The Bard and the Prince - 13. Chapter 13

They continued on their journey the next day. None had slept except for Shelby who lived by the ideal that lost sleep means lost guts in a fight. With the tower ringed by trolls and gods knew what else, someone had to be in fighting shape. All the others could think about was the princes were trapped in hell. No one could even guess what tortures they were being put through.

No one saw them out, but a meal had been laid out for them, and while they ate, it was sparingly. They did take the rest with them and simply left. No pleasantries were exchanged; they seemed to know their host was not that sort of person. And nothing pleasant met them at the door as the trolls were waiting. Robin simply looked at the chief. “Move or die. I will not be playing around this time.”

“I cannot let you pass,” said the chief, although with regret. Some magic held them here, letting no one in or out.

“So be it.” Robin murmured a small spell and his friends were once again deafened. This time they watched. They wished they hadn't because, as Robin pulled out his staff, the trolls rushed in. Then they began to writhe in pain, unable to move to stop him from singing. Several of them burst from internal heat and those nearest caught fire which spread no matter method they used to put themselves out. Lexi stomped a foot and Robin stopped his spell, heeding his Charrinda. “Feel lucky my beloved wishes to spare you. Feel blessed his is a much nicer being than I.” They walked past unhindered. “Parker, who is closest?”

The lad pulled out the list. “Leora, but even that's a month away on dragonback. Jostlin is the next closest, but I don't think you guys want to travel through dragon country yet and Baer is a wanderer. No telling where it is.”

“It?”

“Skin changer,” said Parker and Robin shook his head. So they could choose between the death witch, the dragon mage and the Lycanthrope Shaman. “And don't forget the drow elf wizard.”

“Never will. I dread meeting up with them again.” All of them nodded. They had been lucky to get away at all and would only check that wizard out if they had no other recourse.

They set a steady but plodding pace to get out of the swamps and it was near sunset when the caught a whiff of fresh air. Yet it was not from any natural breeze. The black dragoness came swooping down to land a ways off. She looked at them.

“He still lives. He was not the one.”

I gathered as much. Still, you have done the swamps a great service removing the trolls. Had he really killed all of them? I see you find that news distasteful. There are some who live. More will come back, but it shall be decades away. I have also heard from The Great Ones. Mentioning Tia'mat and Baha'mut made them perk up. Even the dragon gods had entered this little mission. I have been asked to take you from the swamps for a nice reward for my service. I bear you no ill will, 'corn, but you are too large for me to carry that far. Lexi nodded and shivered into the form of an eagle. Tired as you are, you wish to fly? He let out a series of cries. Ah, taking the chance to feel the wind in your feathers while safe is a good thing. The rest? All of them changed to their most convenient form. She made no comment and walked slowly forward to not seem as threatening as she already did. She wasn't even trying to exude fear, she was simply that fearful. They stowed the saddle in the chest and Robin settled onto her back with Parker in his arms, Shelby in his arms, and the others in their flying forms. Winter and Lexi each picked a spine to perch on and Winter finally was able to get around to giving him a flying lesson.

True to her word she flew them out of the swamps and well on their way in the direction of Leora. Still with many miles to go, they set out. The dragoness said nothing as she left them, and they knew that should they come back for little reason they would face a very powerful foe, but for now they left in peace. With the swamps behind them and night settling, they camped. This time no one was awake for even Shelby was exhausted...

Raven waved his hand over the scrying pool and nodded. “They are well out of our way, King Frederick.” The bard was smiling. He knew that the mages those damned lovers chased would take a very long time to track down. He intended to make it longer. Perhaps they would take long enough to figure out which mage it was. Long enough until the Master could be called into this realm.

The King of Lycenia grinned. “Good. If you can keep them out of our way then I won't have to spare the soldiers. It would take too many of them for what we have in mind.”

“True. I shall do what I can, my King. You may wish to hire outside help. Perhaps a few men from Rendol, ones they plan on executing anyway.”

“Extend diplomatic service to our neighbors. I do wonder what Queen Octavia is doing these days.”

“There has been a coup, King Frederick. It is Queen Prudence now, the eldest daughter who allegedly killed her mother at the end of last Summer.” Allegedly...more like surely. Raven knew that the princess and now Queen had arranged for her mother to be killed while out hawking. It wasn't even a good cover up, yet no one would say anything about the Queen now.

“Prudence...Prudence. I remember her now. An evil look in her eye, a snarl for anything that did not fit into her grand scheme.” Frederick chuckled. “A colleague of yours?” Raven grinned. “Have someone draft a message to the new Queen for me. You handle the details.” The bard bowed as Frederick left the room. Then his face twisted into the most vile smile any had ever seen. He would handle the details alright. He would handle everything.

* * *

“Are we there yet?”

“No,” said Winter.

“Are you sure? Cause that looks like a wizard's tower over there.” Which was the fourth mountain spire that had been pointed out in the last hour.

“I'm sure,” said the griffin. His tracer spell had activated an hour ago, which showed the general direction of the muertici castle.

“But...”

“Can it, twerp,” said Shelby from the dragon's back. “We know it looks like one.”

It had been almost a month since they left the swamps and their journey had been without incident. Not even a rogue wind to keep them from falling asleep while flying or an errant troll to bother them on the ground. It was no wonder everything looked like a wizard's keep: they hoped it was the keep so they could do something other than travel.

“How about that?”

NOPE, THAT'S A IRRATE ROCK GIANT ABOUT TO HIT ME OUT OF THE SKY. FINALLY SOMETHING TO DO. Robin folded his mighty wings and dove towards the giant whose missile would have hit him. Winter and Hunter also did a wingover and the three of them went diving down to the giant who was slow on the uptake.

The griffin let loose with a blast of icy magic that would freeze the giant solid but it didn't even slow him down. “Huh,” he said as he pulled out of the dive. Why hadn't that worked? It should have for rock giants were highly susceptible to cold spells. “Ice isn't working,” he cried.

It does not give off a heat signature, Winter Heart. The priestly drake cast his own spell. It is undead.

“Ha! I told you it was the keep.” He felt a moment of triumph.

“Yes, yes, you're smart. Fire it is...or not,” said the mage as Robin torched the thing with dragonfire. It didn't make a sound as it fell into a pile of ash. With that little diversion gone Winter renewed the spell on the tracer. “It is still some distance.”

“But...the giant...”

“Advanced outpost, sorry.” The griffin looked back and grinned.

Ten minutes later. “Are we there yet?”

“Shut it, Lexi.” Parker was tired of listening to him ask that. “It's my job to be the annoying one.”

“Then do it. You haven't said much at all since we left the swamp.”

“Not much to say...not really.” He actually had a lot to say but they wouldn't like it. He had been studying that tome every waking second and he knew that the pendant he wore was tied to it. While some of those spells were a long time off, he knew each one by heart now. He knew what they did and knew that it would be worse for them to know what it was. Why had Travis left him this book and pendant? It...didn't it make things worse?

“Then talk anyway. What's on your mind?” The prince was worried about him. Parker was normally a quiet child, but not this quiet. He literally hadn't said one word all day until he chided the prince for being annoying.

“It's...personal.” Lexi nodded and said no more on the subject. Some things just would not be discussed openly, although he knew Robin would try and get the boy to talk soon enough. If anyone could get him to open up it would be Robin.

There was a bright flare of magic to their left and with it came something that they did not expect. A monstrous dragon, easily two hundred feet from wing tip to tip, was flying at them with incredible speed. WELL, THIS IS GOING TO HURT. Robin pulled up quickly to avoid the blast of electricity that forked to where he was. This dragon meant to kill them, not just hurt them. His speed carried him under Robin and the others and Lexi thought he saw someone on the dragon's back. Robin contorted to give the prince a better look and sure enough the dragon was mounted. COULD THAT BE JOSTLIN? He asked of Lexi who nodded.

“Dragonmage Jostlin! If you are he, then we wish to speak with you!” And want to know what you're doing two months or more away from your tower.

I am Jostlin, Prince Alexander, and I would speak with you alone. Lexi was not ready for it to be a dragon mage. It was like saying a feathered duck; the two went together. It could mean that this dragon had studied magic far past his normal blood given spells.

“Have I your word that I will not be harmed?”

You have it. You shall not be harmed by myself or my mate. Mate...could he mean the rider? It was not totally unheard of for a dragon to take a human mate.

“Robin, set me down over there.” Lexi pointed to a bluff and Robin, against his better judgment, set him down while the others landed on another cliff not too far away. “Jostlin, may my Charrinda stay with me?”

If you so wish, but I do not give my word for his safety. Robin didn't like the sound of that but he liked less that he would be away from Lexi should he need him. Robin saw a small tree on the edge of the cliff and set it afire before changing into his Salamandrian form. They stood away from the main part of the bluff and Jostlin landed, becoming human himself. A human that looked striking at second glance but you would have to take that second glance. “I must ask if the griffin and drake are you companions for it is them I fired at.” Jostlin's voice was soft pitched and even gentle.

“Yes. Others like ourselves cursed into beast form.”

“I apologize. I am not overly fond of griffins. A greeting to you both. This is my mate Marcus.” The mate pushed back the hood to reveal a young man. A very lovely young man at that.

“Marcus Fisher?” Robin said and the boy nodded with a smile.

“Hey Cob. Or should I call you Robin now.” The young man's smile was infectious. “Time has been utterly too kind to you.”

“No, it really hasn't. You still breaking the ladies hearts at Feastday?” Lexi put two and two together and realized they must have come from the same village or at least district.

“And I always will. Especially when Jost shows up with me.” Robin looked at the dragon-turned-human.

“Yeah. In either form our home would find something wrong.” Robin was very shocked to see Marcus. He had been the boy all the girls wanted to play kissing games with. Very lovely, almost as lovely as any girl, and fair spoken, he had charmed his way into every woman's heart and even some of the father's would not say no to their girls dancing with him.

“Why don't the two of you go and catch up, beloved?” said Jostlin to Marcus and he inclined his head.

Robin looked at Lexi. “Go on. I'll be fine. He may have some gossip from home.” Robin fixed the dragon with a steady look and the dragon bowed his head as if he got the message. The two went to the far side of the bluffs. “You wanted to speak to me? I was planning on visiting you.”

“So Dender said when he contacted me and said you were going after Leora next.” So the other wizard had given them a brief bit of help. That or he was warning the dragon. “I am not the mage you seek and when he told me of your tale I knew I must seek you out personally to save you time. A demon lord here...there will be no saving this plane from him.”

“Thank you for saving us the time. But why here?”

“Oh...I was at Leora's keep. She is dead.” He said it simply. Too simply. He couldn't care less, his tone said. “With her gone, and your curse not lifted, then you can be sure she was not the one who cast it at all.”

Too true. “And I must ask if you killed her.”

“Not I. I felt her die during a talk last night and came as soon as I felt her. A demon had been there, I know their stench too well. It had to be a powerful one to overcome her wards and then kill her.” Lexi nodded. Dender and Travis both said she was mighty and to find her dead was not good. “She will be back though.”

“Back? How?”

“She is muertici. Death means little to them. She has been alive for the better part of four thousand years in various bodies. Only if they found her phylactery could she be killed and I know they did not as it is very well hidden. The force of its destruction would have been felt throughout the realms and the magestorms in its wake would have laid the countryside to ruin.” Lexi knew enough of the magical device called a phylactery to know that they housed a person's essence. “I simply came to find the culprit and was waiting for you when I saw you near. Then I saw you harassed by the griffin. Again I apologize.”

“I will tell him. So with you and Leora off the list I just need to find Baer.” Jostlin's face contorted into sorrow. “Is he dead too?”

“No, just very reclusive and very hard to find even for two fully trained wizards working together. I doubt he will be found unless he wishes it, but of all of us he is the one most and least likely to have cast that spell.” Lexi looked at him questioningly. “He is a skin changer. If any know the ways of the spell it is one of them. Yet, they also revere life and would attack a demon even to their own demise. To deal with one...he would either be truly desperate or it was not he who cast the spell.”

“I see. Thank you for your help and saving us time.” He looked over at Robin who felt a bit puzzled. “And for letting them talk. I doubt your mate has the same relationship to you as Robin does to me. To let him be alone, even within your sight, with another man is proof of your love.”

“You are correct. I do love my mate, and you are correct about the limitations I have placed on him, but since he was attacked and taken from me he understands why I ask him to never be anywhere without me or one of my changelings.” Lexi didn't ask, because he could see why someone would take the beloved mate of such a powerful person. Leverage and personal gain. They would not be hurt while Marcus was in their custody and they would make sure of it once he left that they would be unharmed.

“How did you repay them?”

Jostlin grinned and Lexi could see the true beast within. “Actually your brother helped with that one.” Lexi looked a bit shocked. “He sent a few elementals to bring down their caverns. They had been plaguing both sides of the border for years and he could never find their camp. I knew it's location but could not strike even indirectly, so I told him of a group of slavers in a cavern system that I knew crossed the borders. He did the rest without asking me why until after. When I told him, he simply said 'Good thing they died painfully' and we never spoke of it again.”

Travis had done that? Lexi never realized how often magical things happened under the surface of politics. They had their own fraternity and councils that cared nothing for national boundaries or rivalries. Travis had helped Lexi find people and things like that, but how much had the wizard-prince done to keep things running smoothly? How much hadn't he told Lexi or anyone else?

“I wish I knew that side of him. The side that worked for the kingdom when so few knew of it.”

“He wished no one to know how often he used his power to rid the land of evil. If ever there was a man to respect, it was Travis. Now, I must be off and back to my lands. If you wish I can convey you and your troupe there as well as I know that Baer traveled through not too long ago. Didn't stop in, but he did send a bird with a message saying he would be heading north.”

“That would be very generous of you. Where do you call home? I was only given the briefest of directions with no borders.”

“On the coast of Rendol. Not too far from your beloved's home, I believe.” As soon as the information entered Lexi's mind Robin looked over. There was such longing in his eyes. He almost needed to go home.

“We would be glad for your help. Robin is most anxious to see his family after so many years.”

“Then call in your friends and I will open the portal. Be ready for morning sun.”

“Then can you put it at ground level?” The dragon nodded.

When gathered and the portal opened they troupe walked through and Lexi and Robin fell over. To their bodies this change happened out of its normal time and it hurt more than it had in a long time. Are you well, asked Jostlin.

Robin stood and pulled on some pants that Parker had pulled out quickly. “Our curse is triggered by the sunrise and set. Our bodies were not fully ready for the change.” Robin looked around and inhaled deeply. “Gods above I miss that smell.” Lexi got to his hooves and snorted happily. “You love the sea too, huh?” Lexi nodded.

“The village is a day inland from here, Robin. If you happen to see my folks, tell them I haven't been eaten yet.” Robin nodded.

“I will. Thank you, both of you, for your help.” The pair nodded and then flew off faster than Robin could ever hope to match.”And that is a true dragon versus me. I would die very quickly.” The others could not refute it at all. They were simply glad that they had been relatively friendly. “And to see Marcus again...that was odd. I never would have figured him for the kind to fall for another man.”

“Why?” asked Winter Heart as they set out for Robin's childhood home.

“He was always chasing the girls, smooching them behind the barn.” Robin began to tell stories of his home and the people there. How the miller and the fisher used to quarrel over the same stretch of land that had been in dispute for generations untold. How the weaver's wife used to catch the weaver making eyes at Robin's mother before she passed on and make him sleep in the barn with the cow. Lexi found it all so simple, so utterly humble and so perfect. It was almost a faerie tale.

“What do you expect to find?”

“Well...Da wouldn't have moved without dire need and Marcus didn't say anything bad had happened, so I expect to find him at work making and repairing shoes. Whether or not he'll use my head again is a matter of worry,” they laughed as they remembered something that happened what seemed so long ago, “but I shouldn't worry too much.” But he did worry. It wouldn't be too much for his father to have moved or even passed away. He hadn't been in the best of health when Robin left. Gods let him be healthy and alive. “I wonder what to do with the rest of you, though. The village is small and the most amazing thing they would have seen would be the two headed snake that the cooper killed trying to get into his chickens. I wouldn't ask you to stay out, but a menagerie is a bit much.”

Parker slid off of Winter Heart who turned into a mockingbird again. The bird perched on Parker's shoulder. Hunter became his wolf self, but then shimmered and became a white wolf. It was smaller than his normal form, but to any with magic sense he gave off a powerful aura of ice magicking. He sat back with a huge doggy grin on his face. Shelby just changed into his turtler form, but this one was red.

“Looks like a few of you have been practicing new forms,” said Parker. They nodded, no longer able to speak. “I can't become anything other than a boy, Robin.”

“Too bad. I could use a horse. How about you, Lexi? All the forms I have seen will cause a huge stir.” The unicorn nodded and changed into his small salamander form. “Small enough to hide...good enough. I'll have to tell Da what's happened and what to expect, but the rest of the village need not know. Now, help me pack the saddles in the trunk and then get it tied to my back. I hope to make it there before nightfall.”

They traveled all day and signs of inhabitants were few and far between, but Robin knew where they were now and knew he would have a few hours of daylight at home before he changed. When he came to the miller's wheelhouse, he smiled and hitched the chest higher. Parker could see his smile and knew they were close. A few people looked on in wonder and even a few waved a greeting. “Hello, Old Man Thatcher!” Robin called.

“Cob? Is that you boy?” The old man came hobbling down from his porch with his cane. “I'll be. Boy you have gotten taller than your Da and as pretty as your Ma.” Robin laughed and flushed. “Who is that strapping lad back there? You got a son or is that your apprentice?”

“Neither. I'm sure you'll spread it around for me, but I have a title now. This is my first...and only...vassal. Parker, this is Miles Thatcher, or Old Man, if he'll let you.”

“Nice to meet you sir. Baron Robin...um...Cob has been telling me many tales of his home.”

Old Man Thatcher just looked shocked. “A right polite young lad. Nice to meet you too, young man. Got him a title and vassal. Your Da will be thrilled. Won't keep ya but you better be ready to tell that tale, boy. Folks won't believe me otherwise.”

“I will. Take care, Old Man.” They walked on and soon came to a small fenced in yard with a house and separate work room that stunk like nothing Parker had ever smelled. Not a bad stench, just powerful.

A young girl, about five, played in the yard with a doll. She had deep brown hair. She looked up at them and hopped to her feet to smooth her skirt. “How do you do sir? Have you come for work done?” Robin looked at her in shocked awe. Her eyes...they were the same golden brown as his. His father's eyes.

“I...would you tell the cobbler that someone is here to see him? If he is busy, I will go to him, but I know how workmen are about people in their shops.” She curtsied and ran into the shop. Robin was to shocked to move.

She came back out. “He will see you in the shop. Mind you don't touch nothing or you could get stained. And the animals should stay out here.” The way she said it told him she had received the same lecture he had.

“Oh I won't. Thank you very much.” She curtsied again. “Parker, if you could take the trunk. And mind that everyone stays put.” The lad nodded and grabbed it off his back. “Here's hoping,” Robin whispered. Lexi sent loving thoughts from Robin's pocket.

The bard stepped into the shop and was assaulted by memory after memory. The smell of boiling leather, of simmering stains and dyes. The leather press and punch, the projects stacked neatly in the corner, and the look of his father's back as he was leaning over the table. His hair was a bit grayer, but he looked good so far. “What can I help you with, sir?” he asked as he was turning.

Their eyes met and the cobbler dropped the boot he had been fixing. He took a few steps forward and then walked around the bard as if he couldn't believe what he saw. When he got back in front he looked slightly up into his eyes. “You got big, boy.”

“And you got short, Da.” They laughed and embraced tightly. There was a flash of heat and the jumped back. Lexi, who had been in the vest pocket, had been squished. “Oh hells! Sorry, Lexi!” He pulled the salamander out of the pocket and set him on the press's metal surface so he wouldn't catch the place on fire. “Are you okay?” Lexi nodded and settled down to rest.

“Um...Cob...is that a salamander?”

“Yeah...Might as well let you in on what my life has been like.” Robin pulled off his good shirt and pulled on a spare apron.

“Gonna help your old man?”

“Just like old times.” They shared a grin, the same grin Lexi noted. Robin and his father worked and it was such an insight into Robin's life before everything. Lexi watched in awe at how quickly yet expertly they turned out project after project. The bard spoke most with his father interjecting a few comments and questions.

When the subject of love came up, Robin turned very red. “I...do have someone very special to me. He's...well...”

“He's outside wondering if I'm going to chase him off with a boot?” Robin looked at the merry twinkle in his father's eye. “I'm not surprised you found a nice young man. Your Ma, rest her soul, told me to never be shocked when you found the man for you.”

“Ma said that? When?”

“Bout a year before she left us.” Robin had been six then. “So, when can I meet this man?”

“Well...here's the bad part. You may need to sit down.” The cobbler did that. He learned that the phrase never boded well for his heart. Last time someone said it he lost his wife. “There is no simple way to say it.” And Robin told him. Everything. About Lexi, about the curse, about their hunt for the last mage.

When the tale was told his Da stood and walked over to the salamander. “You can understand me?” Lexi nodded. “Prince or not, curse or not, you hurt my boy and I will turn your scaly hide into a new work glove.” Lexi changed his shape into his cat o' nine form and stood.

I never want to hurt him. I love your son more than life itself. The cobbler nodded.

“You're taking this a bit too well, Da.”

“Well, after all this, then I don't feel bad about telling you I remarried and the girl out front is your baby sister.” Robin nodded and laughed.

“I guessed. The family eyes and all. Will I get to meet your new wife?”

“She's out in the orchard...” There came a scream from outside. “Or she just found your other companions.” They took off out of the shop to see Parker was trying to keep a woman from chasing off Hunter and Shelby. “Bianca! Calm down, dear. They aren't going to hurt anyone.”

The woman ran to her husband's side and past to bring a bow out of the shop. The was not good, especially since Robin caught the scent of her elven blood. Without trying too hard he looked at the bow and chanted quickly to turn it to sawdust. She gasped and then stopped to see the white wolf and turtler were just calmly sitting there while the youngsters were covering them.

“Ewen, what is going on here? I leave the house for the day and come back to find beasts have stormed the yard.” Her voice was like velvet lightning. Soft but cracking and probably as deadly. She was not a woman to cross. Robin looked at her and let his other senses tell him the rest. Half-elf, not one from around these parts either. No, she smelled of something he had never scented before even remotely.

“Honey, I want you to meet a few people. Cassie, you too.” The girl got up and pet the wolf one last time, getting licked in the face. “This is my wife Bianca and our daughter Cassie.” Robin bowed over their hands, forgetting that his were covered in stain, but they didn't seem to mind when a handsome young man was treating them so courteously. “And this is my son. He's got so many names now, so I'll let him tell you which one to call him.”

“Son? You mean...” Ewen nodded. Quite obviously she had heard enough about him by her reaction, and not all of it had been good. “Well. And them?” she asked of the animals.

“Are my friends. You can call me either Cob, as Da does, or Robin as I am a bard. The boy is Parker. The wolf is Hunter, the turtler is Shelby, the mockingbird is Winter Heart and this is Lexi.” He motioned to the cat.

“You travel with magical beings like they are your friends.”

“They are my family.” Robin looked at the sun nearing the horizon. “Da, it's nearly sundown. Have you a place I can change? Then you can really meet Lexi and the rest, if you believe it is safe.”

“The barn is empty right now. Your family is welcome here and I hope you do not find it insulting to say the barn is open to you. The house is full.” Ewen seemed to like a full house too.

Robin laughed. “Da, I have spent many nights in a barn. We're not in need of royal housing.”

“Then I shall tell the family while you get changed. And I want to see one of these forms.” Robin laughed and led the troupe behind the shop and to the barn.

“He's taking this well,” said Parker. “Your sister is kinda bossy.”

“Girls are like that. Village girls anyway.” Then he thought about it. “All girls.” Parker nodded while he sighed.

When done, Lexi dressed in the simplest clothes he owned and Robin waited. He knew his father would be coming to see him soon so he crouched there in his red form. “He's everything you said he would be and more, Robin.” said Lexi. “I know that life here is simpler than where I come from, but I would trade it all in a second.

I KNOW. I HAVE MISSED HIM SO MUCH. MISSED THIS. He had dreaded coming home for a few reasons and most of those were laid to rest now. The last was that he still had a bounty on his head from when he was chased across the border. I AM CHANGED, DA. Robin had heard them coming up the path. Winter Heart was resting as a griffin, Shelby as a death snapper and Hunter was a drake. They could talk and converse in these forms, which would help in showing they were not simply beasts.

Cassie poked her head around and her eyes got huge. There was no scent of fear, just the innocent curiosity of the young. “He is a dragon, Mam!” She came running around the corner before her mother could stop her and came right up to Robin. He lowered his head and snorted a blast of hot air in her face, which made her giggle.

The others came in slower, but when they caught their first look at them all, Robin could see his father was full of both sorrow and pride at how well he had endured over the years. “I am the worst father in the world.” Robin went to say something, but his Da kept speaking. “Here my son is afflicted with this curse and all I can think about is how amazing dragonhide would be for boots and gloves.”

Robin laughed and rolled over onto his back. Lexi came over trying to run his finger through his hair to tame it as it had been a few months since he had cared about its appearance. “Don't laugh too hard, Charrinda, you may burn the barn down.”

HAVEN'T YET, LOVE.

“You must be the actual Lexi,” said Ewen and gave him a bow. He felt very flustered although he didn't show it. A prince of the realms, even one from a foreign country, was in his house.

“I am, but you need not bow...ever. I am, at most, your son's future husband. I may have claim to the throne, but that is some distance from here and I really don't care much for my homeland right now.”

“Oh, this will be the biggest scandal yet,” said Bianca. “Marcus runs off with a dragon and Robin comes home as one with a prince on his arm.” She shook her head. “I will say it will take some time for me to get use to this, but I will try for Ewen's sake. I am not overly fond of dragons of any kind.” They watched as Robin turned back over and then shifted to his Salamandrian form. Parker passed him his cloak. “Wonder of wonders. Almost looks like you anyway.”

“Almost,” Robin said. “This way I can at least walk around and not bump into too many things. Except for low hanging limbs.” Ewen laughed along with his son. Both were tall men and knew that hazard. “So, as you can see, we're all hideous beasts and monsters here to eat children.”

“Humf,” Bianca said. “Dragons. Why not wraiths or liches?”

“Probably because he has a soul. Rare for a ginger, I know,” Lexi quipped and got a chuckle from Robin. “I would like to thank you for opening up your home to us. All of us. I won't speak for the rest as in these forms they can speak for themselves, but I am very honored to meet you, Ewen. Knowing Robin this past year has showed me many things I was ignorant of and in all of his tales and stories, for all of his lofty tones when speaking of peasant life, he always spoke simply and with profound respect when he mentioned you.”

“Respect? Last I saw him the world was a grand adventure for a boy whose village life was too small. When your master, rest his soul, took you from here I could almost swear I heard you say you would never be back. Yet here you are, a man grown. Eight years, son. So much has changed for you, but so little has changed here. Why return? With the troubles between Rendol and Lycenia, I would think you would be getting ready for war.”

The cobbler's words made them all perk up. “I hadn't known it had gotten so bad this fast, Da. When we left Frederick had just been all but crowned King, but one could have hoped he wouldn't go starting a war within his first month. Lexi, I have said it before and I will say it again. I really, really hate your brother.”

“You and me both. You have heard of the war even this far from the border?” It was a few days travel to the border from here, from what Robin had said. If the news had traveled this far then it must be true enough.

“Nothing good is coming out of Lycenia right now. Things change quickly under this new king. He has extended diplomatic service for those who do not wish to die for the crimes they committed. He is forming armies from killers and gods know what else. That is fact, the rest might just be hearsay, so I won't repeat it. I'll let you ferret out the rumors for yourself. I do recall you like doing that even as a child.” This did not bode well. Not at all. Armies? Diplomatic service from a kingdom long rivaled? Tensions had been high...how had Frederick ended them? He could have a honeyed tongue when he wished, but Queen Prudence was no dupe. She was canny and paranoid.

“Thank you, Da. I will look into it. Which might be kind of hard. Any idea if the bounty on my head was lifted?”

“It is still in place, although everyone here knows you fled to Lycenia. With you here now...I expect the guard to come within a day or two and look for you.”

Not good at all. “Then I will have to leave quickly. We won't put you in danger, Da.”

“They can try and take you, but I want to see those guards get past me.” Bianca was stating a fact. There was something to her past that made Robin sure she was no mere housewife.

“I'll kick em in the shins,” said Cassie. The adult looked at her and smiled. “I got a big brother and they won't take him away from me. He's got a boy friend and they won't take him away from Big Brother cause he's too cute.”

“My lady, you honor me.” Lexi laughed and bowed gallantly over her hand.

“And they won't take Parker cause everyone needs help.” The page just stood there without expression on his face while Cassie gave him a smirk. “Nothing? Not even a grin? Big Brother, can you order your vassal to laugh?” Lexi was trying not to laugh too much because it was very obvious Parker was not amused by her in the slightest. Having a few years and vast amount of maturity on her, he simply ignored it.

“I could, but that would be unfair. I've all but adopted him as my little brother, so unless I get to order you around too, I can't do it with him. I mean what's the point of being the big brother if I can't torture my little siblings? Am I right? Lexi's the youngest and his brothers made his life miserable.” The way Robin said it was perfectly reasonable and Lexi agreed.

“Aww,” she sighed and stomped her foot. “Fine. Mam, can I stay up and play with Big Brother and his family?” It touched them all.

“She would come to no harm,” said Winter Heart and it made Cassie squeal with delight.

“Not tonight. Perhaps if you finish all your chores early tomorrow, but not tonight. Time for bed now.”

“Yes, Mam.” She trod out of the barn like she had lead feet, looking back longingly at them all.

They all chuckled, remembering times when they would have asked the same question. For Robing and Lexi it was something of a balm. The simple, innocent love of a child freely given...something they would never have. Not of their own. “You should get to bed too, Da. I know how you like to be up before the sun just to beat the Miller.”

“I still do, every morning. It is good to see you, son...whatever your form or name now.” Ewen gave his only son a hug and did not shy away from the scales of the Salamandrian form. “And, when you shed...”

“Yes, Da. If I shed and it remains scale, I will let you have some.” Ewen's eyes lit up like a tree on Feastday. “Now scoot.” Ewen laughed, having said the same to him many years ago. When he was gone, Robin turned to Bianca. “I am glad Da found someone else after Mom died. He needs someone in his life. Won't stop me from asking a million questions about you as I can tell your story would be a good one.”

Her smile was shrewd but kind. “I may tell you one day, if what you say is coming is stopped. Your father has been a blessing to me and giving me Cassie was more than I could ever ask for from someone not demihuman.”

“Da is a blessing. Sleep well, Bianca.” She nodded and bowed out with a small smile. Robin sat on a hay bale with a thud. “I have a sister.”