the curse. Robin would shoulder the burden of form in the nights and Lexi the days. They would never know what it was to hold each other ever again for they would forever be separated. The true curse was that. They would never hold each other. “I'm sorry...” he growled out as he burst again out of his clothes. He could not finish the words because he no longer had the capacity for speech. This transformation seemed to take less time than the first and was less painful.

“Not again,” Parker said in exasperation. He was getting used to this; it was morbidly fascinating to watch. He waited it out and then pulled out some of Lexi's clothes for him to put on. “Are you well enough to travel, Lexi?” He had taken the responsibility of making sure they were well upon himself. Not an easy thing for a mere boy.

“Gods above no. My skin won't stop crawling and I can barely stand up as of yet.” He turned his head as much as he could to Robin whose transformation was over. “Love, you need to go. If Frederick finds you...” The dragon grumbled but was able to get to his feet and he went as fast as he could to the tree line. There was nothing they could do to cover the tracks. “Might as well set everything back up because I cannot ride as I am.”

“The Crown Prince...”

“Is on his way with twenty armsmen and they are not here for our health. Might as well try and look as casual as possible and give Robin a chance to hide.”

“As you wish. I don't know why I still do things for a walking handbag and his princely nag.” He glanced at Lexi and saw him shaking his head in unwanted but needed mirth. “Why not a nymph or lovely elf...no, not an elf. I don't much care for elves any more. Even a lovely centaur filly. No I get stuck with a dragon and a unicorn. They will be moody when they get into the rhythm of their new lives and can't even steal kisses anymore.”

“Wait. You know...”

“Lexi, everyone knows. From The King to the lowliest waif on the street. You might have thought you were not obvious, but I know there is a lovesick puppy who wants his look back.” The Prince wondered just how obvious he had been in his pining for Robin. It must have been pretty obvious if Parker, Trav and even Robin had seen his reactions. Now they were together. Lexi knew that this should have been a shock, but they had not cared if anyone knew. Now...he would never be able to steal those kisses. He also knew that Parker was reaching his breaking point, his cutting humor was a sure sign. This has been just as hard on him as it has on them. More so because he was too young to see the bigger picture.

They heard the galloping of horses on the still night air and Lexi forced himself to dress although it was a true test of will. He could barely lift his pinkie finger let alone dress. He would do whatever he could to give Robin a chance to get away. Frederick would love to say he had killed a dragon. When the riders had come within sight Lexi set his sword down beside him unsheathed. “What are you doing out here Fred?” he asked acidly. The Prince looked so shocked to see him alive. Somehow he knew about the change and that Lexi had not been seen with him all day. Did they have tails on them still? He did not think so, he would have smelled them if they had.

“I see the rumors of your death were false. I was also told there was a ravening beast in the area.” He could not say what he was really here for especially if the bard were within earshot. He should be around here somewhere.

“I am obviously not dead, so do not sound so unhappy about it. As for the beast, you are the closest thing to a monster around.” Lexi was through with his brother. The gloves were off. He would dare hunt his beloved? Not while I have breath in me, the princeling thought. Several of the armsmen shifted uncomfortably in their saddles. They did not want to witness these two come to blows. A contest of will out here would result at least one death. Maybe more.

“Careful, bastard, Father is not here to protect you,” he hissed at him.

“Gee, do I look like I need father to protect me from you? Were fratricide not a crime I would have settled this long ago.” He did not care if Frederick was the one to die in the fight either because he would never inherit and might even be put to the sword.

“Is that a threat?” Frederick was looking around for the bard, but he could not see hide nor hair of him. His keen eye for the hunt did have him spot the tracks. “Men, beware. That beast is nearby.” He pointed out the tracks and ten dismounted and pulled out bows.

“Oh, big man. Ordering these men to hunt down some poor creature. And no, Fred, it was a statement of fact. We hate each other. If you could you would love the chance to slide that blade home. Know this, you pompous, black souled, ill conceived piece of filth. If you ever call me a bastard again I will draw my sword. Do you men witness this warning? I have given due warning to that ass in prince's clothing.” No one spoke up but he knew their silence was enough. They had heard. The sad part is a few hoped he would call him that; Lexi would decimate him. He was by far the better fighter. Younger, faster, stronger if only by a margin. Fueled by years of hatred and abuse Lexi would destroy him in a battle of arms.

Frederick dismounted and turned his back on Lexi, which irked him. He was no threat, the gesture said. “These tracks are only a few minutes old. Did you see any...never mind. You, Melina's boy, did you see a beast here?” He did not even look at Parker when he addressed him. Great, Lexi thought, piss off the people who are assigned to serve you and you may find your throat slit one morning. The first of many lessons he had learned and Fred had not.

“No, your Grace. I have seen only peaceful beings.” Parker was answering honestly but he did not like it when someone called him Melina's boy with that tone. The King was an exception, he had a kingdom to run and he could not be expected to remember a boy's name. “That is until your men showed up.” He added this because it was the truth.

“Watch how you speak to me, boy.”

“I am answering truthfully, Your Grace. Shall I lie to you instead?” Lexi had to cover up a grin. His time with Robin and Lexi had given the boy a spine and Frederick did not know how to deal with it. He could not kill a mere boy for being insolent, but he could not let it go unpunished.

“Be silent. You and you, the beast went into the woods. See how far it went...”

“Stop where you are,” Lexi commanded. His tone oozed command and everyone halted, even Frederick. He had sounded so like the king then that they had to look around. “You are not to go traipsing off into the woods after some poor creature that has done nothing.” The armsmen looked from one prince to the other. This was not good. It would happen tonight.

“You dare countermand my orders, bastard?” Without waiting for a moment Lexi pulled the sword from the ground and leaped at his half brother. Frederick was barely able to draw his sword in time to deflect the blow. “You dare...” He could not finish his words because Lexi pressed his attack. It took every bit of training to keep this enraged man from cleaving off his head. It was the first time the Crown Prince had ever crossed blades with Lexi and he was hard pressed to even parry his fast sword. While Frederick had trained more formally, Lexi had been a very active person and kept his fighting edge honed. “Kill him!” the Crown Prince ordered as he parried Lexi's furious blade. That fast sword slid down the length of his own sword and Lexi scored a neat slice along Fred's leg.

The armsmen could not honorably do it and they were torn between duty and loyalty. Duty to follow the orders of one prince they did not care for and loyalty to a prince they knew and respected. Several of these men had trained beside Lexi for years and knew him. They knew he would not attack anyone who did not deserve it. Yet they had orders. Five drew their swords. Everyone but Lexi turned when a loud hiss filled the night. From the trees came a red blur with eyes that glowed with anger and promised death to any who dared attack Lexi. “No! Rob...Run!” Lexi cried out, but one glance told him that Robin was not in there. He was not strong enough yet to fight off the dragon. Lexi dove to avoid getting decapitated and saw a dagger flung at his loved one. It bounced harmlessly off the thick hide and landed next to the fire. Lexi's distraction proved nearly fatal as the sorcerer prince's fist slammed him in the face.

“Kill that while I kill the bastard.” That was an order they could follow because they would be protecting their own lives. The taller prince went on the offensive with the huge greatsword, the blade itself easily six feet long. He needed two hands to control it or he would lose all the advantage of the reach. He angled his blade for Lexi's hip, a place the younger man could not duck or jump over, but Lexi spun back using his own longsword to let the blade slide along his body. Frederick just continued with the momentum and came around again. Fred was so unaccustomed to combat that he was tiring. He had reach and maybe strength on Lexi, but he could not get a good rhythm going to counter the younger man's speed and agility.

Lexi was ready for the next time his brother's sword was on the up swing from a dodged blow and dove for him, his sword making another slice along the ribs of the elder prince. Thank you Robin for showing me that one. When he came up he felt the icy kiss of a blade on the back of his shoulder, a shallow but very painful hit. He could no longer use his sword arm to the fullest extent, but Lexi was not the most traditional fighter. He picked up some dirt and threw it into Frederick's eyes. Staggering back, Frederick tried to free his eyes of the invading soil, giving Lexi the opportunity to drop his sword and pull his two daggers, by far his favored weapons. Quick as he was, he found he was quicker now and he had all the strength of his powerful body behind him.

Robin was having a hard time keeping twenty men from skewering his hide. He had had only a few moments in this form, but he knew it could do some damage. He had teeth and claws and a spiked tail...surely these could all be used to fight. He slashed at one of the soldiers and swatted him away. The man went flying at least twenty feet before he landed in an unmoving but loudly moaning heap. Robin did not want to kill any of them. They could not help that they did not know him and that they had to accept orders from a man Robin could smell as poisoned meat. He reeked of foulness and the scent of it was fueling the bestial side of his mind. He wanted to kill the Crown Prince to rid he world of taint.

One man's head jerked sideways. As the armsman hissed in annoyance, he spun to see Parker had a some rocks in his hands and was defending the beast with every ounce of courage he could gather. The soldier advanced on Parker and slapped his hands, knocking the rock from them, and gave him a gentle shove. “Leave off, Parker, this don't concern you.”

“You don't know what you are doing, Dran. The dragon never hurt anyone.” He was not heeded as he got up from beside the fire pit. Fair enough. He scooped up more rocks and other weapons at hand.

Robin was a tornado of spinning action, his closed fists and heavy tail keeping them at a distance or knocking them silly. There was one weapon in his arsenal he had yet to try and would not on these men. Was he really a fire breathing dragon? With a flap of those huge wings he leaped back out of their ring and let instinct take over. His conscious mind cataloged every thing his body did, but he was no longer in control of his instincts, his actions were that of a frightened and mad beast. It felt like he was preparing to spit, but the blob did not come from his salivary glands. It came from somewhere in his core, somewhere he could not feel until he wanted to spew his fire out.

Lexi ducked a slash from Frederick's sword and gave one of his own at the man's knee. It was a flesh wound, not severing the tendon like he had hoped, but the prince sure sounded like he was being killed. “Oh you big baby, get up and fight!” Lexi stood back and waited for a moment to let that ass get to his feet. A moment was all Fred needed.

Frederick was counting on his half brother's misplaced sense of honor as he readied a spell. It took only a moment but when he was done he pointed at Lexi. His conjured air elemental rocketed towards Lexi and lifted him bodily from the air, giving him little but numerous cuts from the gravel in its swirling body, and dropped him from twenty feet up. He landed mostly on his hip but it was hard enough for him to have the breath knocked out of him. “Get up and fight like a man!” Frederick taunted. Frederick stood and walked over to finish what he should have years ago.

“Nice...spell...ass. Try this one.” Lexi held up his hand and a bolt of lightning jumped from the fingers and tagged Frederick directly in his metal mail clad chest. He staggered back a few feet and fell to one knee. The Crown Prince and Lexi got up at the same time and were about to cast a spell at each other when the terrain suddenly went up in flames. Lexi spun to see Robin had torched a section of the grasses to create a wall of fire to protect his flanks and back. The long semi circular fire burned a ghostly white and blue and made his red scales turn to lavender. Both princes watched, their battle temporarily forgotten in the awing spectacle of dragon fire.

The men came in a bit more measured than before and again Dran's head jerked to the side. “I'm really getting tired of your rocks, Parker.” He stormed over there and lifted the boy bodily. His face took on a pale cast as he felt fire blossom in his stomach. He looked down at the dagger there, the same one thrown at the beast. “I...Parker?” He dropped him as he staggered and went to his knees. Parker had a look of sorrow on his face, but he also looked uncompromisingly determined to save the life of the dragon, no matter who he had to kill to do it.

“I told you he never hurt anyone...I'm sorry, Dran, but I must protect my liege.” Parker was in tears now. He whispered this last into his ear. The thought perked through Dran's slowly fogging brain. There was only one person he was assigned to and that was the bard, the same bard that Prince Frederick despised. He could not call out to his comrades that they were attacking an innocent person, but the last look he gave Parker before he fell over and went to the long sleep was one of sorrow and forgiveness. Parker had killed a man he knew, a man he liked, but duty, honor and friendship made him protect his first real friend in his life.

Robin blinked a few times to clear away the last of the instinctual rage and saw he was facing off against only eighteen men. He could smell blood, copious amounts of fresh blood from a man lying at the feet of Parker. The shock made him forget where he was for a moment...Parker had killed to protect him...and got a sword it in the ribs. It did not bite deep but it hurt like hell and Robin jerked his claw back and sent to man soaring through the air and into the Crown Prince. ENOUGH! He roared out and they halted there advance. IF YOU KEEP ATTACKING ME I WILL AIM TO KILL. LOOK TO YOUR LEFT! THE CROWN PRINCE IS NOT GIVING ORDERS AND I AM NOT ATTACKING. Some of them looked concerned. They could recognize the bard's voice, he sang for the entire castle staff many times. Parker's and Lexi's defense now made sense and they were so ashamed that many of them wanted to beg the dragon's...bard's forgiveness. DROP YOUR SWORDS AND I WILL MOVE OVER THERE. TEND YOUR WOUNDED AND THEN GET THE HELL OUT OF MY SIGHT BEFORE I LOSE MY TEMPER. GO! He yelled when they were too slow for his liking. Robin limped over to Parker and scooped him up to put him on his back. YOU OKAY IMP?

“Yes. Since when could you talk?” he asked through the tears that silently fell. That was the most pressing question in the boy's mind and it made Robin chuckle.

TAKES PRACTICE AND I STILL ROLL MY R'S AND HISS MY S'S. It made Parker giggle. The one casualty was collected while Lexi came over to inspect the wound on Robin's ribs.

“Are you okay, love?” He nodded and laid his head on Lexi's broad shoulder, the safest way he could think of to hug him. “You, men. Take the Crown Prince back to the castle and send Father Ethan out here.”

“The priest has gone back to the temple for the summer.” Lexi nodded. He had forgotten that in Spring Ethan left to go back to the Temple to further his training and enlightenment.

“Then send out Trav. Tell him if he does not come I will personally kick his ass up to his ears.” They could tell that something was horribly wrong here. First the open attacks on both princes by both princes, a thing long overdue. Then the dragon which turns out to be a person they have known and liked for the entire winter. Then Parker, that polite boy of Melina's, killed Dran. Now Lexi sounding every bit the Prince they had never expected to see. They knew Lexi, knew he was the soul of courtesy and kindness. He seemed so different, so angry, but then they had attacked his guest and friend on the orders of a man he did not like.

“It will be as you say, Your Grace.”

“Don't call me that!” he barked and they saluted.

“Yes your royal crankiness.”

“That's better.” They knew he was not angry at them per se. When the soldier had almost thrown Frederick onto his horse senseless and had gone, Lexi looked at the slice. It was clean and would not really need anything other than time to heal. “You are a stubborn man, Robin.” Parker hopped off of the dragon's back and went over to stoke to flames even though the fire was still somewhat burning the fields behind them. It would not spread past what he had caught, dragon fire did not work that way.

AND YOU ARE A PAIN IN THE RIBS. QUIT POKING AT IT. He playfully snapped at Lexi's hand and got a swat on the nose in response. ARE YOU OKAY?

“You know what this means, right? This switching back?”

I FIGURED IT OUT AS WE CHANGED. I'M GLAD YOU WILL NOT BE STUCK AS A UNICORN YOUR WHOLE LIFE. ALTHOUGH YOU ARE VERY HANDSOME SPECIMEN. He sounded sincere. There was a small undertone of self pity anyone in the right mind would have felt. He did not want to be a dragon at any time any more than Lexi wanted to be a unicorn so Lexi understood the small feeling.

“And I you a dragon. Robin, what will we do?” He let his daggers drop to the ground in exhaustion. These changes were hard on the body, and although he felt better than the last time, he had not needed a sword fight so soon after it.

THAT, LOVE, IS THE THOUSAND GOLD QUESTION. He pulled away and looked at Parker who was crying silently by the fire. He walked over and gently as he could took the boy in his embrace. He did not try to use words, the boy had killed a man at the tender age of seven, so he hummed under his breath, the tones soothing, and backed by his magic Parker was soon asleep. POOR GUY. UNLESS THE GODS GRANT ME ANOTHER MIRACLE I WILL NEVER HAVE TRUER FRIENDS THAN I HAVE HERE. He was whispering so as to not break his own enchantment, but it still sounded like he was speaking normally. THIS BOY NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAD TO DO WHAT HE DID, ESPECIALLY TO SOMEONE HE KNEW WELL. Lexi nodded and tucked Parker in with his cloak. Lexi wondered if anything would happen to him. He had killed a royal guardsman, a crime obviously, but he had done it protecting a guest of the royal family, his liege and patron, and his friend. Would the child be put to death as was the usual punishment? If so sentenced, Lexi would call in every favor, use every ounce of leverage he had to keep the boy alive.

“So, sunup to sundown you are human and vice verse for me. That gives us some time to get away if this curse cannot be lifted.” The prince was already looking down the line to a possible future and making plans. He knew when the king found out he would be livid and cause the biggest manhunt in living memory to be started, but if this spellcaster was anything as powerful as Lexi thought he would not be caught so easily. If by some chance he was cornered many would die from it and Lexi would feel the worst because it was his fault.

It took a few more hours until Trav showed up and when he did both Robin and Lexi felt the ambient magic as he was transported in. With a puff of smoke the wizard stood there and came running over. He faltered when he saw Robin and his mouth slowly fell open. “I could not begin to make sense of their rambling and now I know why. Is that really you Robin?”

IN THE SCALES, he quipped to take some sting out of the situation. He waited for Trav to finish his walk around and then stood to stretch the kinks out of his back.

“Amazing. If this were self induced you would be the envy of every wizard I know. Most people get regular animals like deer and otters as their intrinsic forms. Mine is a bird,” which made sense as he loved to collect and store things that may not even be valuable just interesting, “but I have never heard of anyone with a dragon. The ramifications...” He shook head to stop himself from babbling. “Sorry, Robin. Let me see your...hand.” The dragon extended that massive claw and could easily cover most men's heads. For a moment there was fear in his eyes but it was squelched by the same thing that brought him out here. A friend in need and a heavy dose of curiosity. “This may feel very odd.”

LIKE THIS DOES NOT ALREADY? Trav looked at him with a serious smirk. When he was done casting his spell even Lexi's ears laid back. It felt like someone had dropped an ice cube down into his chest and it was jumping around like butter on a skillet.

Trav took a step back with a worried look on his face. “This is no minor curse. Whoever did this is far more than I,” which was saying a lot. Travis was a powerful wizard and he had not reached his full potential either. “My friend I am sorry, but I cannot lift this. There is only one way to get rid of the spell and that is to kill the spellcaster.” They knew that but it was nice...somewhat...to get a second opinion.

“Trav, have you ever heard of a curse being shared?” Lexi asked pensively. He wondered what Trav would say to this. He would explode.

“Yes and do not even ask me to alter this so you can share it. Beside you may not even be able to, there are certain qualities...” he was trying not to get Lexi's hopes up.

“Trav, we already are sharing it.” Lexi's words stopped his brother dead. He paled and immediately his eyes were filled with tears.

“No...it's not...Are you sure?” Lexi nodded. “Well.” He wiped his eyes and tried to smile past the shock and pain at knowing not only was his friend cursed but his brother as well. “Are you...sure? I mean...”

“Spit it out, Travis. Robin already knows I love him and won't leave him for anything...except during shedding season.” He smiled at the dragon who seemed to be smiling back. Gods above, would he shed? Yuck!

“Oh...and...” he looked to the dragon, not daring to assume what he wanted and feared.

YES, YOU BIG GOSSIP, I LOVE HIM TOO. SPIT IT OUT. This might actually be amusing, seeing his happily shocked face.

“The only people who can share a curse this potent are Charrinda.” Lexi looked clueless but Robin looked both pleased and disbelieving. Them, Charrinda? It was almost too good to be true! Yet, given how fast and how deeply they had fallen and all it had taken was eye contact, it was probably true. “You've never heard of them, Lexi?” He shook his head. “Cut and dry, because I think Robin could fill in the rest by the happy glint in his eyes. Charrinda are a pair of people destined to love one another so deeply that not even the gods could stop them. The gods decreed that they be together in the first place. Obviously it is not only a man and a woman, though those are the only tales I have heard.”

THE SAGA OF GEROME AND HIGAN IS A TALE OF TWO MEN Charrinda. I'LL SING IT FOR YOU WHEN I'M HUMAN AGAIN. The thought of being destined to love one another was a beautiful one and Lexi could not hide the longing in his eyes. Someday, Robin thought and Lexi nodded. There was a moment when their thoughts had overlapped, both had felt it. Something else to think about for later.

“Still, this gives me hope. Such curses if shared can be broken easier, but this will still be an uphill battle that could take years. There are only a handful of mages strong enough to do this, maybe four that I know of, that would have reason to strike at the Royal Family even indirectly.”

“Is one of them the wizard for The Six? Because they were hired to kill Robin and both of us as added spice.” Trav took a deep steadying breath and shook his head. “So five, because their wizard is powerful enough to blast through all the wards you placed on The Wild Lily.”

“Then add them to your list, although this is not their style from all the intelligence our agents have been able to collect on them. Death, yes, but not incapacitation or removal. They would be a last resort choice.” Both nodded. The Six were too much to tackle because they were skilled and they had only gotten lucky. “I will return back to the castle to let Father know...”

“No!” Lexi shouted. “No, Trav, you can't. That will only cause whoever to go to ground and we'll never catch them.”

Trav looked ready to argue but Lexi fixed him with a look that almost paralyzed him. He wanted to throw off this enchantment, but he could not. “How...are you doing this?” It was as if he could not go against Lexi's wishes, his body would not let him.

“My form is a unicorn, Trav, and they can charm any mortal within their sight.” That was common knowledge and apparently it was true. “Do not tell Father.”

“Fine, just stop looking at me like that.” Lexi blinked and the sensation stopped. Travis rubbed his arms as if he were cold and shivered. “Gods above that was not pleasant. Okay, maybe Father would take it wrong and do something rash. Let me at least transport all of us back to the castle.”

YOU BETTER NOT. YOU SAID MASS MAKES THE SPELL MORE DIFFICULT AND RIGHT NOW MY “MASS” IS PRETTY BIG. Robin did not fully understand what mass was but he knew that heavy objects had a lot of it despite their size. Right now his mass, while he was the size of a very large horse but weighed more than four draft horses.

“True. When...uh...do you...switch? It should be steady.”

“Sunset and sunup.” Lexi wondered how they would break this to the king. He would have to be told the extent of it all.

“How convenient. I recommend hiding out until either just after sunset or sun up. Depending on which creature you think will make less of a stir.”

“The armsmen already know of Robin being a dragon. All of them would have heard by now and should get the message not to attack. If not...heads will roll.” He was deathly serious too. Trav knew the lengths to which Lexi would go to avenge any wrong done to a perfect stranger...how far would he go for his Charrinda? This would not end well if the armsmen attacked. Many would die before Robin was brought down, perhaps even Lexi because he would fight demons to protect his loved ones.