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Chapter 1
The sky was cloudy and gray. Water began dripping into the small cabin by the lake. There were several places the roof was leaking. This was not improving her day. The roof really needed to be fixed. She was thinking to herself as she moved the candles around to stay dry. A new leak let fat raindrops splatter onto the floor of the cabin. “Damn it! I don't need this!” She swore aloud and began to think again, moving an empty pot under the new leak. She ran a mental checklist of things that needed to be fixed: the shed, the kitchen hearth, the top step on the porch, the door to the bedroom, the bathtub, she needed to go to the market to fill the pantry, buy toiletries, and the roof, the roof really needed to be fixed. “How the hell did I get myself into this?” she thought to herself as she toyed with her necklace, an age-old habit. She began to drift from the present and into the past, into her memories. She remembered flying…


“Is that it?” she yelled above the rush of air and the beat of wings.
“No, it's a sister of the forest we're traveling to, but that's not it. Don't worry little one, we're close.” The dragon swung his head around and winked his yellow slanted eye. The dragons were always so informal with royalty, especially Princess Anook.
“So, tell me again why you're taking me to this forest.”
“It's a surprise, Anook. But trust me; I wouldn't wake you up in the middle of the night if it wasn't worth it.” The dragon looked smug with himself for knowing something before the princess. Anook was annoyed.
“This had better be good.” She mumbled under her breath. The princess leaned onto one of the dragon's back blades and tried to fall back to sleep while she fingered the little golden amulet that dangled from her neck by a thin, elegant golden chain. The amulet was a golden heart encrusted with peridots, emeralds, and pale sapphires. The amulet was passed down from mother to daughter for over 200 years.
“God it's cold! I should have brought my heavy shawl.” The cold night air of November seeped through Anook's thin shawl and nightdress. The wind ran through her nightdress and made the loose material wave and flap out behind her. Anook couldn't fall back asleep so instead concentrated on what she was expected to do the next day. “Teo, I have to get some sleep tonight, I've got a long day tomorrow. Will this take very long? My day tomorrow, training to be a good leader; tutored by father, training to be a proper lady and the Queen; under mother's strict rule, blah, blah, blah…To tell you the truth, I'd rather spend all night freezing my ass off here on your back. I'm only 17! I can't do all of this! I shouldn't have to do this! I need to live. I hate being royalty.” Anook was getting very annoyed and was on the verge of anger. She made a mental note to put a better lock on her bedroom window so no more dragons would insist upon her coming with them in the middle of the night.
“Anook, may I ask you a personal question?”
“Has anything ever stopped you?”
“No, nothing has ever stopped me.”
“So what's the question, Teo?” She eyed the back of the dragon's head suspiciously.
“How are you doing in the line of suitors?” He asked innocently.
“As if you don't already know everything about that. You watch me and my suitors closer than any of my chaperones. I also know that you are aware of all my opinion on all the men who come to see me. I don't like any of them. Besides if I didn't want to, I wouldn't have to court anyone at all.”
“How so? You're a princess and you're job is to marry well and carry on the royal blood line.”
“I have two older sisters to take care of that for me. Marie and Elizabeth are two beautiful girls and can easily marry a good man. They can make maybe six royal offspring between the both of them. Is this what you woke me up for? You rolled me out of my warm bed to discuss my love life? This thing in the forest better be good. How much further is it?” Anook was cold and angry now. A thought entered her head. “Actually to tell the truth, I do have my eye on Jian, maybe I'll speak with him one day.” Anook said hopefully.
Anook was the most beautiful girl in the kingdom. She had a mysterious, foreign look about her. She had long, wavy hair as dark as midnight and was as soft as a kitten's coat. Her eyes were large and dark brown; they contrasted her pale skin. Anook's figure was perfect. She was a medium height. Anook wasn't fat, but she had a lot of curves. Every man in the kingdom wanted Anook's hand in marriage. Some even said that she had put a spell on every man in the kingdom and then proceeded to refuse one right after the other. Others said it was just her foreign gypsy voice and appearance.
About fifteen minutes after Teo rolled the princess out of her warm bed and began flying her around in the cold night air; Teo announced, “Here we are little one. Hold on we're going to land now.” Teo picked a spot to land and started on a gentle decent. Once they landed Teo lowered himself to let the princess climb off of him. “Follow me little Anook. It's a short walk.” Teo started walking through the woods.
“So, can you tell me now why you brought me here?” At the moment Anook spoke, Teo entered a clearing with a large cave at the far end of it. Beside the cave there was a pool of crystal clear water. A small waterfall that trickled from over the cave to beside it fed the pool.
“We're here. Just inside that cave.” Anook hesitated going in and looked at Teo. “Go on, it won't hurt you.”
“It?” Suspicion crept onto Anook's face. Anook entered the cave and saw light shining from underneath a small door to the side of the cave.
“It's right through that door.” Anook walked through the wooden door. The small room had a fire blazing in the corner hearth at the far end of the roughly made room making the imperfections in the room look like deep holes pitted with shadows. A bed against the rough wall to the left of the door, a table and two chairs to the right of the door, and some cupboards and cabinets at the end of the bed were the only decorations in the room. On the bed a man lay. Unconscious or asleep, Anook could not decide. Anook was stunned and confused. Anook's anger suddenly faded.
“Who is he?”
“None of the Elders know. We found him unconscious on the forest floor this morning. We figure he's been out since yesterday night.”
“Is he unconscious now?”
“No, he's asleep right now so we must speak softly.” The figure on the bed shifted and made a soft noise. Anook turned and pushed the dragon out of the small room closing the door behind them. Anook let her eyes adjust to the gaping darkness before she spoke to Teo.
“Why did you bring me here?” Anook was edging closer to anger than she had wanted. “This doesn't have anything to do with that suitor conversation, does it?” Anook gave Teo a suspicious look.
“No, I wouldn't dream of doing anything like that to you, lamb.” Teo's voice was laced with unconscious guilt and sarcasm.
“You did!” Anook wanted to scream at him. “I can't believe you're trying to get me to court a perfect stranger that you found unconscious in the forest! Why would you do that to me Teo?” Her dark eyes flamed and shot darts at Teo.
“Lamb, please…”
“Don't call me Lamb! Damn it, Teo!”
“Lamb, please understand why we did this. The Elders have their reasons why they enforce things like this. They saw…”
“The Elders!” They were in on this too? I can't believe the lot of you! The trouble with you dragons is that you all stab people in the back the first chance you get. I want you to take me home, and I want you to take me home now!” Anook stamped her foot in frustration.
“I'm sorry Lamb, but I just can't do that.”
“Don't you ‘Lamb' me! I want you to take me home now! No, never mind. I can get home by myself.” Anook started to walk past Teo and towards the cave opening. Teo stepped backward to block Anook.
“I'm sorry I have to do this Lamb. But you leave me no other choice.” Teo put his head against Anook's mid-section and began to push her back into the small room. Once her back reached the door, it flew open.
“Teo, stop using your magic; Teo! Stop it! Stop pushing, Teo. Teo! Let me go!” Anook was struggling against the large red and black dragon. Anook reached up and took a hold of her amulet, which was dangling furiously. Anook's appearance changed immensely and quickly to give a glance of all the women in her line before her that had worn and used the amulet. Along with the appearance change, Anook began to glow a strange earthy color and a mound of earth built of before Teo's feet. Teo had control of the situation and simply stepped over it and finished pushing Anook into the small room. Once Anook was in the room Anook let go of the amulet and stopped glowing and her appearance become one of herself yet again. Teo used his magic yet again to shut the door and shove the bolt. Anook was now in the room alone with the stranger. 
“It's not fair for you to use your magic either, lamb.” Teo's voice said before she heard him retreat.
“Damn him.” Anook whispered to herself.
Chapter 2
Anook turned her back to the door and looked around the room with fear growing in her belly and annoyance taking over her mind. There was no way to get out of the room except the fireplace but there was a fire burning intensely there and she didn't know the size of the chimney. Anook started to look about the room. She went to one of the cabinets and opened it; she discovered a man's travel pack, and a woman's travel pack, both full, she also found a sword and a crossbow with a full quiver of arrows. Anook took both of the travel packs out and set them on the table. The man's travel pack was much heavier than the woman's and appeared to be well worn and dirty from age. This was undoubtedly the man's travel pack. But who was he? She shoved that thought to the back of her head as she began looking through the woman's pack. Inside, there were a few sets of underclothes, peasant traveling dresses, a few pairs of trousers and tunics, traveling shoes, and a long, forest green traveling cloak. They were all made to fit Anook perfectly. Anook rushed to the door and pounded on it.
“Oh no. No way, Teo! No way in hell, Teo! I will not go traveling on some escapade with some stranger that could very well be a murderer!” Anook forgot about the sleeping stranger and was shouting through the door. Anook pounded the door one last time after Teo did not answer and gave up.
“I'm going to kill him if I ever get out of here.” Anook mumbled to herself. Sliding her hand from the door, Anook returned to the table with the traveling packs. She re-packed the woman's pack with precise care. Feeling nervous she glanced over to the stranger and saw he was facing the wall. It was safe to rummage through his pack. Anook opened the pack silently and pulled the first object out. It was a long hunting knife with two small downy feathers attached to the hilt; the knife was in a leather sheath with beaded embroidery. Next was a set of traveling clothes that appeared not to have been washed in a while. The last things in the pack were food and supplies. Anook began putting things away in the manner she had found them but decided to keep the knife out to examine its craftsmanship. She took the blade out of the sheath and held it in her hand testing the weight. She set the knife back down and closed the pack.
“You're supposed to wear that on your back” Anook spun around at the unsuspected voice with the dagger gripped in her hand and hidden in the folds of her gown. The stranger was sitting up in bed staring at her. Anook blushed furiously for two reasons, one is that she was caught going through the man's pack; and two is that she was only wearing her nightdress. It was improper for a man to see a woman in her nightdress unless they were married and sleeping in the same bed. She felt him staring right through the thin material.
“Plus, that one is mine. That little one right there is yours.” The stranger swung his legs around to put his feet on the ground. He scanned his eyes up and down her body, lingering at spots he shouldn't. Anook was too shocked about the stranger waking up and watching her in such a manner, she couldn't say a word. The stranger looked worn down and beaten. This was the first good look of the man.
He had black curly hair that reached down a little bit below the line of his shoulders. His hair appeared to be damp but Anook would soon discover that his hair was perfectly dry. His eyes were red and sunken in but beyond the redness his eyes were an astonishing shade of bright green, like new grass in the spring. His left eye was an incredible shade of purple and puffy around the outside; his lower lip was badly cut and swollen. From what she could see of his body, he looked fit and very well made. Anook had to admire the male form in front of her for a moment before she let anything else go through her mind. 
“Well aren't you the talkative one?” He said in mockery. Anook found her voice then.
“You are the rude ass of a pig. How dare you mock me?” Anook took on her royal air quickly.
“Don't pull that proper crap with me. I heard you talking like a tavern wench not ten minutes ago.” Anook gasped. Never in her entire life had she been insulted as much as she had been in the last thirty seconds.
“I beg your pardon?” Anook asked with breathy surprise. “Do you even know who I am?” Anook stormed to door and began pounding again. “Teo, you let me out of here before you come to regret it!”
“Who's Teo, your lover or something?” The man had some sort of an accent. It sounded as if he was the descendant of a leprechaun. His voice was smooth and rich to match his accent and if you could taste his voice, it would be thick with the taste of almonds. Anook spun around to face the man. He got up slowly, favoring his side and began to walk to Anook. Now that he was standing, Anook could clearly see that he was twice the size of her and could easily overpower her.
“Sir, if you must eavesdrop on me, you might as well learn the facts before you speak.” Anook began to take on an air of superiority again. That, she felt, was her only protection against his sheer size.
“You know, you really are a nice piece of work. How many men have gotten to you honey?” Anook nearly choked at the remark he had just made. Anook quickly spun back to begin pounding on the door again.
“Teo! Teo please! Let me out! Please? God, Teo!” Anook turned again to the man to discover he was practically a breath away. Anook let out a startled cry and ripped the knife out of its home in a heartbeat. Anger flooded through her and she brought the knife up to the base of the man's throat before saying in a steady voice “If you don't stay back, I will kill you.” The stranger rolled his eyes down and stared at the knife for a moment before he looked into Anook's eyes and smacked the knife out of her hand. The knife flew across the room and hit the wall with a thud.
“That wasn't a very nice thing to do missy. Not a very nice thing at all. But I have to admit, you can use a knife; you just can't keep it in your hand.” The stranger was extending his fingers to brush against Anook's cheek when she brought her knee hard into his groin. The man went cross-eyed and fell to the ground moaning.
“Teo! Get me the hell out of here!” Anger flooded through her voice. The door opened and Anook stormed out. “Teo, if I get the chance, I'm going to shoot you with the biggest crossbow I can find.” The man recovered about five minutes later, frighteningly fast and hobbled slowly out after Anook.
“You little bitch! Normal people don't hit other people there! That was un-called-for!” Anook ignored the obnoxious stranger and turned towards Teo.
“Teo, this was all a pleasant surprise. You rolled me out of bed to be practically killed and possibly raped. What the hell's wrong with you? I told you that he was not to be trusted.”
“You never said anything of the sort Lamb.” Teo replied.
“But you knew I didn't want to be left with him!” Anook huffed and glanced around the cave. Lining the walls were the Elders.
There were seven Elders; four of the Elders were females and the remaining three were males. The Elders were responsible for their clan of dragons and were also the parents of every dragon in the clan. When the dragons came together to mate every four years, the three strongest females at the time would mate with the males. The one female that was left out would use that year to rest.
The Elders were also responsible for seeing into the future, protecting their clan, and finding a person's identity. The Elders had many more powers than that but many of them were unknown. One could fight to become an elder but it was not easy.
In the clan, the green dragons that were the weakest and did not like to fight; they would if it was needed of them. Then there were the red dragons which were stronger than their green brothers and would fight whenever the opportunity arose. After the reds, although, there were the blacks. The blacks were the fiercest of the dragons and when threatened, their pupils would take over their eyes turning them to pitch. The blacks acted as a kind of security for the clan and did what the elders didn't do. On an occasion, when there was too much fighting in a clan, one of the Elders would have a white dragon. That dragon would be neutral in all situations and not fight at all; he would be the peacekeeper. 
“Elders.” Anook sank into a quick curtsey and averted her eyes to the ground. One of the female Elders spoke up. Her name was Antonia; she was a black dragon and Teo's mother.
“Anook, dear, you know you don't have to do that anymore.”
“I know mother Antonia, but it is the correct form of respect.” Anook said as she rose from her respectful position.
“That is fine, dear. I can't tell you much, but I can tell you that you must leave the kingdom immediately. You're in danger.” Anook had had enough of this and rolled her eyes and shifted her weight.  
“Ok, this has been a fine and dandy joke on me, but I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow and I have already missed quite enough sleep, so Teo, if you would be so kind as to take me home, I will be sure not lose my temper in this little tiny cave.”
“Anook. You must listen! The kingdom is…” Antonia faltered with her words as if considering what to tell her and what not too. “You must leave immediately. You, boy, what is your name?” Antonia faced the stranger and gave him a piercing glare. Finn returned the glare and tried to stand up straight but that put him on his knees again.
“Excuse me madam, but I am far past being a boy. I'm a full grown man, there is a difference. You may call me Finn.” Antonia gave him a suspicious look.
“Call you Finn? Isn't that your name?
“No.”
“Then tell me your real name.”
“No thanks. The woman who named me is one of the few living souls who know my real name.”
“Very well, Finn. You will be traveling with mistress Anook and protecting her.” Anook launched into a rage with Finn right on her heels. Their responses were in unison.
“Excuse me I'm not going anywhere but my original destination in Exodus City.” Finn said.
“What! I don't think so! I will not spend one more second in the presence of this vagabond! He tried to put advances that I do not appreciate on me and I will not stand for it!” Anook turned on her heel and began to walk out of the cave when Teo's tail made a large circular cage around her. Anook began to feel a painful lump in the back of her throat.
“Anook, dear, would you like Teo to travel with you and Finn?” Antonia asked gently.
“I told you, the only place I'm going is to Exodus City. I'm to meet someone there and I cannot possibly miss it.” Anook simply sent him an annoyed glance and attempted to speak coolly.
“No, I don't want Teo to travel with us because I'm not going to travel anywhere with anyone.” Anook said with finality. The lump in her throat seemed to rise rapidly. Her voice finally broke with fear “I want to go home!” Anook leaned against Teo's tail and continued to fight the rising lump but was losing; a slow, hot tear ran down her face as she hid her face in her arms, a childish gesture, yes, but she didn't care.
Finn could not stand to see a woman weep. Finn crossed the cave to where Anook stood in distress and produced a white handkerchief. Finn waved it under Anook's face as an offering. Anook wiped away the tear before she lifted her face from her arm. She stared at the handkerchief, then at Finn. Slowly she reached out, grabbed it and balled it in her hand. Anook never let anyone see her cry. She bravely swallowed lump and tears. Antonia had grown weary of the silence.
“There, now that you two have come to an agreement, you two, and Teo may leave directly.” Antonia began to lead the other elders out of the cave when Finn spoke up.
“I told you, I'm not going anywhere but Exodus City.” Antonia turned to look at him.
“You must to go with Anook; if you don't everything will fall to ruins. You are needed.”
“Wait, Antonia. Where do you want us to go, and why are we going?” Anook turned around and tripped on her own feet where she fell flat on her face.
“I give a bitch my handkerchief and she falls at my feet.” Finn said with disgust.
“Shut up, you bastard. You don't even deserve to breathe.” Anook said with heat in her voice as she rose and dusted herself off.
“You are to protect your amulet with your life; in fact your life depends on it.”
“My amulet?” Anook's hand instinctively went to her throat and clasped the little amulet in her hand. “It's a little golden amulet, what harm can it do?”
“You have no idea my dear. There are four amulets, they represent the elements. You have one, Nadine has another, you must both go. You will meet two more on your way, bring them with you. Protect the amulets with your lives. You must leave now or you will be in great danger and everything will be ruined! Hurry before it is too late!”
“Well where are we to travel? You're not telling me anything, Antonia.”
“You must travel to the Gypsy Plains and find the ‘Protector of the Amulets'. You must travel quickly though! You must leave tonight! Your packs are ready, there is more food in the cupboards; you must leave now. Good-bye littlest one.”
“All right Antonia. We're going. Teo, get what you need, you're coming with us. I'm not traveling with him alone.” As Antonia and the other elders left the cave and took off into flight, Anook walked briskly to the room, shut the door and Finn heard the bolt from inside slide shut with a bang. Finn, still favoring his groin sat stiffly down to wait.
“Is she always this bitchy?” Finn asked Teo with curiosity laced by anger. Teo just stared at him with his yellow eyes, gold in the dark. “Ok…maybe I'll just wait to ask her royal bitchiness.”
When Anook came out a few minutes later, she had changed out of her nightdress into a thick pair of dark trousers and a dark tunic, with the cloak on over it. She had her pack in her hand.
“You looked better in the last outfit.” Finn growled with a strange finesse and yet again swept Anook with a hungry look. “I'm sorry to say but I still can not accompany you on this little adventure. As I said, I have a meeting in Exodus City that I couldn't, or wouldn't for that matter miss for the world.”
“You will go and you will try to tolerate my hatred for you just as I will have to try to tolerate the vulgar manners and gross advances from you. If you choose not to go again, you can have Teo to force you to accompany us, or I can force you to accompany us. Those are your choices.” Finn glanced at Anook and noticed in her other hand she was carrying his knife it was in its sheath, but he had already met her speed. Finn gave a few moments of thought to the matter and replied cheerfully.
“So, since we're going to be traveling with each other, what should I call you?” Finn got to his feet slowly and painfully addressing Anook directly.
“You may call me Anook.” The princess dropped her pack and held out her hand in a royal gesture for him to kiss it.
“I don't think so honey. I ain't gonna treat you like some royal princess. You may have a great ass…” Finn faded off before he received a warning look from Teo. “never mind. But I know for sure, just by your accent, and language, you are not a princess. I'm very well traveled.” Anook shot a glance over to Teo. Teo merely shrugged. “Now if you will excuse me, I need to go change my clothes also. These, as you can see, are very bloody.” Anook glanced over his clothing and realized for the first time that he was very bloody.
“What happened to you?” Anook asked in curiosity laced with unconscious sympathy.
“I don't know, a group jumped me and was saying something about returning what belongs to them. I've never stolen anything in my life.” Finn walked into the small room and shut the door behind him.
“For some reason I highly doubt that claim.” Anook mumbled under her breath “Teo, I don't want him to know I'm a princess.”
“Why not? He might treat you with a little more respect.”
“No, if I have to earn respect from that mongrel by telling him I'm royalty, then I don't want respect from him. My political station has nothing to do with who I am. I will not tell him who I am. If he asks, I am the daughter of a very well to do shop owner. I am not of high station, but I have enough money to supply my wants and needs. Plus if he gets pissed off enough about me kicking him, and I'm a princess…put two and two together Teo…he would use it against me to get what he wants from my father.”
“You never know. Ok, so here's the plan, you're a spoiled rotten brat that gets everything she wants. Basically everything's normal but without the title.” Teo teased.
“No, not at all. I am not spoiled. You great lumbering goat!” Anook answered playfully and attempted to shove Teo. When the door to the room finally swung open Anook was busy tying her dark hair back into a knot so as not to swing in her face, a small strand still fell in her face regardless of her efforts. Finn walked out, clearly still in pain, with his pack on his shoulder and carrying his crossbow and quiver, he was also wearing his one change of clothing.
“Ok let's get this over with.” Finn walked straight past Anook and Teo and started heading towards the cave entrance. “The sun will rise shortly and if we want to get good distance before dark, we'll have to start now.”
“Well, I must get some things at the castle…shit” Anook whispered to herself after she let herself slip.
“The castle, what the hell do you need to get there; all of the King's money? Did you plan to waltz right in and steal everything or did you plan to sneak in and do it? Plus, the castle is far out of the way and it would take us hours to get there.” Finn stated with superiority.
“As a matter of fact, I work there and there are a few things I require if I am to go gallivanting with Teo. Plus we have to pick up Nadine, she's still at the castle.”
“And me. I'm not going to the castle.”
“Yes and, unfortunately, you. Well, suit yourself” The trio walked out of the cave and into the clearing. Teo immediately hunched down and Anook began to climb on.
“What are you doing?”
“I'm going to the castle.”
“No you're not.”
“Listen, Finn, I'm going to the castle whether you like it or not. Now you may climb on after me and just come along, or you may be on your merry way. I'm going to the castle on Teo's back.” Anook stood firm with her decision and stared impatiently at Finn.
“You just gave me the choice to go with you or to be forced to go with you and now you are giving me the choice to go with you or leave…is that it?”
“Just get on the dragon, for Pete's sake!”
“Can't we just walk?” Finn started to pale.
“No, like you said it would take hours. We can be in town in about half an hour on Teo's back”
“Time really isn't that important. Let's just walk.”
“Yes it is…” It suddenly dawned on Anook. “Wait a minute; are you afraid of heights?”
“No, I just don't like being on things I could possibly fall off of and die; dragons just happens to be one of them.”
“So you are afraid of heights” A smile began to creep onto Anook's face.
“Ok, yes; I'm afraid of height. Happy now?”
“Yes, now I know your weakness;” Anook glanced down at Finn's groin and said “well, one of them.” 
   “I hate women. Get on that blasted dragon, wench.” Finn gave in and started walking towards Teo. Anook's smile faded to a scowl.
“If you call me that again, you're going to regret it.”
“Oh really, get up on that dragon before I change my mind.” Anook started to climb onto Teo, when Finn slapped her behind as hard as he could. Anook yelped.
“Wench” Anook started to gasp and fume angry words and kicking in his direction; Finn only laughed. “Get up there before I make that love tap feel like a tickle.” Anook gasped and looked down.
“You are a crude, vial, and dirty man!” Anook swung her pack off of her back and set it in her lap. “You're going to burn in hell one day!” Finn started laughing again while Teo merely chuckled. “Oh shut up, both of you; Teo let's go.” Finn jumped onto Teo behind Anook and wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. Anook went rigid and opened her mouth to protest.
“I'm not making a move on you; I just don't want to fall off. You're lucky I'm a very forgiving man.” Anook rolled her eyes and relaxed a bit. She leaned against her spot on Teo's left back blade. They lifted from the ground as Teo took off and began to fly towards the castle.
“You have a nice waist. Who are you that you have a waist like this? In fact…” He lifted his chin off her shoulder and slowly slid his hands to her back. Anook sat up straight.
“What are you doing?” Anook's fear filled question went un-noticed. When his hands were in the center of her back, they slowly slid up and down her spine. Anook felt a chill of pleasure chasing the hot wave of fear. Both sensations were relatively new to her. She shut her eyes.
“Are you wearing a corset?” His hands roamed freely over her back.
“I'm a shop owner's daughter.” She struggled to keep her voice under control as she explained. “I serve the princess personally. She allows me to wear a corset. We are very close friends.” Anook finished and reminded herself to be sure to warn Nadine that she is the princess.
“Oh, I see.” Finn slowly started to move his hands back to the front of her where they slowly began to make their way up. Anook went stiff when his hands were almost to her breasts Finn leaned close.
“Please take your hands off of me.” When Finn didn't answer her and began to move his hands again Teo bucked and sent Finn flying. While Finn was plummeting to the earth, Anook was screaming.
“Damn you Teo! Why did you do that?”
“It's all right Lamb, I'm just playing.”
“Why did you do that?” Anook asked again.
“You have to remember, I have eyes, he was getting to close to you and I didn't like it.”
“My God Teo. Go down and get him, now! Antonia said we needed him!”
“Hold on.” Teo went into a nosedive at top speed to retrieve Finn. In no time Teo was under Finn and flying back up into the sky. Finn who had fallen behind Anook quickly belly-crawled to where Anook patiently sat annoyed. His arms went around her waist like a clamp and squeezed so tightly she gasped.
“That is a warning my boy,” Teo said threateningly “stay away from my Lamb.” Anook merely rolled her eyes again. While Finn was behind her trying to regain his breathe.
‘That's enough boys; let's all just get to the castle in one piece, shall we?”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Teo answered smugly. Teo gave the air around them one good slap with his wings before he sped them up. “Off we go!”
“Oh, God…I'm going to die” Finn whimpered.
“Oh, do you believe in God, Finn?” Anook stared ahead of her trying her hardest not to smile at her own cruel joke. Finn shot her a very dirty look but he never let go of her small waist.
For a while after that they flew in silence. Anook began to hum her favorite song; it was a song she had written. Only she knew this song and it was all hers. Finn started to relax to the idea of being so high when she was humming; Anook could feel this. She wondered if he would get so comfortable as to make Teo gave him another scare.
“Where are we?”
“We're about five minutes from the castle.”
“Good, this damn dragon is giving me jitters.” Finn turned his head to look on the other side of the dragon; on turning his head he caught a whiff of her heavenly scented hair. It was amazing, even though she was a fine piece to look on and had a wonderful voice, he considered her to be too pompous for his taste; and she was definitely a danger to any man she didn't like. He knew she was still as innocent as the day she was born. Although she might have been innocent, that body was sent from Lucifer himself to bring the devil out of every living man. Her personality was definitely not his taste as far as he knew; good for a few bounces on the sheets, as long as she didn't have any nasty thoughts in her head about violence, and after that he was off on is own way. Hell, he didn't even know what possessed him to agree to go. He supposed he could leave whenever the mood fit him. He would have to think about that some more.
“What was that tune you were humming earlier? It was very enchanting.” He thought if he wanted to get this demon sent wonder into bed voluntarily, he would have to sweet talk her.

*Chapter 3
Anook was stunned. The beastly man was actually saying charming things to her. Anook reminded herself not to fall for his conman tricks.
“It was my song. Are you interested in music?” She asked indifferently.
“Not really.” A lie on Finn's part and he knew it. Finn could shame the best bard with the way he sang. “I know a few bits and pieces of tunes, but nothing really.” Another lie told.
“Oh, that's too bad.” Anook didn't know what else to say so she shut her mouth. Anook looked impatiently over Teo's side and wondered if Teo was intentionally going slower than he could be.
“Get ready to land, little one.” Teo gently called back.
“Oh God.” Finn regained his vise-like hold on Anook's waist.
“Thank God!” Anook rolled her eyes heavenward. When they landed Anook attempted to pry Finn's arms off of her waist.
“Get off of me.” Anook commanded in a calm voice. Finn carefully withdrew his arms from her waist and instantly grabbed Teo's back blades on either side of him. Anook slid off of Teo and onto the ground. She took a few steps and turned around at his absence.
“Are you coming or not?” Anook turned on her heel and fluidly moved to the back entrance of the castle. Finn did not move, could not move. Teo purposely shifted his weight and snorted his hot breath behind him to get the man off.
“All right I'm going!” Teo carefully modified his position and slid off the muscular dragon. Finn slowly set off to follow Anook's lead when she slowed and looked up at the guard stations. “Smart Anook, smart…the girl's going to get herself killed before this mission even starts!” Finn said quietly before he sped up.

 Anook wondered to herself why the guards weren't paying closer attention to who was approaching the castle before she entered the back door of the kitchens. They were probably just changing shifts. Anook walked straight through the kitchens to the back stairway and took the steps two at a time; she had no time to waste. When Anook finally snuck into her quarters she laid her forehead against the door, closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Her mother hadn't decided to rise early for her, better for Anook. She had barely regained her sense of self when there was a sudden scolding voice behind her.
“Anook!” Nadine came rushing out of the bedroom of her quarters with her unbraided, blonde hair flipping behind her and her blue eyes blazing. Nadine was as skinny as a rail, and had no figure. Her face was beautiful enough to make up for her lack of figure. Her temper could only be matched by Anook's and was unleashed on the innocent just as often.
“Anook, where the devil have you been all blasted night long? And why are you wearing those clothes? Why do you have a travelers pack? Anook what's going on?” Anook calmed her stomach back down out of her throat and smiled; it was only Nadine, her lady in waiting and best friend.
“Nadine, I have so much to tell you! Help me pack some of my light affair gowns, I might need them, and pack your bag too! I know you have a traveler's pack…take only what you need! We're leaving!”
“Leaving? Where? What's going on?”
“I'll explain everything while we pack, we mustn't be caught!”


“What do you mean I can't come in…I'm just trying to follow the girl that just came through here.” Finn was getting annoyed. “What's your name anyway? I bet you don't even work here.”
“Jian, my name is Jian and I work in her royal highness' gardens. I'm sorry but you cannot enter the castle; I don't even know how you got inside the gates. Please leave before I call the guards”
“For the last time, I'm just trying to catch up with this girl! How would you like a good beating? That will get me in.”
“Sir, this conversation has gone on for fifteen full minutes and all we have accomplished is that I am Jian and I work in the gardens, you are a dirty beggar that goes by the name of Finn, and you are failing to realize that I cannot let you into the castle. Now please leave before I call the guards on you.”
“You…you can take that shovel in your hand and shove it up you're a…” Finn was cut off by a load and frightened cry from a dragon; Teo. Servants came running from the direction of the scream at top speed screaming.
“Attack, we're under attack!” was all Jian said before running to usher people into the castle. “Damn these guards! Where the hell are they? Damn them all to hell! What are they doing, getting drunk and singing rounds?”


“Captain, pour me…” the guard shook his head to clear his head of the alcohol then laughed when everything revolved around him “Pour me another one of those drinks you have, they are quite tasty.” The guard laughed again and was soon joined by a chorus of laughing guards, some singing in rounds. They were all drunk.


“That's quite an interesting story Anook but I still have no clue what you're talking about. Come on, let's get you to bed and I'll tell your parents you can't take lessons today, you're ill.” Nadine moved to Anook to shuffle her into bed but she evaded.
“Nadine, no! Listen to me and believe me!”
“If I'm supposed to believe you then where is this man? Finn was his name?”
“He was supposed to follow me up here but knowing him he's probably still frozen in terror on Teo's back. Now here is your pack, get your amulet and let's go!” Anook shoved Nadine's pack into her arms with a force that could have been anger.
“If you are telling the truth, then I guess there's no choice but to go with you.” Nadine stifled a giggle. “This is like the adventure we had when we were kids!”
“Nadine, no playing around say it. ‘I am Princess Nadine' say it!”
“I am Princess Nadine, now carry those bags for me, slave…”
“In your dreams, wench!” Both girls erupted in laughter at Anook's comment when they were interpreted. A frightened scream erupted from outside, it was Teo. Nadine and Anook exchanged glances and rushed to the window. People were rushing in from the outer gates. From her view, Anook could see Jian and Finn outside the kitchen door. Men dressed all in black followed the mass of people. The castle was under attack, Antonia was right, they were in danger.
“We have to leave now! We're under attack! Come on hurry!” Anook grabbed the stunned and frightened Nadine and whirled out of the room at top speed. “Hopefully Finn has enough sense to stay in one spot long enough for us to find him!” Anook and Nadine raced down the steps as fast as they could without falling and jumped off the last three. Servants were rushing around like mad hens. Guards were nowhere to be found.
“Anook! Let's go! I hate that dragon but I think I'm ready to get back on it!” Finn rushed towards Anook and Nadine through the throng of people scrambling about the kitchen and took a hold of them by their arms “Let's go!”
“Wait! Oh no!” Nadine screamed. “My amulet! It's still up in my quarters!” Nadine started to turn but Finn stopped her.
“You two go and get Teo ready and get on, I'll get it. Anook where is her room?”
“Climb these stairs to the third floor, run down the hall until you reach a door, open the door and you should be let out onto a red carpet, run down that hall and the door to my…Nadine's quarters is the third door on the left. Go!” Finn was off before she finished and took the stairs two or three at a time until he came to the third floor, down the hall he raced and he tore open the door. Down the hall there were soldiers and guards rushing about.
The next thing Finn saw was the King and Queen in their nightclothes being rushed to safety. Following closely were two girls a few years older in appearance than Nadine. Those must be Nadine's sisters; Finn thought, he continued thinking that Nadine looked very similar to them. She had the same blonde, almost silver hair; Finn imagined that the other two princesses' had ice blue eyes like Nadine. This scene seemed too familiar. Finn gave himself a mental shake and raced down to Nadine's quarters. When he reached the door he reached for the handle when a small, mousy looking man came running up to him.
“Sir! You cannot go in there! Those are the princess' quarters!” he said with eyes wide.
“Oh really? Guess that means I found the right door, excuse me, and thank you for reassuring me of my location.” Finn reached for the handle again and was once more stopped by the scrawny man whose confidence seemed to be waning quickly.
“Sir, really! It is a ladies' room!” The man looked quite embarrassed and even colored a little at the thought of entering a ladies' room without their express permission and a chaperon.
“I've been in a ladies' room before; well, you couldn't really call them “ladies” but they had breasts so I guess you could call them ladies. What is your name anyway?” The small man in front of him gave a squeak of embarrassment before reddening darker than the near maroon carpets, and bolting down the hall. “Nice guy.” Finn said as he reached for the handle without interruption and entered. 
When he was inside the amount of wealth stunned him. Drapes of a fine burgundy, that looked like they were velvet, were lined with gold cord, were hung from the windows. In front of the window to the far right, a small round table sat bordered by two chairs. A painting of Anook and Nadine as children hung on the left wall; the small dark child sitting with the pale one standing over her shoulder. The dark child was dressed in blood red satin with a dark blue sash crossing over her chest. The sash was clasped together at the shoulder with a glittering gold pin. In the middle of her chest hung an amulet, heart-shaped and too big for the small girl. Her black hair was pinned on top of her head so tightly it made her natural blue highlights shine fiercely. The pale child was dressed in a watery, ice-blue satin making her already pale skin look even paler than it should. She, too, had an amulet, heart-shaped and too big for her petite frame. Her silver hair was curled and cascading over her back and shoulders. Some curls were piled loosely on her head. There was sadness in her eyes that Finn could not quite place. He tore his eyes away from the beautiful painting and continued on his search.
On the right wall of the chamber were two doors separated by a fireplace that jutted out into the main room, two overstuffed chairs sat in front of the fireplace. Another small, round table sat in the middle of the room. Finn went to it and looked down.
The little amulet encrusted with pale sapphires, diamonds, and pearls, sparkled up at him merrily from the small table in the middle of the room. Finn grabbed it and flung it around his neck. The room spun sickly and the air seemed to close around him like a painful glove. Huge gusts of wind blew his clothing and raggedy hair around. Finn was suffocating, he couldn't breath. Red was creeping into the corners of his vision and everything else was darkening. In one last struggle Finn fought his arm up to his throat and ripped the amulet over his head. The room stopped spinning and the air quickly retreated away from his body. The wind stopped and his vision returned to normal. Finn struggled to catch his breath. When he did he rose and stumbled to the window. He saw two figures in dark hoods stealing across the far end of the courtyard toward the stables. Was that where Teo was? Finn turned around and began his dash around the three rooms in search of anything that would be worth a pretty penny. The jewelry boxes in the two rooms were the hot spots. When Finn's pockets were full and he could no longer fit any thing else on him, he left the room with Nadine's amulet in his hand. As he left, he noticed a small travel pack just inside the door; no doubt Nadine's, she had forgotten that too. He grabbed that and slung it over his shoulder. He whirled out the door and began racing back the way he came; he heard shouts, the name Manuel. The voices sounded familiar, very familiar. The memory hit him like salt water on an open gash.
Chapter 4
The boot came out of nowhere into his ribs; over and over again the boot came until he was screaming incoherent words.
“Where is it? Tell us where it is and we will stop beating you! Manuel, search him again…I know you have it boy! Now tell me where the hell it is boy! You stole it from us now you must pay!” Finn didn't know what they were talking about…he hadn't stolen anything since his last meal three days ago, and his meal before that…he had stolen nothing but food and what he needed. What were they talking about? Finn was starting to see red and knew this might be the last chance to get a look at the faces of the men who were attacking him. He struggled to lift his head but was rewarded when he got a good look alright at the man he presumed was Manuel. He would kill this man if he ever saw him again after this. Finn vowed that to himself. The beatings continued and did not stop until Finn finally slipped into unconsciousness; he welcomed it like an old friend.


He recognized those voices now. The sons of bitches; this was the same group that ambushed him. Finn ducked into the nearest corner, slipped Nadine's amulet into his pocket and dropped her pack to the floor. Finn bent over and retrieved his boot knife just in case this group noticed him. He wanted to stay and fight them, badly; the girls needed him and Antonia said he was to stay with them. Or was he staying because he wanted to get up Anook's skirts? He didn't know and couldn't tell. The man he knew as Manuel popped up in front of him unexpectedly and interrupted Finn's thoughts. Finn's rage exploded inside of him; visions of getting continuously beaten by this man and numerous others flashed through his mind. The memories of the pain; the vow. Finn lunged forward with his boot knife and gave Manuel a nasty cut on his left side. Manuel's hands flew to the wound as he doubled over in pain. When Finn reached down to drag him up for a beating, Manuel was waiting with a hard punch to the jaw. Finn stomped on the man's foot and punched him square in the face. He took Manuel's shoulders and brought his knee up into the man's already grazed stomach.
“That's for jumping me unexpectedly.” Finn brought his knee up into the man's groin to knock him down and started kicking him in his open gash that was now wide open and freely bleeding over the red carpet. “Come on, stand up and fight like a man. I'm giving you the opportunity to fight. That's an opportunity you didn't give me. Get up!” Finn ordered in a stern voice.
“Who are you? I've never seen you in my life! Sir, you must be mistaken!” Manuel looked up to Finn's face and showed his pain. Finn looked at that face, into his eyes. This was the same man all right.
“What's your name?”
“Manuel, good sir; please, I've never seen you in my life!”
“I knew it.” Finn mumbled under his breath, “Get up, scum.” Manuel struggled to stand; so Finn helped him by his shirt collar. “Don't you remember? What were you doing yesterday evening? Sitting around a campfire whittling? No, you don't look like you could handle a knife without killing yourself.” Finn looked at him as if he were puzzled. “Were you singing? No, your voice sounds like dragon claws against a cave wall.” A smile exploded on Finn's face as he mocked realization “I know; you reading a book, you look like a bookworm,” another looks of puzzlement crossed his face “or are you illiterate? I'll vote for the illiterate excuse, it sounds better to me…” Finn circled the man a few times then stopped in front of him and slashed his knife from Manuel's left eyebrow to his right cheek. Manuel screamed in anguish, falling over and nursing his face.
“No, you couldn't have been doing any of those things, you were to busy having a grand time ambushing me and beating me senseless for a crime I didn't even commit! Yeah, about that, whatever you were searching me for…didn't find it did you? No, you didn't that's because I didn't have it! Asshole!” Finn screamed it out and used his entire body to kick the man in the ribs. He heard a pop. “That was for beating me.” Finn bent over and took Manuel by the collar and hauled him to his feet. “Get to your feet asshole. I'm not like you, I like to fight; not ambush. You remember me now don't you?” The recognition dawned on Manuel's face like a sunset; recognition was soon followed by fear.
“Good! Splendid! Now we can resume the business of me killing you!” Finn said with optimism and was just about to drive the small knife into Manuel's stomach when Jian came running.
“Finn!” Finn looked up and the knife slipped. Finn didn't notice, he felt it go in, felt the hot sticky liquid run down his fingers and that was all that mattered. “Finn, the girls sent me for you, they were using very strong language for proper young ladies to use and I do not care to…” Finn cut him off.
“Shut up, whipping boy, what did they say?” Finn looked past Manuel to Jian. Jian gulped at the thought of speaking vulgar words. He decided not to.
“The message was roughly; get your butt down there now or they'll come up here to get you themselves.” Finn looked into Manuel's eyes again and saw the pain. He withdrew the knife and saw his eyes mist the slightest bit. Finn leaned close to Manuel's face and said in a low voice
“That was for rendering me unconscious.” Finn let go of the man's collar and let him fall to the floor. “Ok, let's go.” Finn said in an upbeat tone. He bent over and cleaned his knife on the only clean spot of Manuel's clean shaven face, put it back in his boot and kicked him one last time before picking up Nadine's pack and leaving. Jian stood frozen while Finn walked on and stared back the man who lay on the floor. Finally Jian ran and caught up with the jogging Finn.
“Who was that man?” Jian asked between pants.
“Oh, no one; just an asshole that I vowed to kill if I ever saw his sorry excuse for a face again.” Finn responded in a matter-of-factly way.
“Oh.” Jian winced at the vulgarity.
“Why are you following me any way?”
“Princess Anook said I was going with all of you.” Finn stopped dead in his tracks.
“Princess…” Finn was truly confused now. Nadine was the princess, not Anook. What the hell was going on? “You mean Princess Nadine?”
“No, Princess Anook. Nadine is just Princess Anook's lady in waiting.” Finn started running. He had a dragon to catch, regretfully.
“Never mind, let's go.”


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