“So, as you can see,” Fellirion said quietly. “We seem to have a bit of a situation.”

Seated across the table, Feral nodded, as did the square jawed leonin over on his left.

“Yes, you do,” the feline stated, with subtle emphasis. Troyston coughed quietly, and glittering amber eyes looked at him for a moment, then seemed to relent. “We do.”

“Thank you, captain, your support is appreciated.”

“Support nothing,” leonin eyebrows drew together. “This is my town, and my command. You want things done, you come to me, and I sort them.”

“Captain, it behoves you to remember that this young man outranks you,” Fellirion indicated Troyston.

“No, he has authority to requisition my men for the war effort, not to command them on whatever fool mission he sees fit.”

“Believe me captain, this is no fool mission,” Fellirion told him. “You have seen first hand that Lordenor’s army is both organised and efficient, while that of the Freelands is still milling about deciding which way to go. Princess Irontooth is likely your best chance to put an end to this war – but only if she is free to help. Confined as she is, there is little that she can do.”

“But why would she help us?” a lutrani at the side of the room asked.

“For the same reason that you would not leave a man to drown, even though you did not know him,” the old man said quietly. “You have no need to question Princess Aleana’s motivations. If you must ask such questions, ask them of those who sent the troops that occupy your town.”

“Assuming I believe you,” the leonin rumbled. “What is it you’d be asking of my men?”

“Nothing but a safe way out of Farview.”

The leonin snorted, clearly thinking this unlikely to happen.

“Kelpdeep’s ship is due in tonight,” the lutrani reminded him. “Maybe she could help these people?”

Looking thoughtful, the leonin nodded slowly. “Aye, she might at that. All right, we’ll try. You’ll need to be at the north end of the bay an hour after moonrise,” he looked at Fellirion. “How do you plan to get your princess out of her mansion?”

“I fear for that, I must prevail upon you once more. We will need one more thing from your men.”

“What?”

“A diversion.”

This time, Aleana was nowhere near asleep when the tap sounded against her window – in fact she was pacing nervously back and forth in front of the fire, just as she had been for the past three hours. Turning, crossing swiftly and quietly to the window, she opened it hastily.

“Oi, watch it!”

Stifling a scream, Aleana jumped backwards as the sciurel glared at her, clinging to the drainpipe beside the window.

“Nearly ‘ad me off this thing, you did!”

“I was expecting the raven!” Aleana hissed, holding a hand over her heart and glancing over her shoulder to where Calinan was still asleep.

“Yeah, well,” the sciurel shrugged. “He wouldn’t ‘ave been able to carry the rope,” he went on, handing her one end. “Now be a good girl and tie that round something solid?”

“Pardon me?” Stomach tightening as the implication dawned on her, Aleana leaned over the windowsill, looking at the thirty foot drop. A cool wind had sprung up, gusting her hair behind her as she peered down into the shadows. “You want me to climb down?”

Sounds of disturbance were coming from the other side of the mansion. An alarm trumpet was sounding sporadically, and there were many footfalls echoing through the dark streets all around.

“Sorry, luv, short on time. Make your choice, out or in.” With that, he swiftly descended the drainpipe into the darkness, rejoining those on the ground.

Aleana rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Calinan!” trying to keep her voice low, she prodded the lupari with her toe as she tied the rope to the corner of the heavy oak bed. “Calinan!” He sat up, instantly alert, gaze moving from the open window to the rope.

“Jam the door, we’re leaving.”

“Yes, Princess.” Without hesitation, the lupari shoved a heavy chair under the door handle as Aleana tugged experimentally on the rope. It seemed secure, which was slightly regrettable as now it meant she had to climb down it. The drop from the windowsill seemed an awfully long way, and there seemed to be movement in the shadows below.

“I should go first,” Calinan put his hand on her shoulder.

“That would be a problem,” Aleana said.

“Why, Princess?”

“Because I need you to lift me over this windowsill or it will not happen,” she admitted, feeling herself flush.

“Understood,” the lupari nodded. Without preamble, he did exactly that, so that Aleana suddenly found herself clinging to the rope, her shoulders level with the windowsill, and Calinan’s grip firm on her arms. “Grip the rope with your feet,” he instructed.

“I am trying!” Aleana snapped as the line snaked and twisted, seemingly trying its best to stay out of her grasp, her boots skidding across the unyielding stone wall. “I cannot…” she stifled a shout as she felt herself slip an inch downwards, clinging to Calinan with desperate strength. “Pull me up!”

But the lupari shook his head. “Calm down,” he told her gently. “I won’t let you fall. Relax. Breathe. That’s right,” he smiled as Aleana paused, staying quite still as she realised he wasn’t going to lose his grip on her. “Now, look at me, and feel for it. Take your time.”

“Right,” nodding, Aleana did as instructed, fighting the instinct to scramble back up into the relative safety of the room. Carefully… slowly… “Got it!”

“Good! Now, take your right hand, and grip the rope.”

Ah, yes, Aleana realised. Now came the hardest part. It wasn’t particularly easy to let go of the lupari in favour of the rope, but since the alternative was remaining captive, and most likely never being able to inform her father of what was happening, it was clearly something she was just going to have to do. She did it.

“Take your time,” Calinan said again, slowly loosening his grip as Aleana clung to the braided line with both hands. “Use your legs, go slow, and don’t slide.”

“Right.” Slowly, although it seemed altogether too fast, Aleana began to inch her way downwards. Grip with hands, move feet… grip with feet, move left hand… then right. Repeat. And repeat. The rough strands of the rope bit into her hands. And repeat. Her knees were level with a window now, the curtains mercifully closed, but allowing enough light through to silhouette her nicely. Time to move faster. Left hand, right hand, feet. Left hand, right hand, feet. Left hand, feet… wait, no, that wasn’t right…

The gust of wind was as sudden and unexpected as the slip that followed it. Grabbing desperately to regain her hold, Aleana had barely opened her mouth to scream before her impending plummet was arrested by something. Someone in fact, she realised as both she and whoever was behind her tumbled backwards onto the grass – which had fortunately been about four feet beneath her boots.

“Ouch,” Aleana announced, looking up at the dark sky for a moment, shaken but unhurt. Recovering enough of her wits to sit up, she hastily moved off the young man who had broken her fall. “I am sorry, are you…?” As he stood, his face came into the light from the window behind them, his russet hair and unusual ears instantly recognisable. “You!”

Feral blinked, found himself pointing at the girl who had fallen on him, and stopped.  “Princess Irontooth?”

“Yes. You are?”

“Feral Foxwood.”

“You came here for me?”

“Um, yes. Uncle Felli said that…”

“Felli?” Aleana interrupted him.

“Fellirion.”

“Fellirion? Fellirion Forrester sent you?”

“Well, yes, I suppose…”

“Uncle?” Aleana backtracked. “He’s you’re uncle?”

“Sort of; great uncle.”

“Then why did you not say you so earlier and save us both the trouble?” Aleana hissed, feeling both embarrassed and angry.

Feral thought that was a tad unfair. “Why didn’t you?” he countered. “Princess,” he added belatedly.

“Because… because…” one finger raised, Aleana hesitated.

“Because her highness does not reveal her identity to passing strangers about whom we know nothing,” Calinan finished as his boots hit the ground.

“Yes,” Aleana agreed, folding her arms and looking imperiously at Feral. “Precisely.”

A chuckle sounded from the shadows to the left. “Much as I appreciate the irony,” the sciurel said as he moved into the light. “We need to move.”

“I concur,” the lupari nodded, his eyes scanning the shadows. “Given the distraction you seem to have provided for the guards, I assume you have an escape route in mind?”

“Sort of,” Blue shrugged.

“Define sort of?” Calinan narrowed his eyes.

“Run that way,” the sciurel pointed. “Before the guards come back.”

It wasn’t much of a plan, Calinan thought, but it was forced to admit that it seemed effective. At the edge of the mansion grounds, they collected a leonin, the lupari they had met before, and a young human woman, all of whom were (hastily) introduced before continuing on into the dark streets, guided by a lutrani who seemed to appear from nowhere when they were looking the other way. The soldiers assigned to patrol the streets thereabouts seemed to be quite well occupied, judging by the fact that there were none.

The southern tip of the bay was as dark as the surrounding countryside, lit only by stars and moon as the tar black ocean lapped against the rocky beach. To those who didn’t know they were there, the small party standing at the edge of the water were quite invisible.

“Feral,” Fellirion smiled, clasping the half-race’s hand warmly.

“Hey, uncle Felli. Worked then?” he grinned.

“Naturally. I must confess it was tempting to watch what happened when the flames vanished, but it seemed wiser not to be discovered for the sake of an old man’s amusement. Good to see you came back safe. And you too, Princess Irontooth,” he added, turning to Aleana. “Our ship is waiting just offshore, if you would be so kind as to board this little rowboat…”

“Longboat,” the lutrani over his shoulder corrected. Behind her, three solid looking crewmen stood up to their knees in water, keeping a tight grip on the vessel’s hull lest the tide attempt to make off with it.

“Longboat,” Fellirion corrected smoothly, “I’m sure the good bosun…”

“Warrant officer,” the lutrani interjected again.

“Warrant officer,” Fellirion continued after only a slight pause, “will take us…”

“I cannot,” Aleana interrupted.

For a moment, Fellirion glanced over his shoulder before realising that it wasn’t the lutrani this time.

“You can’t?” he raised his eyebrows.

“Mister Forester, please speak with me?” Putting her hand on the old man’s elbow, Aleana drew him a short way along the beach.

“No, sir, I cannot,” Aleana said softly, placing her back to the confused group by the longboat. “I – I think that there is a greater problem than I had anticipated.”

“Would that have any relation to your being in the Freelands?” Fellirion asked.

“Yes, indeed it would,” the young woman nodded. “Mister Forester… about three weeks ago, my brothers engaged in an argument during a council session, which culminated in my brother Tiernach accusing my brother Kaja of treason, and having him put under guard. The kingdom, under Tiernach, is now in a state approaching marshal law. Since then, I have initiated a jailbreak, been chased by a dragon, believed that Kaja was dead, discovered he is not, and made my way here with the intent to inform my father of these events.”

Fellirion blinked at her. Then frowned.

“I see,” he said quietly. “Well, yes, I suppose that does explain the situation.”

“It does?”

“Not really,” Fellirion sighed, looking suddenly tired. “Or at least, it doesn’t explain the why, only the what. But, in the end, I suppose knowledge of the latter is at least an improvement.”

“Then you understand that I have to stay here in order to find my father.”

“No.” Shaking his head, Fellirion held up his hand to forestall her. “You father must be told, I agree, but it is important that you board that ship and travel to safety. You are at great risk here, my dear, as I think you have already learned this night. Your soldiers are no longer trustworthy, and should you encounter them again you may not make such a fortuitous escape.”

“I cannot ignore my duty to the kingdom,” Aleana stated.

“And you shall not,” Fellirion told her. “I will ride in your place. I travel faster than you will, I can locate...”

“Uncle Felli, no!”

Fellirion turned as Feral ran up to him. “My boy, your hearing is impressive, but it does not behove you to eavesdrop on conversations.”

“I don’t care! You can’t go now! Not when… when…”

Regarding the half-race for a moment, Fellirion smiled sadly. Reaching out, he placed a hand on Feral’s shoulder. “I know, Feral. I know. And I’m sorry that I must leave you so soon, but if you have overheard what has been said, as evidently you have,” one white eyebrow twitched and Feral gave a sheepish smile. “Then you understand that we are quite clearly at a crucial moment in the course of this war. If we do nothing, then Prince Tiernach will, I have no doubt, ultimately attain total control of Lordenor behind his father’s back. You know what he can do. You know what will happen if he is allowed to continue, if he commands the full power of Lordenor.”

Feral looked down at the ground, unable to meet the old man’s piercing blue eyes.

“But…I... then I’ll come with you!” he said, looking up.

“No,” shaking his head, the old man’s face was firm. “You will take the Shining Blade to Sanctuary. Tallow knows the way, she will be able to guide the ship.”

“Then I’ll give it to her and…”

“I think we know,” Fellirion’s eyebrow twitched again. “That that won’t work. Someone taking it from you appears to be impractical. And besides, I can think of few people more qualified to keep Princess Aleana safe.”

Aleana frowned at this, but said nothing. Evidently the old man was trying to make the half-race feel better, and she was willing to let the slide, this time. As if she needed this young man to look after her!

“But…”

“I will find you again,” the hand on Feral’s shoulder squeezed reassuringly. “Once I have played my part here, I will find you. I promise. Travel to Sanctuary, and remain safe.”

Feral bowed his head, his ears visibly drooping as Fellirion gave his shoulder a little shake, then strode past him to organise the others.

"“Are you ok?”

Aleana looked up from the rail, away from the glittering black water beyond, finding Feral standing beside her, the lanterns at his back casting shadows of his ears across his face. Somewhere nearby, she could sense Calinan watching them, alert but apparently perceiving no threat in the curious young man. This came as something as a relief, since she felt in no condition for a confrontation.

“Pardon me?” she asked, realising she had completely lost track of what it was the half-race had asked had said.

“I asked if you’re ok,” Feral smiled kindly.

“Oh, yes, thank you,” Aleana felt herself flush. “I often feel... less than ideal for the first few hours on the water.”

“Ah. I know the feeling.”

“But you seem to be fine...”

Feral nodded. “Grew up by the sea, was on and off of small boats all my life. Sometimes used to help the fishermen sort their catch – I was five the first time they took me out, a friend of my mother agreed to look after me.” Ruefully, the half-race brushed a hand through his thick russet hair, leaving it even scruffier than it already was. “I was hanging over the rail for most of that afternoon, to be honest, and don’t really remember much more than people checking on me, but I guess I got used to it.”

“You must live in a good town. They sound like friendly people.”

“Used to. It doesn’t exist anymore.”

“Doesn’t exist? What happened?”

For a moment, Feral didn’t answer, his gaze running out to the dark horizon. “A dragon. A dragon ridden by someone working for Tiernach Irontooth. Your brother.”

Aleana closed her eyes, turning her face away. When she spoke, her voice was a hushed whisper. “I didn’t know. Dear gods, Feral, I had no idea! When did it happen?”

“Just before summersend. There would have been a festival in three days time.”

“That was… just before the Fortitude talks… Minister Goldwood spoke about villages that had been attacked, ships sunk, but… We’ve been set up from the start. All of it, Tiernach must have been planning everything months, maybe years in advance, and I never even suspected! How could I have been so blind? Feral, I am so sorry. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to stop him. Everything.”

Feral watched her carefully as she spoke, weighing up her words and tone, not totally sure what to make of her. On the one hand, Fellirion clearly believed in her, and she spoke with earnestness and passion… on the other, she still referred to Prince Tiernach as her brother. How far would she really go? When the end came, what was she capable of doing to ensure that her promises were carried out?

“Could you kill him if you had to?”

Feral knew it was a mistake as soon as the ill-thought words were past his lips. Aleana went so white that Calinan had taken three paces towards her before she waved him away. Visibly shaking she looked back at Feral, her lips tight. “How dare you ask me that… how dare you ask if I could… could…”

Looking away, Feral closed his eyes for a moment. “That’s ok. It doesn’t matter. I don’t think I could either. I just…” but he didn’t know what he just, and lapsed into silence.

A hint of colour returned to Aleana’s cheeks as she watched the half-race study the dark horizon. Abruptly she turned on her heel, striding away from him towards the mid deck.

“Stop following me!”

Calinan did so, more through surprise at the vehemence in Aleana’s voice than at the request itself. He watched her disappear below decks, probably heading for her cabin. Glancing back, he found Feral had been following his gaze, his expression regretful. Silently, the lupari walked over to join the half-race at the rail, looking out over the dark water.

“She won’t thank you for that question, my friend,” Calinan said softly.

“I’m sorry,” Feral sighed. “I didn’t mean to…”

The lupari chuckled grimly. “Maybe not in your heart – but your head knew it needed to be asked.” Involuntarily, his grip on the wood tightened.

“You’ve thought the same?” the half-race asked quietly.

“I am bound by oath and duty to protect the house of Irontooth,” Calinan stated.

“That’s… not really an answer.”

Calinan eyed him for a moment, studying his face. “No, I guess it isn’t. Dark times, my friend. Dark times have overtaken us. Brother against sister, son against father, and yet all are those I have sworn to serve. Every soldier in the kingdom must face this dilemma. I can only hope that they choose wisely, and do not regret their choice.”

“What will you do?” Feral asked, looking up at the taller lupari.

“I? I shall protect Princess Aleana, if necessary with my life, because in her I see one of the few rays of hope that may yet pierce the darkness that grows upon us. And you, young friend – I heard your words to the princess, but I don’t understand why you are here, now. You fight like a soldier of many seasons and speak well, yet I do not see the makings of an warrior nor a diplomat in you.”

“No,” Feral shook his head. “I just want to help, if I can. I don’t want to see anyone else hurt by her. Him. Them,” he corrected himself.

“Her?”

“The dragon rider,” Feral explained. “I... I saw her again, just a few days ago. I think her name is Katrina.”

To his surprise, Calinan let out a short, barking laugh. “I’m sorry, my friend,” the lupari apologised. “But I should have known. I wondered why her rise to general of the army had been sponsored by Prince Tiernach.”

“General?”

“Oh yes. Ambitious woman, no respect for authority, she smelled of trouble from the day of her first promotion, but... one does not oppose a request from royalty, whatever one’s personal feelings in the matter. I followed her rise through the ranks, more through curiosity about the prince’s motivation than anything. Now it seems... quite clear. Had I but known...”

“You’d have stopped her?”

“I’d have tried. Gods know I would have tried, if only I had seen what was going on sooner!” the lupari’s fingers tightened spasmodically on the rail again. “Ah, but there lies the penalty of being merely mortal. I am sorry that you have paid that penalty, my friend. You did not deserve such a thing.” He looked at Feral for several seconds before continuing. “I know the princess assured you of such, but you have my word that I will do all in my power to bring down both Prince Tiernach and General Katrina. I will not permit them to destroy the house of Irontooth, nor the kingdom of Lordenor, nor the Freelands. If that is your goal as well, then we are allies.”

Feral shook the lupari’s hand as he offered it.

“I am however, curious as to whether you have any plans in the matter,” he admitted.

“Yes,” Tallow stated, making them both jump. “I’m sorry, I heard you talking...”

“No problem, miss,” Calinan gave a half bow in greeting. “May I ask what course of action it is that you intend to take?”

“Sanctuary,” Tallow said.

“The magical island?”

“Something like that,” Tallow smiled. “In any case, it will be our destination. There we can take rest and council.”

“Will the magi help us?” Calinan asked.

Sighing, Tallow shrugged. “I don’t know. I hope so. Light knows we have enough need.”

Calinan nodded silently, then looked towards the mid deck. “I should go below. My place is with Princess Aleana.” With that, he retreated, leaving Feral alone with Tallow.

“Hi,” he said quietly as she took up the lupari’s place at the rail.

“Hi. We haven’t had much time to talk, are you all right?”

“Fine. Did you get what you needed at the magefort library?”

Shivering convulsively, Tallow drew her cloak tighter about her. “I’m not sure. We got the book, but I’m not sure how much use it is. It’s mostly about the dragon clans.”

“The clans?”

“Yes, you see,” Tallow adopted the expression which Feral was coming to recognise as her teaching face. “There is not just one race of dragons, but four distinct subspecies, which are referred to as the clans. Each clan is powerful in magic, each the same basic creature, but each has power over a different aspect of nature, leading to the clans of fire, earth, air, and water. I hoped this book would tell us more, but,” she sighed, producing an ancient looking book from a satchel. “There’s a lot of information here, and most of it seems to be encrypted,” opening it at a leather marker, she showed Feral a page of unrecognisable characters.

“That’s no language I know, and I don’t recognise the symbols,” Tallow said, sounding quite irritated. “It’s ridiculous! Surely the point of a book is to record and pass on information, not to hide it?”

“Unless it’s just personal storage,” Feral suggested. “Maybe the author didn’t want anyone to be able to read it.”

“Maybe… but that’s really not the way it’s supposed to be done,” she shook her head, then passed a hand over her eyes. “Goodness I’m tired. I think I’ll find somewhere to get some sleep.”

“All right,” Feral nodded. “Do you mind if I borrow that?” he gestured to the book.

Tallow hesitated. “You will look after it, won’t you?”

Feral laughed. “Of course. I’m not that useless.”

Smiling, Tallow handed it to him. “Make sure your hands are clean when you read it, please,” she said, and Feral nodded, carefully avoiding the urge to roll his eyes. “Good night.”

“G’night.” Glancing down at the book as she left, Feral found his fingers tracing the design on the front – a number of interlocking scales. The inside of the front cover had been delicately worked, an intricate picture of a dragon among several trees, some of which appeared to be on fire. Flicking through the pages, he wondered if there were any more illustrations. There were. Another dragon – probably not surprising he supposed – this one appeared to be swimming. Somehow Feral hadn’t expected dragons to be able to swim, but since Tallow had assured him there were those with power over water, it seemed to make sense.

About two thirds of the way through, an illustration of not one, but four dragons, drawn woven together in a circle, tails and necks intertwined. How strange, Feral thought. Even stranger was the realisation that the text to the side was quite readable.

As storm over water, they stir up the waves

As rain upon fire, they douse the flames

As flame upon earth, they burn the soil

As mountain in storm, they fear not the wind

As breath upon candle, they fan the flame

As smoke from the embers, they rise to the clouds

As sand under river, they guide and unite

As rain upon forest, they bring strength and life

For ever the four, are locked in this way

The strength of the one, the weakness of three

For beyond this world, and beyond control

Is strength of all, yet weakness of none

Very strange, Feral concluded, feeling none the wiser. He should show it to Tallow some time, he decided, then continued flicking pages. A dragon in flight, in a cave with trailing plants hanging down from the roof, and inside the back cover, a dragon that seemed to be doing nothing special at all, just sitting while several people looked up at it.

Looking up himself as he heard footsteps, Feral received a cheery salute from the lutrani petty officer as she made one of her regular inspections of the ship. Feral smiled back, then eyed the book once more, trying to suppress a yawn and failing. Perhaps it was time to follow Tallow’s example and seek a bed below deck.