• Prologue:
    Delaine was a King who needed little effort to do anything. That didn’t take his power, cunning, or good will away. Nor did it diminish his talent, will, or instincts.
    Rin knew this as he watched his King’s purposeful strides into the servant’s quarters. He knew, and that made it all the worse, knowing his King Delaine would have his way with anyone without even trying and there was no denying it. That was why Rin was scared when the King Delaine looked directly at him. Rin gulped.
    Rin’s eyes glittered, though he knew he was in trouble. His eyes always glittered when he saw the King; it was very boy’s dream to become as powerful and glorious as their master and Rin knew of no one more glorious or powerful than his King Delaine.
    Rin was twelve, meaning on his birth day, he’d have to choose a path that he thought suited him. He would then get a sample of apprenticeship while the Masters got to know the kids’ strengths. Then they would choose whom they would like for an apprentice and tell the boys in private. Apprenticeship was at fourteen years of age, and Rin was twelve and turning thirteen in a week.
    Rin ran a dirty hand through his greasy dark hair nervously. “Rin,” Delaine said in his bass voice, “What are you doing? I sent for you five minutes ago!” Rin shied away from the King Delaine’s sharp dark eyes. “Come with me,” the powerful man ordered. The tall King turned and Rin hesitated to follow. What would the mighty King want with a lowly servant boy with no talent to speak of, left alone any idea of what path of life he was going to choose that year?
    Rin’s lively green eyes widened with each step with fear of a punishment for something he, once again, didn’t do. He kept his shoulders slouched and his back arched in a crouch as he limped after his dark King.
    They walked through the magnificent white marble halls decorated in purple and red and gold and silver. Rin ignored the fancies of the hall; he never cared for the riches that surrounded him. Rin felt sorry that his hair had been cut ear-length for now he couldn’t hide in his unruly tangle of hair. Curse his friend’s persuasiveness.
    He watched the King’s feet fearfully. His eyes never strayed too far from the ground. The King Delaine never spoke to him directly, something had to be important. But Rin wasn’t a child for important things. What could the King Delaine possibly want?
    The King glanced back at the pitiful boy and Rin glimpsed the King’s dark beard and straight nose. Having looked up from the ground, Rin lost his footing and stumbled. The King Delaine waited for the pathetic child. Rin caught up; thankful he didn’t fall on his face and make a fool of himself in front of his King Delaine.
    “Do you know what I want from you, child?” the King asked gently.
    Rin looked thoughtful for a moment and shook his head, “No, Your Highness, a lowly servant boy such as myself should not be spoken directly to by… you. I have no worth, especially none so great to speak to you in person.”
    “If you do not know, then guess,” the King Delaine prompted.
    Once again, Rin looked thoughtful, “To vent out your anger and frustration of a hard day’s work, Majesty. I’m only good for beatings and punishments when my superiors are angry.”
    “Why would I punish you?” the King asked, reminding himself to talk to whoever was in charge of the pathetic creature in front of him.
    Rin shrugged, “Any reason you see fit or feel to make up, Highness.”
    “Stand straight child; your posture annoys me to no end,” the King ordered irritated. Rin obeyed. He didn’t mind standing straight, it just tired him out. “I have come to ask what you were planning on training for this year since you have no parents our guardian to do it.” Rin was taken off guard. King Delaine had to be joking…
    Rin blinked a few times, “I was thinking of training for a few things. My friend Kerry wants to be a Knight. Shein’s son wants to be a sailor. Shein is a blacksmith. But none of them appeal to me. What do you suggest, Majesty?”
    The King Delaine barked a short laugh, “I suggest you find something that appeals to you. What’s wrong with being a knight? It isn’t appealing?”
    Rin looked down, “Knighthood appeals to us all, Majesty, but whether we feel fit or not is another… Curses! What was I thinking just now?”
    The King sized up the child with an amused smile. Even standing straight, the child was small for his age. He was gaunt, malnourished, but strong. His muscles were apparent under his thin pale skin, but hidden under a baggy tunic.
    For Rin, standing straight made it easier to see and all he could see were passing colors and such. He had to get used to it. Delaine knew the body resembled the mind. Rin had potential, but was being held back.
    During the silence, Rin had let his mind wander until he said aloud, “Who is the dark man who leaves for a time, comes back for a day, and leaves again? What does he do?” Delaine sighed.
    “His name is Fayne,” the King told the curious child.
    Rin mumbled, “He can ride.”
    “Fayne does many things and has many names. If you are asking for his occupation, you should ask him,” the King told Rin, “Keep standing straight, kid. It was interesting to talk with you.”
    Rin bowed low enough for his nose to touch the ground, “Thank you, Majesty.”
    The King Delaine regarded Rin for a moment, “You have worth, Rin. If I could give you any advice, it would be to think higher of yourself, but make sure to keep humility. Even mighty Kings need to be humble, Rin.” The King turned and walked away. Delaine never knew how much his advice would change the pathetic creature behind him.








































    Chapter one:
    Beginning

    Rin sat in the afternoon sun, dozing lazily. He had gained a few pounds, meaning he was looking slightly healthier. His skin was tanned nicely from going outside too much. A warm smile spread on his face. He was wearing nothing but leggings that went down to his knees. A gentle breeze rustled his clean, but still unruly, hair.
    “Rin, you lazy bum! We have to finish up!” a boy called to him. Rin lifted a sleepy head and looked at his friend. The boy was tall and skinny, with a lean muscle. He was tanned like Rin and wore the same attire. He had blond hair and a piercing blue gaze. If he wanted, he could wink at a girl and every girl who glimpsed it would faint, but neither of them found interest in the girls that swarmed Rin’s friend.
    “I don’t want to, Kerry! Couldn’t we just lay here for a bit? We still have six hours to find all them glass pieces and we’re only missing one!” Rin complained.
    “Which makes it all the more difficult to find!” Kerry huffed. Rin put his head back down and hit something. He lifted his head and there was the last green natural piece of glass. He handed it to Kerry, “There, I found it. Bring the bag back and come back here. You can take all the credit.” Kerry smiled and ran toward the building in town.
    Within minutes, there was a thump and Kerry was lying next to Rin. “So what now?” asked Rin.
    “What do you mean?” Kerry asked innocently enough.
    Rin looked at his friend, “You never have spare time; you use it up with pranks and trouble. What kind of trouble are you planning on today? I mean, this is our last day until we get chosen for our apprenticeships. We won’t end our boyhood with some big bang?”
    “If you want, I could let you in on my idea. I need to set it in motion, but I’ll need help,” Kerry warned. Rin grinned and nodded. Kerry leaned forward, “Fayne says he’ll help me. We’re going to start a ‘fight’ with Deryl. We’ll make a big fuss and bring it to the King’s throne room. Someone will slip and hit the Princess’s guard, Gary,” Kerry said.
    Rin snorted, “That’s stupid, Kerry. You always have better plans than that. You’re letting me out on the big one.”
    Kerry sighed, “Sorry. I would have you help, but there’s nothing to help with. You know my policy: knowledge means action. Since you can’t act, you can’t know.”
    Rin pouted for a minute and then brightened, “Fayne!” Kerry stared at him and smiled. They scrambled to their feet and Rin ran toward the edge of the forest, Kerry following. Rin always knew when Fayne was near and where. Nobody knew how he knew, but he did.
    The forest was some ways off, but they ran hard, getting there in no time. They skidded to a halt in front of the forest. It was the Whirling Woods. Getting lost was guaranteed if you weren’t with and elf, dwarf, or Fayne.
    Rin whispered, “Fayne, its Rin and Kerry! Come on out!” A man appeared from the forest edge.
    He was clean-shaven and had dark bronze hair and sharp hazel eyes. His thin lips were shut and his thin face was drawn. His shallow cheeks were pale and he was tall, but not skinny at all; neither was he overweight by a pound for his height and age. He wore a bloody black cloak and his attire revolved around the colors black and gray. Of course red blood was spattered here and there- or everywhere.
    He gave a weary smile, “Don’t worry, I’m just tired. This blood isn’t close to mine. Let’s sit and rest.” They sat and leaned against the light gray trunks of the trees. After a moment, Fayne was at his normal strength and his face got what little color it had back. He smiled at the younger boys, “Good afternoon. Kerry that was one hell of a trick you wanted me to do- and just to prove I would listen to you!”
    “What happened?” Rin asked. Kerry shushed Fayne, indicating Rin couldn’t know.
    “Well, this is a first! You two aren’t both in on the trick,” Fayne said, surprised.
    Rin hesitated, but changed subjects, “If you’re out, then you guys have picked everyone. Who was I put with, Fayne? I hope I’m with the Sergeant or Shein!”
    “Oh! I want to be with the Sergeant so badly! Who did I end up under?” Kerry asked excitedly.
    Fayne chuckled, “You guys will know soon enough. While most boys will be told tomorrow, some boys are being told today because of their kind of person or where their apprenticeship lies.”
    “I think I wouldn’t mind if I went under the Mage,” both boys whispered in unison. They grinned at each other. Fayne shook his head, smiling.
    Rin turned to Fayne, “Am I to be told today?”
    “Am I?” asked Kerry.
    “You might,” Fayne sighed, “I know neither of you will be disappointed.” The two boys beamed. Rin really didn’t care; as long as he didn’t despise whatever he was under. “I’m glad you two came out on such a day. While the King’s land is always beautiful and it is not rare that the sun shines, there are also many days without the sun. As a boy, I spent a lot of my time somewhere far away where the sun barely ever shines,” Fayne changed the subject.
    “Where was that?” asked Rin, having always been fascinated with where Fayne had traveled and the different customs.
    Fayne sighed, “Despite how it looked, the people there were always happy. I’m not so sure they’re happy any longer, but I do not believe the most rumors about the place. It is the Dall Wood.”
    The boys’ eyes gleamed with excitement and fear, but Rin was the one to ask, “What was it like? What rumors do you believe? What has changed? What manner of beings lived there?”
    Kerry went on to ask, “Were there heroes there? What tales could you tell us that aren’t bedtime stories?” Fayne, amused with the boy’s reaction, stroked his clean-shaven chin.
    “I’m not sure I should tell you anything. Wouldn’t you rather figure out by yourselves?” Fayne asked.
    Rin’s eyes sparkled, “Oh yes I would!” Then the sparkle went out, a more morose expression taking his face, bringing back a small portion of what he had looked like before, “But I doubt I will ever travel anywhere farther than the village below. While I don’t mind being put in some rank low in the village or castle, I don’t think I shall ever go beyond the village. I do not believe I have been put in any rank above a blacksmith.”
    Fayne grinned, but upon seeing the boy’s continuous forlorn expression, he sobered himself, “Rin, I would be happy to tell you your rank here and now, but that isn’t my job and Kerry is here. Let me tell you this: you won’t be disappointed in any way possible, including missing out on trips outside the village and castle.”
    Rin looked up and watched the dark man. The older man smiled reassuringly. Rin, having seen the man as a role model since they first met, took it that he wasn’t going to be disappointed and smiled. Fayne would never lie. Especially to Rin.
    “What stories can you tell us?” Kerry asked persistently.
    Fayne sighed, “Fine then, I will tell you. In that dark, misty forest lives large women.”
    “What do you mean by large?” asked Rin.
    Fayne chuckled, “They can stand at the bottom of our valleys and touch our castle up here, on the top. Well, that is exaggerated by far, but they are very big. For more precise measurements, let’s say they stand two times larger than the King Delaine.”
    “Still, they are very tall,” Rin said.
    Fayne nodded, “Yes. This is not a known tale, and it is very real, so please don’t go sprouting it about like a bedtime story, although some mothers may say it is an excellent story for her children. These women were very happy. The mist kept strangers out and nobody bothered them or their crop hidden in the mist. A child was abandoned by his parents and was only a boy when he stumbled into their midst, no pun intended. They decided he was not worth killing for trespassing for he was only a boy who knew no better. They sent him off roughly with a gruff warning not to come back, but days later he was found in their village again. The child could not fend for himself at his age, and their village was the first place that had given him shelter, even if it was dark and dank. The boy thought he was clever, for he would come into the village and they would just send him off again with a warning. This time, the women ran out of patience with him.”
    “They ran out of patience? What? It was only his second venture into their village!” Kerry protested.
    Fayne smiled, “These women have little patience, Kerry. Anyway, it was decided the child be lost purposely in the woods. But the child had a good memory and, once the task was done, he found a third venture into their village.”
    “That kid must have been nuts!” exclaimed Rin, “Only a fool would do something like that. He must have known they lost him on purpose.”
    Fayne smiled a wry smile, “Well, yes, he did know. He was foolish and desperate as well. When they found him, they thought he was trying to bring men into their village. They decided to kill him so no one could find their village. He was quick of body, if not of mind, and got away.
    “Hiding from the women, he came upon one of their own- but she was his height, and his age mind you. She helped him hide and taught him ways of the forest and turned him into a great hunter, but there is more to hunting than predator and prey. She taught him the other side, the one he was missing to survive. He needed to know more than how to kill something, but also how to cooperate with them.
    “In a way, she tamed him, but as they grew together, he found she could not be tamed when his more romantic fantasies took hold of him. I don’t think he would want me to tell you much more, but it all happened because he ventured into trouble one too many times. You need control, and in hunting, you need to cooperate, not just hunt, with the animal you follow. I think the moral of the story could be strongly directed at Kerry this time. I think this new prank is going too deep.”
    Kerry snorted, “It always is with you Fayne. But if you really think that way, why are you joining in?”
    Fayne smiled, “I think the boy caught by the women in the village needs to be released from my mind now and then.”
    Rin went wide-eyed, “The kid in that story was you!”
    Fayne grinned, “Now what would make you think that? Are those natural glass pieces?”
    “Changing subjects again,” Rin mumbled, but answered with enthusiasm, “The Housemaids asked us to pick them up because all the sea gulls were picking them up and bringing them weird places. They found it irritating so we had to collect all of them!”
    Kerry gave his two friends a wolfish grin, “So what did poor Ronald get stuck with? I hope he got stuck with the more lowly lot!”
    Fayne sighed, “Whatever you hope for Ronald, son of Ryan, I do not think it is just for you to hope so. Besides, your hope is pointless. He is not anywhere near a lowly lot unless you find fighting low.”
    “Sometimes I find it low,” Rin sighed, “It’s so pointless sometimes. I understand some of the fights we get into, but most of the time I find them useless, annoying, and utterly insane to try to follow.”
    Kerry hesitated, “But hired for fighting means he’s a soldier. I want to be a soldier. Curse his big head!” Fayne and Rin had to chuckle; Ronald did have a big head.
    “Why you guys deal with him or let him bother you is beyond me,” Fayne shrugged, “I mean, he only bothers you because you let him.”
    Rin glared at Kerry, “Yeah, but sometimes Kerry forgets his manners.”
    Fayne had to smile. While he never had a childhood bully, he was used to dealing with similar mind sets with his job in the castle. It was like grown-up bullying.
    “I hope you have a strong mind, Rin. You might have to be stubborn in the future. Besides, I doubt this bullying will stop. Even in my job I have to deal with that kind of s**t,” Fayne swore. The boys stared at him. He cursed! Oh my gosh! was all that went through their minds.
    Fayne rolled his eyes and stood, “You really need to play. I’m wasting your time- and my own.” He left the two boys, already beginning to doze and fantasize of glory and Knighthood.

    Rin opened his eyes. The sun was setting. He wiped his eyes and shook his sleeping companion, “Kerry! We’re going to miss dinner!” Immediately, Kerry stood up and they raced toward the castle.
    They entered the castle at a jog. No running was allowed in the castle. They kept their pace quick; missing dinner would be a disaster. They came into the kitchen and smelled the delicious food cooking. The Master Chef saw them and smiled, “You boys can’t be looking for supper already?”
    Rin gave the Chef big, round puppy-eyes and the Master Chef sighed. The Master Chef was a young woman who knew her way around any proper kitchen. She was cheery and had a nice figure, but just was plump enough that it was apparent she liked food. She had a raspy voice, but it was easy to get used to. She was pretty enough, and so nice that she let the boys eat.
    When she gave them plates, they hurried off to the food. As they piled food on their plates, Rin began to wonder. If the food she cooked for the servants was so good, what did the food for the King Delaine taste like?
    The two boys found a quiet spot to eat and began eating. Halfway through his meal, Rin sighed and put his plate aside. He knew what would happen if he ate too much when he was anxious. He hated puking.
    He pushed his plate toward Kerry, “You can have my plate. I’m going to bed.”
    “Already?” Kerry asked through a mouthful of chicken. Rin nodded, yawned and stood. Kerry shrugged and took Rin’s plate. Rin walked out quickly. He didn’t like the noise of the kitchen. While the noise was comforting and familiar, he was tired of noise.
    He found his way through the halls and went outside. The sun was gone. Stars and a bright moon covered the sky. A thin cloud passed the moon. Rin smiled at the sight; and the quiet peace.
    He sat in the grass and lay on the soft grass. He stared at the stars and tried to make out the constellations. He frowned in aggravation. All he could find was the Red Star of Dracon and the Blue Star of Klaise.
    “Something frustrating you, Rin?” asked a quiet, hushed voice. Rin jumped in surprise and scrambled around to face Fayne.
    He relaxed, “Hello, Fayne. I was just trying to find the constellations, but every time I think I find something, the image escapes my imagination and I believe myself to be mistaken.”
    Fayne nodded, “The stars do that. Can you find anything?”
    “Save a couple of stars, every image eludes me,” Rin sighed in irritation. Then he let it go. They were silly pictures in a clutter of dots, nothing presently important to Rin.
    “Which stars can you find?” Fayne asked.
    Rin hesitated, “Dracon’s and Klaise’s.”
    “Ah,” Fayne said, “They are the hardest to find. Isn’t it odd that the most evasive stars come to you and the more obvious ones stay hidden?”
    Rin shrugged, “I’ve always been an odd duck.”
    Fayne chuckled, “Just for that expression I have to agree. Why are you out here and not in the kitchen with your troublesome friend?”
    “It was too noisy. At times the noise is familiar and comforting, but at other times I just want it to be quiet. I want peace. I want to be alone, you know?” Rin explained, lying down again. Fayne lay down beside him.
    “Do you want to know whose apprentice you are?” Fayne asked after a moment.
    Rin hesitated, “I suppose. I am very tired. Besides quiet, I like to sleep outside when it’s nice. I find it relaxing to watch the moon as I go to sleep. I suppose I’m just saying I’d like you to be quick with it. I’ll remember to act surprised or excited.”
    “I believe you were put under the rogue, ranger and unofficial counselor Fayne Burgess,” Fayne announced.
    Rin watched Fayne for a minute, making sure he wasn’t joking. After a moment of silence, Rin replied in a hushed voice, “You weren’t kidding when you said I wouldn’t be disappointed.” Fayne let out a rare, genuine, hearty, healthy laugh. He smiled at the boy.
    “You are a true treasure, punk. I will be expecting you ready the day after the festivities?” Fayne asked. It was tradition that there be a large festival and feast the day that the boys learned where their places were. Some boys had special reasons for being told early, though. The next day would be the festival and feast.
    “What exactly do you do, sir?” Rin asked.
    Fayne shrugged, “I do a lot of things, Rin. You my find you have even more duties than myself when you take my place.”
    “Who was Kerry placed under, sir?” Rin queried.
    Fayne smiled, “I trust my pupil to keep this secret. Kerry Rennel was placed under the Mage Marvin.”
    Rin nodded, thoughtful. Seeing the conversation over, Fayne stood and left his pupil to sleep outside. Rin stared at the moon. Several things nagged at the boy, but half of them he couldn’t name or explain, so he let it go and fell asleep. He dreamed of his most nagging thought. The Red Star of Dracon was brighter than the Blue Star of Klaise.

    “Up and at ‘em you lazy bum! The festivities and official Telling is today!” shouted Kerry. Rin groaned and sat up. The sun was barely rising above the mountain. It was beautiful.
    While it was tradition to tell the boys, or rarely girls, where their futures lie, it was also tradition to tell the villagers and anyone who wanted to come and see. Nobody knew but the boys and the Masters until the official Telling.
    Rin scrambled to his feet. No way was he going to miss this day. He ran to Kerry who was walking inside. Rin caught up and asked, “Do you know yet?”
    Kerry grinned, “Hell yeah. I’m a Mage!”
    “You will be,” Rin corrected, “I’m a ranger.” Kerry froze. Rin kept walking. Kerry let it soak in. Kerry ran to Rin’s side.
    “You’ll be with Fayne then,” Kerry said, astonished.
    Rin nodded, “I don’t know why he would choose me. I have no talent besides getting into trouble and giving mouth.” Kerry sighed and the two friends skipped breakfast, immediately going to Kerry’s mother, the Master Chef, to get dressed appropriately.
    All of Rin’s clothes were hand-me-downs from Kerry’s large family, but the clothes he was given for the event had only been worn once. After that, it was a normal morning. Then noon came and the sun rose high in the sky.
    The boys were pulled and pushed into the castle’s entrance. They all stood in order of who left first. Rin gulped as he stared at the big doors. He was first in line. He glanced back at Kerry in the back of the line and his friend gave him a thumbs-up. Rin groaned.
    They could all hear the King Delaine speaking, barely heard over Rin’s pounding heart. Gosh, he was nervous as hell. Rin closed his eyes as he counted to ten to calm himself, only to open his eyes again at the sound of his name and polite clapping outside.
    He took a deep breath and opened the impressive doors. The light blinded him momentarily and he stepped forward, into the courtyard where he had slept the previous night.
    The courtyard was filled with lavish green plants and pretty purple flowers. A pond was in the middle and every kind of flower in all their world was placed in the courtyard. Nothing was more naturally appealing. But the sight was ruined by the millions of people staring at him.
    Rin stepped forward and turned toward all the Masters and the King Delaine and his children. He found himself quite mistaken about the courtyard when his eyes rested on the Princess April. She was more naturally appealing than any creature on Earth, although that was not where they were.
    She had strawberry blond hair that went down to her waist, which was quite thin. Her eyes were dark like her father’s and her nose was upturned perfectly. Her full lips moved slightly as she mumbled to her brother beside her. She was on the tall side, but she definitely wasn’t too tall. Her face was delicate like a white petal on one of the beautiful flowers in the courtyard surrounding them.
    The Princess refused to dress like a woman, so she stood with a tank top that didn’t go past her belly button and cargo pants, but they were cut like shorts. The only accessory she allowed was the light silver circlet upon her brow.
    The Princess, as said before, was speaking with her brother, who was naturally the Prince. The Prince was taller than his sister and was older, if only by a year and a half. His eyes and hair were dark like his father, but despite his height was built much like his mother, the Queen.
    The Queen Rachel had hair like her daughter’s. Her eyes were a deep blue you could get lost in and her cheeks were rosy and wore an emerald green dress that fit her body which resembled her daughter’s body. She was tall, but not nearly as tall as her husband, the King Delaine.
    The King Delaine wore gray and black clothing that seemed to fit his son’s mood. His son wore similar attire. While the Prince seemed bored and brooding, the Princess seemed to burn with an angry irritation. The Queen seemed happy and cheerful, alive with the positive. The King had no emotion but simple content displayed in the air around him.
    “Boy, you have been placed with the rogue and ranger Fayne,” the King announced. Both the Prince and Princess looked up from their conversation; Prince Ian to watch me cautiously and Princess April to stare in shock.
    “If you would please stand beside your Master, Apprentice Rin,” Prince Ian said. Rin bowed and looked for Fayne among the Masters. He wasn’t there.
    Upon noticing this, the Princess smiled, “Come by me, seeing your Master is not present.” Rin moved slowly up the stairs. The crowd clapped politely.
    The King called another name and the crowd cheered enthusiastically. Rin stood uncertainly beside the Princess as she continued her conversation. At one point, she turned to Rin, “Hello, Rin. I was surprised to hear the Ranger was taking an apprentice. I definitely wasn’t expecting you.” Her tone wasn’t nasty; more curious.
    Rin nodded, “Yes, Your Highness, I was surprised as well. I cannot say I’m disappointed though. I’ve looked up to Fayne.”
    The Princess seemed thoughtful, “Why look up to him? Why not the Sergeant?”
    “I dunno; he always seemed most fit for a role model… for me, Your Highness,” Rin said. The Princess’ eyes flashed with hot anger for a second, and then it passed.
    “Watch your formalities around me. Don’t say it too much or I get pissed,” she warned.
    Rin nodded, “Yes, ma’am.” She smiled.
    “I think you might be interesting. You didn’t gawk at me; you gawked at all of us, mostly Ian,” Princess April commented.
    Rin nodded, “No offense to Prince Ian, but the air he carries around him teems with negative energy.” Overhearing the comment, the Prince burst into fits of giggles. The Princess laughed out loud. It was an enchanting, warming sound, but something in it held Rin from joining them. Few people glanced their way.
    She regarded Rin, “You might be fun to have around. Too bad you won’t be around that much. We are the same age.”
    Rin shrugged, “You seem amiable enough.”
    Her eyes flashed, “We’ll see.” They all turned to the courtyard when they heard a startling and precise imitation of a rooster.
    There was the Mage Marvin in a chicken suit, with Kerry following him in a chick costume. Rin blinked. He thought it was supposed to be a prank, not humiliation. Several people burst out laughing. Then it hit Rin. Kerry wasn’t joking when he said he’d hit the Princess’ guard. Then they could all say he got beat up by a chick.
    There had to be more to it, though. It couldn’t have been to impress the Princess. Kerry and Rin weren’t into girls. What was Rin missing? Rin looked thoughtful for a minute. How was Fayne pulled into it?
    “What in the world was your friend thinking?” the Princess asked. Rin looked at her for a thoughtful minute.
    He sighed and resigned, “I have no idea. What would be the point?”
    “The kid is trying to get you confused, child. Don’t you see? His greatest prank is on you,” the Prince said like it was obvious.
    “What’s the point, though? He wouldn’t ever do something so ridiculous for no reason,” Rin said.
    The Prince smiled, “Maybe he plans on something more complex than you think. Maybe it’s simpler than you think.” Rin sighed. He knew he’d find out soon enough.
    “Apprentice Ranger, before you go and never return I would like a dance,” the Princess requested.
    Rin frowned, “I would love to, Princess, but I would rather not. Why not dance with one interested in you?”
    “You aren’t interested?” she asked, surprised.
    Rin smiled weakly, “No, I don’t think I know what it’s like to have a crush, Majesty. You are beautiful, but I never met you in person before now. I like to know people I become friends with.” He looked around and saw the people scattered around and talking. The more ceremonial part was over.
    “Would you just dance? I’m not asking for your hand in marriage,” the Princess said. Rin sighed and nodded. She smiled, “Good. I’ll find you later when the music plays. Go find your friend Kerry and tell him he looks ridiculous.” Rin grinned and left with a bow.
    Rin found himself wandering around. He had planned on spending time with Kerry or some of his friends, but they eluded him. So, he walked around the town and castle. He passed chattering girls and bantering boys.
    He passed a traveling man surrounded by children. Traveling men were known to tell children stories they’ve heard or participated in. So, Rin decided to listen with the quiet children.
    “Once,” said the bald old man, “there were dragons on this mountain, children. The dragons were powerful and strong. They ruled all the lands from the Doomed Sea in the east, to the King Cliffs in the west.”
    “But,” complained a child, “dragons do live here and all around where you said!”
    The old man chuckled, “They live here, but do they rule? No, we rule. They used to rule and their leader was Dracon.”
    This interested Rin. He knew the story well enough, but he had never heard it in full detail; it was the little things that make the stories great. Little things come to play in stories. But Rin found himself being pulled away from the kids by a strong hand.
    Rin frowned, but seeing as he didn’t get to hear the story, he went over it in his head. Dracon was a dragon of little patience and high expectations. He was a tyrant. He would kill the men in villages for sport. That got men angry- and scared.
    While he was ruler, a child was born. The child was special; one of a kind. He was half dragon and half human; born of a human mother and dragon father. Humans were angrier still. The dragons were revolted by it. Dragons could look just as human as anyone, so the child looked fine. Except his eyes, this glowed a faint gold when he was feeling an extreme emotion. This happened to most dragons.
    Klaise, the dragon child, was caught between hate and hate; the human clans and dragon clans. Not understanding what was to be done with the child, the dragons dumped the child on the dragon ruler. Furious with disgust, Dracon killed the child’s parents.
    Once over his anger, he took the child and cared for him while he harbored a festering hate for the child. So the child grew. Everything was great for Klaise, besides not having parents. Dracon could feel Klaise grow stronger every day. Then Klaise became of age. By then, Dracon could feel power emanating from Klaise. Klaise felt the same about Dracon. Dracon feared for his life.
    In his mounting fear and suspicion, he attacked Klaise. The battle went on for forty days. At last, Klaise changed his pattern that Dracon was unaware of and Dracon lost. As victor, Klaise became the new ruler. Klaise’s lifespan was shorter than dragons’ but longer than humans’. During his rule, everyone was happy.