Sprinting up the stairs, Feral arrived at the top just as Cassanya opened her bedroom door. Exchanging a glance with her, he looked in through the open door to his room.

“Tee?” Cassanya raised her glowball higher, throwing light upon Tallow as she hunched at the end of Feral’s bed, clutching her right hand tightly.

“What happened?” the leonin asked quickly, kneeling next to her friend.

“It... it burned me! Careful, don’t touch it! It...” she stopped as Feral picked up the Shining Blade from where it lay on the floor. “It...” she winced, tears beginning to track down her cheeks.

“Come on, we need to get that dealt with,” Cassanya said, shoving her arms behind Tallow’s back and under her knees, lifting her bodily and carrying her out of the room with apparent ease as Blue stood to one side to let her pass.

“Ouch!”

“Sorry,” Cassanya winced in sympathy. “Just be glad you always keep a jar of this around,” she indicated the green ointment she was dabbing on Tallow’s hand. “This is quite a bad burn.”

“I’ll be ok,” biting her lip, Tallow grimaced. “It’s mister Forester’s recipe. It’ll do the job.”

“It will since you improved on it,” Cassanya smiled.

“Tee...” Feral asked quietly, returning from outside with a bucket of clean water, and pouring it into a basin. “Why were you in my room?”

Tallow looked away.

“And where did the pendant uncle Felli gave me go?”

She closed her eyes, her lower lip trembling.

“And... why are you wearing travelling boots?”

Tears ran down Tallow’s pale face as Cassanya paused, looking up as Feral’s words sank in. Blue watched curiously from the side of the room, perched on the edge of the workbench, next to a potted plant whose twisting stems trailed all the way to the stone floor.

“Tee? Where were you going to take the sword?”

“I’m sorry,” she squeezed her eyes shut, unable to meet Feral’s gaze, even though his tone had been very soft. “I’m really sorry.”

“Tee?” Cassanya asked gently. “Tee? Were you going to take it?”

Miserably, Tallow nodded.

“But why?” Cassanya asked, confused. “What for?”

Tallow shook her head, her eyes still closed.

“Come on, Tee, I know you. You’re as honest as the sunlight, you must have had a damn good reason, and I can’t see that you...” Cassanya paused. “It wasn’t your idea, was it?” she sighed, suddenly understanding. “Was it?” the leonin insisted.

Tallow shook her head again, mouthing a silent, “No.”

“I see. So that’s the game.”

“Um...” Feral felt he had lost the plot.

“Tee wouldn’t do this on her own,” Cassanya looked up at him. “Your great uncle told her to.”

Feral gaped at her.

“Where’s Fellirion Forester?” Feral demanded the small apprentice whose image appeared in the pool.

“A-asleep, most likely, sir,” the young boy stammered. He looked to be about eight years old.

“Get him.”

“B-b-but I’m just here to take m-messages overnight...”

“Then you take the message that Feral needs to see him right now, and deliver it immediately, clear?” Feral growled, showing canine teeth just a fraction longer than quite usual.

“Yes-yes, sir,” the small vulpani nodded hastily, and fled, his receding footfalls echoing around the room.

It took about ten minutes for Fellirion to arrive, during which Feral paced the chamber. Thus it was that he was out of the line of sight when the old man did finally arrive.

“Tallow? What’s so urgent? What happened to your hand?” he asked, noticing the thick bandage wrapped around it.

“This burned her!” Feral snapped, holding the sword above the pool, glaring angrily at the old man.

“Oh dear,” Fellirion’s shoulders sank, his head bowing.

“Well?” Feral demanded, since it looked as if that was all the old man was going to say.

“I suppose you know…”

“It was you told her to take it.”

“Ah.”

“Why?”

“The short answer? Because I need it.”

“What for?”

“It’s not your concern.”

“Maybe not,” Feral conceded. “But I’d like you to tell me anyway. Perhaps I can help you.” To his surprise, Fellirion neither denied this, nor seemed angry. Instead, he seemed to shrink, leaning more heavily upon the railing, his hands withdrawing into the long sleeves of his robe.

“I don’t want you to help,” he said quietly.

“Why? Uncle Felli… it’s all right…”

“No,” Fellirion raised his head. “No, it’s not all right, my boy, not in the least all right. You don’t understand.”

“That’s right, I don’t. But you could tell me.”

“I don’t want you involved,” the old man stated.

“If you want this sword, I don’t think you have a lot of choice,” Feral told him. “Tee can’t take it for you, and from what I can tell nobody else seems able to use it either.”

Fellirion looked at him closely. “Is that true?”

“It is,” Cassanya said quietly, stepping into view. “It didn’t hurt me, but I can’t use it like Feral does. Nor Thor, nor Blue. Our friends,” she added, realising she had never actually mentioned them until now.

“I see,” Fellirion’s voice was almost too low to hear. “Well, I suppose that would agree with the texts on the matter. It appears I have no choice, then,” he sighed. “Though I warn you, this is a long story.”

Feral smiled slightly. “I have plenty of time, uncle Felli.”

“Very well. How is your history?”

“My history?”

“Do you know of the Dragon War? No, well, it is not popular learning anymore I suppose. You are, obviously, quite aware that dragons are no fairy story, no myth.

“Their origin is something of a mystery. Some – the more impressionable – say they were created by the gods themselves to bring balance to mortal kind. Others say that they are the true, original magic users, the very first to discover its secrets, and that they used this knowledge to transform their minds and bodies into creatures of great power and longevity.

“The magic users of ancient times, hundreds of years ago, were in awe of their power, for even the greatest of magi could barely match one of their race in the skills of the Art. It is no surprise, perhaps, that their awe became fear – after all, it is common to fear what one cannot control. They became afraid that the dragons would come to dominate this world, and that all other races would fall under their control. It was this fear that drove the divided and quarrelling mage factions to work together, united for a single purpose – that of bringing the dragons under their influence.

“It was not a simple task. Their first experiment served only to anger the dragon clans – hereto passive and uncaring about our affairs – and resulted in the untimely demise of those present. The subsequent attempts... were taken with less tolerance. The times that followed were some of the bloodiest in history, and perhaps, it is best that they are remembered now only in legend and folklore, for the dragons had no intention of allowing themselves to be manipulated.

Fellirion sighed, withdrawing his hands into the sleeves of his robe as he folded his arms.

“Eventually, the magi succeeded,” he said quietly. “An artefact was created that contained the power of all the mage factions, an amalgamation of all their knowledge, and wisdom. Many of the dragons were brought under the influence of the Dragon Staff, their power tamed and harnessed. Many, however, were not. Their power as a race was too great to control. Much too great.

“The staff brought a stalemate. For every mile one side gained, they would lose another. The war lasted several years, and devastated both factions. Many of our greatest strongholds were destroyed, as were many of the dragons’. Several times a truce was declared, but none of them held, until the last. It was a fateful day indeed when both sites met that final time, for something happened that none of them had expected. The Dragon Staff was broken. Not by one of the dragons, nor one of the magi. History describes him only as ‘an adventurer,’ and none of the records seem quite clear as to the reasons for his presence.

“But the result was the same. The staff shattered, its fragments dispersing across the continent. The dragons, to everyone’s surprise, did not slaughter the magi. Instead they withdrew, from the battlefield, and apparently, from this world. Nobody knows how, or where they went.”

“But someone found out?” Feral asked.

“Possibly,” Fellirion nodded. “Or it is possible that the dragon you saw is unique in its presence here. Our problem however, is not confined to the dragon. Two fragments of the Dragon Staff reside in the keeping of prince Tiernach Irontooth, second son of Maximillian. It is my belief that he is able to wield their power, and that it is he who controls the dragon. Or dragons. It is also my belief that he has used the dragon to provoke a war between the Freelands and Lordenor.”

“What? Why? That’s mad!” Cassanya exclaimed.

“Yes,” Fellirion agreed sadly. “Yes, it is. This last is merely my conjecture. I am certain that he controls the dragon, and since it appears that it was involved in the initial attacks that have provoked the current conflict... But I cannot see his motive. I know Tiernach, I’ve seen him work, and he is not acting out of simple desire for power. I wonder... I wonder if someone doesn’t have something on him, something they are using to manipulate him...” he trailed off, looking thoughtful.

“What should we do, sir?” Tallow asked quietly, breaking the old man’s reverie.

“Yes, of course,” Fellirion looked up. “Well, as Feral is now aware, the Shining Blade may prove useful in this. As I said, it seems we may be fighting a reassembled Dragon Staff, or a large portion of it, and that sword,” he leaned down towards the surface of the water. “Has already broken it once.”

Feral blinked, then the meaning hit home. “You mean, this is the sword that...”

“That the ‘adventurer’ used to break apart the staff. And it may yet prove its task to destroy it for a second time.”

“But how can the staff be reassembled when we... um...” Tallow glanced at Feral, who looked back at her, confused.

“What have I got to do with it?” he asked, feeling Fellirion looking at him as well.

The old man coughed, quietly. “I think it would be for the best, my boy, if you were to bring that pendant I gave you to Sanctuary. I think we should put it somewhere safe.”

Feral looked at him blankly for a few moments, then hastily pulled the pendant out of his shirt. He looked from it, to Fellirion, to Tallow, to Cassanya, and back to the shimmering fragment.

“Oh dear.”

“I fear, my boy, I have given you something which Tiernach will desire above all other things. It would be wise to look after it very carefully.”

“All right,” Feral nodded firmly. “We’ll bring this to Sanctuary. What then? What about the Dragon Staff? About Tiernach? Uncle Felli, he... he needs to be stopped. We can’t let this keep happening.”

“Feral...”

“We can’t!”

“I know, my boy, I know,” Fellirion said gently. “But right now you cannot do anything about him.”

“Yes I can, I’ll stop him! I’ll take the pieces off the staff off him!” Feral exclaimed.

“How? Are you truly able to take on an army? And a dragon?” the old man asked calmly.

“I...” Feral faltered. “I can...” No, he couldn’t. Not even with the Shining Blade. He knew he couldn’t.

“You see, my boy? You can’t do anything without help. I understand why you want to, really I do. I am more angry than I can say, but that anger is not going to help me, and nor will it help you. All it can do is get you killed.”

“But... we’ve got to do something,” Feral felt a tear slide down one cheek, but didn’t care. “He can’t... can’t keep doing this to people.”

Fellirion nodded gently. “I know. I will try, Feral, I promise you. I will talk to the Council again tomorrow, tell them that you have seen a dragon. Maybe I can convince them to take action. For now, please just let your priority be getting here. Tallow knows the way.”

Sniffing, Feral nodded. “All right.”

“Good lad. Now, why don’t you get yourself back to bed? You look exhausted.”

“Ok.” Feeling like there was no fight left in him, Feral stood up, as did Tallow. Together they moved for the door.

“Cassanya?” Fellirion spoke just as the leonin was about to follow her friends.

“Sir?” she looked slightly suspicious as she looked down at him.

“One more thing...”

“What?”

“Look after Feral, will you? Don’t let him get himself into trouble...”

The leonin smiled, her first genuine smile since entering the chamber. “I’d have done that anyway,” she said softly and left, leaving the old man to end the communication spell.

Cassanya sat down carefully on the edge of the bed, watching the lupari’s sleeping face. The moonlight coming through the window was quite enough for her feline sight to make out his relaxed expression. He seemed so peaceful that she nearly changed her mind about waking him. Nearly.

“Thor?” she touched his shoulder gently. “Thor?”

After a moment, the lupari’s eyelids twitched, then opened.

“I’m sorry to wake you, Thor,” Cassanya kept her voice soft.

Balthor looked confused as he sat up, the sheets sliding down his chest, the moonlight giving his white front a bluish tinge.

“Cassy? You ok?”

“I’m fine,” she nodded, smiling reassuringly. “I just… I really need to talk to you. I’m sorry,” she looked away suddenly, feeling herself flush and glad for the darkness. “I’m probably just being silly.”

Balthor smiled kindly. “It’s ok, Cassy. You can talk to me any time, you know that. What’s bothering you?”

“I… look, Thor, I think I’ve really dropped you in it this time. If I’d known it was going to work out like this I wouldn’t have brought you here.”

Frowning, the lupari shook his head. “I don’t understand,” he said simply.

“No,” Cassanya touched his cheek gently. “Not yet you don’t. Thor… I think I’m about to get involved in a lot of trouble. I’m not sure what to do about it, and it’s not fair to drag you into it.” She told him about the discussion between Fellirion and Feral, about the dragon, about the war, how Fellirion thought that the Shining Blade might be the only weapon they had, and how it seemed that Feral might be the only person who could use it.

“And I can’t back out of this,” she said quietly. “I owe the old goat too much, and I can’t just let Feral go off on this alone. Maybe the Council of Magi will do something, maybe they’ll sort it out, but if they don’t… Thor, it’s going to get really messy, and I’m very sorry I’ve dragged you into it. I’ll take you into Riverwood town in a couple of days. We can get you passage back home, or maybe find some work there if…”

“Whoa,” Balthor held up his hands. “Cassy, wait. What? Why would I want to go home, or get a job in Riverwood?”

“Because…” she ran down, apparently unable to find words to finish the sentence.

“Cassy,” he said gently, reaching out to rest a hand on her shoulder. “You’re my best friend. I’d follow you to hell and back, if that’s where you were going.”

“Thor...”

“I know you’re worried, and I understand. If the Magi won’t do anything, you think Feral’s going to get sent in because of that sword he found. You know you’ll go with him because you care about him, like I do.”

“Thor...” Cassanya tried again.

“And I know you’re afraid,” he brushed his fingers against her lips, quieting her. “You’d be stupid not to be, and you’re not the only one. But I don’t think we have a choice. If we sit here and wait, we’re gonna get a war, or a dragon, or both, coming to our doorstep. This isn’t gonna stop quickly, Cassy, not if what you’ve said is true. It’s not gonna go away if we sit tight and wait.

“Now, if we go out there, we might find that instead of being in front of the fight and having it come to us, we’re right in the middle of it. But you see, Cassy, that doesn’t make us any worse off. If a dragon comes to get us, we’re just as dead as if we’ve gone to fight it, and if it’s us doing the hunting... well, it’s better than being hunted,” he paused and shrugged his eyebrows. “Sometimes you just have to stand up and fight, even when the other guy’s bigger and stronger than you, even when you know it’s gonna hurt, because not doing anything could be a lot worse.

“And,” he went on. “You’ve seen Feral fight with that sword, and so have I, and we both know he’s good with it. I can’t beat him, nor can you, nor can most. Give him time, he might well get better.”

“But he’s just a kid!”

“Yes, he is,” Balthor nodded. “But he’s also got guts, and he’s more reason than anyone to want to take this fight back where it came from, and my money’s on him doing it.”

“You don’t have any money,” Cassanya said sadly.

“True, but it would be if I did. Plus you’re still forgetting one thing.”

“What?”

“I’m gonna be there with you, and I’m gonna be looking out for you. I won’t let you get hurt.”

A crease appeared between Cassanya’s eyebrows. “Thor?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re really stupid sometimes, you know that.”

“Yeah, I know,” the lupari sighed.

“But you’re right a lot, too,” she smiled. “And you’re right that staying here isn’t really going to be any safer, not in the end. We have to try, don’t we?”

Balthor nodded. Cassanya moved closer to him, and hugged him tightly.

“I’m glad you’re coming,” she whispered into his ear as he put his arms around her.

“Only because I cook better than you,” he grinned, his deep voice a soothing rumble.

“Well, yes, but also because I trust you. You know, this kinda feels like when we were kids...”

“Yeah, but the bad guys were imaginary then.”

“I bet you can still take ‘em down,” Cassanya squeezed him tighter for a moment.

“Cassy?”

“Yeah?”

“Your friend, Tee… how long have you known her?”

Cassanya drew back to look at his face. “Long enough to trust her.”

“You’re sure?”

“Of course I’m sure!”

“Even though she just…”

“Thor,” the leonin interrupted him softly. “What she did tonight, she did because she was ordered to do so. That’s not a dishonest action, it’s admitting you think someone else knows better and trusting their judgement.”

“Depends on your point of view,” Balthor’s expression darkened. “She is a magic user, you know.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I… don’t trust magic users.”

Cassanya laughed. “And how many have you known?” she asked, smiling.

“Well, two,” Balthor admitted. “Including your friend. But that’s not…”

“So what you mean is,” Cassanya leaned closer. “You met one dishonest one.”

Sighing, Balthor conceded the point, looking away for a moment before returning his gaze to hers. “Yeah, I guess. I just want you to be careful, ok, Cassy?”

“I will, don’t worry,” Cassanya put her hand on his shoulder. “Thor?” she added, a sudden thought occurring to her as she looked at him.

“Hmm?”

“Are you actually wearing anything under this blanket?”

Even in the low light, she could see his cheeks darken, and she laughed, tugging the sheet up to his middle.

“Then I’m still gonna take you into Riverwood tomorrow.”

“You are?”

“I am. You need another set of clothes.”

“I do?”

“Unless you wanna stand around naked while I wash yours.”

“Doesn’t sound so bad,” he stuck his tongue out.

“Depends on your perspective,” Cassanya raised an eyebrow.

“Do I get to wash yours while you’re naked?”

“I have more clothes. This is my home, remember.”

“Then how about I wear your spares?”

Cassanya laughed. “I don’t think a skirt would suit you.”

“That’s the not the point,” Balthor waggled his eyebrows. “The important part is to deprive you of one.”

Cassanya punched his shoulder. “Well I can see one thing hasn’t changed since we went our own ways.”

“What’s that?”

“You’re still a mucky little puppy at heart.”

“Would you want me otherwise?”

For a moment, Cassanya opened her mouth without saying anything, then closed it again, suddenly realising that, in order to keep their conversation quiet, they were leaning rather close to each other.

“Thor? We’ll be all right, together, won’t we?” she asked, acutely aware that her nose was only inches from his but unaccountably not wanting to back away. Maybe it was the moonlight, but it suddenly occurred to her that he was really quite handsome. In a rugged, scruffy, lupari kind of way.

“Yeah...” Balthor’s eyes flickered across her face, apparently also becoming aware of their proximity. “All right together,” he murmured, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath.

For a moment they stayed motionless, his eyes flickering across her face as her gaze fell for a moment. Unbidden, the thought occurred to him that her lips looked soft. Cassanya felt her hand lift, apparently on it’s own volition, as if to touch his arm, hesitating, not quite making it before the moment ended, both of them suddenly sitting back, she with a soft giggle and a blush, he with an embarrassed clearing of his throat.

“Sorry,” they both apologised at the same time, then shared a laugh.

“Yeah, um, anyway,” Balthor said. “Town tomorrow, next week the world. We’ll manage, eh?”

“Yes,” Cassanya nodded, smiling, standing, aware that she was still blushing. “We’ll manage. Goodnight, Thor.”

“’Night, Cassy,” the lupari smiled as she let herself out. She stood for a moment in the hallway, closing the door behind her, leaning back against it, feeling oddly breathless. Well, she had just been having a discussion about worrying things, after all. It would be ok though, in the end, she felt. Knowing that Balthor would be along was inordinately comforting.

Smiling, the leonin turned, intending to head for her own bedroom but noticing a light shining under Feral’s door. Whatever was he doing still awake? She knocked gently. “Kiddo?”

“Yeah?”

She opened the door and looked around it. Feral was standing by the window, curtains wide, watching the night sky. On the bed behind him, a glowball lit the room with soft yellow radiance. It was, she suddenly realised, the first time she had seem him without a shirt. Though still seeming almost pure blood human in torso, a thin run of russet fur made its way down from the nape of his neck, following his spine until it disappeared behind his belt. He had removed his boots, too, revealing furry feet with that paw-like vulpani shape. He really was an odd little thing, Cassanya thought.

“You ok?” she asked softly, walking up behind him, draping her arms loosely around his slender shoulders.

“Sure.”

They looked out of the window together for a few moments, as a cloud moved across the moon.

“Blue said he’s coming with us...”

“Hmm?”

“Blue. I talked with him. He, um... says he owes me his life, and his freedom, or some such. Said he couldn’t go on with anything else until he’d paid that back...”

Cassanya chuckled ruefully. “Damn tree rat,” she murmured. “Every time I think I have his number, he goes one up.”

“Yeah...”

The cloud moved on, clear moonlight lancing into the room once again, casting Feral’s shadowed face into highlight.

“I will stop him,” Feral said suddenly.

“I know you will.”

“I won’t let him keep doing this! No more dragons, no more attacks. It won’t happen any more, not once I’ve done with him. Nobody else is going to die because of him.”

“I know.”

Somewhere outside, an owl hooted. The wind stirred the branches of the apple trees, rustling the leaves.

“I’m kinda scared.”

Cassanya hugged him gently.

“I’m not surprised. If the magi can’t do anything with that sword, they’re going to turn to you for help.”

“But I... I don’t know what to do. Sure, I have this sword and it’s… kinda good, but…”

“Shh, don’t worry about it. They’ll work it out. All us strong and silent types have to do is follow the orders of the smart people.”

Feral smiled, resting his head against the leonin’s arm as she held onto him, catching her eye in the reflection in the window.

“You’ll be ok. You’re pretty damn strong, kiddo.”

“I am now, I guess. While I have that sword, at least.”

“I didn’t mean in a fight,” Cassanya told him gently. “I meant inside.”

Feral’s gaze fell.

“No I’m not. I had that dream again last night.”

“Why didn’t you say?”

“I didn’t want to disturb you...”

Sighing, the leonin turned him round to face her, kneeling down to put herself at eye level. “Kiddo... please don’t think like that. I’m your friend, I’m here to help if I can. That goes the same whether you need someone to talk to at midnight, someone to shout abuse at because of what’s happened, a shoulder to cry on, or just someone to sit with. If you’d rather not me, then I’m sure Thor, Tallow, or even Blue feel the same. You don’t have to face any of this alone.”

She watched a tear slide down the young half-race’s cheek. “Come here,” she held her arms out, and he stepped into them, relaxing into her warm embrace. Cassanya purred gently, just holding him, resting her head against his.

“Now remember I’m in the room next door,” she reminded him softly. “If you want me for any reason, any reason, the door’s not locked, you just come on in. I promise I will never be angry, even if it’s four in the morning and I’m dreaming of catnip.”

Feral giggled, snuggling against her furry cheek.

“Now, you promise you’ll come find me if ever you need to?”

“Ok,” he whispered into her ear.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Good lad. Do you want me to stay with you tonight?”

“No, that’s ok,” Feral shook his head.

“All right.” In on smooth motion, Cassanya stroked her hand down from the back of his head, along the trail of fur that shadowed his spine, and swept his soft tail out to one side with a graceful flick.

Feral laughed.

“That’s better.” Smiling, Cassanya turned him and sat him on the edge of the bed. “I’ll leave you to your rest. Even if there are only a few hours left till dawn. Remember, any reason, any time, come right in,” she pointed at the wall in the direction of her own bedroom.

“Thanks,” Feral nodded. He watched her close the door quietly behind her as she left.

It was funny, really, Feral thought. Of all the things Fellirion had declared him heir to –  which seemed to include the house and contents – the only thing that would matter to him was the one thing he already had. The most valued thing on the entire estate. Cassanya’s friendship.