Jaydon never did come back to help eat the lamb stew. After he had meticulously licked every finger on his hands, he had realized that what he didn’t want some lamb stew. He wanted fresh deer. So, being the thoughtful dragon he was, he asked his Rider if he wanted any.

               No thanks, this stew is good. Are you sure you don’t want any?

              Yes. I need to stretch my wings. And with that he turned into his dragon form, wings outstretched. Then a soft boom and he was gone.

              In the castle Ralem shrugged at Arianna, “He’s not coming in. He says he needs to stretch his wings. Sorry.”

             “It’s okay,” Arianna smiled, “I bet he needs to, being human for so long. Say, you ready for your next dance lesson after lunch?”

             “Yeah, after I change that is,” he said, just realizing how grubby and bloody his shirt was.

              The meal was amazing. If there was one thing Ralem loved, it was lamb stew. But it seemed like many of the royals did not even know of the meal before today and picked at it before realizing that some ‘peasant’ food was actually good. Ralem ate bowl after bowl after bowl, for once not caring about what the royal’s thought. It was so good. Finally he sat back in his chair, “Ah, that was so good,” he said for the fifteenth time. He felt like a cow that had just been let loose into a cornfield. “So. Good.” He repeated, patting his stomach and reflecting on its contents.

                Arianna smiled even though she kept her bowl largely untouched, “I’m glad you liked it, Ralem. You ready to dance?”

                 “Ready to roll is more like it,” Ralem huffed, “I feel like I ate the whole lamb.”

                Ryan smirked, “You did eat a whole lamb. A small one, but a whole one nonetheless.” He whistled admiringly, “I would be afraid to witness you when you’re really hungry.”

                 Ralem wiped his mouth and got to his feet. “I don’t think anyone would. I’m a man. I need to eat.”

                  Thistle snorted to his Rider, “Or even worse, when his dragon gets hungry.”

                  Ralem actually laughed, “I’ve seen that and that’s enough to scare your boots off. Once I was scared he was going to eat me.”

                  Ralem hadn’t even noticed the cook traipse by and jumped when she announced, “One time that dratted dragon came to my kitchen, ate half my food, and licked my arm! Licked all the pastries I had on it too. I was rolling dough. Lucky he’s so young, he only got away with just a paddling or two. But you keep an eye on him, you hear? Next time I’ll have my wooden roller ready!” she glared at Ralem. He gulped and said a hasty, “yes ma’am.” She waddled away, her apron shaking.

                    After she was gone Ryan and Thistle burst out laughing.

                    “What’s so funny?” Ralem demanded, turning slightly red. To his left, Arianna was looking the slightest bit impatient to start her dancing class.

                    “It’s just that-” Ryan started.

                 “We had dared him to do it.” Thistle ended. Ralem glared at them both. Thistle shrugged his wings, his mouth cracked into the widest smile, “We didn’t actually think he would do it. We suspect that cook’s half werewolf. But he did. We watched the whole thing from the window. We had dared him to get the cook’s precious tarts, I think this was when you were out fencing with that guy, and he actually went in.”

                       Ryan butted in with a laugh, “Yeah, he stuffed all his pockets with those tarts and was about to make a clean cut out of there when he saw the pie cooling by the other window.”

                        “Then she came out of nowhere oho,” Thistle continued, “He froze with his mouth clamped on a sweetmeat and his hands full of tarts. She looked like she was going to explode. We were afraid for Jay’s life, we were.”

                       “Yeah,” Ryan continued, “Well he didn’t make it any better for himself. When he saw the pastries all over her arm he just couldn’t helphimself to lick it off her arm,” he rolled his eyes, “And boy did he get it. I admit, I was feeling pretty bad. I almost told Thistle to rescue him. She grabbed him by the ear and started paddling him away. Man, he was howling like a hyena. Finally, she let him go and he was out in a flash, but with the pie in hand. It would have burned your ears to hear the words that came out of that crazy cook’s mouth.”

                     “The scary thing is I don’t think the cook knew whether Jay was human or not. She’d probably do the same to you! But that was hilarious... to see a huge dragon like him get the crap beaten out of him by an overweight cook!” Thistle chortled.

                   Ralem shook a finger at them while Arianna tried to stop chuckling, “You two are a bad influence on my baby dragon. What else are you teaching him? I’ve got to keep an eye on you from now on!”

                   Ryan smirked cheekily, “You can’t complain. He got his pie. And we got a laugh!” he nudged Thistle, “Now we’ve got work to do. Angie wants a ride. Don’t give me that look, Thistle. You know she’s only the most beautiful girl in the city…” his voice faded out as they jogged out into the courtyard.

                  For hours Arianna and Ralem had danced. She now was teaching him dancing Grunde style, which was more fast-beat and festive. It was a lot of steps to memorize, but he put his tired brain into it as much as he could. Even though he missed a couple steps, he was surprising himself with how well he was doing. He could tell Arianna really enjoyed dancing. She was extremely good, and even trusted him on the more exquisite twirls. He just loved being with her. It didn’t matter what the day had been like, being with the princess just wiped everything else off his mind. But it would also just kill him. When she smiled at him, was that just a friendly smile, or was something more under those laughing blue eyes? The uncertainty just tied his heart into knots, even though he didn’t show it. He just wanted to sweep her off her feet and suddenly profess his feelings for her. But he was too afraid. What if she didn’t like him back? He already had been given the death sentence of ‘just a friend’ but he still couldn’t help but hope. He didn’t want to risk it. Why? Asked a voice, she is a good friend. You can tell her things.

              Jaydon! Ralem said angrily as he maneuvered perfectly around her to lead her into the next step, Have you been eavesdropping?

             Eavesdropping? Why would you say that?

              You’re listening to my thoughts. That’s called eavesdropping, Ralem said bitterly as Arianna extended her hand and he took it softly.

              What’s wrong with that, then? You can read mine if you’d like.

               Just… I need some privacy sometimes. “Ralem! You skipped a step! Come on, you were doing so good. Don’t go to lala land now!” Arianna reprimanded, demonstrating how he should move.

               “Sorry,” he apologized, “Jaydon randomly started talking to me.”

               She looked at him curiously, as if she were struggling against a question she had been dying to ask. Finally she said hurriedly, “Ralem, does it feel weird that Jaydon can talk in your head?”

                He laughed nervously, “Kind of. But I’m getting used to it.”

                 She nodded, “I can’t imagine being able to do that. It sounds so amazing. Being able to tell each other stuff, when you know no one can possibly listen, you know what I mean?”

                  “I suppose so,” Ralem said, even though it was like second nature to him now.

                  “Well,” she sighed awkwardly, “I think its time to end today’s lesson. But tomorrow, okay? For now it’s time for your present!” she smiled as she led him outside. Making him wait just on the other side of the arch with ‘his eyes closed’ she ran very unladylike-ly off. He smiled as he leaned against the marble. Arianna was so animated about gifts. She had almost died with excitement on the way to the front garden, chatting about how it wasn’t as big as she’d like and how she hoped he would like it and such. He had listened to it all with a slight smile, gently squeezing her hand as she carried on, even though she had hardly noticed. Now he could hear her call, “Open your eyes and come over here!”

                     Ralem opened his eyes and slid around the arch. His eyes almost popped out of his head when he witnessed one of the most beautiful horses he had ever seen in his life. It was jet black and sturdy, with a wavy mane and tail that swished amiably around its heavily feathered hooves. A soft amber eye looked at him from under a mass of dark hair. Its hide just concealed the lithe muscularity of the creature, and it nickered gently as Jaydon patted its nose. “It’s a… It’s a….”

                      Jaydon smirked, “It’s a….”

                     “It’s a FRESIAN!” Ralem about died right there on the steps.

                     “A fresian that can’t smell to save his life, yes,” Jaydon agreed, waving his hand under its huge nostrils.

                      “I picked out the saddle and bridle and such,” Arianna said proudly, pointing to the sharp black and silver saddle and halter.

                      Ralem laughed happily, running his hand down the horse’s black flank. “This is…. This is crazy! Ha ha, this is the best… gift I’ve ever had! Wow, this is quite a horse. Quite a horse.” He repeated, taking a step back and whistling, “This is my dream horse. Wow. I just… this is…. Am I dreaming?” He ran his hands through his hair.

                        Jaydon frowned, “It’s just a horse. It’s not like they can fly or anything.” He said pointedly.

                       Ralem patted his dragon’s shoulder, still a little woozy from the realization that this hunk of a horse was his. “Yeah, I know. Don’t be jealous.”

                          Arianna laughed, “This isn’t all, Ralem. I’ve got a gift for both you and Jaydon. It’s your saddle! Finally you can ride that dragon without sitting on bare scales. It’s finished!” She pointed to a large, scooped saddle that was deep blue with startling white streaks of the moondeer hide that Ralem had been eyeing. The streaks curled and shimmered like you’d imagine wind to if it were visible and glittery. Where the seat was, the colors faded into lighter blue soft leather that seemed extremely comfortable. A horn with the Baroque symbol on the smooth surface protruded from the front. But the most brilliant were the diamonds studding the traces of wind. Jaydon smiled a very draconic smile, leading the horse over to the huge saddle. “It will look nice on me, won’t it?” he asked.

                           “Of course it will,” he said, slapping the dragon hard on the  back. “Thank you both so much,” he swept Arianna up in an earnest hug, caught in the mood, “This has been the greatest birthday ever!”

                          Arianna laughed lightly as she was set down, but she looked a little downcast, “I had so much more planned but that kind of fell through…”

                         “Are you kidding me? This is amazing!” he laughed crazily. 

“How about we go for a ride?”

                         Jaydon perked up, then looked crestfallen as Ralem motioned towards the horse and not him. “Okay, but I’m driving!” Arianna laughed, hopping into the saddle.

                        Ralem cocked an eyebrow.

                    Arianna shrugged from on top of the horse, smirking at his shocked expression. “Come on, Ralem. Don’t be so proper. Just get on the horse!”

                           Ralem shook his head, but got on behind her, “What am I getting  myself into- woah!” he jerked backwards as Arianna spun the horse around and they flew out of the grand gardens and into the streets.

                          Jaydon watched them go, still holding his own saddle dejectedly. Then he turned into a dragon, spread his wings, and was gone.

                         “Woo hoo! This horse is amazing!” Arianna screamed as she leaned forward in the saddle, urging the horse to go faster.

                           “You’re crazy!” Ralem yelled, hanging on to her for dear life. Her hair slapped him all over the face and his butt was starting to slip…

                           Bang! “Sorry!” Arianna called as watermelons crashed to the street. An angry vender shook his fist as his cart started rolling perilously down the road. The fresian nickered nervously, prancing around watermelons before jumping clear over a few.

                             Whump Ralem almost lost it.  But Arianna just let out a “whew!” and started off again, slowing down until she reached the gates. Maneuvering around the incoming crowd, she finally made it out of the huge gates of Baroke and to a wide stretch of green fields. Then she really took off.

                             At a full gallop, the crazy Princess let go of the reins and flung her hands up into the air, laughing up a storm, “Wow, isn’t this great?”

                              Ralem nodded dumbly, his eyes like dinner plates. He had a death grip on her waist unashamedly and was squeezing the poor horse with his legs, which only made it go faster. “Shouldn’t you have the reins?” he gulped.

                               Arianna grabbed them from off the horn, but instead of slowing down, she made the horse do a quick spin and raced off in the other direction. At this sudden twist of motion, Ralem yelled and felt the saddle retreat from under him. Oh no! he thought as he started to fall. Arianna screamed as he took her down with her, letting go of the reins and falling in slow motion. She expected to hit the ground hard, but only landed on Ralem’s stomach with a light oof. She looked at him, with his eyes all buggy and his mouth half opened, and then realized she hadn’t even touched the ground at all. The grass tickled her legs where she hovered a couple inches off the ground. “We’re not even touching the ground!” she whispered.

                       “We’re not?” Ralem asked, and then suddenly they landed with a soft poof on the ground. He dusted himself off and got to his feet, extending a hand for Arianna to get up, “Remind me to never let you ride a horse while I’m anywhere nearby.”

                         “Oh, come on. I know you liked it,” Arianna said, shoving him lightly. He shook his head, “I know you did! Come on, smile for me. You liked it!” He pursed his lips together, determined not to smile. Arianna smiled mischievously, “Don’t make me get that smile out of you! Ha ha!” she attacked him with tickles, “You’re ticklish, aren’t you?” He fell back into the grass, laughing like a schoolboy and she landed besides him, tickling him, “You’re ticklish!”

                           “Stop!” he gasped, unable to breathe, “You’re killing me!”

                           She didn’t stop until she herself was breathless and she leaned back into the earth beside him, breathing in the soft summer air breathlessly. Long waves of red grain whispered and rustled all around them and above that, crystal blue sky spread out, dotted with clouds. Their breathing slowly lowered, but a smile remained on both of their faces. Arianna’s dress flung out as if she were a vibrant flower amidst the field, and Ralem spread out beside her, his chest heaving as he tried to recover from the tickle attack. “Don’t… ever… do that again.”

                            Arianna blew a strand of hair off her face, “Now that I know you’re as ticklish as a… as a naked frog, you’ll never get away from me. Mwah haha!”

                          “Naked frogs are ticklish?” Ralem asked, confused.

                         She waved her hand, “I don’t know! That was the first thing I came up with!”

                         Ralem twisted his head to look at her, a Jaydon-ish curling smile appearing on his face, “Arianna that has got to be the strangest thing I’ve ever heard you say. Naked frog! Hah!” He looked back towards the sky murmuring, “Naked frog, naked frog. Arianna and naked frogs.”

                         Arianna slapped him lightly, even though she was laughing too. “What-ever!” she said dramatically, relishing in the fact that she could actually say that (her mother had absolutely hated anything to do with that vulgar word, and even Daemon to think of it). Ralem just chuckled to himself before putting his arms behind his neck in a relaxed posture. They laid there for a while, not talking. It didn’t feel awkward at all, though, and they found they enjoyed each other’s company more than either of them thought. Ralem could feel distantly, his dragon feeling very left out as he hunted voraciously for deer. But he was promptly ignored.

                         After a little while of silence, Ralem snipped off a red grain and looked at it with a faraway look in his eyes. “I’ve always hated this grain. But now, I found I really like it.”

                            “Why?”

                              He sighed, “It reminds me of home.”

                             “But this is your home now,” Arianna said, not realizing how bad it sounded until she said it.

                             He smiled as he broke it clean in half, “Yes. It is. You have no clue how much I hated helping to harvest this stuff. But what about you?” he turned his head to look at her through the grain, “Are you planning to stay, princess?”

                             She looked thoughtfully into the heavens, her hands behind her head, “I suppose so… I’m not sure.”

                              Silence.

                               Then, “Look at that cloud! It looks like a fat chicken.”

                           Ralem laughed, “But oho, here comes an alligator, see him open his mouth to eat it?”

                         They stayed there in the grass until the sun hovered above the treeline, talking about vague subjects and pointing out strange clouds. Once, in the distance they saw Thistle cavort through the sky before disappearing behind the tall castle walls. All this time, the fresian chomped away happily a short distance away, relieved of its burden.

                          Ralem never wanted to leave this moment, under the blue sky talking about stupid stuff like how they thought that they should come up with secret signs or wondering what clouds were made of. “Floating fog,” Ralem replied, feeling very diplomatic, “I hate fog. But its nice to look at from afar, I guess.” He suddenly became painfully aware that she was moving closer to him. It burned his cheeks when she hooked her arm around his, her lips forming a half moon smile, “You know what, Ralem? We should do this more often.”

                     He laughed lightly, “Try to run over old ladies and fall off a horse?”

                        “No.” she said, and suddenly their eyes locked, “To just sit out here… away from it all. And just… talk.” The air seemed to freeze around them. And in a way it did. She likes my company! He thought and it felt like there was hundreds of little Ralems running around his head screaming the hallelujah chorus.

                     Then he realized that he hadn’t replied and had just been staring at her for a full minute. He snapped back to reality. “Yeah… we should.” He stuttered.

                    “You know,” Arianna said, looking down as she picked apart the seeds from a grain head, “I’ve never been able to talk to someone like this. You know, about trivial things like clouds and such. I always have had to be proper, talk proper and the like. There was no time for what my mom would call ‘useless chatter.’ But,” she looked up at him again, “I just realized that sometimes useless chatter is the best kind.”

                    His heart lept mightily in his chest and for a moment he forgot how to breathe. “I like it too. I mean, talking with you,” he stuttered. Darn it, Ralem! He reprimanded himself, feeling so slow and stupid.

                        She smiled softly at him before getting to her feet, “Now we’ve talked the day away. We better get back before they start to worry. Or even worse, they close the gates. Yikes!”

                         Ralem cleared his throat, “This time I’m the one in the front.”

                       “No way! You ride like a granny! The gates will be long closed by the time you make it to them!” Arianna teased, gathering her skirts and making a dash for the fresian.

                        “Oh, no you don’t!” Ralem laughed, running incredibly fast before hopping on the surprised horse. Arianna was soon behind, hopping behind him with a “yah!” The horse started to rear, its ears pulled back and eyes wild. Ralem clenched the horn like a bulldog, Arianna holding on to him for dear life. For a second they hung there, realizing just how stupid it had been to just jump on an unwary horse before its front hooves thudded to the ground. No sooner had Ralem let out a relieved sigh then the fresian burst forward, its heavily feathered hooves smacking the ground and sending dirt flying. The dark neck jerked and throbbed in front of him, ears at an angle and mane flying in the wind. He tried to jerk back on the reins but he almost lost his balance. “Whoa!” Arianna yelled, “I’m behind you, remember?” she hugged him tighter, “Stop hopping around on the saddle! You’re like a sack of potatoes to the poor horse!”

                       “Oh, okay. I’ll remember that next the next time you give me a nutty horse that doesn’t know how to slow down!” Ralem said, letting out a pathetic yell as the fresian jumped over a plow.

                         Arianna poked him hard on the back, “It’s not the horse, you idiot! It’s you! Stop clenching your legs so hard on its ribs!”

                        Oh. Hah,” Ralem said, easing his legs on the animal and sure enough it slowed down gratefully. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Arianna lean over, trying to make him look at the smirk on her face. He looked straight ahead, trying to regain his composure, “Shut up.”

                            Arianna laughed and smacked him on the back, “I didn’t say anything, grumpy! Now, go faster. I’m going to fall asleep at this slow pace.”

                            “You want to tire my poor horse out? Come on, be nice to Gypsy.”

                              “Gypsy? Seriously?” Arianna rolled her eyes, “You seriously are going to name this… this beautiful creature Gypsy?”

                              “Well yeah. I’ve always wanted to name a horse Gypsy.”

                               “Why?”

                                “When I was ten, I was given a puppy. When me and my sister were trying to figure out what to name it, we heard someone in the street with a lyre playing the song of the gypsies in the desert. And so that’s what we named it. Gypsy.”

                               “Okay, so you’re naming only the most beautiful horse ever after a dog.”

                               “It was a good dog,” Ralem said, a little defensively. He looked down at his hands and mumbled, “I liked that dog.”

                               “What happened to it?”

                              “It got poisoned.”

                              “Oh.”

                             An awkward silence. They trotted to the castle, where the huge walled gates rose up to defy the now darkening sky. The gate was getting ready to close and only a few people trickled in to get interrogated or something. Ralem maneuvered to where he could get back in fast. But the guards held up their hands and tightened their holds on their heavy axes, “You need to go through that line,” he pointed towards the line of people shuffling towards the door.

                            Ralem dismounted and helped Arianna off the horse, showing her off to the guards before saying, “It’s us. The Princess and Ralem, the Rider. Let us in.”

                          The other guard shook his head. “Sorry, but we have strict orders to let no one in.”

                           An elbow shoved into Ralem’s side and he was forced to scoot aside as a blonde head edged around him. “She’s with me,” Daemon said, a smirk on his face that was dangerously cold at the same time. Ralem was taken aback, Where the heck did HE come from? He wondered, before freezing up, was he out there eavesdropping on us?

                        The guard only shook his head again, “Sorry, but security is tightened. Go on over to Vali real nice-like kids. We don’t want trouble.”

                        “I don’t think that suits me,” Daemon said, taking Arianna’s hand. Ralem could feel the dragon part of him rising up inside of him, roaring in his chest. His eyes turned a ferocious green even as Daemon curled an arm around Arianna and led her outside, where Fraylon was waiting with a reptilian smile. Ralem tied up the Friesian to a post before stomping out after them, his face twisted into a snarl. Arianna looked back at him, and in a split second he looked as innocent as could be, then turned back to hateful as she turned back to Daemon. “Fraylon will take you over the castle gates. I’ll be right behind you.”

                         Arianna swept her hair off her face, but mounted the horse-sized dragon anyway, “Why can’t you go on behind me? I’m pretty sure Ralem could fit too.” Fraylon made a face and spread his wings before she could say another word. With a running jump, he was airborne and he powered upwards and out of ear shot.

                        Daemon turned on Ralem as they left, “Who the heck do you think you are?” A cold sneer distorted his handsome face as he shoved him

                       Ralem (who hadn’t even been moved) gathered himself to his full height, looking stonily at the other Rider, “Don’t touch me.”

                       Daemon ignored him, “I see what you’re doing, peasant. I can see past that mask of yours. What do you want her for? Her kingdom? Her riches? Her-”

                      Ralem balled his fists, his voice taught, “Since when was this any of your business?”

                      “She’s my Princess! I’d say this is my business!” yelled Daemon.

                        “Oh, she’s your Princesss now, is she?” Ralem said, deadly even as he stalked closer, “Daemon, you were eavesdropping weren’t you?” He spat at the ground by Daemon’s feet, “Just what I’d expect from a sniveling coward like you.”

                      “Me? If you haven’t forgotten, I spent four years battling the wilds of Grunde. I endured more danger in one month than you have all your life! No,” He said, poking Ralem in the chest, “You are the true coward. Just look at you, hiding behind your dragon for everything.”

                      Ralem growled, “If you touch me again, I’ll-”

                     “Do what?” Daemon asked sarcastically, “Call your dragon?” he mimicked Ralem’s voice, “Oh, Jaydon! Come save me! I’m so scared!” he gave a crooked smile and stood on his tip-toes to look Ralem in the eye. “You know the truth, Ralem. You are a no one. A nobody. The only thing that makes you special was in an egg.” He spat, before turning serious, “And I think Arianna deserves more than that. She needs someone who can take care of her and this,” he gestured to Ralem’s whole body, “Is not it. So, if you truly care for her, you’d back away. Because the truth is, you’ll only break her heart.” He turned away and started walking towards the gates.

                       “And who are you to choose who is and who is not right for her? Can she not decide for herself?” Ralem called after him, his fists curling until white shone on his knuckles.

                      Daemon spun around, his eyes a fiery blue, and laughed. “Ha! You think you’re the one, huh? Ralem, you’re a peasant. You always will be. I doubt you can even read! Do you honestly think you’re the match for a princess? Do you think that you deserve her hand?” he walked fast back to Ralem and poked him once more, hissing like a snake, “You break her heart and I will do everything in my power to make your life a living hell. You hear me?”

                       The dragon part in Ralem was at its peak and his eyes glowed blindingly, “I said DON’T TOUCH ME!” he screamed, pouncing on Daemon and smashing him to the ground. Dust flew as Ralem’s arm curled back like a spring before crashing down on Daemon’s face. Crack! His nose broke and soon blood was all over his face and Ralem’s fists. His heart pounding in his ears, Ralem rained fury on Daemon without mercy, roaring like a dragon.

                     Nervous guards rushed to the scene, trying to pry the two apart. Ralem hardly twitched. At a motion of his hand the wind responded to his call and blew them off their feet. Wham! They flailed like beetles on their backs.

                       The two kicked and punched in the dust, neither getting the advantage. Ralem was going the speed of lightning, using his greater weight to his advantage to smash Daemon into the ground with his tremendous punches. Daemon was curled up in a ball, his hands over his face, spitting blood out of his mouth.

                      Suddenly Daemon’s hands were curled around Ralem’s shoulders and he felt searing cold. Ralem shrieked in pain as his skin turned an exotic blue, rearing back as Daemon surged forward, knocking him to the ground. “My turn,” Daemon said, breathless. Daemon’s face was stark white in contrast to the dark red blood, blue veins sticking out perilously; his hair ruffled and eyes a paralyzing blue. Ralem blinked and just had the sense to swing his arm up to block a vicious blow. Holy crap, he thought as a rock-solid fist smashed into his arm. Daemon readied himself for another blow, and as he did, Ralem noticed that he was slower. His bones clicked and his movements were stiff and jerky. Taking advantage of this, Ralem snatched his fist before it could hit his chest, gritting his teeth as his palms turned white. Daemon jerked away and smashed the same fish into Ralem’s temple. As Ralem cried out, he saw Daemon being snatched back as if an unseen giant had picked him up and flung him into the wall.

                       And there was Jaydon, standing there with wings outstretched and throat ablaze, ready to have some Daemon Dinner. 

                        Daemon just laughed, wiping his face with his hand and smearing blood everywhere. He leaned his head to the wall and looked to the heavens with blurry eyes, “Oh, sorry,” he said, “Were you getting scared of me? Is that why you called him?” he spat blood at the ground by Jaydon’s talon. “Cowards. You’re a coward, Ralem!”

                         Jaydon twisted his head to look at his Rider, “Permission to kill him?”

                         Ralem wanted to. Oh, how he’d like to see Daemon fry at this point. But that would on just prove his point. No, he thought. He isn’t worth it.

                          Jaydon made a puppy face, “Are you sure?”

                           Yes, Ralem replied sadly, Let’s get out of here. If he stayed any longer he knew he would get himself in trouble by getting in a fight with Daemon. That wasn’t worth it.

                            As he climbed onto his dragon, he heard Daemon call out, “What would you be without him, Ralem? Where would you run to when you were scared?”

                            Jaydon growled, “And what would you be if I killed you? A pile of ashes, Hahaha!” he laughed drily. Daemon just laughed crazily and turned to the gates. Is he drunk? Ralem thought, Well that would make sense. Right before they took off, Jaydon lurched forwards, snapping open his cavernous jaws a hair’s breadth behind Daemon’s back. Then he let loose a roar loud enough to shake the earth. As Daemon crumpled to the ground as if dead, hands over ears, Jaydon snapped his wings open and took flight.

                            Ralem fell silent, trying to get his head together. Jaydon decided not to take him out for a flight when he sensed that Ralem needed to go back to his room. Setting down lightly next to the palace, he let Ralem slide down his side and shuffle to his room, his head down. Jaydon wondered if he should get Arianna. She always made him happy. Or bring Daemon’s head in on a plate. The thought amused him. Finally a bright idea popped into his head. His present! He was sure that was just what Ralem needed. Turning swiftly into a human, he ran to his room and tried to open the vine-covered door but found it locked. Frustrated, he ran to the other side, where the garden spread out before the balcony. He pounced and jumped fifteen feet, clear over the railing.

                            There he found Ralem, staring out over the garden, a look in his eyes of wounded pride. He just scooted aside when Jaydon flipped over the railing. He sighed heavily and dropped a flower that he held clutched in his hand. It fell slowly to the ground and he leaned over the railing to watch it lay on the brick stones below. People passed by, oblivious to them, laughing and chatting. They both watched as a small child stepped on the flower, crumpling its petals.

                             Jaydon dipped an eyebrow, concerned, “What’s wrong?”

                             “You wouldn’t understand,” Ralem said shortly. He had the medallion he had acquired from saving the King’s daughter in hand, its golden surface shimmering in reflection to the sunset. He tapped it against the railing, where it made a metallic pinging noise.

                             “Well, maybe not. But you could still tell me. You can trust me with anything. I won’t judge you,” Jaydon replied.

                             “I know you won’t. It’s just… complicated,” Ralem said sourly.

                              “Then you can tell me all about it. I can listen,” Jaydon pulled up a chair and sat there, his hands holding up his head.

                               Ralem evidentially wanted to and didn’t want to talk about it at the same time. He huffed and was silent for a minute before shifting his legs and staring out to the skyline, “It’s just… it kills me to say this, but Daemon was right.” –Jaydon started to say something but Ralem rushed on so that he couldn’t intercept- “He was right. Who am I kidding!” He threw his hands up in the air, “I have no business being with Arianna. She’s a princess. I’m nobody special. You see all this?” he gestured to the scenery, “And my money, and this medallion, and Arianna, and just everything. This is not because of me. It’s because of you. Without you, I would be a no one. I’m only getting special treatment because I was just lucky enough to find your egg. I live this royal life only because you’re my dragon. I found Arianna just because you took me to her. He was right. The only thing special about me is you.” He let out a heavy sigh and looked down.

                            Jaydon got to his feet, his resolution hard in his eyes, “No. You’re wrong. You are special with or without me. And all this ‘stuff’ you have is not because of me, it’s because of us. Don’t you get it? Without you, I would still be a swirl of mist inside a little egg!” Ralem raised an eyebrow. His dragon did not usually talk like this. But he continued on, “And why listen to Daemon? He’s just jealous and stuck up and puny. We could crush him like a bug.” Jaydon caught a fly mid-air for demonstration.

                            Ralem laughed bitterly, still not making eye contact, “I know, but even puny and stuck up people can be right. Besides, if I hadn’t, someone else would have found you, Jaydon. Most likely that would be the King of this place.”

                            Jaydon sighed, “You really don’t get it, do you? I wouldn’t have hatched for the king. I wouldn’t have hatched for any of these people,” he waved a hand to the crowd below before turning to his Rider, his eyes shining with love, “It had to be you. You are the only one I could hatch for. Since the fifth day of creation I had been waiting for you in that egg. I had no conscious, not a thought passed through my non-existent mind. I was just a swirling mist of essence. When you hatched me, you gave me everything; your memories, your body, and a little of your spirit too. Without you I would never exist. I would never be able to smile and laugh, never to breathe and spread my wings. I would never be Jaydon the magnificent!” he puffed his chest out, “You see, this is all part of the Creator’s plan!”

                             Ralem found it hard to swallow all this information. He sat down hard in his own chair, his eyes darting to and fro.

                            Jaydon took this look as one of disbelief. He grabbed his Rider’s hand and led him inside, where he sat on his bed.  Then he ran around the room, bringing down the shades, closing the door to the outside, checking to see if anyone was around. Ralem cocked his head, “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice a whisper. He had a feeling something really important was about to follow. Jaydon turned around, a slightly nervous smile on his face, “That Friesian is not the only gift I have for you. I have something far greater than that. Sit here and do what I say, okay?” Ralem nodded.

                               Then Jaydon turned into smoke, floating like a dark cloud just a few feet in front of the Rider. Reach inside. He heard Jaydon’s voice. He faltered. Come on, it’s okay. Just do it. Trust me. Ralem hesitantly did, feeling thick air, almost like he was touching a furiously spinning dust devil. Suddenly his grasping hand met something hard and spherical. He drew back in shock. No. Take it. Came Jaydon’s voice. Ralem gulped hard and curled his fingers around the object. Pulling it back, he felt a little resistance, then it gave way and came easily into his hands. Whatever it was, it weighed absolutely nothing, and felt like feathers tickling his skin. Through his curled fingers he could make out a shining silver glow. Smooth waves of this shimmery color splashed out from around his fingers and curled around his thumb. What is it? He thought.

                                 This is the symbol of my commitment to you. Today, I promise that I will do everything to the best of my ability to take care of you, love you, and protect you. You hold in your hands the most vulnerable part of me; something that you alone will ever see. It’s my soul, Rider. It’s yours. I pledge myself to you, for all my days. You will never be alone.

                                   Ralem almost choked and his hands trembled as the enormity of this pledge sank onto his shoulders. He watched tendrils of light dance across his palm and noticed something on it, a different shade that swirled around the surface lazily. Jaydon must have noticed this. That is part of your soul. I have part of yours, just as you absorbed some of mine. That’s why we can talk to each other by thinking and you can go in my head. It’s also why I have some… human tendencies.

                           Ralem started shaking even harder now. Sweat built up on his forehead and dripped into his eyes. He reflexively held the dragon’s soul tighter. I… I can’t take this. I could hurt you. Please… Turn back.

                       I was just about to. This… is not the most comfortable experience. But I’ll need your help. My soul is not as flexible as yours.

                     Ralem had no clue what this meant but he nodded fiercely at nothing in particular. The soul in his hands seemed to vibrate, growing bigger and smaller, its tendrils reaching out, stretching towards his face. Behind it, the smoke was getting larger and larger, forming into the great shimmering dragon once more. But his soul was still in his hands. He could tell it was starting to gravitate towards his body, but it was stuck fast. I can’t go! Jaydon cried, I stayed for too long! Ralem was even more freaked out now, and his hands shook violently, “Jaydon, hang in there,” he stuttered, feeling the dragon start to panic. Scrambling to his feet, he ran to the dragon’s unconscious body and held out his soul close to his head. Suddenly the dragon gave a huge, shuttering breath and Ralem found that the soul was gone! He sat down heavily. What happens if you swallow your own soul? Would you die? Would you sleep until you died? Maybe Lauri knows what to do!  He thought desperately. He staggered to his feet and walked drunkenly to the door, his eyes wild. BAM! He knocked over a cabinet and his brand new vase shattered on the floor. “Don’t worry, I’ll get help!” Ralem said, almost yelling. He yanked at the door but found it locked. He was ready to scream now.

                            His hand was in position to unlock the door when he heard a shuffle behind him, then, “That was close.” He whirled around to find Jaydon blinking blearily in the fading light. He bit back a sob and rushed to the dragon, embracing his huge head in a hug, biting his lip. “Don’t ever do that again, Jaydon,” he whispered, “You scared me so bad.” He dug his face into the dragon’s scales and Jaydon snuffled softly into his shirt. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t want to admit that he had been scared too. But even as Ralem told his dragon how much he loved the gift, he felt a sinking feeling in his gut. “I guess I’m going to turn in,” he eventually said softly, getting undressed and sliding under the covers.

                    Jaydon cocked his head, and then shuffled out saying, “I need to go make sure no one stole your Friesian. I paid a lot of sapphires for that animal.”

                 When he was gone, Ralem let out a deep breath and rolled over. He felt so confused and unprepared. His dragon had basically just told him that he would do anything that Ralem wanted to do. With power like the dragon possessed, Ralem had almost no bounds, no limits. And yet, it was almost crushing. What was he doing with his power? Nothing but fighting about petty things with Daemon. If God had truly called him to be a Rider, then wouldn’t he have a bigger purpose? Life in Baroke was idyllic and paradise-like. But it didn’t feel like home to him. He didn’t like being tied to one place, a place where the only thing that kept him still  was the presence of Arianna. His stomach twisted at the thought of her and, unable to take it any longer, he burst out of bed and fumbled for a candle. Finding none and realizing his sight was more than adequate, he padded over to the bathroom. There he was confronted by the large mirror with golden dragons climbing up the side. In the center he saw himself, looking bedraggled and weary. His hair stuck up in odd places and his eyes glowed faintly. He leaned over the sink, staring at himself blearily, “Who are you? What is your purpose?” he asked his reflection, listening as the words echoed around the room. There was no reply. “Why were you chosen? What makes you special?” he asked, even though he vaguely thought that he was acting mad. He sighed and stepped back, rubbing his forehead with the back of his hand, “What am I to do?”

                 “Oh, so you’re getting bored, are you?”

                “Jaydon!” Ralem yelped, jumping five feet in surprise.

               “Do I seriously sound like Jaydon? Come on, get yourself together.”

               The voice sounded uncomfortably familiar. He scanned the room, searching for a hidden figure in the shadows. A movement caught his eye. A movement in the mirror! He looked closer, but his reflection didn’t. It leaned back and smirked at his surprised face. “Now don’t stare. That’s rude,” it said, its voice exactly like Ralem’s.

                 Ralem jumped back, “But… you’re talking! You’re my reflection! This is… witchcraft!” He pointed a shaky finger in the mirror’s direction.

                  The reflection just shook its head, “Oh, but I’m here to help you. You have questions, and I have the answers you need.” It leaned forward, a wide smile on its face, “I know what you want, Ralem. And I can grant it. You just need to listen to me. That’s all,” he tapped the glass, “What can it hurt? I’m just your reflection after all…” Then it shrunk away as Ralem’s eyes inflamed with fear, holding up its arm as green light spots shone on its face “Just… dim your eyes a little, eh? It’s boring holes in my face.”

                  Ralem wanted to run, run as far as he could. But something kept his feet rooted to the tiles. “What do you mean?” He dimmed his eyes a little and his reflection put down his arm to reveal his face, which was smiling widely.

                  It leaned closer to the glass. “I know what you want. But I also know what you are capable of. Listen to me, Ralem. Heed my voice. You are more powerful than all of those other Riders. I can see it in Lauri’s eyes. Even she is afraid of you. You have so much… potential. Why do you keep yourself trapped in this stuffy city? You can be doing anything. You have the world at your fingertips, Ralem. All you have to do is reach out and take it!” it reached out like it was grabbing something, then suddenly the mirror went foggy as if hot water was steaming up the room.

                   It cleared to find… Ralem’s reflection again, this time sitting in a throne, thousands bowing down before him. A scepter rose from its hand and Jaydon curled around him, his face captivated in a wild growl, his features animal-like. “This could all be yours, Ralem,” reflection-Ralem called from the throne, “With a single command to your dragon you can overthrow kings, castles, crush down anyone you like, gain all the wealth in the world!” Images flashed around the mirror, of castles up in flames, of mountains of gold, of wealth and prosperity. Then they froze and in the center, reflection-Ralem walked closer to the glass. “But this is not all that you can do.” And suddenly, out from the corner of the mirror came waltzing out Arianna, exquisitely beautiful but wearing something that revealed more skin than the real Arianna would have liked. She walked over to the reflection Ralem and traced his jaw, smiling. “You’re so powerful,” she breathed. And suddenly Ralem witnessed his reflection lean down with a disgustingly superior look and suddenly they were kissing passionately.

                   “NO!”

                 Reflection Ralem drew back from the kiss and Arianna did too, both staring at the real Ralem. “What do you mean, no?” his reflection purred coldly.

                  “I mean no. You evidentially don’t know me. Because I would never do that to my dragon and-”

                   His reflection snarled at him, “It’s not even human, Ralem! It’s an animal! Why do you even care?”

                   “Because he’s my dragon. And he’s a thinking creature that looks up to me. And I care about him-”

                    His reflection’s face contorted into an ugly leer, “Your softness is going to be the end of you, Ralem! You’re giving up all these pleasures for the sake of your pet. How stupid can that be?”

                     “He’s not my pet. And I’d rather win the real Arianna’s heart than have her fall for me because I’m powerful or something. This disgusts me.” Ralem spat.

                     “You would give this all up?” Even as it spoke, its face elongated, turning shaggier and the eyes were spreading farther apart, their green iris dripping with black as if ink had dripped onto them. Arianna faded away to mist, as all the other enticing pictures as it slashed a half-formed claw across them. “You would give up your wishes? Your dreams? A kingdom of your own? Gold, just think of all the gold, Ralem,” its voice became smoother and the r’s became more exaggerated. Canine teeth grew from black lips.

Ralem stepped back, his eyes as wide as dinner plates.

“And your Princess. What are you going to do? Wait until Daemon snatches her from you? You are a fool, Ralem. A FOOL!” It hissed, and suddenly it exploded from the mirror, glass spraying everywhere. Ralem yelled and suddenly realized his legs could move. As its fingers elongated and claws grappled out to catch him in their death grip, Ralem jumped backwards like a scared rabbit and dashed out of the bathroom. He ran fast and far, not sure of his surroundings. Lights flashed around him, faces grew from the gloom, flashing, evil faces.

                    Then, silence. He was in a field, where eerily not a thing moved. It seemed to be frozen in time. The landscape was dark and trees bare, rattling like dry leaves over his head. The atmosphere was heavy with looming darkness and a moon with a screaming face glowed stagnantly above, illuminating the parched, cracked ground. He took a hesitant step. Crunch. He looked down to find he had stepped into a long-decayed rib cage and broken half the ribs. He jumped back to fumble into the fleshless arms of a skeleton, and looking up to find a leering eyeless face staring back at him, he yelled and lunged forward.

                It’s coming. A voice said in his head. It was not his own voice, nor Jaydon’s but an emotionless voice that held the hopeless truth. What’s coming? He thought, his blood running cold. He staggered backwards, his boots meeting brittle bone but he didn’t notice. A light wind started up, rattling the trees and blowing the smell of death to his nose. Hanging from the trees like ghastly apples, white skulls started to gnash their teeth.  It’s coming. The voice repeated again and the wind built up even fiercer than before. Ralem spread his legs out and braced himself against it, his bleary eyes searching the darkness. Trees cracked like whips and bones were swept up by the wind, hitting him in the legs and tearing at his face. A white hand settled on his boot. The skeletal teeth clicked faster and faster, the skulls about jumping on the trees, their eyeless sockets all focused on him.

                   Then, a noise like a soft hiss and the wind was gone and a dark cloud covered the screaming moon. Not a sound rang through the thick air. It was suffocating.

                    A movement from the far left, a shifting of the darkness, almost indiscernible in the half light.

                   Ralem looked closer, thinking he had imagined it. His own frightened breathing became the sole noise and he grabbed for his sword, but only came up with a thigh bone. He dropped it with a small cry and fumbled backwards.

                   A light chuckle from the creaking woods and a flash of movement.

                 Ralem said something that probably shouldn’t be repeated and turned to run. The dead remains seemed to grow around him as he ran, gathering around his legs, slowing him down, making him trip.  Even worse, they seemed to be moving, reaching out for him, tugging at his pants, grabbing his arms. He jerked away from them and looked behind him, hoping desperately that he wouldn’t see what he thought he would. But it was worse than he thought. The cat was less than ten feet behind him, racing on all four legs, its lips curled up in a demonic smile. “Goodbye, Ralem,” it said. Then it laughed. A monstrous, spine-chilling laugh. He screamed as he felt his legs give way under him, and he twisted just to find those black eyes staring back. They pulled him into their darkness and for a moment he could think of nothing else but the abyss.

             A flash of teeth. He felt the fangs go into his neck and gave a startled gurgle, sinking into the mass of bones. Then it started shaking him and shaking him until he felt his insides churn.

                      “Ralem!”

                     Ralem shot awake and bonked heads with Arianna. They both hissed and sat back, but Arianna was quick to recover. “Ralem… I thought you were sick again. Are you feeling well?”

                     Ralem sat back in bed, breathing hard. He realized his body was covered in cold sweat. Jaydon looked at him nervously, his wings snapping open in agitation. He tried to pull himself together, “Yeah… I’m fine.”

                     Arianna bit her lip, “You wouldn’t wake up. We tried almost everything. Jaydon nearly had a heart attack, he was so worried. It’s lunch time, Ralem. You slept half the day away, and missed the Christian church.”

                    “Lunch?” Ralem said dimly.

                     “Yes. We were so worried about you. You were talking in your sleep and yelling. Jaydon called me an hour ago when he couldn’t get you up. Are you sure you’re feeling fine?”

                    Ralem let out a wounded breath as the memories of his dastardly dream came back to him. He tried to shove this out of his mind, “Wait- what was a dream? Was my birthday really yesterday, or was that just a dream too?” Did I really hang out with you in the field? He thought nervously. “When did I go to sleep?”

                      Arianna put a steaming mug into his hands, her penciled eyebrow dipping concernedly, “Of course it was your birthday yesterday. We celebrated it, remember?”

                        “You fell asleep shortly after I gave you my, er, present. You about passed out. And then when I fell asleep I couldn’t find you in my dream. Well I found you, but it wasn’t really you. And then, when you wouldn’t wake up, whew. I don’t know. It made me nervous.” Jaydon flicked his tail, nudging his Rider. “Did you have a bad dream?”

                         Ralem didn’t reply, but staggered out of bed, not really caring that he was still in his underclothes. Throwing open the bathroom door, he looked inside to find… the dreaded mirror, intact, not a shard of glass on the floor. He stepped inside and looked at himself in the mirror, looking exactly the same as he had in his dream. He twisted his head and the reflection did the same. He jumped suddenly to the side and so did his reflection. He even flashed a weird face, and yet the reflection copied his every move. Arianna peeked her head in, “Are you sure you’re feeling fine?”

                         He stopped wearily and walked back to his bed, “I’m fine, it’s just…” Then he felt his brain being invaded with a quick apology.

                          “You had a dream about the cats,” Jaydon said slowly.

                          “Yes,” Ralem sighed, his head in his hands. “It was so real. I thought-”

                          Arianna looked at him sympathetically, “Maybe you need to talk to Lauri about these dreams. I was in one of them with Jaydon… the cats seem too real for my liking. I don’t know much about dreamcraft, but there was a magician in Grunde… we called him Blue Beard for some reason… well, he could go into anyone’s dream and figure out things about them. Things you wouldn’t want people to know. I don’t want to get you scared for nothing, but I think it’s worth looking into.”

                     “I know… I’m not scared. I- wait, you were actually with Jaydon in a dream?”

                     “Well, yes. I don’t know how that happened though… he was just, there.”

                    “That was when I couldn’t wake up either,” suddenly Jaydon burped up a flame nervously, “Wait- what if the cats could go into your dreams, and keep you asleep- forever?”

                  Arianna looked a little concerned but she hid it masterfully. “You’ve been reading too much Sleeping Beauty type stuff.”

                  Jaydon crinkled the scales on his snout, “Sleeping beauty?”

                   “Oh come on, you haven’t read sleeping beauty? You either, Ralem? Every child has to read that classic.”

                   “He can’t read,” Jaydon said bluntly.

                  “Oh. Yeah,” Arianna said awkwardly. A heavy pause. Then, “Well then, I need to get going. I promised Daemon I would go hunting with him. Say, you want to come?”

                  Ralem took a deep breath and tried to restrain the dragon part of him. Mastering the emotion, he managed to smile at her. “Thanks, but I have plans.” He lied between his teeth. Truth be told, he felt sick to his stomach. Jaydon noticed this and he gazed at him with a probing emerald eye. Ralem looked away as Arianna strode out of the room. “Well, sorry about the dreams. Call Lauri about it, okay? I will be back soon. If you need me, send Jaydon, you hear?” when she looked at him, he saw the true concern in her eyes. He almost gave a smile. And then the door closed and she was gone. He sank back in bed with a scowl.

                    Daemon, Daemon, he thought, How I’d like to crush you myself. His eyes lit up as a small dust devil touched down on his palm.

                    “Ralem, I saw your dream,” Jaydon said after a short silence. He settled onto the floor, his tail flicking nervously, “And I… the way you… I mean, with the cat telling you…”

                    Ralem got what he meant, “You know I would never use you like that. I would never give in to that Rrashkirr. You’re more important to me than all the riches this world can offer.” He didn’t say it, but the gold did brush his mind and he was disgusted with himself.

                     Suddenly he let out a harsh breath as Jaydon shoved his head against his stomach, purring happily. “You should never wonder why you were picked, Rider. You are the best a dragon could hope for.” He drew back, “Well I’ll get Lauri. I’ll be right back, okay?”

                      “No way,” Ralem said, shoving off the covers, “I’m coming. I’m as hungry as a pig.”

                     The dragon and Rider made a beeline to Drake’s Tavern, just to drop in and say hello and get some good food. They found the place full, but being of special honor, they were able to go to the front of the bustling crowd. The bartender squinted at them with his beady mud brown eyes, “Oh, it’s you. Drake’s been wanting to see you two for days now. You’ll find him in the back,” he jutted a meaty finger towards a heavy wooden door.

                        Jaydon gave a what? Look and Ralem thought okaayyy, but they walked in anyway. Inside they were met with a staggering wall of delicious aromas that swept them both off their feet. Ralem loved food. Jaydon loved food. And there was lots of it here. Food of all different flavors and dishes simmered around the place. Ralem was tempted to reach over and grab the plates from a waiter, who was balancing several on a tray. Jaydon actually started to, but Ralem pushed his arm away. Another cook, who was stirring something furiously, pointed to another door, “You must be the poor souls Drake won’t shut up about. He just went in there to get some flour,” she said, pointing to another door.

                        “Okay,” Ralem said slowly, going to it and opening it up. Inside, he found darkness, then Drake. But his face was upside down! Ralem skidded backwards onto Jaydon and the dragon crashed into some pots and pans. Drake gulped from where he was standing, and ran across the ceiling and down the walls so he was right-side-up. He helped both of them to their feet amidst strange glares from the fellow cooks. “Whew, you caught me off guard. I was catching a fly,” Drake said, popping a small black object into his mouth.

                       “But… you were walking on the ceiling!”

                        Drake put a finger to his lips as the nearest cook cocked his head, “Whew, Ralem. I always knew you were a drinker, but I think you had two too many this time!”

                         “Wha-” he started to say, then realized he needed to play along with it, “Oh, yeah, maybe,” he slurred.

                           “Let me help you to your chair,” Drake said, looking over his shoulder at the white-bearded cook, “Don’t want you messin’ up the food, now.” He put an arm around Ralem’s shoulder (he had to stand on his tip-toes, and even then he was struggling to reach the height) and as Ralem pretended to be wasted, he walked them out of the kitchen and into the dining room.

                            Jaydon was completely clueless, and while they were occupied, he grabbed a huge steaming plate of ham from a waiter and started walking away with it. The waiter yelled, “Hey! Stop!” but Jaydon just turned around and hissed, his sharp teeth flashing. The waiter drew back quickly, muttering an apology, and disappeared whimpering behind the kitchen door.

                              They all sat down together, and immediately Ralem snapped back to reality, “Drake,” he hissed, “You can walk… on walls?”

                                “Well duh,” he whispered back, “I’m a you-know-what. And you’re really bad at acting as a drunk by the way.” Chink! They turned their heads to look as Jaydon’s huge meal clanged to the table. The ham had been clearly been met for a whole family.

                                   “Jaydon- you just took someone’s food? Give it to me.” Ralem demanded, holding out a hand.

                                   “NO!” Jaydon yelled, grabbing the ham like it was his baby and cradling it against his chest. “It’s mine,” he hissed, his sharp teeth giving Ralem a jolt. His green eyes just dared his Rider to say otherwise. Suddenly the atmosphere of the room turned dark, the wind playing with the candles threateningly and dark clouds drowning out the sun. “Mine.” He repeated.

                                   “Okay, go ahead, have it,” Ralem squeaked.

                                “Okay,” Jaydon said happily. The wind died down, the sun came out, and it was a perfectly happy day. Jaydon delicately cut a piece for Ralem, put it on his plate, and smiled, his teeth nice and relatively harmless looking. Then his smile curled upwards the way it usually did and his teeth shot out and they witnessed a food fest as should never have been witnessed. Drake got to his feet, “Well, I’ll sort this out and get you something. What do you want?”

                              Ralem held up a finger, chewed, and then gulped hard and managed, “Erm, some roast duck would be nice, and rice on the side, please.”

                              Drake nodded and seemed to shrink into the nearly nonexistent shadows and was gone.

                             By the time he was back, Ralem had eaten his whole slab and was looking at Jaydon’s who was halfway done. Jaydon noticed this and looked up, hissing. Ralem drew back. Drake set the bird on the table, “Oh, good. Now I can tell you what I’ve been wishing to talk about in simply ages. It all starts out a couple days ago when I was…..”