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[color=lightgray]So, tell me… how does a human climb to your rank?”[/color]. Felix looked over to his new fellow commander as he looked down with a smirk. 


“Huehue. Well, I was young when I had decided to follow in my father’s footsteps as a knight. Squire work was hell. Grab this, grab that, shine this, smooth out that sharpen this....I feel you understand what I mean.” the human commander explained. Cynbel chuckled lightly.


[color=lightgray]“Such work is necessary to build strong character. It seems to have served you well.”[/color] The faerie remarked with a respectful nod in Felix’ direction before letting him continue with his story.


“Anyway I had eventually made it to knighthood and joined the ranks of Kalmar’s forces. Kalmar being a human world kingdom. We would go to war and what not but there was a day that I had to make a trip to Greymoor for my king at the time and had stumbled upon what I now know as a feyline.” He looked over at the general. “I was scared. New world, new everything. But I had come across a cave one day and in there sat Suls. He came out to see who the intruder was and took one look at me and said something about becoming better than what I was. Long story short I joined his order and made many allies but it seemed me and Suls kicked it off better than most. He’s powerful, very powerful and a very good teacher. And as far as how I, a simple human made it through the ranks to where I am now-” He glanced over at the Cynbel with a stern look. “I am one of the few in this order who can bring down a dragon alone. With the help of Old Scale magic of course.” He looked forward to where they were walking. The Orc spoke up. [color=orange]” Felix is a tough fighter too. Been awhile since I fought a human as determined and fierce as him. Boy has a dragon’s will I swear it.[/color] He snorted a chuckle, seemly to have calmed down. 


Cynbel soaked in Felix’s words like a sponge. Interesting, very interesting. It would be a good idea to keep this one close. [color=lightgray]“You are a lucky man, then. He could have just as easily eaten you. Sulleykaar is very perceptive, more so than most dragons I’ve met. Most are greedy, they go for the first shiny thing in sight, but it seems as though Sulleykaar sees potential.”[/color] Felix nodded in agreement before giving him a quizzical look. 


“That reminds me.” He stopped and gestured for the General to step aside with him. In a low tone so the passing soldiers wouldn’t hear he asked in a serious tone. “What made Sulleykaar come to your aid instead of one of his other siblings?”


The faerie’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly before he spoke. [color=lightgray]”It was I who sought him out. A group of our finest diplomats, myself included, made way to Dragon’s Reach. I do not know how much you know of the Fey, but we are known for making deals. A deal was made that day to secure this alliance.”[/color] He looked forward to the massive troupe in front of them. Perhaps looking at what he’d gained for his Queen and country would bring him solace, but it did not. [color=lightgray]”He asked for my daughter. She was the cornerstone of the deal, without that piece, it was null. Like I said... he sees potential. She will be great one day, far greater than myself.”[/color]


Felix grimaced. “That is unlike him but like he always says. [i]”There is a reason I make bold and unorthodox decisions. My reasons are my own but never have I made a deal that wasn’t worth either parties time.”[/i]. Whatever he has planned for your daughter-” 


[color=lightgray]“I do not want to know what he has planned for her… it is better for morale that I do not.”[/color] The words were harsh with finality and in response Felix nodded respectfully. 


“Then let’s not talk more about it but instead on spar wages. I do like to make bets now and then on my men.” He smirked. Maybe the general was a gambling man too. The worn out father managed to crack a smile at that. 


[color=lightgray]“You… you are not so bad for a human. I like you enough to give you a warning: don’t eat or drink anything my people offer you. We aren’t very… [i]trustworthy[/i]  when it comes to your race.”[/color] A muffled laugh rumbled in his throat. [color=lightgray] “I will see if I can find you some imported dwarven ale, and we will make blood bets. We have a pit in the training ground where creatures oft fight for coin. Some even fight to the death, it is quite the crowd gathering affair.”[/color]


Felix grimaced at the warning but nodded in acceptance of it. Best to know now before it’s too late. “I would believe not. I don’t even trust my own race.” A smirk emerging and fading in a second. “Hmm...Sounds interesting. Do those in the crowd test their might as well?” He raised a eyebrow.


[color=lightgray]”Oh yes, almost always. Blood draws out a certain frenzy in my soldiers. To some it is a basic need, the chaos and rage, it makes them fantastic in combat…. But not very long-lived. That is just a sect of the platoon, we have plenty to balance out the berserkers. I imagine the Orcs will get in on this, yes?”[/color] Cynbel asked Garax, not wanting his other ally to feel left out of the conversation. Garax grinned widely and let out a bellowing laugh. [color=orange]”You damn well know it. In fact, I challenge you General to a first blood match if you want. First to bleed buys the first round Afterwards we will just bet on matches, drinking and fucking along the way.[/color] Felix just rolled his eyes and shook his head before looking at Cynbel and then Garax. “Garax I can guarantee you just by looking at our good friend Cynbel here that he would destroy you in less than a minute.” [color=orange]”You think I’m going to lose to this man? Look at him. He’s thin. There is no way he can out match me!”[/color] He stated, his pride on the line. 


[color=lightgray]“Only one way to find out.”[/color] Cynbel said in a sly taunt. He wore the same grin that his daughter often sported, though the latter came from the former, no doubt. At that, the three finally made their way to the grounds where they could pair up groups of troops for training and acclimation to the terrain. The fight would come later.


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[center][h3]Front Gates[/h3][/center]


With a furrowed brow and squinted eyes, Sulleykaar listened to Kiara ramble on about being “[i]hers and hers alone[/i]” before he spoke up. [color=9e0b0f]”I also suppose you are not familiar with orcs either. Particularly [i]that[/i] one.”[/color] Gesturing to the one walking away. [color=9e0b0f]”He is the warlord of the Bloodrun and Thanes and takes what he wants...Despite the fact I am more concerned with his health around you then your own. Also I don’t need any backlash from his stupidity. He’s smart on the battlefield but that’s where his intelligence ends so saying what I said was more or less to keep his mouth shut however-”  [/color] His eyes glowed dimly. [color=9e0b0f]”According to the deal made between the Unseelie and  I, I would offer my assistance personally if I got you so by contract signed in [i]blood[/i] between both parties… You...are….mine”[/color]


Kiara opened her mouth to object, her face turning the same shade as her hair, but Sulleykaar cut her off. [color=9e0b0f]“But...that doesn’t mean I will treat you like some gold coin. I told you that I like you and there was a reason for that but it is not time yet. When it is I will let you know. For now however-”[/color] 


Her arms crossed over her chest, narrowly avoiding being pricked by the vines and thorns of her dress. [color=gray]”I may have to fuck the warlord just to spite you…”[/color] she mumbled. [color=gray]“If I’m to be yours, you better start making this worth my while.”[/color] she was, of course, in no place to be making demands, but that would hardly stop her.


His attitude changed as quickly as it came. Now sporting a rather genuine smile he asked with a bit of excitement in his voice. [color=9e0b0f]”Where do you like to spend most of your time outside of the castle?”[/color]


[color=gray]”The castle is where I spend the least of my time. I spend most of it training with my Fa-- With Cynbel’s troops.”[/color] 


Sulleykaar stopped her there briefly. [color=9e0b0f]”[i]Cynbel[/i] as you hesitantly named him, made a very painful decision in order to have me assist the Unseelie in a time of war. If you have anyone to be mad at it would be me. Do not blame your father for what he did. As a member of the royal court [i]and[/i]-[/color] he was interrupted by a now pissed off Kiara.


Kiara lost her head at that. Her mother’s fire burned in her blood even if she had never met the woman. [color=gray]“You are unBELIEVABLE!”[/color] she let out a frustrated grunt and shoved him away. The force she used reflected a density much larger than she appeared to have. [color=gray]“You do not get to patronize me. You are nothing but an overgrown lizard who is reaching far too high. You will pay a large price for what you have done, and I will be the one to dance in your ashes.”[/color] she was seeking to stir a reaction from him. To hit her, even, giving her any excuse to tear into him.


The dragon felt the force of the impact as his feet dug into the ground, anchoring him in his place. He remained emotionless to her outburst. He then smiled lightly but....As Cynbel had seen, it was the same smile he gave when he popped the painful question. He slowly brought his hand up as an ethereal reddish black flame made itself known. He simply touched her shoulder, looking her dead in the eyes as the sclera turned an abyssal like black with a red centre his true voice escaping his throat. [color=9e0b0f]”Joor zah frul!”[/color] With the sound equal to a roar from a tunnel, the flames from his hand burst forward in the blink of an eye. She was quickly enveloped with ethereal flames that seemed to equal that of the earth resting on her body however it showed no evidence of denting or cracking the ground around or beneath them. Instead it left her immobile. Every muscle movement intensifying the effects. He stepped back and observed. [color=9e0b0f][i]’Are you going to be the one?’[/i][/color] He thought quietly to himself.


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Her provocation worked, as he shouted out his magickal words and attempted to immobilize her. The ghostly flames blanketed her without causing direct harm. The didn’t even feel warm, but they were strong enough to snuff out the magick maintaining her glamour. Without the false pallor, her skin looked like it belonged pressed beside a waterfall - stone-like and moss covered. Her wings were the color of murky pond water and black mold. The cracks in her stoney skin glowed a faint orange color for reasons unknown to onlookers. 


Kiara felt the weight then, as if the whole world was pressing down on her shoulders. Her eyes were closed as she focused on the magick, and on her emotions, as Professor Bertram had taught her years ago. [i][color=gray]”I am the mountain, I am the tree, I have the earth inside of me.”[/color][/i] she said the mantra in her mind. With a bit of effort, she was able to turn up the right corner of her mouth… and then her eyes opened in a deadlocked stare at Sulley. It felt like hell itself, but she would do this, she had to. At the first attempt to lift her foot, nothing happened. It was as if she was in quicksand, or thick molasses. Her chest rose and fell with the force of might and will it took, but she managed to push one foot forward in a short step. [color=gray]”Harder..”[/color] the word came without sound in her breathlessness, but her lips still moved. 


His eyes returned to it’s normal color as the ethereal flames remained. His eyes showed excitement and a hint of shock. Soon enough his tight lips turned into a massive grin for a moment.  [color=9e0b0f]”She’s the one…”[/color] he said in a hushed tone. He immediately released the spell and as his flaming hand flickered back to normal. A determined look observed her before he turned heel away from her. 


Kiara had built up a considerable amount of momentum in her resistance of the spell. When Sulleykaar released her, she plowed forward with clomping foot falls that left craters in the earth, though none quite so deep as where she stood through the duration of it. Her heart was once again excitedly hammering in her chest and a whispy laugh played at her lips. [color=gray]”Now that was making it worth my while…”[/color] she mused. Whatever it was that had made her so angry just seconds ago was but dust in the wind.


His facial expression gave off sage like feel.[color=9e0b0f]”That was Old Scale magic. Dragonslayer magic. Only certain people with certain qualities can master it...yet alone withstand it.[/color] Leaning his head back towards her, he spoke. His voice different from earlier. [color=9e0b0f]”Come with me...I’ll treat you to whatever you want.”[/color] The tone he used was...different. Short, sweet and to the point. A statement and nothing more. It wasn’t the cocky and pompous attitude he had before but rather something similar to a master talking to his pupil.


[color=gray]“Whatever I want?”[/color] she murmured and followed it by a ‘hmmm’ sound. Princess Kiara did not want for much, she was quite used to getting whatever she wanted. She didn’t bother to throw her glamour back up, he’d already seen her true form. And that gave her an idea of what she might request of him. She locked her eyes, which were now a mix of somewhere between orange and yellow, with his and offered a signature crooked grin. [color=gray]”Are you [i]sure[/i]  about that?”[/color] He simply looked at her to give her his answer as he previously stated.


Her grin turned into a full on smile that revealed a mouthful of razor sharp fangs. She was considerably more creepy in her true form, and most fey were. [color=gray]”I want you to take me flying. The real you.”[/color] It might seem like a strange request for a faerie, but that was what she wanted. Her earthly tethers and unnatural weight made it hard for her to fly at extreme heights, or any height for extended periods of time. In the world of aerial fae, she was a turkey. Kiara was also curious as to the dragon’s true size, this request would cover both desires… but perhaps not [i]all[/i]  desires.


Sulleykaar looked into her eyes and studied her only briefly before opening his mouth with one response. [color=9e0b0f]”Very well. If this is what you want then I will make it be. However-”[/color] His expression and tone never changed. [color=9e0b0f]”When this is done, you will accompany me to an emergency meeting with the council and your father. I plan to make a revision to the contract.”[/color] It was hard to tell what he meant by that unless you were him. It was a mystery and whether it would benefit or hinder the entire situation was nothing more then the theory of Schrodinger’s cat. His eyes glowed white and his mouth seemed to have that ethereal flame slowly rising from the sides. [color=9e0b0f]Queen Moriganne, Council and Cynbel. Shortly I wish to hold an emergency meeting regarding the contract between myself, the Order and the Unseelie court. Please all attend.”[/color] Needless to say that he had thrown his voice to them. Channeling that special ability throughout the kingdom to those who knew of the contract, specifically the court itself. With the flames subsiding he looked to her and nodded, gesturing her to lead the way. 


Kiara raised an eyebrow at Sulleykaar. A revision to the contract? Was he going to release her? Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all. [color=9e0b0f]”We should find a clearing, there isn’t enough space here.”[/color] he said as he looked around. Kiara nodded.


[color=gray]”I know just the place…”[/color] she said and then began grinning mischievously gaining a raised eyebrow in response. The faerie gathered the hem of her skirt up in her hands and hiked it up close to her knees. There was a brief, foxy taunt in her glittering yellow eyes as she gazed up at him and then promptly sprinted off. Wind caught up in the fabrics of her skirt and billowed them out like a bubble behind her as she ran into the thick of the forest. This was a bit of a test of her own, to see if he would chase her. Surely there was something interesting and playful behind that business-first attitude. She had already managed to draw out irritation, this was just another form of entertainment for her. Sulley had watched her prepare herself to head out but it was the way she did it that made him frown. Did she want him to chase her? The answer shortly came as she bolted towards their destination. He stood there for a moment with a furrowed brow and clicked his teeth. After she was a bit away from him he sighed one last time before taking a step forward and in an instant moved in a phantom like form after her. She was a good distance away as he came up to her side and released that figure, now beside her at a brisk walk. He glanced over at her and with a simple whistle to get her attention, tore off ahead of her after mumbling something under his breath. The sound of a sonic boom and a gust of wind propelling him forward. Kiara laughed gleefully before picking up the pace to catch up to him. She cheated, of course, and every step she took raised a stoney ledged that she vaulted forward off of to help gain speed and momentum. Once she was a sufficient distance from the dragon, she jumped forward and collided into him, wrapping her arms and legs around him as they inevitably tumbled forward into the field of wildflowers.


The speed at which they move no human could achieve but overall it was breathtaking. His hair moved violently behind him as they made their approach to the open field of the Deep Woods. The smell of fresh untouched flowers filled his nostrils as the mouth of the fields came into few before another set of red hair came into his peripheral followed by an overlapping sky-ground-sky-ground-sky. With an “oof” he felt the weight of the faerie hit him like a truck and sent him sprawling down the hill that led to there. He silently cursed her for it. He actually was starting to have fun and was planning on showing off his new form in an extravagant way by jumping off and letting himself take on his true form. This would have also allowed him to fly alone for a bit before giving her a ride but instead was given a ride down the hill and with a giggling faerie princess attached to him as a heavy necklace. [color=9e0b0f]”There goes my plan for that.”[/color] He sighed. He looked at her with that “get off” expression. Once she did, he looked around the meadow of purple and blue wildflowers in the center of the Deep Woods and nodded. As expected of the faerie, they knew of great locations with a wide range of room. It would be even nicer if they had a lake here as well. It had been awhile since he took a dip. After taking it all in, he looked at her. [color=9e0b0f]”This place is quite nice. We don’t have many like it in Dragon’s Reach.”[/color] 


[color=9e0b0f]”Please step back behind me.”[/color] He stated cautiously. Kiara obliged with an excited, fang-toothed smile. Sulley quickly took a running start, his body seemingly to stretch out and grow as his scales and color became much more vibrant and visible. A head that seemed to be as long as a barracks entered her field of view first, followed by a long serpent-like neck, claws, body with wings and finally a seemingly endless tail. When all said and done, what stood before Kiara was a dragon no more than one hundred and eighty feet in length. He was massive and his earth rumbling voice only matched his size. 


[color=9e0b0f][b]”Behold, my true form.”[/b][/color] He paused a moment, letting her take in his true form. He didn’t need to say something quite so dramatic, she was already staring with her mouth slightly agape in wonderment. He was as huge as he was beautiful - armoured with thick scales, like a natural war machine. What was it that humans had… tanks? Well, the fae were one step better, they now had [i]dragons[/i]. 


[color=9e0b0f]”And as promised I owe you a ride.”[/color]  He brought his gargantuan head close to her and dipped down, carving his head through the earth in order to make climbing up easier. [color=gray]“Hehehe”[/color] Kiara couldn’t help but giggle like a giddy child. She approached his massive head, lowered for her like a staircase.


[color=gray]”I- I’m sorry if I’m a little heavy”[/color] she warned before hiking up onto him. It was an odd thing for such an apparently waif-like girl to say, but as soon as she stepped up, he would understand and he did. Her initial climb up moved him slightly to her side due to the sudden added weight. He was quick to adjust to it.  The skeleton of a faerie weighed about as much as 3 great boulders, and that was just when her elemental magicks were passive, she could pack quite an impressive downward force if she really focused on it.


Once she had settled in, he raised his massive wings and jumped up, hoping that she was holding on as his wings came crashing back down, hurricane like winds moved around the area of his liftoff. A few more times and they were high into the air, seemingly floating for a second before a few more flaps moved them forward. The leathery wing beats made booming sounds as they generated enough lift and thrust to get the pair into the sky. Kiara struggled to find a good grip on the dragon’s thick hide, with her hands being miniscule in comparison to even a single scale on his back.


When Sulleykaar reached a sufficient height, 35,000 feet to be precise, his flight stabilized and Kiara was able to climb around for a better view. The faerie peered over the crook between his neck and shoulder. Her eyes widened [color=gray]”Wow!”[/color] they were high enough that she could see the majority of the sprawling Queendom. She took to pointing out monuments and landmarks, shouting their names so Sulleykaar could hear, but her voice sounded small in the wind.  At least she was attempting to play the part of tour guide, like Queen Moriganne had wanted. Sulley enjoyed flying and did as often as he could. This was a chance for him to spread his wings once again and enjoy the open skies. The added bonus was that he could look down to where she was talking about and gain ideas about different things.


Amidst her little game of aerial “I spy”, an irresistibly seductive idea struck her. Kiara crawled up Sulley’s neck and attempted to stand up on his head. Her legs were shaky as the strong gusts threatened to throw her body down. He glanced upward towards the stoney faerie and his pupils dilated. [color=9e0b0f]”What are you doing? Sit ba-”[/color]


[color=gray]”Catch!”[/color] she said gleefully before allowing her body to succumb to nature’s will, and nosediving off of the dragon.  Her form plummeted down at the mercy of the winds and gravity. It was absolutely thrilling! It was better than fighting, or sex, it felt like kissing death itself! Of course, Kiara wasn’t truly worried about dying, she was more likely to burrow a Kiki-sized tunnel to the core of the planet than to be physically harmed by the impact of her landing. Or, perhaps her draconic keeper would actually follow her direction and catch her. With an audible “stupid faerie!”, He corkscrewed his body downward, his wings tight to his side as she plummeted downward. For a split second, he thought about letting her just drop. It wouldn't have been his fault she became suicidal at that moment. Maybe the stress of now being owned by a dragon was too much for her but at the same time, she was the one that he needed. Losing her would mean losing everything he had planned on doing. [color=9e0b0f]”SU GRAH DUN”[/color] He roared as the wind seemed to change directions from all angles. The air behind him pushed down harder on his frame as the air around her pushed upwards. He could see the ground quickly raising to meet them and wit one final push he managed to get his front claws around her as he changed his form back to that of his humanoid form before pressing all the air around them upward, slowing their descent quite swiftly. That still wouldn't stop the inevitable rough landing. They churned up the ground around them and created a rather large crater. As the dust settled he laid there, his eyes closed.


Kiara had done her best to buffer her fall with her own wings and magic, but it wasn't much use. They collided in a tangled heap in the earth, creating a bit of a crater. For the most part, Sulleykaar bared the brunt of the impact. The silly dragon should have let her take it, though she would never argue about getting to be on top. Her breathing came in excited pants and she peeked up at him with the face of a kid who got caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Her cherry red curls, significantly blown out from the fall, tumbled down around his face as she propped herself up with her hands and grinned down at him. Her stomach swam with faerieflies, and she honestly couldn't tell if it was from adrenaline, or the way their bodies were pressed against one another. Regardless, she leaned down and pressed her lips to his. It was a quick peck, come and gone a like a summer rain, before she pulled herself back up and bit her lower lip, stifling a giggle.


Sulleykaar opened his eyes when he felt the warmth of her lips against his. Despite her weight, he sat up and said nothing, but gestured for her to get off. When she did, he stood up, dusted himself off and began to walk back towards the castle. Not a word leaving his mouth. If she saw his face, she would have seen the anger in his eyes. 


The walk was silent for the most part until about halfway when he decided to speak. [color=9e0b0f]” What were you thinking Vo hahdrim?”[/color]


[Color=Gray]”That my dragon warden said I could do whatever I wanted.”[/color] she smirked despite the iciness to his tone. She really hadn't meant to anger him.[color=9e0b0f]”You wanted a ride! I said nothing about that idiotic attempt at an adrenaline rush vo hahdrim!”[/color] He barked at her before looking forward and remaining silent. 


Kiara frowned and her pointed ears tucked close to her head much like a cat who just got scolded. He sighed and glanced over at her, a slight twitch of the mouth. [Color=Gray]”I wasn't in any danger… I didn't mean to upset you. Well, not this time, at least. That was the most fun I've ever had.”[/Color]  She tried to explain herself.


[color=9e0b0f]”At least let me know if you plan on doing that again.[/color]


Her ears perked back up, [Color=Gray] “You'll let me do it again?” [/color] she asked a little too enthusiastically. A very visible deadpanned expression crossed his face as he looked dead into her eyes. 

[color=9e0b0f]”No…”[/color] He turned to looked over at the tree line away from her view and let a faint smile cross his mouth. [color=9e0b0f][i]’Just like me..’[/i][[/color] He thought nostalgically. As they neared the gates he sent a message via telepathy to a certain Captain of his. [color=9e0b0f]”Meet Kiara and I at the entrance to the meeting hall. It’s time…”[/color] He passed on through his head. For some reason, the dragon became real silent and his aura changed ever so slightly. It felt like determination and a bit of nervousness but overall there seemed to be no change.