Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Sam nodded slowly. "You oughta be fine fer now. They don' know who you are." He wrapped an arm about her waist and walked back toward the game area with her to get things ready for the next round. And then it would be time to set up for the adults' match.

The next game included Per's team with red sashes, and another that apparently Juno had been a part of when he was young, with yellow sashes. Because of the faster nature of the young adults' game, Sam and Fiona were both assigned to watch over it all, Fiona on the red and Sam on the yellow.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona tried her hardest to be fair and keep the older kits out of danger. Per seemed to take it upon himself to be the leader of his team, calling out orders calmly as the game progressed. When things got too rough, she allowed Sam to step in and break things up, reminding them to keep things fair. The kits seemed to have a good time, however.

 

[KieranSoares]

Come evening, the adults' match was postponed as a strong wind picked up and clouds on the horizon promised a blizzard overnight. Snow would hardly stop them, but the bitter cold posed a danger to players and watchers alike, so it was promised that the game would take place another day soon when the wind died down.

As it grew too dark and cold to stay out, Owen slipped away from the long house without anyone's notice. He knew who was waiting for him and he didn't much care to involve Oleg's family in such business.

Owen stepped inside the warm tavern after most had gone home, the short walk enough to make Owen instantly head toward the fireplace to get rid of the chill. He glanced around, soon catching sight of Dmitri's unmistakable, powerful form off in a corner with Xenia. Rory was out with their drakes, making sure they didn't suffer in the cold.

 

[heartofcourage]

Xenia was drinking a hot cider, smiling at something her husband had said before she caught sight of Owen entering the tavern. She greeted him with a nod, placing her cider aside and motioning for Dmitri to do the same.

"It's been a long time, Owen." Xenia murmured as he approached. "We thought you might have died. The were in Oslo told us that you were coming here to find your mate's family and we found that a dragon rider had been seen in the same area. Do you know who they are?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I do," Owen nodded slightly as he took a seat. "I was caught up in a slave mill for a while... a rich young human freed me and I managed to make it to Amsterdam after he returned Kesh to me. I only just arrived here a week or so ago."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Who is it, Owen?" Xenia asked again, catching the fact that he didn't want to name the person that they were searching for. "Listen, we all know that you wish to keep them a secret. Dragon riders are a secretive lot. However, they must pay their dues."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She only rode once, Xenia, tagging along to Sweden on the dragon's way here. She is not a rider, only a friend," Owen insisted quietly. He had resisted her before on similar matters, not wanting to involve more people with dragons where it might be dangerous to them or the dragons. "You will find no true riders here. The dragons here have no masters or keepers, and simply occasionally offer their help to travelers or to carry cargo. That's all."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She still rode the beast." Xenia said in a quiet voice as Owen continued to try and avoid the matter. "No matter how you want to state it, she has a relationship with the dragon or else the beast would never have agreed to let her come along. I know you don't want others to face danger, but this is important."

 

[KieranSoares]

"No, it's not. It was a friend offering a friend a ride over a long distance, no different from one human giving another a ride in a wagon. And besides, it's not my place to tell you. If you want to know, the dragon herself will decide. That's how it should be," Owen nearly growled, making Dmitri tense beside Xenia. Owen barely glanced at him. "If you want to speak to Invah Kyre, you need only let the village's protector dragon Glaynviahr know. He ought to be near the longhouse this time of night." Owen rose once more and headed toward the door.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Owen, don't walk away from this." Xenia said, standing from her seat as the other fox stormed away, telling them to speak to Invah Kyre if they wanted the name of the dragon rider. "We mean to protect them and you know that. We aren't the ones that she needs to be afraid of."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Do you think I've forgotten what you put riders through?" Owen snapped as he turned to face her once more. "And besides that, we don't get to treat dragons like children. I know they need help to stay safe, but the least you could do is ask them before you meddle. If you don't trust the dragon's ability to judge the person she carried here, you tell her that and ask for the rider's name. I'm not putting someone else through that just because your organization made you guardians without any dragons' permission or request." Owen had always butted heads with them about their organization, formed to combat those who believed dragons needed to be exterminated, and to help protect the dragons from extinction. Owen had always believed the group to be self-important and pompous, but he had worked with them anyway as he wanted to find dragons and offer those who were threatened a safe haven in the northern mountains.

 

[heartofcourage]

"If you won't tell us, there are other people here that will. A coin in someone's pocket always loosens lips." Xenia said in a casual tone. "And when we do fine her, she will come with us. If she is a dragon caller and dragon rider, there is much that she needs to learn and prove."

With that, Xenia took her seat again, glancing towards her mate. "There was once a time when the Blackstone name meant something in this world. Your father understood. I fail to understand why you don't understand, Owen."

 

[KieranSoares]

"In case you forgot, my father left your little group and didn't pass on anything you stand for. I found out through my mother instead." Owen pulled his cloak about his shoulders, but before he left, he growled, "Again, I'm telling you to listen to the dragon. If she decides to tell you, I won't fight you. But it's up to her. Consider the dragons' opinion for once rather than deciding their future and who's allowed to be near them for once. And I expect you three not to bother this village and their resident dragon either."

Dmitri's expression grew dark as Owen left, and he looked to Xenia, murmuring in Russian, "Maybe we should consider this village too, regardless of Owen. If they have a resident dragon... he's just one estranged villager from being found out by hunters."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Dragons that have been attached to a village are harder to convince to leave. You know that, Dmitri." Xenia replied, glancing at her mate. "Those that have been slumbering or in hiding however... We will talk to Invah Kyre and see what she has to say. Perhaps she will be willing to give us this woman's name."

Xenia left payment for their drinks as they went to join Rory, intent on setting up camp for the evening just outside of the city. It wasn't safe to be among the citizens just yet, especially with an angry Owen Blackstone against them.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't mean to make the dragon leave," Dmitri explained quietly as they walked. "I only want to make sure he is treated well. We've seen some places, human and were, use dragons like tools and attractions. If he isn't being treated well, I'm prepared to make him leave for his own good."

Dmitri had a long history with dragons, both good and bad. He had even been responsible for the deaths of three adult dragons, as even he knew that some dragons could be evil, just like werefolk and humans. His job, as he saw it, was to keep the peace between people and great, ancient beasts, not just dragons. That was why he often jumped at the chance to help drakes and at rumors of sea serpents and griffins and other such things, though Xenia herself had never seen a griffin or serpent.

 

[heartofcourage]

Later that evening, as Fiona was sleeping in her nest of furs and blankets next to Sam, she was startled awake by someone shaking her shoulder. Turning, she glanced up at the worried gaze of her father, the older fox looking upset about something.

"What's the matter?" Fiona whispered softly, rubbing her eyes and glancing towards Sam to make sure that she wasn't going to wake him.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You need to leave," Owen murmured quickly, kneeling beside her. "You need to take Sam and the drakes and the dragons and leave, immediately." There was a deep worry in his eyes that Fiona had not seen since the days of her mother.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Why?" Fiona asked, so confused but concerned at her father's obvious agitation. "We can't leave with the egg being so fragile still, Da. Besides, I promised that I would stay until spring. They need me here."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll show you how to transport the egg, and you can come back once it's safe," Owen said quickly, rising to look out the window to make sure no one was approaching.

 

[heartofcourage]

The way that her father was acting had her incredibly worried. He seemed frightened about something and the fact that he wanted her to leave quickly made her even more on edge. Turning, she gently shook Sam's shoulder, needing his opinion on the matter.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam slowly stirred, and as he opened his eyes to see Owen in the room, he sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Wha's goin' on?"

"I don't have time to explain, you two need to get out of here, for Fiona's sake," Owen told him.

"Owen, we're no' runnin' away. What's happened?"

"Those riders that came into the village today, I used to work with them. They're looking for the person who rode the dragon into the village. If they find Fiona, they'll force her to go through an insane trial that will probably kill her, just to prove she's worthy."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Grandpa always said that was a myth." Fiona murmured as her father insisted that those people very well might harm her. "He said that Blackstones have always been free to choose what they wish to do. No group can ever make us do something that we don't want to do."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They don't know you're a Blackstone. And even if they did, I don't think it would matter anymore. My father left their group because he wanted peace and he didn't believe in everything they were doing. I only worked with them to offer dragons an escape to safety if they were threatened. They don't believe dragons can choose for themselves who to trust."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced towards Sam, both worried and confused on what she should do. If she ran away, she would put the egg in danger and be leaving behind the family that she adored. If she stayed, she might well be in danger. She had never seen her father so scared. At least not since they had lost her Ma so long ago.

"What do we do?" She asked him, needing his clear head and sage advice more than ever.

 

[KieranSoares]

"If we run, they'll find out an' follow," Sam told them both, making Owen's ears lay back. "If we face them now an' try t'work out some understanding, whether it works or not, we'll have a better chance than if we jus' leave."

"They don't take no for an answer, Sam," Owen told him quietly, the worry clear for Fiona.

"They can' make Fiona do anythin' she doesn' want to, especially no' while she's got a family an' a dragon around t'back 'er up. If worse comes t'worst, I'm no' afraid t'get into a fight."

Owen could only shake his head, his ears still laid back as he stepped out of the room.