Crystal Azure

Sorir took into the air, with Pereno trailing from a distance.

Once they were high enough not to be noticed by villagers, Flix said (or rather yelled) to Sorir, "I really don't understand Slelea."

Sorir glanced down, trying to find Aterae and keep pace with him. "Some people in the world feel the need to be the center of everyone's thoughts," Sorir said to Flix. "Slelea is one of them. And unfortunately, she has discovered Aterae's weaknesses."

Flix didn't know what Sorir meant by "weaknesses" - the man seemed anything but weak. But he certainly understood what he meant when he said she wanted to be the center - of everything. She pushed herself into your life, whether you wanted it or not. Shaking his head regretfully, Flix asked the other question that had haunted his sleep.

"What is Iluyi?" he shouted, to be heard over the beatings of the dragons' wings.

The silence which followed was broken only by Pereno's hesitant reply. "She - she is a faery-creature that is closely connected to a Crystal of power."

Flix's confusion only grew. "If she's connected to a Crystal, then why does she - " he stopped abruptly, finally understanding. The dragons remained quiet.

You said too much.

The rest of the flight was silent.

Eventually, after many false turns and dead ends, Aterae led Kala and Slelea into the stableyard, where they'd met Sorir and Pereno. Walking through the town and actually getting inside the castle proved much easier than finding his way through the maze of hallways and tunnels of the castle.

He crossed his arms and waited. The dragons and Flix should be coming any minute now.

"Where do you think Aterae is going to meet us?" Flix yelled, as Sorir gently landed right outside the stableyard, with Pereno setting down right beside them.

A face appeared around the door leading to the stables. It then came outside - it was Aterae.

"Oh," Flix murmured, as he climbed down hurriedly from Sorir's back. "Never mind."

Aterae walked determinedly over to the three of them. "We need to move quickly. I need you," he looked at the dragons, "to stay here and be ready for us to run out of there."

Pereno nodded and grinned wearily.

Flix followed Aterae as he ran back into the building. The dragons knelt to the ground and folded their wings around them, creating a protective shield, while they rested.

The inside of the stables was much darker than the sunlight. Flix's feline eyes adjusted quickly, but he waited patiently for Aterae. Slelea leaned against a stable door, arms crossed beneath her breasts, appearing bored. Her wings were folded neatly against her back, out of her way. Kala sat cross-legged at her feet, waiting, barely able to contain her excitement. She was bouncing the tiniest bit while she sat.

Aterae looked at her for a few seconds with an unreadable expression on his face. He then spoke quietly, quickly, sternly. "This needs to be fast. People are fighting and dying. We have to find Raukath or Riak, though I'll bet a golden coin that Riak is on the battlefield."

And I'll bet ten that Lord Raukath isn't, Flix thought cynically.

"Flix, you'll show us where your Lord might be. If he's not out fighting," Aterae ordered, sounding every bit the prince he supposedly was. He turned to Slelea with an expressionless face. "You're going to be our weapon, if necessary."

Slelea smiled mirthlessly. "And if I refuse?"

"You won't," Kala said simply, rising to her feet. Her azure hair had bits of straw in it.