After the group finished their breakfast and gave it a little time to settle, Tenerous offered to take them on a tour of the place while the rooms were being readied. “May as well do it,” Sulvius said. “I’m sure he’ll get all mopey if we don’t let him show of his toy.”

They walked down a long rather plain looking hallway, to an elevator. Tenerous waved them in and pushed a button to take them to the top floors, or at least as far as this elevator would go. “How many floors does this place have?” Ryan asked.

“A lot, my prince,” Tenerous replied. “The number changes from time to time as floors are closed off or even rebuilt and combined. Currently there are around 50 floors.”

“So very big!”

“Dragons are good sized and like to be able to stretch out!”

“Not Pax’s breed,” Ryan said and then sighed, worrying about the tiny dragon.

“True enough,” Tenors said with a nod.

“You know Pax?”

Tenerous nodded again. “I’ve met him several times though I would not say we were friends or anything like. He is a fairly well known and highly respected dragon.”

“I like him!”

“Glad to hear that, my prince. There are a few of his breed here. They do not mind the more cramped areas of course!”

“This place is self sufficient?” Tanner asked.

“Completely. We provide our own water, power, food, air circulation and filtering, medical faculties, and entertainment. We can stay for around 20 years at full capacity without having to go out for anything, more if we can access some of the outlying farms and resources.”

“Amazing!” Ryan said, marveling at it. “How many dragons can this place hold?”

“I am sorry, my prince, but that is classified information and you are not cleared for it as of yet.”

“But I am the prince!”

“True, but remember that is a hereditary and symbolic title.”

Ryan sighed. “Figures!”

Tenerous laughed. “You would not wish for all the additional responsibilities if you did have the authority of a true prince! You probably feel quite overwhelmed as it is.”

Ryan sighed and rustled his wings a bit and his mother patted him on the back with a soft laugh.

The elevator opened to a very lushly decorated hall with thick carpets, soft recessed lighting along the upper corners, paintings of landscapes and abstract art along the walls, as well as several dragon walking about in their bipedal forms, the celling more than high enough to allow for their height. The air was a comfortable temperature and had a light, pleasant, scent.

“Different from downstairs,” Allen remarked.

“Cochise was pattered after military installations at first, being sterile and all that neat jazz,” Tenerous said. Allen gave him a rather puzzled look and Sulvius smacked his brother on the shoulder.

“Stop trying to sound human! That was horrible!” he said irritably.

“So sorry!” Tenerous said with a grin and Ryan laughed. “As I was saying, it was built to military specifications so the decorations and general layout was rather sparse. As time went on things shifted and so it was made more comfortable though still practically impenetrable.”

“Could Erin get in?” Ryan wondered aloud.

Tenerous growled quietly. “She had best not even try!”

Ryan blinked. “You do not like her?”

“No, my prince; no one with any sense does!”

“But—” Ryan started and Sulvius lifted a hand.

“This is not the time or the place for this discussion. Ryan is new to it all and that issue is a little far above him.”

“As you say,” Tenerous replied.

Ryan sighed, not at all caring for the notion that someone would be ostracized, having been there all to often himself. They walked down the hall, the dragons playing them little mind save for the occasion nod or murmur of greeting. Tenerous ushered them through a door and into a movie theater. Ryan looked around in amazement.

“It is just like the outside!”

“Well, we have seats for bipedal dragons and places for dragons to lay about, as well as human seats, but yes just like on outside. The latest and greatest technology as well.

“You really do provide entertainment,” Allen remarked.

“Certainly. Dragons do very long duty here and it only make sense to provide recreation and such for them as well in case of something catastrophic happening.”

‘“How long are we going to be here?” Allen asked flatly.

“As long as it takes to get things arranged so Ryan is safe,” Sulvius said smoothly. “I think you would agree that his safety is of the utmost importance.” 

“Yes, but a prison is a prison no matter how guided.”

Tenerous looked at Sulvius briefly and Sulvius flicked an ear at him. “It is not a prison. Shall we move on?” Tenerous said.

The next stop was a restaurant that was already filling up with the early lunch crowd. The booths and tables were all human sized though a young dragon in his bipedal form stood in the front, assigning seats. He looked at them questioningly and Tenerous shook his head. “Just showing them around.”

“What kind of food do they serve here?” Ryan asked.

“Typical american fare,” Tenerous replied. “There are four other restaurants that cater to different styles of food and they all do special from time to time.” 

“You’re very serious about making this homelike!”

“Indeed! We pride ourselves on it! There are also several snack shops as well I think the donut shop is being redone. We are working on getting some fast food places in here as well, but it’s hard to explain to vendors why you want the food dropped off in a place that does not have the restaurant.”

“Do you have a grocery store?” Ryan wondered.

“That too, regularly stocked. If you need something that is not there they can usually get it for you.”

The took an elevator down to a huge gym. Two dragons in their full forms were doing some sort of workout. Ryan watched them for awhile then looked about. There were humans, or dragons in their human forms, running on treadmills, lifting weights, rowing, rock climbing, and other things. In an adjacent room a bipedal dragon was running on a treadmill obviously designed for them.

“What about flying?” Ryan asked.

“There is an area outside you can use as well as wind tunnels. It is a little like the endless surfing pools you see on TV.”

Beth laughed. “All you need is a beauty shop and you’d be set!”

Tenerous snorted. “It is only open a few days a week, but yes, we do have one.”

Beth looked at Allen “Sounds like a regular resort. Can we stay?”

Allen laughed. “I don’t think they’d want us around.”

Ryan caught the look on Sulvius’ face and was bout to say something when Tenerous spoke up. “We have a paintball field that we just put in as well.”

“Wow!” Ryan said, nearly bouncing. “Dragon form?”

“Of course!”

“What about security?” Tanner asked quietly.

“The best in the world,” Tenerous said.

“This place is so huge I don’t see how it can remain hidden.”

“Most of it is under rock or mountain, rather like the US military base at Cheyenne. The airspace is marked as restricted and the land appears to be special service use by some obscure government agency and no one will investigate for fear of loosing their jobs. It’s taken some time but his place is utterly ignored.”

“Good thing,” Tanner said. “And most dragons don’t know about it either.”

“Correct. It is one of the last stand strongholds if you will. There are others that but I don’t know the details but they are similar. Should things go seriously wrong most of the dragons can shelter and survive.”

“Wise with all these crazy humans running about,” Allen said sarcastically. 

Tenerous started to open his mouth and Sulvius shook his head. “Enough. Let’s not get started on the whole species debate. There’s enough stress and we don’t need to add to it.”

“I agree!” Ryan said. “Humans are here, dragons are here, and we need to learn to live without harming each other.”

Tenerous sighed. “A nice speech, my prince, but not practical.”

“Tenerous,” Sulvius said, voice rising.

“Sorry.”

They took a tram to what Tenerous called his command center which turned out to be a modular home sitting in a large carven. Tenerous shrugged. “It gives me the illusion of having a real home.”

They went inside and sat around huge table with flat screens hanging from the walls, a set of desks with computer work stations on one end, and two dragons standing guard on the other. Ryan looked around a little nervously for Tanner, then deliberate stood next to him, grasping his hand before anyone could suggest that maybe the human would be more comfortable someplace else. 

Ryan sat down, tugging Tanner into the seat next to him. Tanner sat down with a sigh and put his hand on the young dragon’s shoulder. “You need to be calm, Ryan.”

“I am calm and I am not going to allow them to send you away.”

“They won’t, Ryan.”

“It does not seem that way to me,” Ryan said, growling softly.

“Easy. Easy, dragon,” Tanner said, petting him making soothing noises.

Everyone took their seats and Tenerous stood at the end of the table. “Alright. I’m sure you all would like to know what happened at the council.”

“Rather,” Sulvius said.

“As you can expect a small fight broke out and the evil ones accused Irian and Norian of hiding and then kidnapping the prince, releasing Xerxes, and stealing something belonging to Skerious. They were not expecting Adamas to be there questioning things which shut things down instantly. They didn’t seem to expect Mikail to say anything either it appears, which seems odd.”

“Hard to say how they think,” Sulvius said. 

“True,” Tenerous agreed. “Mikail started wondering about certain council procedures and asking questions. They’re obligated to listen to him because of his age and stature even I they don’t want to. For now they have things utterly gummed up and Ash is furious about being outfoxed. 

“As there is no proof that the prince was there and Norian, Irian, and Mikail stayed behind there is really no way to prove a kidnapping. 

“Alexis is in Malthus’ custody and is going to be tried for immoral acts. He told us in a coded message that she is going to be sent to one of the safe houses and held there till all of this blows over, then be allowed to leave and raise her child in peace. The egg is quite healthy despite the adventures it had been on.”

“Who is the father?” Ryan asked.

“She chooses not to say and that is her right,” Tenerous replied. “Do not speculate, my price, as it matters not who fathered the child. He or she is a dragon and that is all that really matters in this case.”

Ryan nodded and Tenerous continued. “Pax is missing.”

“What?” Ryan roared.

“Easy, my prince,” Tenerous said. “Pax told Norian and Cladden he was going to investigate things and could be gone awhile. They have no idea where he is or what he is doing at this time.”

“I do not like that he is not safe!”

“Safety is an illusion in times like these, my prince,” Tenerous said. “And Pax is more than capable of taking care of himself.”

Ryan nodded and huffed, still not happy about it. “Do they have a plan for what’s next?”

“Currently they are going to wait and see what unfolds. This threw the evil ones off and they are not generally good with backup plans. Right now Norian is trying to get the Conclave in England to release certain documents that he feels will shed some light on what his happening.”

“Why didn’t he go for them before?” Tanner wondered aloud.

“He did not say, but some things do not make sense until other things come to light.”

Tanner nodded. “I can’t see Norian withholding information that could be of use.”

Tenerous sighed. “He had a message for you as well.”

“Oh?” Tanner asked.

“I am afraid it is not good news,” Tenerous said. “Your finance has been taken. Norian has tried to find out where she is and to see if she could be rescued but so far has found nothing.”

Tanner looked down. “Damn,” he said softly.

Ryan was on his feet and putting his arms around him before the dragon knew what he was doing. “I am so very sure she will be fine, Tanner.”

He smiled at the little dragon. “Thank you, Ryan.”

Ryan sat down again, looking over at Tanner nervously now and again. Tanner patted him on the shoulder and looked doff into space. Ryan glanced at Sulvius with a worried look and Sulvius shook his head and mouthed that he was fine. Ryan shuddered slightly and continued glance over at Tanner.

Allen and Beth looked on, frustrated, and Sulvius leaned over to them and said something quietly. Beth nodded and cleared her throat. “Ryan, do you have any thoughts about what we should do next?”

Ryan looked startled at having his opinion asked. “I know not!”

“Never admit that, my prince,” Sulvius said, “or at least not to anyone who does not know you well. You must seem, at least, like you are in control.”

“Yes, Sulvius,” Ryan said with a sigh.

“So what do you think, my prince?”

Ryan cocked his head for a moment, then stood up and shifted to his full form and started to pace back and forth. “Until we know what their next move is or what they are planning we are really flying blind. We know what they want ,me out of the way and parents dead if they are still living, but the question is how they will go about it?

“By what I have seen so far, the council is not so whole as it once as and now that they think I was perhaps kidnapped by someone ,they may band together to try to find me, perhaps being lead by the evil ones if we are not so very careful.”

“Very reasonable, my prince,” Sulvius said.

“Is there any chance that Norian and the others will restore order to the council?”

“Possibly. If anyone can do it Norian, Mikail and Adamas can do it. They have a lot of knowledge and can call in many favors. Adamas alone holds a tremendous amount of sway.”

“And Isabelle?”

Tenerous snorted. “Isabelle is an entity unto herself. They will listen to her no matter what. If nothing else she knows where all the skeletons are buried.”

“Sounds like human politics to me,” Allen remarked.

“Where do you think humans learned it from?” Tenerous said, grinning.

“They are similar,” Sulvius said, “but don’t fool yourself. Dragons don’t think like humans and our politics can be very murky and slow.”

“So why all the uproar?”

“This has ben building for over forty years and has only become critical over the last fifteen or so,” Tenerous said “It seems now is the time to move.”

Ryan paced for awhile then stopped. “I am going to need to stand up for myself.”

“Why not just put a target around your neck and say kill me?” Allen said bitterly.

“Father, I have to. If I do not the dragons may start fighting!”

“I don’t like it!”

“Not fond of it myself,” Sulvius said. “But he has a good point.”

Tenerous cocked his head. “Then step one, I would say, is getting Norian and the others to calm the council. After that Ryan can make his little debut and throw everything into a tizzy, then we can shift things around after we see how the balance of power will fall.”

“Sounds great!” Beth said brightly, “So what’s for lunch?”

All of the dragons looked at her in surprise then burst out laughing. “That, great lady, was worthy of a dragon!” Tenerous said.

“That two faced conniving slut!” Skerios said, then snarled, swatting a table aside with a resounding crash.

“She was captured!” Ash said, startled.

Skerios buffeted the smaller dragon with his wing, hissing. “You idiot! Her egg was rescued and her family set free!”

Ash growled. “You did not tell me!”

“You did not need to know,” Skerios said, fuming. “Great!”

“She is replaceable,” Ash said, waving his hand dismissively.

Skerios growled. “Everyone is replaceable and that includes you. She had certain advantages that played into our hands.”

“What, a nice tail?” Ash said, not even tying to veil his contempt. 

“No you fool, the ability to trigger herself into season at will! That is why she was so very valuable as a whore. If she could not seduce she could attract them the other way.”

Ash looked startled. “I had no idea!”

“You had no need to know.”

Ash hissed. “We are allies!” 

“And I do not trust you any more than you trust me,” Skerios said with a growl “Now what are we to do next?”

“Take over by force!”

Skerios shook his head. “You really are foolish; that will not work. We need to calm the council enough so they will see reason and then push them over to our side.”

“Use the imposters!”

“Exactly. Use them to pull the council together.” Skerios cocked his head. “We need to spread doubt that the prince is real. We need to spread the idea that he is brainwashed or under their control.” He rumbled. “Put for the idea that he is being forced to do as they say, forced to breed, and that they will take the hatchlings and brainwash them as well.”

Ash nodded. “We work well together, my friend.”

“Indeed,” Skerios said. And the moment you are no longer useful to me, he thought, comforting himself,  you’re dead.

“Poundstone,” he said in a bored voice, answering the phone.

“You have failed,” the old man said.

“I have had a setback, that’s all!” Poundstone snapped. “We will pick up his trail again.”

“Unlikely. The target has been moved to a secret location, one that you will not be able to penetrate.”

Poundstone laughed. “Nothing is impenetrable!”

“For you it is.”

“What, you’re going to tell me it’s guarded by dragons?” Poundstone said, amused.

“Correct. You will never make it inside.”

“Hmm. Sounds like danger pay.”

‘You are earning far more than enough for this job, Poundstone. I want that boy and I want him quickly.”

“So give me the information!”

There was a long silence. “I will send further tracking information by regular channels. Do not under any circumstances try to approach the location. Wait until the leave and work from there.”

“Don’t tell me how to do my job.”

“I am not in any way joking with you, Poundstone. Do not try to enter.”

“Fine.”

The old man clicked off and Poundstone turned to Arlen. “This just became a far bigger pain that it could be worth.”

“Even for the money?” Arlen asked.

“Even for the money.”

“So we calling it?”

Poundstone snorted. “No. I was just told to stay out of an area and told I would never be able to get inside.”

Arlen laughed. “Wrong thing to say to you!”

Poundstone lit a cigarillo. “Got that right. Gather up a surveillance team.”

“Norian, she’s my fiancée! Even if I don’t think we’re going to make it she’s still someone I care about!” Tanner said

“I know that, boy, but she is gone and trying to find her will only alert them. They want us to go blundering after her or make you do something foolish to get her out or even betray Ryan,” Norian said over the phone.

“I would never betray him!”

Norian sighed. “Then face up to it, boy; she’s as good as dead. If we have a chance then we will rescue her but not if it jeopardizes anything.”

“Damn it, I love her!”

“I know.”

“The hell you do! You don’t understand a damn thing about human love! You’re so bloody high and mighty, thinking that a dragon is only capable of real love and humans are somehow less! 

“That’s probably why you think Ryan should stay away from me! Well let me tell you: I love Ryan, I love Susan and just because you don’t get it doesn’t mean a damn thing!”

There was a long silence on the other end and Tanner suddenly sobbed. “Norian… Sir, I am so very sorry! I…”

The dragon sighed. “I know, boy, I know. And I am sorry if I have not been sensitive to your ways or needs. Forgive me, lad.”

“Nothing to forgive, Sir!”

The dragon sighed again. “Nice of you to say so. I will do my best to find her, Tanner.”

“I know.”

There was a long silence. “I love you, Tanner. You know that. I loved your grandfather, your father, and my love and loyalty are yours as well.”

“Thank you. I love you too.”

“Thank you, boy.”

“You’re welcome, Sir.”

Tanner hung up the phone and nearly jumped out of his skin, finding Ryan sitting there watching him quietly. Ryan drew back, startled, and Tanner held up a hand. “I’m sorry, Ryan, but you startled me. What are you doing here?”

“I wished to see you,” the dragon said quietly.

“You know you’re not supposed to come see me like this.”

Ryan looked down, swallowing. “You do not wish for me to be here.”

“I didn’t say that! I said that you’re not supposed to, not that I didn’t want to see you.”

The dragon shook his head. “I do not understand why and even if I did I do not think that I would care so very much.”

Tanner sighed, knowing that was probably the truth. “Don’t worry about it, Ryan, but you do need to obey.”

The young dragon cocked his head. “Norian upset you.”

“It happens, Ryan. Dragons are dragons and humans are humans. Sometimes the two have trouble understanding each other; you know that.”

“I do not like seeing you upset!”

Tanner shushed the little dragon before he could grow more upset. “I know! Easy, Ryan. I’m not really that upset and Norian is sorry.”

Ryan was quiet for a moment. “You worry for Susan.”

“You’re not jealous?” Tanner asked, feeling oddly worried.

Ryan shook his head. “No. It is not the same. But it upsets you that she is gone and you wish to have her back and safe.”

“Yes, I do. Even if I don’t think we’re going to get married I don’t want her hurt.”

Ryan looked down, considering something, then pushed his way into Tanner’s arms, nuzzling him. “I can help.”

Tanner pet the young dragon. “How, my friend?”

“I have Erin’s number.”

Tanner looked puzzled. “And?”

“She will find Susan for me and bring her back.”

Tanner looked worried. “Ryan…Erin is a huntress and probably doesn’t like humans.”

“Like them or not she will listen to me!”

“This…Ryan this isn’t a good idea. Sending her to do something like this is not like calling the police or something. She’ll do whatever she deems necessary to finish the job.” 

“You wish Susan to be safe,” Ryan said, cocking his head.

“Of course!”

“Then I will call Erin and tell her to go.”

“Ryan, I’m sure she has better—”

“No,” Ran said firmly. “This is as important as anything. I will call her and you will tell her what she needs to know.”

“Ryan…” Tanner said and sighed at the look of steel in the dragons eyes. “Fine, Ryan. Fine.”