For the first time in ten years, the dream had returned. Every detail was as clear and strange as when it plagued his sleep through the long years of adolescence. Even before it began, he knew it was coming. He sensed it in the shadows around him, felt it in the warm southern breeze, saw it in the reptilian gaze of his brother Doug's eyes. He didn't fear the dream as much as he was annoyed at its return. It meant there was something in his life yet unresolved. His life was a series of resolving inner conflicts, and the dream heralded the of the climax of the chaos.

He found himself in a strange room, with brazier ensconced stone walls. The smell of blood and fire and death all around him. Curled in the shadows on the other end of the room was a great black mound, much taller than himself. The mound elicited a sense of hatred and fear from himself.

He knew the room intimately,. It was a knowledge that came from a familiarity with the room itself, not the dream. He'd been here often. The memories were not pleasant and brought a sense of self loathing-but for the life of him he could remember no details. He could feel the hard polished stone floor under his bare feet, the intense heat that rose from the mound as it writhed in it's death throes. Those undulations brought a deep sense of satisfaction. The heavy steel sword in his hand dripped with a black ichor, and his muscles ached from it's use. This was his work.

His head too ached, from the use of the phyre- the power given to him by his former masters, the power that they'd casually ignored for these long centuries, the power he'd turned against them, for their eons of abuse. It was justice that he, the eldest and most highly prized of the warrior slaves, had struck the death blow to Kaja Nel, the Dragon Queen. He had fought her, with iron and phyre, and he had won, turning the very power she herself had granted into the instrument of her destruction.

Now she raised her great head and he could see the wounds, he'd inflicted on her- both physical and psychic, and was surprised she could still move. Her voice came in a low rumble interspersed with the sound's of bubbling as she slowly drowned in her own blood. "Slave, you have won for now. You've stolen my power, but the war is yet over." A wracking cough interrupted her, and then she continued, "Even now, my kind go their sleep, deep in caves never dreamt of by man. When they awake after the coming destruction, they will take up the reigns of your species once again. No being born of woman or hatched of dragon will be able to end this war. Forever will the plague of the Wyrm be upon man."

Then the dream ended, and Sean awoke. He could hear the quite sounds of the night around him. The sounds of his childhood growing up in the country called to him. Bittersweet memories flooded his mind, and he knew he would get no more sleep this night. He slipped from his room- the same room he'd had growing up, and out onto the porch.

It was well past three in the morning, but the night was warm, and he didn't feel the least bit cold standing there in only a pair of running shorts. There was a great darkness across the land, and only the stars were out to light his way. This far from the lights of the city, when he looked up, Sean could see the Milky Way in all it's glory spread out before him. It was peaceful and quiet and afforded him the chance to consider his options.

He understood the dream to be a warning. Not in the same sense as the oatmeal-heads he'd known in college who were always looking for something mystical in their dreams, but that it was telling him that there were things in his life that were bothering him. That until he dealt with them, the dream would return again and again. Sean had had enough psychology in college to have a basic understanding of the field, but was no expert. He knew very well how his mind dealt with life. He was a very analytical person and was always digging for answers and patterns. He liked his life in nice neat little packages, and the chaos these crises created bothered him.

"I thought I heard somebody out here," Marie's voice interrupted his star gazing. "What are you doing up so late?"

Without turning he replied, "I could ask you the same question." He tried to hide the irritation in his voice at being disturbed.

"I got up to feed Anthony. What about you?"

Turning around he faced his sister in law. She was wearing a nightgown that left little to the imagination. It clung to her ripe body, disappearing into the secret lines of her form. There was a hungry look in her eyes. Sean suddenly realized how the rabbit felt under the hawk's gaze. "I couldn't sleep."

She leaned back against the railing, "maybe you need a little something to help you." It was an open invitation, and Sean knew it.

Suddenly the uncomfortable silence was broken by the sound of a voice clearing. They both turned quickly to see Tyrone, Sean's dad standing in the door. Like a rabbit, Marie bolted past him, and Sean slowly turned his back on his father, I'll move into my new place first thing in the morning."

"That might be a good idea. Is there something you want to tell me?" There was a trace of something ominous in his voice.

"About what?"

His father joined him at the rail, "Like about what just happened- or didn't happen. How long 's it been going on?"

Sean knew what his dad thought. If their roles were reversed, he might draw the same conclusion. He felt a little hurt that his dad would think that of him- he was not his brother. To be completely honest with himself, he didn't even find Marie that attractive. Not that she was an ugly woman, the opposite was true, but the very thought of being with someone who was so intimately connected to his brother bothered him greatly. "Nothing is going on, Dad. Hell, I've only been home three days. I don't see how anything could happen in that time."

"Then why do you want to go?"

"Because we both know that it will happen again and again, and eventually if I don't give her what she wants, she'll turn on me. That would just cause more problems with Doug."

They both knew he was right. Marie was the kind of woman who if she couldn't get what she wanted, she'd try to destroy it. She'd gone after Doug, and finally realized the only way to get him was to get pregnant. When Brittany came along and Doug had done the right thing, she realized that she was trapped. Doug wasn't the catch she thought he was, and now she was lonely. "I still don't like it. If you ain't done nothing wrong, then don't run. This is your home too, and she has no right to try to come between brothers."

" Doug and I aren't all that close anyway. After the first few days, it's all we can do to be civil to each other. We're too different and too much alike. It'd be best if I just left." Sean was surprised at the profound sense of sadness he felt over that prospect. He'd never been that fond of his family while growing up, but now as he faced this latest crisis he felt the need for family, and resented Marie for taking that from him.

"Do what you got to Sean. You ain't been home much since..." Sean could sense the regret in his father's voice. After his parents divorced, Sean and his dad didn't get along well. It took a long time for him to grow up and realize that most of the garbage his mother had filled his head with about his father was just that, garbage.

"Dad, it's not like I don't want to be here. It would just be best if I didn't give the situation a chance to cause problems. I know I haven't been around much. I've wanted to, but the Navy had other ideas." In twelve years as a pilot he'd risen to Commander's rank and had even gone through the prestigious Top Gun school. That meant a lot of time isolated from his family. He'd missed more holidays, and birthdays than he cared to remember, but it had allowed him to resolve a lot of issues about his feelings over his parents divorce.

"Well you know you've always got a place to come to here."

"I know Dad, but I've got some other things to work out too. Things I'd like to get a handle on before I start classes again. I'll head out as soon as it gets light. That way I'll be up and gone before she's awake."

"Do you need any money?"

"No, I've still got a good nest egg in my savings. But what I could use right now is a glass of tea."

____________________________________________________________

How can people call this entertainment? Nicole thought to herself for the hundredth time. It's morbid. She looked around the room again. The club was packed with people- all dressed in black and completely in their personas. The lighting was low and the air was filled with a strange mixture of tobacco and incense. Dancers were gyrating on a dance floor to a Goth band. A nearby group was discussing Elizabeth Bathory as if she were alive and in the next room, and was likely to come over and have a cup of God only knows what with them at any time. This is the Society for Creative Anachronisms meets Anne Rice. If I really were a vampire I don't think I'd hang out with this crowd. But then again, it would be a perfect hiding place for a wyrm. Nobody would question unusual behavior, and he or she could use the phyre to dominate anyone who did.

Leaning back in her booth she sipped her wine. Letting her mind reach out tentatively, she slowly looked for the tell-tale signs of phyre. It surprised her to find two or three with some genuine talent here. Not enough to warrant investigation, but surprisingly potent. No wonder some of these people are drawn to this kind of thing. It makes their life more bearable. It gives them a fantasy to explain the unexplainable.

She caught a brief glimpse of what she was seeking. An old wyrm carefully masking herself. Keeping a tight reign on her power.

"Probably just recently awakened." Alex voice bade her mind return.

"How long do you think she's been awake?" she couldn't help wondering aloud.

"Probably not more than a few weeks. Her mind is still half asleep, or she'd have detected us by now," his voice was quiet so as not to be heard over the crowd.

"In this place we don't' have to whisper. They expect strangeness here. It's part of their masquerade," she told him playfully.

"It's weird."

"That's like the pot calling the kettle black. How is their masquerade any different from what we do?"

"What we do is real. We don't go around pretending to be some angst filled monster who should be pitied because society can't understand our needs. We preserve society, we don't see ourselves as some kind of enlightened predator who treats humanity as a mindless herd," his voice echoed a similar feeling she was trying very hard to suppress.

"Really. Why don't you go up to one of them and tell them about Tyr and the phyre. Tell them that we're Dragonborn and are hunting a wyrm who just woke up after several decades of sleep. You might find them completely capable of stepping into our reality."

"Yeah, but in our reality they can die."

Nicole nodded in the direction of a woman casually sucking on the wrist of another patron, "The same is true for theirs. If she's not careful there's no telling what she could pick up doing that."

Alex looked on in shock, "That's not just dangerous. It's stupid." Suddenly his eyes widened.

"There she is." He indicated a woman across the room who stood out. In a sea of black she wore a crimson dress. Her pale blonde hair and deeply tanned skin was in stark contrast to the regular of the patrons of the Masquerade. Nicole felt her dragonmark begin to burn, as the woman exited through a heavy velvet curtain.

**She's seen us! **Alex shouted to her mind in phyre-speak.

"Let's go." Nicole slipped from her booth with Alex on her heels. Weaving through the crowd, and smoke made it difficult to keep their eyes on their target. Nicole avoided using the phyre-sight to track the wyrm. She wanted to give her quarry as little information about her pursuers as possible.

"If she gets to open ground she can true-form on us and we could be in trouble." Alex was right. Nicole had no desire to face a true-form dragon. Five tons of armored fire breathing reptile was not her first choice of dance partners. Better to keep her pent up where she had to keep her size reduced.

The men were big. that's for sure. They'd have intimidated most people by their sheer presence, much less the fact they'd blocked the door, but Nicole wasn't most people. Neither was Alex. "Ms. Drake doesn't want to be disturbed," intoned the blond on the left.

"Ms. Drake is already disturbed." Alex always was a smart-alec.

Nicole didn't have time to play games with these guys. **Move. ** she commanded with her mind as well her voice.

Suddenly the men's eyes glazed over and they stepped to one side as Nicole and her brother brushed past them. "You do that so well."

"Shut up."

"Look!", Alex pointed to the end of the darkened hall where a door lit only by the exit sign slowly closed.

An itching at the base of her skull warned Nicole of danger. Stopping at the door, she warned Alex to get back against the wall. She'd learned a long time ago to trust her instincts and they'd keep her alive. Drawing her automatic she motioned for Alex to join her on the other side of the door.

"I'll take high and you take low," Alex said.

She nodded in affirmation, then under her breath, "Let's go!" as she kicked the door open.

The fight was quick and clean. Two quick shots each from their silenced weapons dropped the wyrm's guards before they could fire a round. The woman herself seemed to be unsurprised. She had enough room in the trash strewn alley to true form, but seemed to have no interest in doing so. She simply sat there on a low wall concealing a trash can and watched the two slowly advance.

Finally she broke the silence. "Hello children. I've been waiting for you."

Nicole could hear the calm in her voice. "She's up to something."

"Yeah, but what?" Alex's voice answered in her mind.

"Of course I'm up to something. Aren't we always up to something? But this time, I think you'll be willing to let me go."

"Oh, and what ever gave you that idea?" Nicole could hear the incredulity in Alex's voice.

The woman slipped down from the wall, and slinked her way over toward him. Her movements reminded Nicole of a snake. They were sensual, carrying more than just a hint of danger. Stopping only inches from Alex, she slowly ran a finger down Alex's chest toward his abdomen, stopping just south of his waistline. "Because I know where there is something you want."

Are you ever off base. Nicole thought to herself.

Alex grabbed the woman's hand and pulled it from his fly. Nicole could see the dragonmark on the inside of his wrist begin to glow from the physical contact with a wyrm. "I don't think so."

Turning to face Nicole, the woman pulled her hand free, "Oh, not that. I'm sure you've been conditioned to resist those kinds of persuasions. Too bad, you don't know what you'd be missing."

"I'm sure I don't, " Alex replied, his voice dripping with ice. Nicole understood the source of the discomfort. Alex had no bond mate. "Your destiny lies elsewhere." the Oracle had told him when he emerged for the third time from the place of mating with no bond mate. All Dragonborn were expected to bondmate and continue the line of phyre, so mankind would always have a defender against the power of the wyrms. No other mind would accept Alex.

Sensing her advantage, Drake continued. "We could fight here. I'm weak from my long convalescence, and possibly could die. But if I did, the whereabouts of a certain child who disappeared from your Baton Rouge Stronghold thirty years ago would die with me." She stopped almost on top of Nicole.

"You know where the lost one is?" Nicole couldn't believe what she was hearing. The loss of that child had spelled the end of that stronghold, and eventually the city itself to the dragons. "How do you even know about that?"

"I know a lot about it. I know that a child disappeared on the day of its birth from Baton Rouge, and you have been unable to find it for all these years. I know that it was male child and that your Oracle read that he would possess immense power. I know where he was taken and what happened to him. I even know the name of the man who is sole possessor of the knowledge of his exact whereabouts," she answered with a reptilian smile."

"You still haven't answered her question," Alex reminded her. "How do you even know about the child?"

The woman who was a wyrm turned and faced him, "Because my little singleton- you know that condition won't last forever- I was there when he was taken."

By Tyr's sword, you live dangerously. He's been on edge ever since we returned to Birmingham, and you've got to go and taunt him. "If that's true then you know we can't let you live. No wyrm has ever been inside a stronghold and survived." Nicole told her.

"If you kill me then the child's location is lost forever," her voice was smug. "I don't think you can take that chance. After all he's just now coming into his power. Do you really want to turn such a powerful force loose on an unsuspecting world? If he attracts too much attention, there are those of my kind who will hunt him down and kill him for the sheer joy of it." She turned her back to Nicole, almost daring her to strike.

"How do we know you're not lying. It wouldn't be the first time," Alex echoed her own thoughts.

"We're not all cut from the same cloth you know. If I wanted you dead, then I'd have true-formed by now, and incinerated you. There are those among us who would end this war and try to rebuild our lives. We're loosing you know- both sides. As we slowly manipulate the media, and drive you from your strongholds, you are hunting us down and stealing our phyre. Fewer eggs are fertilized each mating cycle because we cannot risk staying in true form, lest we be discovered. You yourselves find it harder to stay a cohesive force because the government and media are delving further and further into your cover organizations. You have to divest your holdings as the government wants to regulate your private affairs. Hell, we can't even find a private place to go and hack each other to bits anymore." There was a bitterness in her voice that reached to Nicole's soul. Something told her that this dragon was telling the truth.

"But why kidnap one of our children?" Alex asked.

"Don't you think we have Oracles too? We were reading the signs before you climbed down from the trees. We are the ones who gave you the phyre in the first place. Our seers knew the importance of this child from the night he was conceived. They saw him and one other as the instrument through which the war would end."

"He's just now experiencing the transition? There's another? Who?" Nicole's mind raced with possibilities. If this-he would of course no longer be a child- man was only now coming into his power, after thirty years he would indeed be powerful. The stronger the phyre, the longer it takes the body to adapt to its presence so the later it shows up in life. Most Dragonborn experience their first inklings of power in their mid-teens. Hers and Alex's phyre didn't become evident until their early twenties, and they were among the strongest of the Dragonborn. Now this wyrm was telling her that the lost one possessed power that hasn't been seen since Tyr led the Dragonborn from slavery some fifteen thousand years ago. Now she's telling them that there is another.

"Oh yes child. There is another whose life intertwines with your lost little monkey. I'm unsure of even the other's gender, but they exist at a nexus in destinies. Their lives converge, separate, and the coverage again into a single destiny. From their lives stems the end of the war. "

"So this other person would have to be neither born of woman nor hatched of dragon, because we know that the lost one was born of woman," Alex said. "Sounds like cloning to me."

"Perhaps. I know little of primate technology. What I do know is that it is unclear as to who will survive- the Dragonborn, or the Dragons, but mankind's fate hangs in the balance." If your kind survives then, man will slowly be bred to the phyre. Should ours be the victor, then the primates would once again be our slaves. Considering our diminishing numbers, I suspect the former."

"Then why tell us this? It only makes your death that much sooner." Nicole had to know.

"Because there are those among us who want a third option. One where Dragons and the Dragonborn both survive. An option where we can live in our true-form, not these ugly phyre consuming shells," she indicated the lush body she had offered Alex earlier. "We took the baby in an attempt to raise him to believe in our ideals. Unfortunately, not all Dragons felt that way, and they attacked us. Most of our little band were killed, and the child was carried off by one of our human allies. Only he knows where he hid the child. It's his name I offer you in return for my life."

"How do we know this isn't some elaborate lie so that you can escape?" Alex asked.

"Come now, my little singleton," Nicole saw Alex wince at the word, "search your heart, you know I'm telling the truth. Besides, if you let me go, I'll give you my true name. If I'm lying, you can find me with that and finish the job," the woman offered.

Nicole knew the dragon was desperate. Giving up her true name would make her vulnerable to any Dragonborn using the phyre against her. "How do you know, we won't come back and kill you any way?"

Drake sighed, "Because you will be needing my help in the future. If you find the lost one, then my people will want you dead, and I suspect there are those among the Dragonborn who won't be too pleased with your discovery." She once again gave Nicole one of her cold reptilian smiles. "You'll definitely need my help. I kind of like that, enemy warriors banding together to save both their people. Sort of like in a novel."

"Great, we've got a Dragon who thinks she's David Eddings," Alex said to no one in particular. Then he turned his gaze on Drake. "OK, who's the contact?"

"First, do I have your word that you will let me leave unmolested?" The question was almost moot. Nicole knew that Drake knew, they'd agree.

"You have my word that neither I nor my sister will harm you. Keep your name to yourself, If I want you, I can find you," Alex told her, before Nicole could say anything. She could sense a change in his mind. As if something had suddenly dawned on him.

He's getting cocky on me. I wonder what he's up to? Nicole thought to herself.

"Does he speak for you as well, Assassin?", Drake asked.

With some reservations, Nicole found herself answering, "I'll go along with Alex. If he screws up, then that's just something else he'll owe me."

"Great, now that we're all agreed," she rubbed her hands together, "head northwest of this city on Highway 78 about forty five miles. On the 69 Highway, between Jasper and Oakman, just over the Oakman's side of Lost Creek Bridge, there's a small house on a hill to the right. The man who lives there's name is Marion Leveaux- Tell, him Drake sent you. Tell him, I said you're the ones I said would come." Nicole watched her produce a small coin from her bosom. She tossed it to Alex. "Give him this. He'll help you."

____________________________________________________________

Sean set his bags down on the plain dorm furniture, and looked around the little apartment. It was small and unimaginative. A combination kitchen, living area as the front room was dominated by a small fold-out couch and a table with four chairs. In the little hall leading back to the apartment's two bedrooms and bath was a desk area complete with book shelves built into the wall. With a little work, Sean could make it look more like a home.

Not that he'd really had one over the past twelve years. He'd lived in single officer's housing and on ship for most of that time, and had never accumulated very much furniture or material possessions. There just wasn't room for it on ship, and no one to take care of it when he was gone to sea. Outside a few suits of clothing and a small collection of fantasy and science-fiction books, the only real possession he had was his truck. It was sort of depressing. He felt like some vagabond, with no roots or family.

Running into Fred FitzGibbons right after deciding to go back to school had been a stroke of luck. Fred had been his head resident when he'd done his undergraduate work here, and had always looked out for his former students. When Sean had mentioned that he was looking for an apartment, Fred told him about the opening for Head Resident at this a matter of a few days, he'd been hired for the position. In return for riding herd over a bunch of freshmen, the University was willing to give him this apartment, and half off on his tuition- not a bad deal. When he'd told his dad that he had a good nest egg built up, he wasn't exaggerating. His expenses had been minimal in the Navy, so he'd saved and invested a large portion of his pay. He found himself with enough money to go back to school as well as purchase and furnish a large home if he so desired. He didn't really need the job but old habits were hard to break.

In reality, working toward a Masters degree in Aeronautic Engineering was just his way of holding the world at arm's length while he worked out his personal problems. "Well, I can afford it. After all, I don't have a family to support, or even a girlfriend to get in the way," he thought to himself. "It's just the three of us, Me, Myself, and I," his voice echoed off the bare walls.

"Now that's the life, if you ask me," a strange voice came from the front door. Turning around he saw a young man in his early twenties standing at his door in a pair of baggy shorts and a tee-shirt. He was holding a football in one hand and a beer in the other.

"What? Oh, yeah, I guess it is," Sean answered more to just be saying something than really meaning it.

The stranger put his beer down and offered his hand to Sean, "I'm Revel Boyd, one of your Resident Assistants." He had an infectious smile, and Sean felt himself relax.

"I'm Sean Fey. It's good to meet you," Sean took the hand. It was a firm grip, but not overbearing.

"Fred called me and told me you were moving in. He wanted me to show you around. He said that you were grad student. What's your field of study?"

"Aeronautic Engineering."

"Ooh. Tough major. Want to be a pilot huh?"

"No, I'm already a pilot. I want to design aircraft."

Revel seemed surprised by that revelation. "Cool."

"Is that your standard choice of beverages for wandering around the dorm?" Sean indicated the beer.

"Uh no, not normally. Is it a problem?"

"You tell me?"

"Well, since the dorm doesn't open until tomorrow, I figured it'd be OK."

"Fine, just keep it in your room after today."

"Cool."

This is definitely going to be an interesting year, Sean thought as the two headed out into the building. It didn't take him long to figure out that there was more to this job than University was willing to admit. The hall had a hundred suits on twenty floors, each suite holding six students, Sean realized that he'd be responsible for six hundred hormone driven eighteen year olds. With a staff of forty Resident Assistants, he was outnumbered over ten to one. He felt safer in the Gulf War with the Iraqis shooting at him.

After finishing his tour, he thanked Revel, finished unpacking and headed out to get something to eat and do a little shopping. If felt good to be back in Birmingham. Living with his mom in Hueytown, just outside of the city, he'd grown up here. He knew his way around, and headed out to some of his old haunts.

He didn't have a lot of old friends to get in touch with. Most of them had moved on with their lives. Larry was now a minister in Mississippi, Joe was the President of Bessemer Southern Business College, and Kyle had been killed in a car crash two weeks after graduation. Heaven only knew what had happened to the few girls he'd ever gone out with. As an adolescent he'd been somewhat plain and skinny. Puberty didn't help a lot -for some reason, instead of gaining grace and strength like his class mates- he'd only become more and more gangly. Finally in a last ditch attempt to get a grip on his rapidly changing body, he took up karate. It helped some, and best of all it kept the bully's off his back. Still, he hadn't been exactly what his mother would call a good catch -and God, she'd reminded him of it enough- and in the throes of dealing with his budding sexuality on top of his other problems, he just didn't feel like dating. The few friends he did have were above his social class, and he sometimes suspected that they saw him as some kind of charity case- the boy who was trying to improve himself- yet, he was still grateful for even that little acceptance. Then again he always had been a strange boy, caught up in his own fantasy world, and that probably had a lot to do with turning people off.

He'd rather bury himself in his Star Trek novels, comic books and studies than dealing with most people around him. Finally realizing that he stood no chance of survival in the world of his parents, he threw himself into his studies and applied for every scholarship and grant he could find, he was determined to become the first in his family to graduate high school much less go to college. By the time he reached college, a confused and determined young man living in a world of shifting fantasies borne of science fiction and comic books with a tenuous grip on reality, the job that puberty had started was finally coming to fruition. He was beginning to put on weight and fill out, with his features actually becoming handsome. Unfortunately his new found freedom from the oppressiveness of his home-life threatened to be short lived. Even with the grants and scholarships, the resistance he was getting from home made staying in college difficult. Toward the end of his sophomore year he was faced with the prospect of not being able to return for his junior year.

He did the only thing he could think of, and visited the Naval ROTC offices at his school. After a series of tests and a lot of thinking he weighed his options and decided that if he wanted to stay in school some more sacrifices had to be made. After spending the summer in an accelerated training program he added military science to his class load and joined the Navy Reserves.

The added class load gave him even less time for a social life, and he became the professional student and officer, never dating and happy for the chance to not have to deal with the conflicting feelings he felt inside. After two more years of under-graduate work, then flight school and finally Top Gun, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and left the Reserves, banishing the demons of his fantasy world to his past with a strong sense of chagrin. He now had time to deal with that part of him that would no longer be denied.

He could no longer hide from himself by getting lost in his work. There just were too many hours left over from his day and nature was beginning to take it's course, and like Ellie May Clampett, lately nature was getting more and more insistent about it. Even worse than that, the fantasy life he took so long to put behind him was coming back to haunt him, now.

____________________________________________________________

The intense heat of the late August sun beat down on the Old 69 Highway. Nicole couldn't help but notice Alex's strange silence for the forty minute trip to Jasper. It made her nervous with him being quiet for the whole distance. She knew something was bothering him, and had an idea as to what it was, but he wasn't saying. When he was ready to talk about it, he would, and there was no use in trying to force the issue. Nicole made it a point to give Alex's personal life a wide berth, ever since he threatened to break her neck if she tried to set him up with anyone else. He dated little to none, and as far as she knew had never been out with the same woman twice.

She almost missed the drive-way in the silence, and had to turn do a U-turn to get back to it. The house was actually a double wide trailer with a small deck covered by a corrugated fiberglass roof serving as a porch. An older black man exited the house and looked toward his visitors. His hair was cropped short and was peppered with grey. His alert eyes belied his relaxed form as he leaned one arm against the support. "Can I 'elp you folks?"

He's got the poor black man in the South bit down pat. Too bad, I've lived here long enough to know how much bull it really is, Nicole thought to herself. "Yes sir, I'm Nicole Jackson and this is my brother Alex Stone," she indicated where Alex was coming around the front of the car. "We're looking for a Marion Leveaux. Does he live here?"

"That'd be me, missy. What can I do fer ya'?" the soft Southern drawl sounded like something from an Oliver Stone movie.

Reaching into her pocket and tossed him the coin, "Ms. Drake sent us."

Catching the coin out of the air, he looked down at it like it was about to bite him. Without acknowledging them, he turned around to face the door and then said, "Come on in." The fake southern accent was completely gone now.

Inside the trailer was mercifully cool and shaded, a sharp contrast to the environment outside. The living room was dominated by a large desk with an old typewriter sitting squarely in it's middle. Shelves lined the walls packed with books of all shapes and sizes. Large stacks of books scattered around the floor created a minotaurian maze that had to be navigated to reach the desk. Sitting next to the desk, was an small refrigerator, slightly ajar, a single glass of ice tea sitting on it's top. Next to it on the floor was a waste basket overflowing with discarded and crumpled papers. "You folks'll have to excuse the place. I'm writing the Great American Novel."

"It's perfectly all right Mr. Leveaux. You should see my brother's place." Nicole told him trying to be disarming. The old man smiled back at Nicole as he sat down behind the desk, making it clear that he knew what she was doing. She was telling the truth though, Alex really was a horrible housekeeper and had more books than God scattered around his apartment back in Ashland.

Nicole watched the man pass the coin through his fingers as he seemed to be debating his options. Finally, seeming to come to some conclusion, he looked up at her, "I take it you're here about the kid." He gestured toward the couch across from the desk, "Please, sit down, while I think this thing through."

Quick and to the point. Nicole liked that. Even if Leveaux didn't know exactly what was going on, he knew enough to cut through the usual small talk most people feel necessary even after they've made up their minds on an issue. "Yes sir. Ms. Drake said you knew where he is," she told him as they sat down.

He leaned back in his chair and pulled a large book from the shelf behind him, "I know where he is all right, Ms. Stone. But to be honest with you, I'm not sure I should tell you." Something in his voice told Nicole that there was more involved here than an old man's desire to be difficult. Unfortunately, Alex wasn't paying as much attention.

"Just who do you think you are?!" He half rose from the couch. Nicole could sense turmoil in her brother. Something about being back in central Alabama had set him on edge and he obviously was thinking none too clearly.

She reached out to hold Alex back when they both suddenly felt a force pin them the to the couch. Briefly, Nicole saw the phyre flare around Leveaux as his spell went off. It caught her completely by surprise. " Just who do you think you are boy!? Comin' to my home and raising your voice at me. I didn't say I wouldn't give you the name. I said I wasn't sure I should."

If the spell had caught Nicole off guard, it infuriated Alex. She could sense him gathering his phyre. If she didn't head it off soon it would get nasty. There weren't all that many people in the general public who possessed the phyre. It tended to be genetically linked, traveling down the father's line, passed to son or daughter. The 'born tried to keep up with individuals who might have such power. It was unusual for someone with only a 'born father to have the phyre, but it sometimes happened. Occasionally a child was lost, or a 'born would commit an indiscretion. Society had a name for children born out of wedlock. The dragonborn had a name for phyre-powered individuals who were not a member of their orders. It was the same name. "Bastard."

Leveaux raised an eyebrow at the word. "You're probably right Ms. Stone. To tell you the truth, I 'm not sure who my daddy was. It may have even been the master's son. My momma always said he had an eye for the slaves. But then again, slaves weren't allowed to marry in 1837, so I would have to be a bastard." Somewhat surprised by the revelation of his age, Nicole smiled back nonetheless. It wasn't unheard of for someone with the phyre to live that long, but it was unusual this day and age. Such a long life attracted attention, and attention was exactly what both the dragons and the dragonborn wanted desperately to avoid. Drake had been right when she'd said that neither side could find a private place where they could go and cut each other to pieces anymore. Both sides of the war had become too deeply interwoven into mankind's civilization, and unaccounted for bodies attracted attention even more than long lives.

Leveaux wasn't aware of what the word meant- at least not in the context she'd used it. "That's not quite what I meant Mr. Leveaux, but for now we'll go with it." It occurred to her that he also wasn't aware of exactly who he was dealing with. He might not even know that Drake was a dragon. No matter, he did know where the kid that disappeared from the Baton Rouge stronghold was, and that made him too important to let Alex kill in pique of anger. "Where's the person we're discussing Mr. Leveaux? Tell us and we'll leave you alone to write your novel. Soon, he's going to need help dealing with what you've already mastered, and if he doesn't get it, he could be dangerous to himself and others."

If he was just coming into his phyre without anyone to show him how to control it, then he would have to be scared out of his wits. For the 'born, the phyre is cherished and nurtured, but left uncontrolled it was also feared. That's why the phyre-bond is considered so sacrosanct. When a phyre bond was forged between a couple, it GUARANTEED that children who had it would be the result of this union, and knowing that a child would be phrye powered, was half the battle in teaching him to control it. "Why shouldn't you tell us where he is?"

Leveaux leaned back in his chair and with a negligible wave of his hand Nicole felt the pressure on her dissipate. "Because, the guy's been through pure hell as it is. I don't know what you guys were thinking, but the family- if you could call it that- you had me arrange for him to become a part of", his distaste for the situation apparent in his voice, " almost killed him. I don't know what you people have in mind, but I think you screwed up royally there."

Nicole could sense that Leveaux just went up in Alex's estimation. She could feel him release his grip on the phyre. Then she turned her attention back to the man in front of her thinking to herself, For someone self taught, he's good. He'd made a fine member of the orders, he still might if he doesn't cross Alex too much. God, I have to get him to get his head on straight about that. It's been twelve years , and he's still hiding from it.

As if bidden by her thoughts, Alex spoke up, worry and anger in his voice, "you mean physical abuse?" That's the way it was with the Thorns, and the Blades. Suggest somewhere that a child or a woman was being abused and they'd be half way out the door before they even knew where the victim was. That was the real tragedy about Alex's situation. He would make an excellent father.

Leveaux shook his head, "No, not that kind of abuse. It was more psychological, or even cultural. They stifled every instinct in his body. They ridiculed the things he was good at as unimportant, and valued those he was slow to develop. His mother made it clear almost every day of his life what a disappointment he was to her. He was like Raphael surrounded by black velvet paintings of Elvis."

Nicole could sense Alex's amusement at that remark, if not the situation. Leveaux continued, "I don't know why you decided that this was the family to raise that kid, but if his parents hadn't divorced when he was ten, he'd either be dead now or committed. I've never seen anyone fight quite like him. The whole world was stacked against him, and still he not only survived, but actually found a way to become somewhat successful. Once he gets his head on straight 'bout a few things, he's going to do rather well I think. "There was a pride in the old man's voice that made her wonder if he hadn't found some way to make life a little easier on the boy.

Alex obviously wasn't taking the news very well, "Just tell us where he is Mr. Leveaux. Because of your obvious concern for our lost brother, I'm inclined to leave you out of this mess. We weren't the ones who put him anywhere. We're the ones he was stolen from."

That revelation, clearly made an impression on Leveaux. He sputtered for a second as his eyes grew saucer sized, "you mean you're ...." Nicole wondered if Alex hadn't planned it that way. Confused her brother may be, but he knew how to manipulate people. It probably came from being a shape shifter. Quickly the old man wrote something down on a piece of paper and reached to hand it to Alex. "Here, he just moved to this address," he told them, confirming Nicole's earlier suspicions about his relationship to the boy.

"I'll take that," Nicole darted in and took the note before Alex could take it. "Dragonborn Mr. Leveaux, Dragonborn. I don't know if you've heard of us or not, but it might be a good idea to forget if you had. The situation in the war is somewhat unstable now, and things are bound to get nasty. Involvement in it might not be good for your continued health. I'd suggest you take a vacation and finish your book. Say, somewhere in Florida or such a place."

The old nodded, seeming to understand, as Nicole looked down at the name and address on the note. Surprised, she looked at Alex, "Well, well, little brother, it seems that good ol' Murphy has it in for you. You're never going to believe who it is."

________________________________________________________________________

Sean was depressed. Birmingham and he had changed a great deal since he was here last. His old haunts didn't hold much for him anymore. Either he'd out-grown them or they'd become something he didn't like. Downtown used to be so much fun and full of life. Now, he didn't feel safe leaving his truck parked near the park much less walking the short distance from there to the old gothic building that housed the library. The city seemed dirtier and meaner than he remembered it. Maybe he was looking at it through the rose colored glasses that are the memories of youth, but some how he didn't think so. Mayor Arrington's policies had not been kind to the city.

After spending more in one trip for clothes than he'd spent in the entire past years in a JC Penny's that wasn't there a dozen years ago , he came home frustrated and angry. He'd gone by the Western Star in Bessemer, one of his favorite places to eat as a teenager, and found it closed for repairs. Finally, after placing an order with Pizza Hut he set to the business of unpacking his few belongings. The more he looked at the boxes the more depressed he became.

"Is this all I am? Is this all I have to show for the past twelve years. A sea-bag of clothes, and a dozen boxes of books and models?" The dry voice of logic told him differently. He had his pilot's license. He'd flown the most powerful aircraft in the world. He'd come in for perfect landings on the bucking deck of a carrier in rough seas. He'd flown over thirty combat missions in Gulf War. He'd lived more in the past twelve years than most people do in an entire lifetime. Unfortunately, he wasn't listening to logic.

Other things were distracting him. Things like, his vision sometimes going strange on him, where people started to look like they were on fire. Then there was that last mission before he came home. By all rights he ought to be dead. Nobody lands a plane in that condition, no matter how good of a pilot they are. Things were getting strange in his life, and having to leave his dad's place wasn't helping.

He was hoping to use this chance to go back to school to stay with his dad, and maybe try to rebuild their relationship. They hadn't even started talking to each other until Sean was ready to graduate high school. Of all the things in his life Sean regretted, letting his mother keep him and his dad apart all those years was in the top two.

After their divorce, she'd done everything in her power to drive his dad away. She'd filled his and his brother and sisters heads with lies about their dad. She'd hounded him at home, at work, and even accused him of non payment of child support to the point that he'd had to leave the state just to keep a job. Then she'd turned around and told his children what a rotten father he was, because he wasn't in their lives anymore.

It'd taken Sean ten years to figure out exactly what was happening. How after his dad was gone, his mother saw him and his brother and sisters as a nuisance. Something to get in her way of doing what she wanted. Sean was the only person he knew of in the fifth grade that had a seven o'clock bed time. Mainly because his mother didn't want to bother with him.

As he'd grown older, he saw other changes too. How his mother was trying to re-live her youth through her children. How she'd thrown his brother Doug at every little girl she thought might sleep with him. How she'd hounded him about not ever having a date, or constantly reminding as to why no girl would go out with him.

By the time his sisters hit puberty, she was throwing them into the dating scene long before they should even be thinking about boys. Sean remembered one time in particular, when he'd returned home for a weekend to find his fourteen year old sister sharing a bed with her boyfriend with his mom's full permission. Worst of all the guy- who she would eventually marry- was at the time nineteen years old, and technically an adult.

His relationship with his mom really started going down hill when he decided to go to college. She thought he should find a job and a girlfriend, settle down and start making babies, and forget wasting his time on college. She accused him of getting above his raising." All he could do was think to himself, "God, I hope so." It was about this time that his dad came back into his life. Funny thing. His dad was the original red-neck, but he supported Sean's decision to go onto college. He didn't have a lot of money, but he helped out when he could.

He and his dad began the process of healing the damage done ten years earlier by his parent's divorce. Sean had hoped to continue that process now that he was home from the Navy. For some reason he felt the need for his dad's approval. It was important to him, and he didn't really understand why. Unfortunately, Doug and Marie were getting in the way of that. Sean didn't begrudge his brother a place to live in his hard times, only his wife. The woman's attempt at seduction cost him his chance at continuing the healing process with his father. He was going to need emotional support from somebody, in dealing with the feelings he'd been having lately. I just hope dad can deal with this new phase as well as I hope he can. If not, then I guess, I really will be on my own. What is it about men in my position needing the approval of their dads?

A knock on the door pulled him out of his reverie. Walking over to the door, "Good the pizza's here," he said to the air.

"Hi Sean, remember us?" the short dark haired woman at the door said to him. For a moment, he couldn't place her, then he saw the tall grey eyed blond behind her, and it came crashing back in on him.

Suddenly he was hurled back twelve years. Back to a night at his mom's house, when he'd come home for spring break, and brought a friend with him. A friend he felt closer to than he really felt comfortable admitting to himself. He and Alex had been out with some of his friends. They'd been drinking, probably more than either one had realized. As they sat up in the living room, everyone else in the house sound asleep, they'd talked. Talked about school, talked about friendship, and talked about women. What they didn't' talk about, was what had been on Sean's mind for months now. What Sean had been afraid to admit to even himself, not to mention this young man who'd become his best friend.

Suddenly out of the blue, Alex had crossed the line. One moment they were talking about Lori, this girl who was chasing Alex and suddenly Alex was talking about Sean. Talking about Sean in ways that Sean wanted, but was afraid to admit. Without thinking Sean had lied, he was flattered, but not interested. That lie was number one in the top two things he regretted most in his life. Deep down in his heart, he'd let what he wanted more than anything in the world, slip away from him, because he was afraid of what it meant. Now those regrets came crashing in on him. They'd come back to haunt him.

"Nicole!" he said smiling, but his eyes never left the man behind her. He looked past her to the taller man, and suddenly he felt his voice tighten. He forced himself to try and sound as neutral as possible, "Alex." He'd aged little in the past twelve years. He still had that youthful look of a college kid.

"Can we come in or have you forgotten all those southern manners you used to talk about Sean?" Nicole was kidding him. He could tell that she sensed the tension. He could tell she could sense some kind of tension between he and Alex. Sean didn't know how much her brother had told her of that conversation, he had never told anyone.

"Uh, sure," he moved out of the way and directed them into the room piled with now empty boxes. Then without realizing what was happening, he felt himself slipping back into old habits he'd had in college. The one he fought so hard to get rid of. The old fantasy world he'd been so careful to bury in his past, as he crawled his way back to reality, "Why bless me Doctor, what beams you into this neck of the woods?" He immediately regretted the line from Star Trek.

Nicole gave him a strange look. Alex just stood there with that look of the walking wounded on his face. Something told Sean that this wasn't just a social visit. Alex didn't want to be here, and he could hardly blame the man. Sean himself, was uncomfortable with the situation. Sean wanted to deal with this in his own time, but it seems that Murphy had other ideas. "To what do I owe this unexpected surprise?" The question was directed to Alex.

Nicole answered. "We need to talk, Sean." She looked back at her brother who was trying to bore holes into Sean with his eyes. "Something has come up and we think you should know about it."

Sean looked at her surprised, "What is it?" Something in their eyes told him, that what ever it was, it wasn't pleasant. Sean realized that he was actually frightened. These two had changed over the last dozen years, and he wasn't sure that he liked the change.

Sean closed the door behind him. He saw the way his two old friend's eyes darted back and forth around the room, memorizing where everything was located. Sean had seen other men with that look while in the Navy. Seal team members usually. People who's lives depended on knowing every detail of the world around them constantly. Nicole turned to face him, "I'm not sure where to start this, Sean."

"How about at the beginning?" Sean knew it was a pat answer, but he couldn't help himself. "Like where you two disappeared to right after spring break?" Try as he might he couldn't keep the hurt and accusations out of his voice.

Nicole turned and looked at Alex and then back to Sean, "Believe it or not, that actually has something to do with it," she gave Sean a strange look. As if she were looking right through him. Suddenly he felt as if the temperature in the room went up. His eyes blurred in front of him, and for a brief moment, she and Alex seemed to be engulfed in some kind of living flame. Then, as quickly as it begun, it ended, and his vision returned to normal.

Shaking his head, trying to clear the cobwebs he suddenly felt, he looked at Nicole, "What's this all about Nicole?" She and Alex were both giving him a strange and startled look now. Something had surprised them. Sean looked back over his shoulder

"It's about you Sean. It's about what you are, or at least will be." Nicole's voice dropped to almost a whisper. He could sense a pleading in it that wasn't there before. Like she was both happy and scared all of a sudden. "I need to ask you some questions first Sean. Can I get you to answer them without an explanation first. I'll answer any questions you have afterwards, but I need to get these answers first."

Sean nodded his head, and looked over at Alex who appeared to be as uncomfortable as he, "As long as you understand that there are some questions I can't answer."

She must have mistaken his look to Alex as something else, "I'll admit to some curiosity about what's going on between you and my brother, but that's not what I'm after."

Sean shook his head, "No. That's not what I mean. I can't answer any questions about certain aspects my military career." He smiled as an old joke came to mind, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

Nicole smiled at his attempt at humor. Alex remained unchanged. "Okay. Fair enough." She took a deep breath and let it out slow, "All right here goes. Have you noticed any changes in yourself lately?"

Sean smiled at her, "Nikki," he found himself using that old nickname, "I went through puberty at about eleven. Those changes occurred a long time ago."

"Be serious Sean. We're trying to save you a lot of grief here." Alex snapped at him. His first words since he'd arrived.

Sean returned his gaze and was about to say something, but Nicole cut him off. "I'm sorry Sean, could you excuse us for just a moment." She looked at her brother, "Alex, I want to see you in the hall." She half dragged him out the door by his jacket before Sean could react.

He heard low voices as if they were arguing in the hall, but couldn't make out what was being said. Sean looked around the room in confusion. This wasn't going well. He'd hoped he'd eventually run into Alex. He wanted a chance to eventually try to work things out with him about that night so long ago, but it didn't look like he was going to get a chance. The man was just too upset about the situation. Sean was surprised that Alex would hold a grudge for that long, he'd hoped better of him than that.

Walking to the back bedroom, he turned on the window unit. Sean was used to heat, and high humidity, but for some reason he found himself sweating like a bride-groom on his wedding day. "This is not like me." He turned toward the door, and for a brief moment, he could make out two fiery outlines through the door. Then they were gone again, and he was left with a buzzing behind his eyes. "I'd better see a doctor about this. I've never had trouble with my eyes before."

Nicole and Alex came back into the room after a few moments. It was obvious that Nicole was in charge, and Alex looked sufficiently chastised. "I'm sorry for snapping Sean. It's been a long couple of weeks and we've had some disturbing news. Unfortunately you are caught up in it. We're still friends I hope." He offered Sean a hand, and smiling-what to Sean at least thought was the genuine article.

Sean was surprised at how much those words meant to him. For some reason, the thought of finding out that Alex might still hold a grudge after all these years really disturbed him. He still cared for this tall man who'd disappeared out of his life so long ago. He took Alex's hand and smiled, "I never knew the question of us not being ever came up." Sean willed himself not to think about the hand in his and what he felt there, or thought he felt there, or hoped he felt there.

Alex smiled back. "I didn't either. But we really do need to know if you've noticed anything strange about yourself lately."

Sean thought for a moment. For just a brief instant he wanted to blurt out, exactly what had changed about himself lately, but instead he only shook his head, "outside of some strange lights I've been seeing lately, nothing really."

Alex and Nicole looked at each other. It confused Sean, "it's nothing really. I just looked like certain people were on fire at different times. I think it might be eye strain, because I always get this strange buzzing in my forehead when it happens."

"Sort of like the muscles on the inside of our eyes are contracting and expanding in rapid succession?" Alex always did have a way of putting things biological in words people could understand.

Sean nodded his head. Alex continued as he walked over, picked up the hard bound book on a chair, looked at it briefly and smiled, as he held it up. Sitting down he said, "I can remember when you bought this series. You lay in our dorm room all weekend and giggled. You were almost impossible to live with, giggling and reading excerpts you thought I might think funny aloud."

Sean nodded and took the book, "Yeah, as I recall you threatened to make me eat it if I didn't shut up." He smiled and lay the book on the table, "yeah it feels something like that."

"Have you noticed anything else strange. Heard unusual voices, or maybe things seem to move when you aren't looking," Nicole picked up the questioning as if she sensed that he and Alex would start reminiscing about old times if she didn't step in.

"Nothing that I can really talk about, Nikki." He couldn't tell them about the incident with the Hornet. That was still technically classified. "All I can tell you is that I was almost in a plane crash a few months ago. I should have been in a plane crash, but wasn't"

Nicole gave him an understanding look, "One of those things you can't talk about, right?"

Sean shook his head, "yeah."

"So there has been something."

All Sean could do was nod his head, as he felt reality slipping away from him. A feeling he didn't like. It would be too easy to let the old fantasies come back and dominate his life, destroying his hard fought for stability. "Nicole, I'm not sure I want to talk about it."

"Why, Sean?" she asked him.

Sean saw something pass between Alex and Nicole. The raven-haired woman seemed to nod in acknowledgment and stood up and walked to the other side of the room. Alex took her place and put a hand on his shoulder. "Sean, does your not wanting to talk about it have anything to do with all this." He indicated all the books and models around him. "Does it have anything to do with that stuff you told me about when we were in college?"

Sean just sat there, as his past came crashing back on him. He blushed lightly as he thought about the question. Of course it was why he didn't want to talk about it. He'd put a lot energy into banishing those particular demons. Fantasies woven into his life about a secret war between dragons and a race of humans with pseudo-magical powers taking place under the noses of mundane life. Fantasies devised to let him survive the hell that was his childhood. Fantasies that although useful as a survival skill, hurt him socially, and had to be excised from his mind before he could ever succeed in life. "Yeah Alex. That's exactly why I don't want to talk about 'em." Suddenly he was angry. Angry at himself for letting things go this far. Angry at Alex and Nicole for showing up and dragging him through it. Angry at the world for not being the way he dreamt it should have been all those long years ago. Most of all, angry at himself for what he felt or wanted to feel in Alex's hand on his shoulder.

Nicole looked startled. Alex just smiled at him, "Good. I thought I'd have to hit you there to get a reaction out of you. I've never seen you this withdrawn Sean, I know something is bothering you, and I think it has to do with something weird going on in your life."

"Yeah, weird Alex." He turned his back on his old friend. It was the only way he could hold on to his anger, and right now he needed his anger to beat back the tide of insanity that threatened to crush him. He felt like lashing out at something. Anything, just to keep the anger at a peak. "You know, you've got some nerve showing up like this now. You disappear over night, and let years go by without calling, writing or anything Now you show up on my front door asking me if my life is weird. Of course my life is weird, look who I've got for friends."

Nicole broke in, "Are you two about finished with this self-pity party. I've got some things to discuss with you Sean, important things. I came here expecting to find the bright intelligent man I knew in college, and instead I find a depressed, washed out pilot who quit before he ever got started. Tell you what, when you can find the old Sean Fey let me know. I need to talk to him. This one turns my stomach."

That did it! Sean spun on her, his anger becoming white hot, as his vision blurred, he felt himself rise off the ground, and begin to glide toward her, "Washed-out! Quit before I got started huh. I'll show you quit, Little Miss Look Down Your Nose At Me! You have no idea where I come from or what I've gone through. You, from your privileged background. You who never had to worry about where you were going to get money to eat on next week." Some dry part of his brain registered the model next to his hand just melted, but not the angry part. Not the part in control.

Alex just stood there with his mouth agape as Sean advanced on Nicole. She backed away warily, "Really, Sean. You have no idea, how that I'm better than you because I'm poor and ignorant routine that is so prevalent in the South grates my nerves." She stepped over a box of books as she backed toward the sink, "What are you going to do about it you ignorant, in-bred, red-neck? Hit me?"

Sean felt himself drift down toward the floor, finally hovering a few inches above the rapidly scorching linoleum, till he was less than a foot away from her. He saw her flinch from the fire that seemed to surround him, "What makes you think you're worth the eff..." Suddenly it hit him. His world went spinning around him and finally he gave into the blackness.

________________________________________________________________________

Alex couldn't believe what he just saw. "Are you outta' your mind, Nicole!" He rushed over to the fallen form in front of him. "I don't know which one of you scared me most, you and your let's make him angry, or him suddenly igniting like that! One of these days you and I are going to have to have a long talk. Sometimes you go too far."

"Shut up Alex," she replied. He could hear the fear in her voice as she leaned against the kitchen counter. Alex could tell that she was coming down from an adrenaline high. "You may be right though. I may have gone a little too far that time. I really think he was about to kill me." She caught her breath and went over to the couch.

Alex continued to check on Sean. There was a stream of blood running down the side of his face where he hit his head on the table corner when he fell. Alex brushed the strawberry blond hair away to see the extent of the damage and was stunned. Before his very eyes, the wound began to close. He could see small lights dance along the wound as Sean's phyre healed the damage. "Uh, Nikki, if there were any doubt about Sean being what we thought he was, there's none now."

"I know Alex. Believe me, I know. But I was fairly sure anyway. There were a couple of times there where he was literally flaming." Then as if to realize that her words could have a double meaning she looked at Alex sheepishly. "Wanna tell me what you two were talking about with all this sci-fi stuff."

Alex lifted got a couple of cushions from the couch and put them under Sean's head, "Sean and I used to talk about our families a lot. Once, after his mom had visited and they'd fought he told me about this fantasy world of his. Evidently it was some kind of coping mechanism he used to escape from his home life, which I gather was pretty awful." He looked over at his sister. "It was about being something very similar to dragonborn. He called it Dragonkin."

"And you never saw fit to tell me or anyone in the Orders about this?"

"Look it was Sean’s fantasy, and to tell you the truth, I didn't want to drag him into our world. His life had been hard enough on him. I didn't want to hurt him anymore than he already was."

Alex at that point knew that she knew. "How long?"

"How long what?"

"How long have you known about...?" He couldn't finish the words.

"How long have I known that you were gay?" she smiled. "Most of our adult life. I was just wondering when you were going to admit it to yourself. You know there are times when you aren't exactly on stealth mode on the old gaydar."

Alex was shocked. His deepest secret was suddenly not a secret. He didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone until you want. Is that what all the nervousness is about? Were you two lovers or something?"

Alex shook his head thinking, If only it were that easy, but said, "No. As a matter of fact, he turned me down the night before we left for our birthing. To tell you the truth sis, I've never had any kind of lover." Alex was surprised that he was willing to admit that.

"You mean you're a virgin!" Nicole was obviously surprised.

"You don't have to make it sound like I'm leper or something," he was hurt at Nicole's reaction. "I just haven't found the right person."

Nikki smiled at him. "Okay, big bro, I won't tease you anymore."

"How would you like to have to face somebody who once turned you down?"

"To tell you the truth bro, I usually try to have them seduce me. It's easier on the ego that way." Alex couldn't tell if she was kidding or not. He knew that she'd had a few lovers before she met her husband Zack, but never paid that much attention to how many or how far she went with them. He gave his sister the room he thought she wanted and hoped for the same from him.

"I'll have to keep that idea in mind next time."

"Well, you could practice here," she indicated the unconscious form of Sean.

Alex was genuinely shocked, and he knew it showed on his face. He would never do that to Sean. He respected him too much for that kind of chicanery. Besides, Sean had made it clear that he wasn't interested twelve years ago. "No, Nikki. I can't play that kind of game."

Nikki simply nodded as if she knew something he didn't. "All right. What now? It seems we found the lost one. Granted he was right under our noses the whole time," her voice changed slightly, "and someone knew something was different about him and didn't tell anybody. Still, what do we do with him now?"

Alex shrugged. "One thing we got to explain to him what's going on." He looked over at Sean, "Tyr's phyre! Can you imagine having that kind of power and no idea what's happening to you? No wonder he was going out of his mind."

Nikki gave him one of her I know something you don't looks, "More was going on than just his phyre manifesting Alex. Something else is affecting him. I think he really needs a friend right now."

Alex knew better than to ask what she was talking about. When she got into one of these moods, she was impossible to get a straight answer out of. It was also when she did her best work. His sister was nothing short of brilliant. She had one of the sharpest minds of all the 'Born, and combined with a level of telepathy, unheard of since the Sundering, she was one of the best operatives the Order of the Shadows had. Most people didn't understand just how effective a telepathic assassin could be. They tended to under-estimate them, since their phyre had no physical manifestation. One didn't make that mistake twice with Nikki. The first time usually meant you would never make another mistake again. "I'm not sure how he's likely to accept us now," Alex was surprised to realize that there was some resentment toward his sister over what she just did to Sean. "He never had that many friends in college, and somehow I don't think that situation has changed very much now."

Nikki looked around the room. "I'd say not. This isn't exactly the kind of apartment you'd expect a thirty four year old man to have. More like an 18 year old computer geek."

"I expect better manners from my guests, General," Sean's voice came weakly from where he lay.

Alex winced at that. He's slipping back into that sci-fi mode again. I wonder if he ever really got out of it. At least he saw himself as the good guy, and Alex could think of worse role-models to work from than Superman. He went over to his friend, "How you feelin' pal?" He offered a hand.

"Anybody get the number of that aircraft carrier?"

Alex could see the confusion in Nicole's face. "What aircraft carrier?"

Alex smiled as Sean answered, "The one that hit me. It had to be in the CVN range at least."

Helping his friend to his feet, "CVN 65 I think." Sean gave him a surprised look. He could see him start to say something but then decide different. "That was the right number wasn't it?"

Sean nodded his head, and Alex could tell he immediately regretted. He went to the freezer and got a few ice cubes. Handing them to Sean, "here chew on these. They'll take away the head-ache." Alex knew that right now Sean's head had to be pounding. His body hadn't yet adjusted to the presence of the phyre, and manifesting it under strong emotion tended to wrack the whole system.

"Could someone explain to me what just happened?" Then he looked at Nicole, "and you my little Nikki get a spanking just as soon as I an figure out which way the room is finally going to decide to spin."

Trying to concentrate on the task at hand and ignore what he was feeling in his heart, Alex smiled and guided his friend over to the couch, "You can do that later. Now we've got to talk, Sean."

"You mean he can try," Nikki said, and Alex wasn't sure she was playing.

"No I mean he can do it. I'll help. That was a pretty nasty thing to do to a friend Nicole. There had to be a better way."

"Not with you and him dancing around each other like a couple of wounded tigers there wasn't. Besides, it all worked out for the best anyway." Alex watches as Nicole's eyes shifted to phyre-sight and was puzzled. Obviously she was seeing something that he wasn't.

"Just somebody tell me what's going on, and please, please convince me that I haven't completely lost what little sanity I had left."

Alex smiled, "Welcome to the Hidden War my friend. Welcome to the world of the Dragonborn."

"That's Dragonkin, Alex and it's NOT funny." There was a wounded sound to Sean's voice. Alex knew that he was talking about the story line of Sean's fantasies.

"No Sean, it's Dragonborn. You only had it half right." Alex thought to himself, "Actually you had most of it right. Just the wrong name." He thought to himself for a second, "You know, come to think of it, I like Dragonkin better myself."

"Great, we'll inform the Orders that we're undergoing an official name change because Sean Fey and Alex Stone don't like Dragonborn." She shrugged and smiled, "What the hell, Dragonborn has only been used twenty millennia or so. I'm sure they won't mind."

Sean was looking at them like they'd lost their minds. "What are you two talking about?" He seemed to be slowly convincing himself that it was all a bad dream. "Did I pass out or something? I had the strangest dream."

"It wasn't a dream Sean. It really happened."

Sean looked at him like he was crazy. His voice changed, suddenly he was very alert, **What, just happened then?** Alex heard the voice in his head. Damn, he was already using phyre-speak.

**You mean besides the fact that you just floated across the room, probably with the intention of killing me. Then, after recovering from your little fainting spell started using a limited form of telepathy to talk to Alex, **Nicole's mental voice cut through his.

Sean nodded wild eyed, and then said verbally, "Yeah, that."

"Oh, nothing much. Just that you're the long lost child stolen from the Dragonborn stronghold in Baton Rouge and are prophesied to be the instrument of the destruction of the Hidden War." Alex smiled. He loved dropping these little bombshells for Nicole to have to deal with. The look she gave him was withering. Now that he thought about it, it did sound suspiciously like a bad Anne McCaffery plot.

"Sounds good to me Alex. When do we start?" He couldn't tell if Sean was joking or not.

"You seem to be taking this rather well. No screaming, no yelling. No breaking down in hysterics," Alex replied, not sure what to expect next.

"No, none of that," Sean shook his head and Alex knew he regretted it. "So what you are telling me is that all those dreams I had as a kid, and that whole mythical world I used to develop in my head, is reality, and I just didn't know it." His voice started to sound dangerously unhinged. "That there really are dragons out there and really are people with this power to fight them?" His voice was beginning to waver.

Alex nodded his head, "Something like that. I'm not sure how you knew about it all. It may have something to do with what the dragons did to you, or maybe something along the idea of Jung's collective unconscious. I just don't know. I do know that you seemed to have tapped into the reality of the situation without ever being aware of it." Alex warily watched his friend. Something strange was going on here. Sean was taking all this too easily. He knew his friend was pretty tightly wound and didn't think that twelve years as a pilot would change much of that. If anything it would exacerbate it.

Sean stood up and walked across the room to the sink. "Exactly what DID the dragons do to me?" he began to fix a pot of coffee.

"Well, for one thing they kidnapped you from Baton Rouge the day you were born. Then they arranged to have you placed with a foster family, where they could control where you grew up and how you would come to see them." It sounded lame even to Alex.

"So what you are saying, is that I'm some kind of changeling stolen from my rightful parents and raised among the barbarians." Sean sounded unconvinced. "Can you prove any of this?"

Alex was stunned. Maybe Sean wasn't as befuddled as he thought. "What kind of proof would you want?"

"I don't know. Maybe show me a dragon, or prove to me my parents aren't who I believe they are." Suddenly something came to mind, "If this is true, that means my parents really are dragons or dragon sympathizers. I find that hard to believe. Especially my mother."

"I don't think so Sean. It's not hard to manipulate people and records. It's very possible and even probable that your parent's don't even know that you're not their son."

Nicole answered.

"Maybe not for you, but I still want to see some proof. Something tangible. Not just stories and half remembered dreams." Sean continued. Alex could tell that he wasn't buying it. Hell, he wasn't sure he would either. He'd lived almost his entire adult life as part of the dragonborn, and he still had trouble with some of the concepts. Finally he'd had to come to just take some things on faith. But then again there were some things that could be proven.

"All right buddy," Alex smiled to himself, "you want proof. I think I can give you proof." He stood there and concentrated for a second until he could feel the familiar buzzing at the base of his skull. He pictured the form of a large tiger in his mind. He thought of how the muscles and bones were connected. Once the image was firmly ensconced in his brain, he projected it onto himself.

He could feel his muscles begin to shift, and his bones reform themselves. Suddenly the color drained from the world and he felt himself drop to all fours. In the corner the lamp flickered as Alex knew he was draining some of the energy from the electrical wiring of the building to provide him with the two hundred or so extra pounds of mass. Odors sharpened as well as his hearing. He had become a Bengal tiger.

Across the room, he could see the shock on Sean's face. He padded over to him and nuzzled his hand, and then licked the salt from it. A strange musty odor came from his friend, and Alex chuckled to himself. It came out as a purr. He'd forgotten about that. The first time his phyre had ever kicked in, it's had a similar effect on him. Sean had the luxury of being fully clothed though, so he was spared the embarrassment of spilling himself all over the ground.

Alex once again pictured a form in his mind. This time that of a eagle. The transition was somewhat easier, because he was shedding mass not gaining it. He felt his bones hollow out and his arms change shape as his finger elongated to become the pinions of wings. He bounded into the air and landed atop a book shelf half stacked with novels and models. His sharp eyes picked out every detail of the room. Finally, he leaped down and in mid flight shifted back to human form.

Alex watched Sean closely as he went through his forms. He had chosen each of them very carefully, to play on his friend's innate interest in science fiction and fantasy, taking forms from the Beastmaster movies. Most shape shifters were limited to one form. Sometimes two related forms. From such dragonborn were the legends of werewolves and other lycanthropes forged. Alex was unique among modern shifters. He had more than a dozen different forms memorized and could change from one to another with little to no effort. So far he could keep eleven different forms ready for use, but more than that, and he started to forget the details of each one.

Sean finally found his voice, "Uh, okay. So maybe you're not playing games with me." He started to sit down on the couch when the doorbell rang again. Sean gave the young woman with the pizza a twenty and hurried her out of the apartment without waiting for his change. He set the box on the table and never bothered to open it as he watched Alex and Nicole warily. "What do we do now?"

________________________________________________________________________

It was all coming at Sean too fast. He wasn't sure how to handle the changes in the world. He'd almost lost it when Alex had suddenly turned into a tiger. I'm just glad Doug didn't see that. He hates Auburn, he thought to himself. The thought amused him. Here he was with his whole sense of reality being tossed helter skelter and he was making football jokes. Now he was in their car, headed out on a deserted road, toward some meeting with God-only-knows-what. Smart Sean, smart. You have know idea where they are taking you or even if they plan on letting you leave. On top of that you're talking to yourself now. Football jokes when your life could be in danger and reality has gone completely out the window.

**You'd be amazed at how resilient the human mind is and how many different ways to cope with reality it can produce,** Nicole's voice came unbidden to his head. That took him by surprise. He realized that he was going to have to be careful what he thought around these two or they might pick it up with this telepathy or what ever it is.

**Phyre-speak, Sean. And most of us can only do it with other dragonborn. Nicole and a few others can use it on anyone, but for the most part it's limited to the 'born** Alex told him mentally.

He was intrigued. "Really? What kind of range does it have? Is there any physical substance that can block it? Is it related to emotion?" Suddenly a hundred different questions about how it worked and why popped into his head. He tried to remember everything he'd ever read on telepathy and ESP, both fiction and supposed non-fiction.

"The range depends on the individuals involved. It's stronger with some and weaker with others. Emotional attachment tends to make communication easier, and yes there are a few substances that can block it." Nicole told him aloud. "Most of those, you don't want to get to close too though." She grinned and looked directly at him, "And unlike in Witchworld, sex doesn't disrupt it."

Sean saw Alex blush at that remark and wondered what it was about. Actually, sex was the farthest thing from his mind right now. No that wasn't entirely true, but it wasn't a major consideration. But come to think of it, if it were hormone based, then sex could interfere with certain functions of the brain. "What about me? Why is this phyre just showing up in me? Why didn't it show up years ago?" It was a question that genuinely bothered him. Somehow he thought that it should have kicked in with puberty, not when he was in his early thirties, and going through the mid-life crisis from hell.

He realized that he was being distracted- or at least thought he was. He kept catching himself staring over at Alex. He was suddenly afraid of his old friend, and wasn't exactly sure what had set it off. He felt like he did that night so long ago, when Alex had crossed the line from friendship over into something else. Something he wasn't ready to deal with at that time. "Alex..," he wasn't sure what he was going to say.

"Yeah Sean," he detected a wariness in his voice.

Suddenly Sean's nerve went out the window. "Nothing, he finally managed to say." Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Nicole smiling. What's she looking so pleased about? he asked himself.

**Oh, nothing. Just noticing how life can turn out to be SO interesting. Don't you think.** Nicole's told him with the phyre-speak. **You'll figure it out eventually.** He could actually see her mentally smiling. What ever that meant.

The rest of the trip was passed in silence. About an hour later, somewhere south of the city they pulled onto what was evidently an old logging road. Sean was reminded of hunting trips with his brother and cousins when they were kids, bouncing along the back roads in a beat up Chevy pick up truck that Doug and Steve had fixed up. Well, maybe the bouncing wasn't quite that bad, but it was close.

As the trucks light cut through the darkness, Sean suddenly felt like he'd walked through a spider's web. As the feeling passed he noticed a marked change in the landscape, an ancient looking stone building suddenly seemed to waver into existence in the middle of the meadow. Sean just stared at it in shock. He'd seen this low slung building before. In his dreams. It was the place where he'd-no his dream persona, Tyr- had fought Kaja Nel and ended the enslavement of mankind. The place had a feeling of great age and blood, and fire. "Is this place for real?" he asked no one in particular.

Alex and Nicole looked at each other. "It's about as real as it gets," Alex told him. This building has been here since before the city of Birmingham was founded. It is one of our oldest strongholds in the US. There are only," he hesitated for a second and corrected himself, "is only one other older." He indicated the massive door where a form was outlined by the lights burning from within. "This way. We're expected."

Sean was wondering just what they were expecting. He watched his companions carefully as they approached the figure, which he could now tell was of a young man dressed in some strange black tatami-looking outfit with a dark blue sash crisscrossing the chest and waist. The boy- Sean could tell he was only in his late teens- nodded in deference as they entered the cavernous hallway, their shoes sharply reporting against the flagstones. "You'd think they'd install carpet one of these days," Alex commented to no one in particular, as they passed one of the ensconced torches flickering on the wall.

"Too risky in case of a fire. We want to give the wyrms as little to burn as possible," Nicole answered back. "Besides it's easier to wash the blood off the flagstones than clean carpet." She indicated a door for them to enter.

Whereas the outer hall had smelled of smoke and torches, the room Sean entered was well lit by recessed lighting held to the massive stones of the walls by mortar screws. Metal lines snaked along the base boards to carry electricity to various places around the room. There was a small bed, a desk and a chair. The place looked like the modern version of a penitents cell. "Homey. Reminds me of some of the brig on a carrier."

Alex looked at him startled, "Since when were you ever in the brig?"

"Never, but I've gotten enough friends out of it to know what it looks like."

Alex nodded, seemingly unconvinced.

"You'll wait here until they call for us," Nicole said checking her watch. "We've still got about an hour before Walker gets here. Get some rest Sean," she indicated the bed. "Things are going to be really confusing for you over the next day or so, and I'm sorry there's nothing I can do about it. Alex and I'll help you through it as best we can." Those words had a ring of bars and manacles to them.

"You mean I can't just walk out the door any time I want?"

"You can leave any time you want buddy." There was a sense of defiance in Alex's voice as he looked dead at his sister.

Nicole nodded. "If that's what you want to do, you can. However, I can't guarantee your safety if you do."

"Can you if I stay?"

"Absolutely," again there was that sense of defiance. Then his voice softened, "besides, you DO want to find out more about your little flying stunt earlier don't you?"

Sean sighed, "I guess so." He was tired now. He just wanted to rest. "Okay, I get the picture. We'll do it your way for now."

"Good. Now you relax and get some rest, I'll just be outside." Alex turned toward his sister, "Why don't you go and see if Zack is here?"

For the first time since she'd stepped back into his life, Sean saw a genuine smile come to Nicole's eyes. "Are you sure you can handle our friend here?" she asked indicating Sean.

"I can handle him. Don't worry," he replied ushering her out the door.

As Nicole headed out the door, Sean suddenly made a decision. "Alex," he said.

The sandy haired man turned around, "Yeah Sean?"

"Stay a minute."

"Sure buddy," Alex closed the door behind Nicole. "What 'cha need?"

Sean took a deep breath. "I'd kinda' like to talk to you," his palms felt sweaty.

Alex smiled, "About what?"

Rubbing his hands on the knees of his Levi's he continued, "I thought we could finish that conversation we started in my mom's living room." This was harder than he thought. It was one thing to contemplate this conversation, but a totally different story to actually carry it out. All his mentally rehearsing just went out the window.

"What about it?" there was an edge to his voice. "I thought you made things pretty clear that night."

"Look, Alex. I need to talk to you about it. Can we do that?" He indicated the chair by the bed. "Please, sit down."

Alex sat down. "What's there to talk about?" He shrugged.

"A lot of things. Being caught off guard for one. My not dealing with things as well as you at that age for two." Sean knew he wasn't making any sense. What he was saying probably made as little sense to Alex right now as all the Dragonborn stuff Alex and Nicole had been telling him. "I don't know Alex? I guess what I'm asking is: Did you leave school and disappear because of that conversation?"

Alex appeared to be stunned, Sean saw something flash across Alex's eyes. He shook his head in reply, "No, that had nothing to do with it. My phyre started manifesting itself that weekend. I knew that I was going to have to leave, and would probably be gone for a while." He shook his head. "I guess I kind of rushed things. When I got back the next semester you were off doing the Navy thing. I figured you didn't want to be around me anymore, so I didn't try."

Sean chuckled to himself, "I guess we both misunderstood, and both disappeared. I left for the Navy, because it was either that or quit school. I ran out of money, and really couldn't count on help from home."

Alex was grinning at him, "you mean we've each thought the other was mad for twelve years?"

Sean nodded, "kind of dumb isn't it." He leaned back on the bed and took a deep breath, looking up at the stone ceiling. He knew if he looked at Alex he'd loose his nerve, and he'd waited too long for this conversation to stop now, "I didn't want you to leave, Alex. I was confused by what was happening to me, and afraid to admit it. I had a lot going on in my life right then, and just couldn't deal with what I was feeling." He finally turned and looked at his friend, "What you were feeling."

Alex leaned forward, "What are you trying to tell me, Sean?"

"I'm trying to tell you that I felt the same way you did. I was hoping you would press the issue. I guess, I was wanting it to happen somewhere other than my mom's house." Sean felt the wave of emotion wash over him. He'd never spoken these words aloud before. He was surprised at how it was still true. The only difference now was that he wasn't the scared twenty-one year old kid anymore. He was a scared thirty-three year old man. He smiled.

Alex sat back in his chair at the, "you lied to me."

Sean nodded his head, "I exaggerated." Then he smiled, "I've regretted that lie for the past twelve years."

Alex began to chuckle. "And here I was thinking you hated me." His chuckle became a laugh. The laugh became infectious.

Sean knew what the underlying tension to the laugh was, but couldn't resist being caught up in it. Finally Alex slid out of his chair giggling. Sean crawled off the bed and pulled him to his feet.

Standing there holding his friend by the arm something passed over Sean. Suddenly the room was very hot and he could feel the sweat form on his face. His breath came quick and short and he felt weak in the knees as he stared into Alex's grey eyes. Together, they stood, neither one daring to speak, for fear of breaking the bond that seemed to be forming between them. Sean reached out and brushed the hair from Alex’s forehead. For the first time in his life Sean suddenly felt like he belonged with someone. He felt as if he was part of something greater.

He leaned closer to Alex, about to cross that line that Alex had begun to breach a dozen years past, when suddenly the door behind Sean opened shoving him forward. They both landed in jumble of arms and legs on the hard bed. Taken by surprised Sean rolled to put himself between Alex and the wall, Evidently Alex had had similar ideas, and the force of the two men pulling against each other landed them on their sides embracing each other.

The man entering the room before Nicole smiled to himself as he saw Alex and Sean on the bed together. Raising an eyebrow he told them, “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Perhaps I should have knocked.” He was dressed in a grey Armani suit that spoke of wealth. He was powerfully built with short black hair and piercing green eyes. He projected an air of control. Behind him Sean could see that Nicole was doing everything she could to keep from laughing out loud. Sean could sense something pass between her and Alex. Suddenly he felt Alex’s body temperature go up and he turned bright red.

Sean disengaged himself and pulled his tee shirt down over the front of his jeans. “That’s okay. Alex fell and I was helping him up when you hit me with the door.” It sounded lame even to Sean.

“Really?” Nicole said. She indicated the man with her, “This is Simon Walker, the head of the Orders in Central Alabama.”

“Sean stood-almost at attention- and offered his hand, “Sean Fey, Mr. Walker.”

The man raised an eyebrow and took the hand, then smiled. “Hello Sean. They tell me you're the ‘Born who disappeared from our Baton Rouge stronghold thirty-some-odd years ago.”

“That’s what I’m being told to Mr. Walker. I don’t understand a lot of it, and I’m not sure it can be proven. However, I do know that some weird things have been happening to me lately.”

Walker gave him a questioning look, “What kind of things, Sean?” Something about his use of Sean’s Christian name set his teeth on edge.

“I think you should ask Nicole or Alex. I don’t think I could give a very good account of what happened earlier this evening.”

“I’ve heard Alex and Nicole's version of the story. I want to hear yours, before we go and see Magda.” He sat in the chair next to bed. “I’ve always found it best to get all accounts of an event before making any decisions.” His calm belied something else. Something Sean couldn’t quite put his finger on, but something that made him wonder about this man.

“Who’s Magda?”

“Just someone who can tell if you really are Dragonborn, and who you say you are.” Walker replied.

“All I can say that I am is Lt. Commander Sean Michael Fey USN retired.” He snapped back at the man, “You people are the ones telling me I’m someone else.” Secretly Sean wondered if he was reacting this way toward the man based on his earlier interruption instead of any actual dislike of him. “You are the one’s who drug me out to the middle of nowhere in the dead of the night to tell me fairy tales. To tell you the truth, I’d just as soon be left alone to try and sort my life out without your interference.”

Next to him, he saw Alex and Nicole stiffen. Walker was taken somewhat aback. It was obvious to Sean that this man was not accustomed to be spoken to like that. He regretted it for the most part. It was bad manners on his part and not the actions of an officer and a gentlemen. “I see. And why did you accompany my operatives if you wanted to be left alone?” There was an accusation in that tone, but Sean was unsure of what

“Because I was surprised, confused and curious. However, if this is the hospitality I can expect from you, then I’m probably in the wrong place.” Sean turned to head out the door when he felt a vice like grip on his shoulder. Without even thinking about what he was doing, he circled the arm, twisted the wrist backwards and down and slammed the man into the wall. Suddenly he felt the air sizzle around him. “Another thing Mr. Walker, I don’t like to be touched.” He looked over at Alex, “at least not until invited.”

The man pulled himself off the wall and turned around. For a second Sean could have sworn he saw fire in his eyes. Finally he straightened his suit and smiled. Alex and Nicole stood still in shock. “That’s better Mr. Fey. For a while there, I thought I was going to have to hit you to find out what you are made out of.”

Sean looked at the man, “ I'm made out of flesh and blood, like any other man, Mr. Walker. Be careful how you decide to test me, I don’t appreciate being pushed. I’ve had enough of that in my life, and now I push back.” Sean realized it was true. It was time he made his own decisions based on what he wanted and needed. He was ready to live his life by his own rules, not someone else's. One of those rules was that he wasn’t going to be treated like a second class citizen, no matter who the person was. He’d worked too hard for his self-esteem to let it be trampled by some guy he just met.

“I’m not going to push you anymore Mr. Fey.” He rubbed his elbow. “At least not physically. However, I still need to hear your side of the story before I go any further with my investigation.”

Sean nodded. He and Walker understood each other now. At least he hoped that was the case. Something at the back of his mind kept nagging him, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it was, He proceeded to tell Walker what had been happening lately, with a few minor deletions. He left out the details of the near crash because it was still classified. He also omitted the details of what was going on in his heart. That was nobody’s business except the person who’d begun to take up residence there.

Nicole listened to Sean's story. She wasn't really surprised at the accuracy of the detail he was able to recall. She was surprised however at some of the details he recalled. Most people when describing distances were vague and unsure. Sean on the other hand was accurate down to within a few inches. He was a fighter pilot after all, and considering the Top Gun ring on his finger, he was among the best of the best. That meant he had to have an eye for detail, and the ability to absorb and process large amounts of data quickly, especially spatial locations.

Her eyes drifted across to her brother, who sat listening intently. Something had changed since she'd had to yank him back into focus outside Sean's apartment. He'd started this mission grouchy and barely civil and had grown worse the closer they got to his old stomping grounds. He just couldn't seem to stay focused on the mission, and his mind kept wandering.

Nicole knew what her brother's problem was. He'd never mentioned it to her, but she's seen inside his dreams, and exactly who populated them. As far as she knew, he'd never acted on them, but she knew the desire was there. She wondered, just how far things had gone with Sean back in college- and how far they would have gone earlier, if she and Walker hadn't interrupted them. She told herself that it really wasn't any of her business, but deep down inside her she was hurting for her brother. She just hoped to God that things turned out all right for him.

Relationships such as she saw her brother and Sean dancing around weren't unheard of among the 'Born, but were rare. Even more rare than in normal society, because of the phyre-bond. The phyre-bond is a sharing of the mind as well as the body that when forged guarantees the birth of a phyre bearing child. The two literally become one and are forever joined, thoughts and soul intertwined. Since two men or two women can't produce a child then a phyre-bond is impossible and therefore never fully recognized among the Orders. Nicole knew the road Alex was about to choose was going to cause him a great deal of grief. She hoped that he understood that. She knew that Sean didn't understand the full ramifications of it, but she trusted Alex to explain things to him.

Nicole was yanked back to reality as Walker stood and left the room saying something that she didn't quite catch. Alex was staring at her as he and Sean stood, "You coming sis, or are you just going to sit there like a bump on a log?"

She smiled at him, and something flickered at the edge of her vision, "On my way." She followed them into the main meeting area, carefully watching Sean. She had to give the man credit. He had nerve, she wasn’t sure that if she was the one trapped in an unknown building with strange people acting mysteriously that she wouldn't’ be doing her best to fight her way out.

She quickened her pace slightly and caught up with him. Putting a friendly hand on his elbow she smiled up at him. “How’re you coping?”

Returning her smile he replied, “I’ll survive. Always have, always will.” Those words gave her a flash of insight deeper into his personality. He was a survivor. Someone who would find a way to cope because to give up would be to die. Considering what she knew about his background, she realized that he would almost have to be.

She squeezed his arm gently, “Don’t worry, Alex and I’ll be right here.”

He patted her hand. “Thanks, I appreciate it.

They came to a simple door at the end of the hall. Walker opened it without knocking, and ushered the rest of the group through. Nicole immediately knew this to be the quarters of a woman. Small details in how the furniture was arranged, the choice of certain shades of color, all combined to speak volumes about the rooms owner. Based on the various pieces of iconography, Nicole guessed she was of Russian or Greek descent. Or at least of the Eastern Orthodox faith. She wondered how the woman felt about her quarters being so cavalierly invaded.

The dark figures awaiting them in the room were in sharp contrast to the room itself. All but one were hooded, their features obscured by their dragonborn armor. The lone figure who's features were visible was an attractive woman with flaming red hair and eyes as green as jade. She had that ageless quality about her that a rare few women ever achieve, as she seemed to hover somewhere between thirty and sixty-five. Her smile bespoke of a wisdom and knowledge deeper than any person should ever experience. Something about her both put Nicole at ease and made the hackles on the back of her neck rise. Nicole immediately recognized the color of her sash and the gauntlet she wore as signifying her status as preceptor of the Order of Phyre. "I take it, this is our foundling?" she asked indicating Sean with a small delicate hand.

Walker only nodded.

"Why did you bring him to us, Walker?" she graced the dark suited man with a smile. "If you can't tell that he's 'Born then your blind and have no business leading the Order of Light." A low chuckle seemed to emanate from the four hooded figures behind her. “It’s obvious to anybody willing to use the phyre sight that he’s one of us.”

She saw something flash across Walker’s eyes briefly, then they cleared. “I’m not questioning if he has phyre, Magda. I want to know if he is who he claims to be.” Nicole recognized the immediate dislike these two preceptors had for each other. She wondered where it's origins lay.

The woman’s eyes glittered in the subdued lighting, as she turned to Sean, “And who do you claim to be?”

Sean looked surprised, “I’m Lt. Commander Sean Fey, United States Navy,” he instinctive replied, and then, as if remembering he was now a civilian added, “retired.”

Walker’s face clouded, “Stop playing word games Magda.” His voice dripped was venomous, “Is he or is he not the child who disappeared from Louisiana?”

Magda graced Walker with a cold smile, “Don’t take that tone with me Simon. You are NOT my superior. If you want my cooperation in this matter, all you have to do is ask, nicely.”

Walker’s face suddenly became all innocence and light, “Magda, my sister in the Order of Phyre, would you please kindly apply your vast knowledge to determine the parentage of this man?” Honey dripped from his words.

Magda never looked at Walker, but Nicole saw a twinkle in her eye, as she reached up and started to gently touch his temple, but stopped short. Smiling mysteriously she asked, “May I?” before touching him.

Sean silently nodded and felt her hands touch his face. Suddenly he jerked backwards, eyes opened in shock as fire seemed to blaze around his body. He rose once again from the ground. A low whistle echoed off the stone walls as the preceptors stepped away. Only Alex held his ground.

Magda faced the others, turning her back to Sean, “He’s the one you are looking for.” She smiled, “It seems your brother has been found, Simon.”

Beside him, Alex began to chuckle, “I knew I was missing something.”

“You’re only figuring it out big brother? You must be slipping. I figured it out when Simon first came in.” Nicole couldn't help needling Alex.

Sean turned to face her, “What are you talking about, Nicole. I only have one brother, and his name is Doug.”

She smiled at him, “You have an adoptive brother, Sean.” She indicated Walker, “Simon here, is your biological brother.”

Sean touched down on the floor, “I don’t know what you people are talking about. I’m not adopted. If anything, I’m the opposite. I’m the reason my parents were married in the first place.” Nicole could tell he was getting angry again.

Beside him Alex was grinning to himself. Barely audible, Sean heard him say, “Now they all get to see that famous Fey temper.”

Magda turned to him. “That is what those who took you wanted you and the rest of the world to believe. Records can be altered, minds clouded, and people manipulated. The phyre can be a powerful persuader when used by a skilled person.”

Sean snorted, “I still don’t buy it. Why would someone want to do something like that?”

Magda graced them with another smile, “because Mr. Fey, you are at the moment one of the two most important people in the whole world.” She gestured to a small sofa against the wall. “Sit down, and I’ll tell you the story.” Nicole recognized it as a command.

As Sean sat down, Alex joined him. Walker and the four hooded figures just stood there in silence as Nicole leaned against the door frame. Magda began her tale. "In ages long past, before even the Egyptians and the Chinese, before the Hebrews, or any other recorded history, the dragons ruled the Earth, and mankind was their slaves. It's possible that our ancient foe is even the serpent mentioned in the book of Genesis."

"Now that's never been proven, Magda," Nicole interjected.

"I said it was possible, not that it was certain. Anyway, over the ages, the dragons grew decadent in their rule and began operating gladiatorial style games with humans as the participants. After a while, even this grew tiresome, so to keep the interest alive, they gave some of the contestants a small piece of their power."

"This is what you call phyre?" Sean asked.

"Yes. What the dragons didn't realize about humans and the phyre was that it is transferable upon death. If a warrior killed another warrior with phyre, then he took not only his life, but power as well. Slowly at first, but then ever more rapidly, a small band of warriors began to excel in the games, as they garnered more and more power for themselves. As the phyre was drained from the dragons to power new and ever more powerful warriors to challenge the old champions, it was transferred to a small band of heroes."

"And first among these was Tyr, warrior and chosen of the Queen Kajal Nel. His skill and power was matched only by his sense of justice," Sean seemed to be quoting from something. Magda looked at him startled.

"You have heard the story then?"

Sean shook his head, "No. I'm writing it." This news seemed to startle the whole gathering. "It's based on a series of strange dreams I've had since I was old enough to distinguish between dreams and reality."

Magda nodded and continued, her voice reflecting her surprise, "Yes, there was Tyr, the leader of what was to become the Dragonborn, but there were others as well. Nearly a thousand warriors of varying level of power fought and died in the pits. As their numbers decreased the power of the survivors increased to the point that they could challenge the dragons themselves."

"This was the revolution that led to Dragonborn being formed?" Sean asked.

"Yes," Magda continued. It was a bloody war that lasted almost ten years. As the dragons died the 'Born became even more powerful. When it was over Kaja Nel was dead and the dragons were forced to go into hiding. But not before Kaja Nel herself placed a curse on the 'Born and the dragons. Meaning for the war that slew her children and gave humanity it's freedom to forever be a curse on the 'Born, she poured all her remaining phyre into the curse before passing into oblivion."

"No being born of woman nor hatched of dragon will be able to bring about the end of this conflict. Forever will the curse of the wyrm be upon mankind." Sean quoted from his dream. All eyes in the room turned to him. He shrugged, "Like I said, I have these dreams."

Magda nodded again, "I see. One of these days, you and I are going to have to sit down and talk about these dreams of yours. But back to the story. Tyr realizing the enormity of the curse, called seven of his greatest warriors together, and divided the Born among them, thus forming the orders."

Sean looked around the room. "I see. I take it you guys represent those Orders then?"

"Six of them." Nicole replied.

"Where's the seventh?"

"The Sanguine Cloth are no longer among us," is all Alex would say. The loss of their brothers and sisters in Sanguine Cloth was a sore spot among many of the Born even to today, some twenty-five centuries later.

Magda only frowned softly before continuing. "The orders were told to go among the normal humans and protect them, but not to reveal our presence to them, for fear of alerting the wyrms to our locations. He then did something remarkable. Before sending the 'Born away, he gathered them all together and told them that he had a plan to circumvent the curse. He said that one day a warrior would come that would neither be born of woman nor hatched of dragon, and that he would finally end the war. That he was going to prepare the way for that warrior, and for us to watch for him, and be ever vigilant for the signs of his coming. He then raised up his arms and faded away, disappearing into the gathering around him."

"And somehow you think that I am connected to this warrior?" Sean asked. "But you yourself said that I was born in the stronghold in Louisiana, so how can I be him?"

Magda smiled at him. "I didn't say that you were him. The signs point to you being one of the instruments of his, for lack of a better term, birth."

Sean looked over at Nicole and then turned to Alex. "You still haven't proven to me that I am this person you're looking for. That my parents aren't who I think they are- God only knows I wished that was true enough times- and that I am a Dragonborn."

"No we haven't. I'm not sure we can," Alex replied.

"Okay then, what now."

Magda smiled, "whether you are the child or not, you are coming into your phyre and need to be taught how to use it."

"And if I don't want to learn?"

"Then one day you'll make a mistake, loose your temper and kill someone. And with the level of power you've been demonstrating, my friend, you're likely to kill more than just one person." Nicole's pitched her voice to have maximum effect on him.

Look on his face told Nicole that they'd had their desired effect. "What do you mean, kill someone."

"I mean, so far the only times you've manifested your phyre, has been under stress. That's only natural, and pretty much happens to everybody, but everybody doesn't have your level of power either. If you don't get it under control soon, then one of these days you're going to get frustrated-either in traffic or at someone else- and then go berserk on them, with tragic results. You owe it to the people you care about to get the training." She made it a point not to look at Alex. She watched Sean as he thought about what she was saying, noting that Walker and the rest of the room was silent.

Finally he broke the silence with a sigh and then, "Let me think about it. This is all coming at me too fast. I need some time to think," he told her.

"I understand. Just don't take too long. I get the feeling that we don't have a lot of time before things start heating up again," Walker said. Something in his voice made Nicole's blood run cold.

Sean looked at the man, "To quote a mechanic I used to know, 'It'll take as long as it takes.' But I understand your impatience." Nicole realized the confusion must have shown on her face as Sean continued, "Not every thing I quote is from books or movies. That's quote is my dad's." He walked past her into the hall, as if to say that the conversation was over.

Alex followed on his heels. "Just where do you think you're going buddy?"

Sean turned and faced him, "home."

"Your apartment is thirty-five miles from here. How you planning on getting there?"

Nicole saw him smile, and hold up a set of keys that she recognized as Alex's copy of her own, "I thought I'd take Niki's car."

"How?" he stammered.

"They came out of your pocket when Mr. Walker knocked us down."

Nicole chuckled to herself. He's better than I thought. Alex isn't that easy to lift anything from. Then again, Alex was distracted.

Sean just smiled at her and walked past. "You don' t mind do you Niki. After all, you're the one that drug me out here in the middle of the night. If it's a problem, I can always walk. Thirty-five miles is just a good stretch of the legs you know."

He was up to something, and Nicole intended to find out what. "Not as long as I go along to make sure you don't wreck it. I remember your driving. I just hope you’re a better pilot than driver.”

“I am” he grinned.

Nicole indicated an intersection in the corridor and guided the group toward it. “The parking area is this way.”

Even though the hour was well after midnight, the air in the parking lot was hot and muggy. Nicole began to feel herself sweat almost immediately. “I knew there was something I didn’t like about Central Alabama,” she said to her self. Sean gave her a hard look. Sometimes he let pride in his home state get in the way of common sense.

As they left the main entrance, Nicole noticed the same guard on duty as when they arrived. She nodded at him, as Sean gave the boy a puzzled look. He then came up to her and whispered, “Why did he change sashes?”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“He was wearing a blue sash on his tatami when we came in. Now it’s red.”

“Red?” she said to herself as the significance of the word hit her. **There are no modern orders that wear red. That’s the color of the Sanguine Cloth’s order.** She told Sean and Alex with phyre speak as she turned slowly.

The boy smiled back, “Have a good evening Mrs. Bishop, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Fey.”

She saw Sean raise an eyebrow. Alex only nodded. For a brief instant, Nicole let her eyes relax into phyre sight and scanned the local area. The guard was literally bursting with phyre, and it wasn’t ‘Born phyre, but that of a dragon. He wasn’t alone either. The surrounding woods was peppered with heat sources. There was a veritable army converging on the main entrance. “It’s a trap.” She said between clenched teeth. “Get Sean outta' here!” she told Alex, drawing her gun.

She saw Alex cut toward the main entrance toward the guard. Suddenly gunfire rang out through the woods, and Nicole saw her Blazer riddled with heavy caliber rounds. Forty-five caliber. They have to be using Mac Tens or Elevens, she thought to herself. She ducked and fired toward the woods, realizing that it was already a hopeless fight. All she could do was warn the stronghold and hold them off and pray that Alex got away with Sean.

“What the hell?!” she heard Alex in her mind. Suddenly behind her, she heard a roar. Diving behind the fender of her car she looked over her shoulder to see the guard at the door begin to change form. Shit! That’s all we need, a true form dragon. The stronghold is lost! Alex was pulling Sean around the corner of the building to get him out of the way.

She began firing her pistol at a dark figure scurrying toward the side of the building. She was rewarded with the man going down holding his stomach. “Good, they aren’t wearing vests.” She gave up trying to keep an eye on Alex and Sean, as she emptied her clip into the advancing forms in the night. She chose her targets carefully, painfully aware that she had to make every shot count. If she could get close enough, she could take out one of the men carrying machine pistols and at leas increase her chance of survival that way.

Suddenly there was a bellow from behind the building, and the ground shook. The advancing men just stopped in their tracks. Nicole used the opportunity to squeeze off a few more rounds in a vain attempt to reduce the odds against her. There was a terrific crash behind her as she knew one of Alex’s more exotic forms crashed into the metamorphosing dragon. Suddenly her attackers broke and ran.

Glancing back over her shoulder her heart sank. She saw Alex’s form lying against the side of the building. He wasn’t moving and there were pieces of bone protruding from various limbs. Sean was scrambling toward her brother oblivious to his own danger. . She couldn’t hear what was being said over the victory scream of the now fully formed red and orange dragon that snaked out across the parking lot.

Nicole dropped to one knee and began to empty her pistol into the monster’s head, hoping against hope to hit an eye or some other vulnerable place. She could feel Alex’ pain through the link they shared, and knew that he was hurt pretty badly, probably fatally.

The dragon sensing it’s triumph reared it’s great head back and screamed again. Then seeing, Sean kneeling over Alex it’s eyes glittered as if to some particularly evil thought and drew in a great breath. “Sean look out! He’s going to breathe!” Nicole yelled.

In horror she could only watch as Sean looked up at the beast, pure hatred in his eyes. His face glittered in the starlight as something streamed down his face. Suddenly Nicole was blinded as just before the fiery breath of the dragon engulfed their form, both Sean and Alex seemed to catch fire themselves. Alex’s pain seemed to fade away into oblivion as the two were engulfed in the dragon’s breath. Nicole knew that nobody survived a direct blast like that. Not even from a hatchling.

As the fire died away, Nicole was shocked to see Alex and Sean still alive in an untouched circle of phyre at the center of a charred patch of ground. The dragon seemed to sit and study this impossibility with a strange look of curiosity. With a primal scream Sean launched himself thirty feet into the air toward the dragon, the phyre streaming behind him. There was an audible thud as he slammed into the creatures neck just below the head. The dragon was literally knocked on it’s back by the force of the collision.

Nicole watched as Sean came down on it's chest his hands pounding deep dents into the crimson armor there as chitin flew in all directions, as his blows made deep booms that echoed through the night. The dragon struggled to regain it's feet, but every blow just drove it further backwards.

Finally the creature gained enough leverage to bring it's tail into play. The great saw-like spade at it's end slammed into Sean as his fingers dug deep into the connective tissue holding a large piece of armor plate into place. He was swept from it's chest, but carried with him a four feet section of armor as he was hurled across the field into a large oak. The crack of the great tree splintering echoed off stronghold walls. The dragon once again bellowed in pain as blood flowed freely from the open wound.

Nicole was shocked to see Sean get up from the wreckage of the felled tree, and shake his head. Reaching down he grabbed a twenty foot splinter of the limb and once again seemed to leap to the air. The dragon just stared at his attacker dumbfounded as this tiny man flew at him, tree limb extended like a lance wielded by a knight of old.

There was a sickening crunch as the limb pierced the open wound where the armor once protected it. The force of the impact was so devastating that the tip of the make-shift lance came slamming through the dragon's back to protrude between the wings carrying various internal organs with it. Nicole knew a killing blow when she saw one.

The dragon simply toppled backwards from the force of the blow, as Sean was carried over the falling form to bounce off the walls of the stronghold. Then the phyre hit him. Nicole watched as the dragon's phyre suddenly arced out to the nearest life force and engulfed Sean's body. Fascinated, Nicole watched as her friend twitched from the sudden infusion of power like a dish rag dancing on a clothes line during a thunderstorm.

As quickly as it began, it was over. Sean and Alex lay on the ground next to each other, still surrounded by the strange phyre that manifested itself around her friend. One of them groaned, but Nicole was unsure which it was. She let her eyes once again drift into phyre sight. A low whistle came from somewhere, and then she realized it was her, as she watches a bond seem to form between them, as Alex's wounds continued to heal before her very eyes.

Nicole approached the two forms lying there, while keeping a wary eye toward the forest. Going to her brother, she checked the extent of his wounds, as the link between them began to reassert itself. This time though, it had a strange feel to it, as if there was an echo somewhere in it. The compound fractures from earlier seemed to have retracted themselves and knit back together. She could see massive bruising around the small red scars where the bone had pierced the muscle and skin.

She wasn't sure how or why, but Alex's wounds had healed several months worth of damage in a matter of minutes. He was going to be all right after all. She allowed herself a brief smile as she moved to where Sean began to move. He moaned once and then sat up groggily, and shook his head. Immediately he moved to Alex to look him over.

"What did you do to him?" his voice betrayed his disbelief. "He was almost dead a few minutes ago."

Suddenly the building next to them was rocked with a blast from inside, and the sounds of gunfire once again pierced the night air. "We'd better get out of here." Nicole said, helping Sean lift Alex toward her Blazer. "There's still fighting going on inside. "

Sean turned and looked toward the door, "Maybe we should help..." his voice sounded slurred like he was tipsy.

"You're not going anywhere right now. You're still drunk with the phyre from a full grown dragon. You're the reason they're attacking and it's my job to protect you. That doesn't include letting you go walking right back into danger. Like Magda said, you're too important right now." She looked down at her brother, "Besides, I need help with Alex."

His gaze followed hers. "You're right." He shook his head as if to clear it and then pointed over his shoulder with his chin, "I take it that thing was one of those dragons you were telling me about?"

Nicole only nodded as she opened the door to her bullet ridden Chevy. The events of the past few moments were still fresh in her mind. Nobody had single handedly killed a dragon in almost a thousand years, and here stood a man who'd done it in less than minute. After indicating the passenger seat for Sean, she crawled into the driver's side and started the engine. "Good they didn't hit anything important."

She didn't want to think about the dragon, or Sean or anything else. She wanted to get out of here, and find some place safe to hole up until she could come to grips with everything. "Do you still have that cabin on Warrior River?"

Sean nodded, "Yeah. I haven't been up there in a couple of years, but it's still there. My cousin uses it to get away for long fishing trips in the summer."

"Good. Then we're heading there for a few days till I can figure out what to do next. I take it, we'll need food then."

"That is unless you want to do your own hunting."

"No thanks. A PPK is not my idea of a good hunting weapon. " She slammed the Blazer into four wheel drive and headed out across the field toward another old logging road.

Sean smiled, "Yeah. We'd probably starve. I've still got the cash on me from my shopping trip today. It's enough to buy about a months worth of food and supplies." He smiled, "I'm assuming that you don't want to use any form of traceable currency."

Nicole wondered just what he did in the Navy besides fly jets. She returned the smile, "You're learning. We'll make a dragonborn out of you yet."

Alex felt like he'd gone ten rounds with Tyson and lost. He reached up and touched the edge of his ear to make sure that wasn't case. His arms and legs ached all over, and his ribs felt like they'd been pulverized. Where ever he was, there was a strange musty odor, like it had been closed up for a long time. He opened his eyes and looked around the room. There was a beat up old dresser in the corner. The walls were covered with some kind of cheap paneling that bowed in places, and there was pile of old rags and clothes in the corner.

Slowly the memory of what happened in the clearing came back to him. The fight with the dragon, and then the sudden blast of heat and fire. He sat straight up, "Sean!"

The pile of rags in the corner uncurled itself into Nicole wrapped in a tattered old quilt and caseless pillow. "He's all right Alex," she said sleepily.

"Where...?"

She came over to him, and checked his face, "You're at his place on the river. You took quite a beating there. You scared the hell out of Sean. All the way here he kept mumbling about dragons, and over-grown kids playing Jurrassic Park."

Alex chuckled to himself and immediately regretted it as sharp pains shot through is chest. "The last thing I remember is a big-ass dragon suddenly appearing in front of us. Then it all goes blank. Is Sean..."he tried to sit up but the pain in his side made him think better of it.

Nicole shook her head and eased him back, "He' okay." Alex sensed something else, "Physically at least. I'm a little worried about him emotionally though."

"Why? What happened?" Suddenly images of Sean living out the rest of his life as a vegetable because of some wyrm's psychic assault flooded his thoughts.

Nicole only clucked at him as if she sensed his concern. "Nothing like that. He's just having some trouble adjusting to what has happened to him. He's taking what he did pretty hard."

"What do you mean, what he did?"

Nicole leaned in closer to him as if she didn't want the walls themselves to hear her, "He killed that dragon single-handedly."

The news hit Alex like a sledgehammer. He sat bolt upright in bed again, this time ignoring the pain. "He did what?!! Are you out of your mind?!! He shouldn't be allowed within a hundred yards of a dragon, much less fighting one. What were you thinking Nicole? The wyrms want him dead, and you're letting him play Saint George! Tyr's blood have you lost sense of reality?!" Then the pain hit him again and he couldn't catch his breath.

Once again, Nicole helped him back onto the bed as easily as possible. "Now that's over, do want to talk about it reasonably?" She had that smug sound to her voice that always irked Alex. It went with that tone heard so often with young women and their "talk to the hand" attitude.

He could only nod in acquiescence as she pulled away. "I didn't let him do anything. You were injured. Pretty bad from what I could tell, and the dragon was closing in for the kill. It breathed on you two, but somehow you weren't hurt. Then Sean just sort of went ape-shit on it. He leaped up, and knocked the thing to the ground, and started thumping it to give John Henry a run for his money. I was busy firing everything I had at it's head, but my little nine millimeter shorts just bounced."

Alex listened incredulously. "You mean he just hit it with his fists?"

Nicole nodded, "Yeah. With his fists. The wyrm finally got it's balanced and knocked him across the clearing and into that oak tree on the other side of the parking lot. It shattered it."

Alex knew the tree she was talking about. The Order of Phyre maintained that as long as it stood so would the stronghold. It was several hundred years old, "Then he's dead?"

She shook her head, "You weren't listening. I told you once already, he's okay. When the dragon hit him, he was holding on to one of it's chest plates and the scale went with him. It's probably still somewhere in the wreckage of that tree. Something about the whole situation really set him off though, because he came out of that like an arrow. He was carrying a twenty foot splinter with him and drove it clean through it's body." The force of the impact cracked the wall at the stronghold."

"You mean he drove a wooden stake through all that plating?”

“No. He drove it through the exposed section of muscle where he ripped the armor off. Then the phyre hit him. It bounced him around like a rag doll for a few minutes." She leaned closer, "I'm telling you Alex, power like that hasn't been seen since the Sundering. Now our friend out there, is walking around with all that plus the power of a full grown dragon coursing through his veins. You know what kind of effect that can have on a person."

Alex knew too well. He and Nicole had taken a dragon- hardly much more than a hatchling- by themselves once a few years ago. When he was hit by that much phyre-even split between him and Nicole- he didn't want to get out of bed for a week. It takes a while for a person's system to adjust to all that extra power. Now Nicole was telling him that Sean had taken all of an adult's phyre. He shouldn't be able to move, much less be okay. "Then, why is he up and around. He should be flat on his back, unable to move even if he wanted to."

Nicole gave him one of her strange looks, "He's not. He's out changing the tire on the Blazer." Her voice dropped conspiratorially, "I didn't mean physically anyway. He's got all that phyre coursing through his brain, there's no telling what it's doing to him emotionally."

Suddenly he realized what she was trying to say. "Sean had never been prepared for what had happened. He was a really dangerous point in his development, where the power he possessed could turn him into something monstrous if he let it. Alex had seen it happen a few times. The Born just couldn't handle the power and used it indiscriminately. That threatened the existence of all the Orders and the person had to be eliminated. Alex found the thought of having to kill Sean so frightening that it left him shaking. "You're the telepath. You tell me if it's a problem."

She shook her head, "I couldn't find anything. Just a lot of confusion in there. Confusion about his dreams, confusion about what happened last night." she stopped a moment, and the looked at him seriously, "I probably shouldn't say anything about this but I am anyway. There's a lot of turmoil about you. A lot of regret too."

Alex thought he knew where that was coming from, but said nothing. He looked down at himself to try and change the subject, "How bad am I?"

Nicole shook her head, "Not as bad as I originally thought. At first I thought you were fatally wounded. By the time I got you here, it was if, the fight had happened several weeks ago."

He smiled to himself, "Good, then I probably should get out of bed." He tried raise himself up, but the pain came back and took away his breath. Forcing himself beyond the blackness that threatened to engulf him, he stood up, holding his ribs. "Sean and I need to have a tal.." he was interupted by subject of his conversation entering the room.

"I fixed the... What the hell do you think you're doing up?"

"I'm coming out to talk to you." Alex tried to be flippant.

"Couldn't it wait until I came in?" He looked over at Nicole, "The money's in the seat along with a list. You might want to fill up your tank too."

Nicole nodded and then kissed Alex on the cheek, "I'll be right back big bro. I gotta go pick up a few things at the store, so we can eat."

Alex let Sean guide him back to the bed, and he smiled to himself wishing that he weren't injured. "Wanna' talk about last night?"

"What about it?" Sean looked away.

"Nicole tells me you, killed that wyrm all by yourself."

"Is that what you call it?" Alex sensed something was eating at Sean.

"Sometimes. It's a word of contempt."

"I see. Well I didn't have any contempt for him." He continued to study the bowing panelling. "At least not at first."

"What changed your mind?"

When Sean turned Alex could see the turmoil in his face, "I thought you were dead. That's the last thing I remember before the fire hit us. Something just clicked in my head when I saw you hit that wall. I thought you were dead, and I just lost it. This power just came to me suddenly and I used it. It was like it was always there, just waiting for me. When that thing breathed on us, I knew what to do, like I'd been doing it all my life." He sat down on the bed and tentatively reached out and touched Alex's hand.

Alex could only nod. He'd never heard of anyone whose phyre came to them full blown, but right now he wasn't complaining. He realized that if it hadn't both he and Sean would't be having this conversation. "It's okay Sean. You're just adapting to the phyre in your body. It take a while before you stop feeling like you're about to explode."

Sean shook his head, "I'm not worried about that Alex. I was in tighter corners in the Gulf War, it's something else." Alex could see his friend screw up his courage. "When I thought you'd died, or were dying, all I could think about was that night twelve years ago, and how I let that slip by me. I was convinced that we'd never get to finish what we'd started and that pissed me off." Alex could hear the anger rising in Sean's voice, "Who in the hell did that thing think it was? When had I ever hurt it, and what business did it have trying to kill you? I promised myself then and there, that if we survived I wouldn't let things pass like that between us again." He stopped a moment, "That is if that's what you want too."

Alex couldn't believe what he was hearing. Sean wasn't angry at the wyrms for trying to kill him. He was mad at them for interfering in what seemed to be going on in his heart. "I think we want the same thing, Sean," was all he could find to say. Alex knew what he wanted from Sean but didn't want to press the issue. He wanted Sean as an equal, and refused to let himself go too far until they could meet as such.

"I've spent the the last fifteen years denying what I am to myself. I've told myself, all I have to do is be with a woman and that would fix things," his emerald eyes cast down. "It didn't. It just confused me even more. I always came back to that night in my mom's house, and what you said, and what I said." Alex could see the tears in his eyes, "I'm not denying it anymore, Alex. One of the first things I did when I finally admitted it to myself was to sit down and call myself all the ugly names that society has for me." He stood up and crossed the room.

"Fag, queer, homo, tinkerbell, all of it." Alex felt himself shudder at the words. He hated those labels. He hated society for using them. Sean continued, "I decided that if I was one, then I'd better get used to it. That's not to say, I'm going to let anyone get away with calling me that to my face." He turned and smiled sadly at Alex, "I do have an advantage after all. Not every queer has a second degree black belt."

"That's an ugly word. A word that doesn't fit you. You are not an ugly person."

"Maybe, maybe not." You don't know what the last twelve years have turned me into. I've seen some ugly things, and been to some ugly places. Maybe they rubbed off on me," Sean seemed to be daring him to look into his soul. As if baring the darker side of his personality would somehow atone him for the sin of being what he is. He didn’t understand that Alex didn’t need him to atone.

Alex could only shake his head, "I know the man I fe..” He almost crossed the line again, “I knew in college, and he wasn't an ugly person. He was a strong man. Not only did he survive a harsh situation, because we all survive or die, but he prevailed and overcame it. He beat the odds, he stuck to his guns and became something better than anyone ever expected. He was a man who decided not to let other people's expectations hold him back. The man I knew would be more likely to change the Navy, than it ever change him."

Sean gave him a brief smile, "I'm flattered, Alex. But the words still apply, no matter what you, or Nicole, or anyone else says, those words are what society says about me." His gaze lowered to meet Alex's eyes, "That's what they say about us. No matter what we accomplish in life, no matter how successful we are, when people find out about that part of our lives, they are going to think of those words."

Alex could tell that his friend had been struggling with this for a long time. Whereas he'd chosen simply to be celibate all his life, Sean had first tried to lose what he was in the arms of women, and failing at that had simply set everything aside and attacked the issue head on. Alex wasn't sure which way was better, and didn't really care. Their different choices had finally converged bringing them both back to where they'd begun. Now they had the opportunity to begin again. "It doesn't matter what the world thinks Sean. As far as I'm concerned, right now the only person whose opionin means anything to me is yours."

Alex saw Sean blink at that, and saw his green eyes darken a moment. “I don’t know what to say about...” He simply sat there on the bed.

“Don’t say anything,” He tooks his hand, and suddenly felt a jolt of something run through his body. He tingled all over and itched inside his chest somewhere. He looked at his free hand in shock as the scars from his fight began to fade right before his eyes. My God, he’s a healer too!

Sean jumped from the bed startled, as Alex was hit with a wave of sudden alertness. His friends eyes darted around the room looking for danger before he settled down. Alex gave him a chagrined look, as he realized his friend had picked up the thought with phyrespeak. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” Then he noticed that Sean had never let go of his hand, and blushed.

“It’s ok,” Sean told him. Then unbidden over the phyrspeak came, **God, I’m a bundle of nerves. I’m acting like a schoolboy on his first date. I’m lucky I didn’t hurt him jumping like that.**

Alex smiled, “You’re projecting Sean. You’re coming in loud and clear.” That remark was rewarded with a blush as he felt Sean try to clamp down on the flood of emotions pouring from him. For a brief moment Alex saw to his friend’s very core. He saw his sixteenth birthday beating with a belt from his mother. He could feel the buckle cut into his skin, and the shame of the beating going deeper than physical wounds. He saw the ugliest aspects of Sean’s homelife. But he also some of it's high points. He was flattered to realize that Sean considered his association with him as one of he saw himself as a college student, and was flattered by the image in his friends mind. **Tyr’s phyre! Did he really see me like that?**

He could feel himself blushing at the image his friend had of him. His own embarressment at the image was echoed by Sean's over allowing him into his mind. He could feel part of Sean that wanted to pull back from the mind touch, but a stronger part wanting it to go deeper. Memories and images from his friends mind were drudged up from deep in his psyche and flashed forward for Alex to see.

It was if Sean was trying to show him all the ugly things that had happened to him growing up. The images that danced before him carried his friend's feeling too. The shame over a debacled date because of his mother's meddling. The frustration over how he felt about some of his old high school buddies. The excitement when he’d been accepted to the University of Alabama. The joy of fliying a jet fighter, and a desire to share that with Alex. His feelings toward him again. Alex was shocked to see how deep they ran. He felt something click inside him suddenly as if he were opening up to Sean.

Suddenly Alex found himself in the cockpit of a fighter. He was fighting controls that refused to move, and a red warning light was stabbing at him through the darkness. Alex knew from Sean’s mind that the light meant a hydraulic failure. He knew that the planes controls were frozen beyond the strength of any man on earth to manipulate. He could feel a calm come over Sean as he did some quick calculations in his head. Alex was suprised at how easily the math came for his friend, and how fast he calculated rate and angle of descent along side air speed and compared it to distance to the bucking surface of the deck of the Air Craft Carrier ahead. The numbers came up and he could feel Sean’s mind come to the conclusion that he was coming in too far to starboard and would hit the command tower.

A steely determination was suddenly there. If he bailed he would probably survive and be picked up by a rescue helicopter, but it was very likely the explosion from the crash would kill several of the deck crew. He would find a way to bring the thing in where nobody would get hurt, even if it killed him. Suddenly, he felt something in his- no Sean’s mind- click and then the jet shudder under him and looked out the window. Horrified he realized that it was engulfed in flames. Alex noted with a calm determination that flames were the same flames that seemed to surround Sean when he was flying last night.

He could feel the wind whistle past him with some part of his mind that was related to phyresight. It was as if he could feel the skin of the jet with his mind. He felt Sean mind mold the shape of the phyre into a wing configuration, then bank and level. He was flying the plane from the outside in. In the background he heard Sean’s cool voice take over on the radio, to get landing instructions. The voice coming over the radio, shaky and more than once he heard someone in the back ground say something about the jet being on fire, and to get the EMR crew on the deck immeadiately.

Suddenly he felt s surge of accelleration that plastered him back into the seat, and then just as suddenly his head snapped forward as the landing hook caught. He felt Sean’s mind relax and the phyre dissipate from the plane. He could feel Sean’s bone weariness, from the effort of expending that much energy. Good God! The force he was manipulating could only be measured in tons!

**I’m glad you appreciate that,** he heard Sean say in his head, as the scene once again shifted to the dream that had been plaguing him. He felt himself relive Tyr’s final confrontation with Kaja Nel. At different points, he could feel Sean gently probe his own memories for understanding of the circumstances. To find out what the fight had been all about. A sense of understanding seemed to dawn on him as the symbology of the dream finally made sense to Sean.

Not understanding what was happening he felt his mind drawing closer to Sean’s. He could feel gentle probes reaching out from his friend. He saw his early life with his own family. The gentle caring of his father, Balyn and the distant aloofness of his mother Caren. He saw memories of his dragon-birthing, and the felt the pain of his dragonmark. He relived his early training with the Order of Thorns. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction and surprise as Sean probed what it meant to be a Thorn. What it meant to be the defender of children, whether ‘Born or normal.

Again something clicked in his mind and he felt himself rushing toward something. Suddenly the image of a boy, not much older that fifteen with strawberry blond hair and gold flecked eyes smiling at him. There was a deep sadness about the boy. He felt Sean fumble around for a source of the memory in his own mind and finding none reaching out to Alex for an explanation. Alex had none for him. He thought the image was coming from Sean. The boy seemed to look into his soul, and smile sadly, as a tear came to his eyes. He said, “I’m sorry.”

Suddenly Alex felt himself hurled back into his own head. Stars danced around his vision for a few second before the room came back into focus. He felt his mind rip away from Sean’s as it screamed out in the agony of the seperation. The pain subsided finally to leave tenous line still connecting him to his friends mind. On top of everything else, a telepath too! Shaking his head he looked around the room for the source of the attack that ripped he and Sean apart.

Nicole was picking Sean up from the floor beside the bed. He felt a dull throb down the line connecting him to Sean. There was anger at being seperated and an instinctive reaching out for him. He felt it connect again, as a surge of joy ran down the link as once again, he coud feel Sean’s presense in his mind. Not intruding, but just resting there, comfortably. I hope he’s not getting addicted to the telepathic contact. Judging from the sun setting out the window, I’d say were joined for several hours.

**It’s not telepathic contact big brother. Don’t you think I’d recognize another telepath if I saw one.** Nicole told him over the phyrespeak..

** Then what is it?**

**You’re not going to believe me when I tell you.**

**What are you two talking about?** Sean’s voice broke in.

**You can hear us?** Alex asked.

**I can hear you. Not her.** He smiled at them.

Nicole began to laugh then. She was laughing so hard that tears were coming to her eyes.

Sean was confused. He didn’t understand what had just happened, but he knew some how on a deeper level that it was very profound. Something that had occurred here had crossed the boundaries of what he knew deep down should be. Maybe it was from the mental contact he and Alex had just shared , or maybe it was from the knowledge that seemed to be springing full blown to his mind over the past few days.

He understood instintinctively what the images Alex had shown him meant. He knew about the Thorns, the all male order that Alex belonged to and how they’d dedicated the last fifteen millenia to protecting children from not only the ravages of the Dragons, but when possible from mankind as well. He knew what all six active orders sphere of influence were. How the Order of Phyre was charged with understanding and mastering the power these dragonborn called Phyre, and magic. That the Order of Light were the generals and leaders- the officers corps if you would. He understood that the Thorn’s sister order, the Blades of Shiva were an all female order dedicated to protecting women just as the Order of Shadows were the assassins of the Born. Last of the active orders were the Order of Hephestus, the craftmen and weaponsmiths of the Orders. He even understood about the Order of the Sanguine Cloth and how they’d seperated from the other dragonborn to protect humanity in their own way, and how they’d gone down the darker path to become what mortals called vampires.

All this knowledge had been swirling around in his head confusing him even more. Now it was all settling into place. He wasn’t sure how or where the knowldege was coming from, but he knew it was there. It had been there for a long time, as part of the fantasy world he’d built for himself as a kid. The same fantasy world he’d had to banish before he could get his life together enough to succeed as a navy pilot.

Now that world was coming back to him. This time as reality. He wasn’t sure why or how, but it was as if he’d waken up from a dream only to discover that the dream was reality and reality was the dream. It was strange, and now the dream and reality were again merging. He wasn’t sure what was reality and what the dream, or if he should even care.

As he picked himself up off the floor and watched Nicole try to stop laughing he wondered what had set that off. He glanced over toward Alex who’d been staring in disbelieve and saw the sun setting through the window behind him. Damn! We were in that strange link all day. No wonder I feel like I could eat a horse. Then the coffee he’d had for breakfast hit him, And my bladder feels like it’s about to burst. “Excuse me guys, but I’ve got to go to the head.” Alex was looking at her in shock as Nicole waved him out still giggling.

************************************************************************

Nicole finally stopped giggling and got a grip on herself as Sean left the room. Tears streamed down her face when she looked up at Alex. The confused look on his face sent her into peals of laughter again. **What in the hell are you laughing at Nikki?** his voice came echoing through the phyrespeak.

Suddenly his face went dark a second and then confusion set in. He sat down on the bed again. Nicole could see the the effects of being that close to Sean. He's completely healed. I don't know how, but he's completely healed. Even the scar under his eye from the time I hit him with hammer is gone.

"Hearing voices in your head big brother?" She smiled at him and let her voice drop into that playful taunt she knew drove him crazy. "Let me see,' she put a finger to her chin and paced across the room. "Sean's thoughts and yours keep getting tangled up." She turned on her heal and looked at him smiling. "You feel like there an echo in your head for your own thoughts," she stopped and smiled, "and right now the thought of making love to anyone in the world other than him makes your skin crawl."

She watched him as he listened to her, nodding in agreement without realizing it. "How'd you know?"

She smiled. She hadn't enjoyed teasing her brother this much since they were kids. "I've been in enough heads to recognize the signs." He looked at her confused.

"What does that have to with what's going on with Sean's phyre."

"Because Alex, it's not just about his phyre anymore. You two have gone and done the impossible." She grinned, and then dropped it on him. " I don't know how, but you've done something every Phyre-Mage in history has said was impossible. Let me put it to you this way, brother dear. You know how you never could find a phyre-mate?"

Alex nodded, a hurt look came over his eyes. "And I never will."

"Oh I don't know about that." she let her voice tease him again, "I'd say you're pretty well phyrebound to Sean now."

"What?!!" He came to his feet. "That's impossible. Same sex bondings DO NOT occur! They can't! There's no way they can produce children."

She smiled at him. "I know a phyrebond when I see it brother dear. I’ve been in enough people’s head to know a phyrebond when I see it. What’s going on between you and Sean is one of the deepest bonds I’ve ever seen. People don’t just lose themselves in a link for several hours like you two just did from mere phyre-speak.”

“If one is a telepath, they could.”

“No Alex. They don’t. Besides, Sean’s not a telepath. If he were, we’d picked him up a long time ago. What’s going on between you two is a phyre-bond, plain and simple.” She shook her head, then looked at him, “Besides, could you think of anyone else you’d rather share your mind with?” Nicole knew there was something deep between her brother and Sean. She’d never known two people who seemed more right together, and the fact that they were both men only seemed to strengthen the bond.

Alex shook his head and looked down, “I guess deep down I know you’re right. It’s just hard to believe. I’d given up on ever finding someone to share my life with, and now that someone is there, I’m having difficulty believing it.”

“What about Sean? How do you think he’ll take the news?” Nicole couldn’t believe that he would really upset. Phyrebonds that deep only happened once every few hundred years, and then only between individuals who’s souls were so closely bound together, that love was too mild a term for it.

Alex shook his head, “I’m not sure. I don’t think he really understands what it means. I’m not even sure that he even knows it’s there. It may just be getting lost in all the other sensory input he’s getting from his phyre. It’s pretty awesome inside his head right now.” Nicole watched Alex as he got up and went over to the window and watched the last vestiges of the sun disappear behind the hills across the river. He sighed heavily and then just sat there smiling to nobody in particular.

She watched him for a few minutes, realizing how long this had been in coming. Alex had always kept everyone else at an arm’s length, afraid to let anyone get too close, because he knew he would never find anyone he could really love, and that the Orders would accept. Now things were different. They had to accept Sean, because of the phyrebond. She could sense that for the first time in his life her brothe was really happy. She wasn't about to let anyone get in the way of that happiness. She owed that much to her brother. "I don't think so big bro. I think you are one of the primary reasons he left the Navy. Or at least his feelings about you. I've read that much of his emotions. There's a strong attraction there for you." She leaned against the old chest of drawers, "You might have to work to bring it out of him, but it's there."

"What's there?" Sean's voice echoed from the living room.

Alex turned and gave her a pleading look, "Don't say anything," he whispered.

God! He's got it bad, she thought to herself. "Nothing. We were just talking about where we go next." She put on her best smile, and turned to face Sean. "I was just about to tell Alex that we've got bigger problems than we originally thought. I made some phone calls. The dragons aren't the only ones hunting us now. A number of 'Born want us dead too."

"Because of what happened at the Stronghold last night?" Sean's reply was as much a statement as a question.

"You catch on quick," Nicole told him. She felt her whole manner shift from personal life to business. "Not only was the stronghold lost, but several preceptors died in the fighting as well. That fight set us back ten years in planning. There have been calls from some circles for our heads." She looked at Sean, "Prophecy or no prophecy. Fortunately, for now they haven't been able to get a quarum of preceptors to vote for a hunt."

"Who's on our side?" Alex asked.

Nicole leaned against the wall, "Well the Thorns for one. They still see Sean here," she indicated the bigger man with her hand, "as a child, since he hasn't been birthed yet." She smiled and looked at Alex, "You know how your brothers are, suggest a child is in danger and you've got several hundred angry fratboys with guns coming to it's aid."

"We are not a fraternity." Alex replied in indignation. "We're one of the most highly respected Orders in the Born.

"You are too a bunch of frat boys, who never grew up. Hell, half the order are confirmed bachelors, who spend more time playing big brother or reverred uncle than ever daddy." Afraid she'd gone too far, she added, "You're the only Order who's Harvest Festival Celebration includes kegs of beer and x-rated videos." "However," she emphasised the word, "the Thorns refuse to vote for Hunt until they've spoken with you and Sean. Something about due process, and for once I think even Walker is afraid of taking on the Thorns. Dad's got the other Preceptors into believing that if they call a Hunt without giving us a chance to say our piece, that he's going to have an open rebellion on his hands."

"What about the Blades?" Alex asked.

The Blades official line is that they stand by their brothers. For now." She sighed, "Do you really think the Thorns and Blades would split over something like this. This really is smack dab in the middle of Thorn jurisdiction, and the Blades know it. Besides I think there are some of them itching for a fight, and they think backing you will give them a better chance at it. Walker's made quiet a few enemies over the pat few years."

"So where does that leave us?" Sean asked leaning against the door frame.

"Out in the cold, unfortunately." Nicole told him. "We daren't make an appearance anywhere, on the chance that someone who wants the Hunt decides to take matters in his or her own hands."

"Isn't that a little callous of you people?" Sean asked in suprise.

"You have no idea, how callous my friend." Alex told him. "There is the matter of a several hundred million dollar inheritence involved. If you turn out to be who Magda and our informant told us you are, then you stand to inherit a pretty penny. Walker would do anything to avoid that, since it would be mostly coming from him."

"I'm not interested in the man's money, Alex." Sean's voice was cold. "I'm still not sure I believe all this." Nicole knew he was lying, about the last part. Nobody went that far into a phyrebond without getting all the information he needed to make a decision like that. Nicole guessed he'd already come to one, but was just buying time for himself to come to grips with it.

"It doesn't matter what you are or aren't interested in Sean. It's what Walker thinks you're interested in." Alex told him. "Besides, don't try and convince me that you don't believe us. I've been in your mind. " Alex tapped is temple, "Remember?"

She saw Sean actually blush. "I remember Alex. I don't think I'll ever be able to forget." Then as if he realzied that Nicole was there, he gave her a pained look. She sensed a change in him, as if a decision had been made and a line crossed. He walked over to her brother, and stood beside him. "I KNOW I won't be." Nicole could see the phyre flare between them at that moment, even without he phyresight.

She only smiled, "It's about time."

Alex smiled at her and blushed. Sean asked, "Okay, what do we do now? Are there really people out there who are trying to kill us, and are the dragons still after the same thing?"

"None of the 'Born should be, but I'm not sure I trust what should be to be what is. As for the dragons. I'm definitely sure they're still after us." Nicole told him, not pulling any punches. If her information was correct, and she had no reason to believe it wasn't, then he needed to go into the situation with his eyes open.

"Then where can we go. It's only a matter of time before someone finds out about this place. I never really kept it's existence a secret you know?"

Nicole was wondering that herself. She realized just how vulnerable they really were. They couldn't rely on any of the strongholds for help, even the friendly ones, and at the same time they couldn't stay here. They were trapped between the proverbial rock and the hard place. "I'm not sure Sean. This place should be safe for a while. It'll won't take long before someone thinks to check the land registry to see if you own any property, though. Then it's only a matter of time."

"That won't do them any good. This property is still registered under my grandfather's name. I never got around to changing the deed over after we got all the problems over who gets what straightened out. I just kept paying the taxes on it, and planning to go to the court house on leave, but never got around to it." Sean informed her smiling. "That ought to give us a few days at least. Who's going to think to go back into what my grandfather owned? Besides, the only people that know how well this place is fixed up are my brother Doug and my cousin Stephen. They helped me fix it up. Everyone else thinks it's a run down old shack with holes in the walls."

She saw Alex smile at that, "I've got news for you Sean, this place is a rund down shack with holes in the walls."

"Yeah, well it's not a summer place in the Hamptons or anything like you two are used to, but it's safe, and warm. Besides, the only thing it ever gets used for is a place for my brother and cousin to escape their wives for a few weeks of fishing every summer."

"I've met your brother Sean, I'm not sure it's not your sister-in-law who's escaping." Alex told him.

"First you insult my home, and then my family, Alex. Is that any way to start off a relationship?" Nicole couldn't tell if the hurt in his voice was genuine or feigned. At least he was admitting that there was a relationship to start.

"Well, when you get right down to it Sean, they aren't really your family. They're the people the dragons stuck you with after they stole you from us."

Sean gave him a stern look, "so you you're saying I should claim Walker as my kin, and not Doug, and the people I grew up with? Now you really are getting insulting." Nicole watched him walk over to the window and lean against the sill. Without turning he spoke, "Look guys, I can accept everything you are telling me is the truth. Hell, I think I've known it most of my life. However, just because I accept it, doesn't mean I can change my feelings about my family." He turned to face them, "Yes, they, not Simon Walker or anyone else in the Dragonborn are my real family. For good or ill, they're the people to who raised me, and in their own way, loved me. I can't take away over thirty years of love, hate, tears, and joy that make up even my dysfunctional family and just toss them, because some guy in an Armani suit says he's my real brother. A family is more than just blood. It's the experience and the bonds that that love, hate, tears, and joy bring into being." He looked at Alex seriously, "If you really feel about me the way I think you do, then you are going to have to accept that no matter what I become, what we become, those people are still my family. For better or worse, they are the people that made me what I am today. I can't turn my back on them. No matter how much money, or power is involved, and as far as I'm concerned, I don't want them to ever find out that I'm not their blood relative."

Nicole was stunned. She knew that Sean came from an unhappy home, but he refused to turn his back on that home. Even more stunning was the realization that she would have thought less of him if he'd come to any other conclusion. "I think I understand Sean. If that's the way you want it, then I'll take that honest answer over all the fake smiles and under the table money any day," she heard her brother echo her own thoughts.

"Okay, now that we've got all that out of the way, what do we do about our situation?" she asked.

"We fix something to eat. Then we get some rest, because at anytime in the next few days could get unpleasant quick," Sean told her. "I'll even fix dinner."

It took Sean just a little over an hour to put together a dinner that could best be described as a good old fashioned southern breakfast, guaranteed to clog the arteries and add ten pounds of weight. Nicole was suprised at how hungry she really was, and ate more than she intended. She noticed that her brother and Sean however ate very little, spending most of their time smiling at each other and then looking away.

After dinner she and Sean stood doing the dishes, "Wanna tell me about it?" she asked.

"About what?"

She chuckled to herself, "about you and my brother making moon eyes at each other all night. I'm not blind you know." He coughed and sputtered, then began to to make some excuse when she interrupted, "It's okay Sean. I don't have a problem with it. I've known Alex is gay for years now."

"I'm sorry. I seem to be wearing it like a new coat. Once I admitted to myself that I'm gay, it's like I'm daring anyone to make something of it. I don't mean to, but I am. It's kind of strange."

"I've heard about other men going through the same thing when they come out of the closet. Just be careful about the let down that comes later. Don't be disappointed when you suddenly discover that it really doesn't make all that big of a change in your life."

He sighed, putting the dishes away, "I'm just confused on what seems to be happening with Alex though. I've never felt this way about someone before. I don't know how to deal with it. I can't believe I'm feeling this way so suddenly. It's really strange."

He doesn't know, she thought to herself. He doesn't realize what a phyre like his means. He's afraid he's going to fall out of love just as quickly as he fell into it. He doesn't realize that the kind of bond he has doesn't just go away. It's a life time thing. "I think I understand. You're afraid it's puppy love."

Sean nodded, "something like that."

"I wouldn't worry about it. I think you two are just picking up where you left off twelve years ago." Nicole knew that his understanding of the phyre bond would have to come from Alex. Each bond was different, for each couple.

"That could be it. I don't know why I'm fighting it like this. What's going between us just feels so right. If I just think about him, I feel myself reaching out and touching his mind. It's really strange." He came back to the sink, "Combine this with the knowledge about the use of my powers being there when I need it, and it leaves me feeling like I'm in a waking dream."

"I'm not sure about that part myself Sean. I don't know about your old dreams and the fantasy world you told Alex about. He's always kept your conversations to himself. There are a few legends about the coming of the end of the war, but they've never made much sense to me. This messiah of ours is supposed to be neither born of woman nor hatched of dragon. He or she is also supposed to be the avatar of Tyr, our founder, and he's supposed to carry the respect of the dragons themselves. That's as confusing to me as it is to you too." Nicole sat down at the table, "Tell me about this knowledge that just seems to be there."

Sean poured two cups of coffee, "If I remember right, you like your coffee black." Nicole nodded. "It's really not that hard. All the powers that I have in my dream persona except one are emerging in myself. I just do things the way I would in my dreams. If I want to fly, I think about pushing against the earth's magnetic fields and I fly. If I want to lift something heavy, I think about pouring the field that seems to surround me into my limbs and I can lift it. If I want to protect myself I simply harden the energy of the field into something solid, and it works. I can even charge it to make it like an electrical field."

Nicole sat and listened in amazement. Most 'Born had one or two minor powers. Sean seemed to have a number of major powers all focused around some kind of energy field he can control. The powers he was talking about would make him a formidible opponent to any wyrm, much less the 'Born. "What's the one you don't have?" she asked. "The one from the dream."

Sean smiled, "Oddly enough it's shape shifting, Alex's power."

Something about the list was setting of bells in Nicole's head, but for the life of her, she couldn't put her finger on it. Something that should be obvious, something that was important. Okay Niki, just let it lie and it'll come to you. Go onto something else, and wait for it. In an attempt to change the timbre of the conversation and possible jog her memory she replied in her best fake southern accent, " In that case Mr. Fey, exactly what are your intentions toward my big brother."

Sean smiled at her and imitated the accent, "Well, Miss Nicole, Ah guess what Ah'm goin' to have just fin' a Justice O' the Peace somewhere and marry 'im." They both burst out laughing. He finally shook his head, "I really don't know Nikki. I guess when all this is over, I'll take him home and introduce him to my folks."

For the second time in an hour, Nicole was stunned. She didn't realize he understood this was a permanent bonding. Or maybe he just felt it was the right thing to do. "Are you sure you want to do that. You know how they're going to react."

Sean leaned back in the chair, "believe me I know. My dad once threatened to shoot us if he ever found out one of his sons was queer."

"What if he tries?"

"I don't think he will. My dad has mellowed a lot in the last few years. Believe it or not, I think divorcing my mom was the best thing that ever happened to him. It may have even left enough of a bad taste in his mouth toward women that he'll even understand why I love who I do."

"I don't think it has anything to do with your parent's divorce Sean. Some people are just born gay. Nobody is sure why, but that's the way it is. You and Alex just happen to be two of them."

"I know Niki. I didn't say my mom made me gay. I don't give Freud that much credit. I'm just saying that maybe my dad can understand me better after having to deal with my mom."

"Is your mom really that bad a person?" Nicole wondered.

"No. Not really. She's just very self centered. She thinks the world should revolve around her, and she'll go out of her way to figure out a way to get something out of someone else for nothing. We were important to her growing up because dad wanted us. After she won that, we were more in her way than anything else. I don't think mom ever really knew what she wanted, and by the time she really figured it out, it was too late. She was stuck with four kids and nowhere to go." Sean sighed, “Could we talk about something else other than my family?”

"Like what?” Nicole asked.

“I don’t know. Like how in the world are we going to get this whole mess with the Dragonborn straightened out. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life running from a bunch of people who want to kill me just because I can leap tall buildings in a single bound.” The words were banter, but Nicole could feel the underlying tension in them.

“I’m not sure. We don’t have normal lives so that other people can. The Dragonborn have stood between the wryms and humanity for over fifteen millenia. There is a strong tradition of service in us, and we tend to be a tight knit group. You are facing an uphill battle all the way. Some of the ‘Born won’t want you, but none of them can let you go wandering around with all that power without some kind of supervision. I think that if we can convince them not to kill you out-right, we can eventually get them to at least aknowledge that you might be an asset to the war.”

“Kill me?” Sean asked stunned.

“Look Sean, I’m playing it with you straight here. No secrets, no hidden agendas. There are people out who don’t want what you represent. There are dragons who don’t want it too. Even if the ‘Born decide to cut you loose and leave you to your own devices, there are a lot of dragons out there who want you dead too. Alex and I’ll do everything we can to protect you, but you’ve got to realize that we’re in a whole new ball game now. This isn’t the Gulf War, where there the rules are laid down by some Geneva Convention. If we loose this fight, then humanity will be enslaved again, or worse. I’ve heard that some dragons are calling for genocide if they should win.”

Sean seemed to absorb what she was trying to tell him. “So what you’re telling me is that a normal life from here on out is probably out of the question. That it’s either spend the rest of my life running or convince the ‘Born that they need me too much to let me go my own way. If that happens then, I end up working for you guys. ” He leaned forward across the table. “I don’t like it. I realize I don’t have a choice, but I still don’t like it. It’s a no win scenario, and I don’t believe in them.”

Nicole nodded. She didn’t like it any better than he did, but she knew how to play the game. She just didn’t like the way it was going to play hell with this man’s life, and possible hurt her brother beyond any hope of his ever recovering. But then again, the Orders had always taught that duty came before personal considerations. “That’s about the gist of it.”

“And what if I choose not to play?” Something in his voice made her shudder. He was considering something, and if she knew him, it would be something dangerous.

“Then eventually somebody will get to you and kill you. I wouldn’t like that, Sean. First off, because I genuinely like you ---you’re a good man who deserves a better hand than life has dealt you----but, mainly because if you were to get hurt, I don’t think Alex would ever get over it. I won’t see that happen. Don’t go and get yourself killed, Sean. Don’t do anything stupid out of some sense of defiance.”

He leaned back, “What if I change the rules. If you guys are going to force me to play, then I will find a way to play by my own rules. I won’t be coerced into violating my principles Nicole. You know me well enough to understand that. Right now though, my biggest concern is keeping the three of us alive long enough for Alex and I to figure out what to do about our situation.”

She smiled, I knew there was a reason I liked this man. He thinks of others before himself. “We’ll work it out Sean. I promise you. I won’t let anyone hurt you or Alex. I don’t know how, but I’ll figure something...” The sound of Alex’s footsteps and he wasn’t alone echoed through the kitchen.

For the first time in ages, Alex was calm and happy. He could feel the tenous thread of phyre leading from him to Sean. In some strange way, it was comforting, and exciting at the same time. He knew that the Orders were going to go into conniptions when they found out about that bond. It had some interesting ramifications for what they’ve always believed the Phyre bond represented. Obviously, it can’t mean that phyre powered children are possible from ours. Hell, I'm not even sure, what we have is a phyre bond. Nicole says it is, It feel like what I've been told one feels like, but it's so strange.

"A penny for your thoughts my little singleton," the soft sultry voice came from the darkness nearby. Alex spun around toward the voice, his mind going instantly alert as he scanned the darkness with phyresight.

The outline of a woman suddenly became visible under a nearby oak. "What do you want, Drake?" His hand crept behind him to the Browning nine millimeter in the back of his waistband.

The woman stepped forward and a cigarette suddenly flared to life in the darkness, outlining her rich sensual face with it's red glow. There were features that would never show the age line brought on my the smoke, unless their owner wanted them to. "I'm here to see if you've recovered your lost little monkey yet." She looked over at the cabin, her expression indicated her mind elsewhere for a moment, then graced Alex with her gaze once again, "I see that you have." She smiled enigmatically.

His hand closed around the butt of the gun, "I'll ask one more time nicely Drake, What do you want? I'm not in the mood for any of your games tonight." He brought the gun around so she could see it.

Unfazed she raised an eyebrow, and sniffed the air lightly, "You even went as far as to load it with orchalchum. I'm flattered." Alex knew she could smell the metal at this range. Orchalchum being one of the few substances that would ignore all use of phyre, except to heat up in it's presence was a substance both the Born and the Dragons guarded carefully and feared terribly. It would inflict terrible wounds on phyre powered individuals, and the more powerful the phyre, harsher the wounds. She turned to face the cabin again, "But I'm not the one you need to worry about. I'm just here to see if you needed anything. I understand there was some problem at one of your strongholds south of Birmingham last night."

"What would you know about that?" Alex asked, trying to keep his voice level.

"I know that Mar, our local brood queen, was rather upset about the outcome of that little endeavor. She feels it's one thing to take out a stronghold, but another entirely when she looses a Dragon who's mastered three elements in the taking of it. It seems that somebody drove a fifteen foot wooden stake through his chest in the middle of the fight."

Tyr's blood! That wyrm had mastered three elements! He had to have been a couple of thousand years old! And Sean killed him in a matter of minutes. Alex didn't let his face show his surprise however, "Well, that's the price of war Drake. Now you want to tell me what you're doing here before I pump you full of orchalchum? I can't say that I'm sorry it happened. That's just one less dragon I'll have to kill later.

"I'm not sorry it happened either. Gore was boorish bastard who lorded his power over anybody weaker than him for over two thousand years. He got just what he deserved. I just wish I'd been there to see it myself." She leaned against the Blazer, "I came here to warn you. Mar, is really upset with your little lost monkey, and wants him dead at any cost. There are about to be a number of major strikes against your various strongholds to find him. She's pretty close to breaking the guise."

"I don't understand you, Drake. Why are you helping us?" Alex wasn't sure if she was telling the truth or not. He knew he didn't trust her, no dragon ever did anything without some personal gain from it. "What do you get out of it?"

She smiled that sensous look, "For now, let's just say, I want to have a sexy man in my debt."

Alex shook his head, "Let's not. I want an answer or I start shooting. A real answer." God doesn't she ever let up?,Alex thought as another wave of sensuality washed over him. He could feel the effects of what ever she was doing wash over him, as his breathing quickened. He forced himself to ignore the effects and leveled the automatic at her chest.

She reached out and ran a finger down the side of his face, as he fought off a shudder that threatened to run through his body, "I want a peace between the 'Born and the Dragons. I want to be able to take a mate and stay trueformed long enough to bring an egg to term. I want to be able to walk down the street without having to wonder if there's a Born around the next corner with an orchalchum blade to stick between my ribs. I'm sick of this war. I didn't start it, you didn't start it, but we're both caught up in it. I want it to end, and I don't want that ending to mean the death of either of our peoples."

Alex locked down on his thoughts, reminding himself that he was here to protect Sean.... Suddenly he reached out for the bond between them, and it flared to life. He let it wash over him, and drown out the effects of Drake's manipulations. Suddenly his head cleared and he realized why she was having the effect on him she was. By Tyr, she's in heat! She's sending out pheremones to attract a mate, and it's reacting with my phyre. The only thing really protecting me right now is my bond to Sean. "You're right, we didn't start the war, but we both have to live with it. Maybe it's going to end soon," he glanced back toward the cabin. "Maybe it's time for a peace between us. A peace that doesn't spell the end of either species. However, we are willing to die as a race to keep mankind from under the wyrm's yoke."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. I know how you people operate, and if you thought you were going to die as a race, you'd make sure you took us with you." Her voice changed slightly. The playful innuendo was suddenly gone, "I'm here to offer you my aid. Mar has ordered her people at the county courthouse to search all the records on your friend's background. It's only a matter of hours before they come up with this place."

They knew about Sean, "How'd they find out who he is?"

Drake frowned at him, "Mar has had a spy in the 'Born for a long time now. Someone who is feeding her very accurate information." She shook her head, "I don't know who it is, so don't ask. All I know is that this person has access to an inordinate amount of accurate information, including the name of your little lost monkey."

"Why would you want to help us against your own people?"

"Because it's time someone put dragons like Mar and Gore in their place. We can't go on killing each other like we are. That little fight at your stronghold last night cost us more than just a powerful dragon, it cost us any hatchlings he might have sired in the future. Our gene pool is getting slimmer every generation."

"So, what you're telling me is that all we have to do is wait a few hundred years and let the dragons die out from inbreeding. If you ask me, that sounds like good news."

She chuckled at him, "I know you can't mean that. Besides, if things get too desperate, we may decide to the throw off the Guise and go public." She took on a wistful look, "who knows, we might even apply for endangered species protection with the EPA. Now that would be ironic wouldn't it. Humans protecting the dragons from their own protectors. You know we control a great deal of the media, we could paint the dragonborn as history's most vile villains, putting you on par with peple like Hitler."

"If you could get them to stop harassing land owners, and trying to ban cars long enough to listen to you long enough it might work. However, I think it might put you in more danger than it would solve. After all, what if the NSA decided you were a threat to national security. They could over rule the EPA, and you might suddenly find yourselves dealing with tanks and missiles instead of blades and guns. After all WE have a lot of influence in the military. When the smoke cleared, there might not be a dragon left alive to be protected." Alex had heard this scenario before. For a small group of people, both the Born and the Dragons had huge amounts of world influence. Enough influence to turn the most skeptical of persons into raving conspiracy theorists.

"So it's a stalemate then," she replied. "Either we find a way to solve the problem together, or we go to the worst case scenario for both of us, by leaving it in the hands of the normals. Now why don't you take me to meet your lost little monkey, and we can discuss getting you out of here, before Mar drops three or four big dragons on your." She looked around the clearing, "This place is isolated enough, that nobody would ever notice that many true form dragons attacking. All that would be left, would be an autumn forest fire."

If she was telling the truth, the Sean was in more danger than he ever expected. Especially if Mar was planning on hitting all the strongholds in the area, because there will be no place to turn for safety. He waved her toward the cabin with the gun, "Ok, let's go talk to my sister and Sean."

************************************************************************

Sean watched the woman enter the kitchen in front of Alex. He felt a wave of something hit him as she entered. His breath quickened, he felt his heart race and his body flush suddenly. This woman carried an aura of sensuality about her, that went to the core of any man. He saw Alex look at him in suprise and then as quickly as the woman's aura hit him, he felt Alex's hit, drowning hers out. He just sat there dumbfounded as Alex closed the door behind him.

"Ms. Drake has some bad news for us." Alex told Nicole as he came around to stand next to Sean, his gun still ready. Sean felt a steady pulse of something from Alex. Something that seemed to calm him, envelope and protect him. He sighed caught between the two opposing attacks on his mind and body. Nicole's eyes darted back and forth between Alex and the woman.

"You two stop it. You're going to overload his endocrine system if you're not careful," Nicole's voice cut through the miasma that was threatening to drown his consciousness. "What do you want, Drake?"

Sean saw the woman Nicole called Drake smile, and then he felt the the wave of sensuality suddenly disappear, and he was left suddenly feeling like he was part of Alex. He stopped being Sean Fey, a being who saw himself as half a greater whole and was suddenly made whole by the emotions he felt there. "I'm here to warn you that Mar knows about this place, and wants our friend there dead," she nodded toward Sean.

"And why don't you want him dead?" Nicole asked, as Sean felt the link between him and Alex lessen and he slowly once again took up residence in his own head.

"Because he's our last best hope for peace." the woman replied.

"Thank you Susan Ivanava." Sean heard himself say. His mind was swirling with images, and voices, as his own personality reasserted itself.

He saw Drake stare at him for a second, and then dismiss the remark, "I want him to survive, because if he does, maybe we can end this war, and finally have peace between our races."

"And where do humans stand in this idea for your peace?" Nicole asked the question he was trying to think of.

"As a full partner with the dragons and the Born. Peace can only come with equals othewise it's dictated, and those kinds of peace never hold," she replied to the question.

"That's a surprising attitude coming from a Dragon," he heard Nicole reply as his mind began to clear.

"Not really. Think about it. Humans have made this world what it is today in spite of our war. While we've been busy trying to wipe each other off the face of the globe, they've gone to the moon, split the atom, and made global instant communication a reality. Even dragons respect that kind of power. They have a phyre all their own, they call it science, and anyone who ignores it does so at their own peril."

Finally, Sean felt himself centered in his own skull, and took the opportunity to study the woman carefully. Tall with short blonde hair and chisled features, she was a modern Marlena Deitrich. The only thing missing was the germanic accent and the bored expression. Instead, she exuded an aura of sensuality, that even now set his pulse to pounding. "Tell me, ma'am, exactly why does this Mar person want me dead? What did I ever do to her."

The woman graced him with a smile and walked over to where he was sitting. Beside him, he felt Alex tense up, as if he were going pounce any minute. He reached over and took Alex's hand, an action that seemed to startle Drake, "Because, you are an unknown, and there are a lot of people who believe that the potential you and Alex here, represent spell the death of the Dragons. Personally, I think it's going to bring about a new era of peace and prosperity for all of us." She leaned against the stove, "But then again, I'm an optimist."

Sean looked up at Alex, "you didn't tell me you were involved in this so-called prophecy."

Alex returned his gaze with a smile, "I wasn't aware of it myself. Besides, the only word I'd had of it was from Drake, and she's a dragon."

"We don't all lie you know," Drake said.

"Don’t you trust me my little singleton?” Sean heard her ask, with a tone he recognized as directed toward Alex.

“Not as far as I can throw you, Drake.” Alex made his point with a sarcastic smile.

Sean could smell Drake’s expensive perfume as she sat down between him and Nicole. She leaned back in the chair and looked around, then turned her gaze on Sean and offered her hand, “I’m Elzbeth Drake. I’m a dragon.”

“Funny, you don’t look like a dragon,” Sean bantered back with her.

She made a conspiratorial gesture toward her lips, “Shh.. I’m in disguise.”

Sean grinned at her. Even though this woman should be his enemy for some reason Sean liked her. Something about her put him at ease, like few women could. “So how do you plan to help us?”

She grinned back at him, “I like that. Either you’re a very brave man, Mr. Fey, or a very stupid one. Most people in your position would be going nuts, but you seem to be shrugging off the strangeness like it was rainwater.”

“It could be Ms. Drake, that I just don’t give a damn anymore. The way I figure it, Alex and Nicole let you in here, so for now you’re to be trusted to some extent. Beyond that, I’m taking things one day at a time.” He leaned forward, and felt Alex’s hand on his shoulder, “Now you still haven’t answered my question. How do you plan to help us?”

She smiled, “I like that. Simple and to to point. Maybe Silverclaw was right after all. Either your family would kill you or make you strong. I can see it’s done the latter.”

That hit a nerve, “for now, let’s leave my family out of things. Okay?”

“Sure,” she replied. “I’m going to help you by giving you a place to hide while the dragons and the born are hunting you down. I know this nice little place in Baton Rouge where nobody would ever think of looking for you.”

“I don’t think so, Drake.” Alex cut in, the irritation in his voice evident. “Just get us to Leveaux’s place, and I’ll take it from there.” Sean saw the the confusion in both Nicole’s and Drake’s face.

“Leveaux? As in Marion Leveaux?” Sean knew the old man. He’d been fishing with him quite a few times on Lost Creek. After his grandfather died, Leveuax had help fill the void, of a male figure in his life. In his own way, the man had helped raise Sean while his dad was away, hiding from his mother. “What’s ‘Ol Scratch got to do with this?”

Everyone turned and looked at Sean with some surprise. Finally, Alex broke the silence, “You know Mr. Leveaux?”

“Yeah. He’s the old black man who lives down by Lost Creek. We’re old fishing buddies. After my pawpaw died, he was the only person who would go breamming with me? We used to take cane poles up and down that creek from Highway 69 all the way to Old Tuscaloosa Road. We even saw a mountain lion one day while fishing. You still haven’t answered my question though. What’s he got to do with all this.”

“Mr. Levaux was ordered not to interfere with your life, Mr. Fey.”

“I don’t know who the hell you think you are Ms. Drake, but there were times when I felt like Scratch Leveaux was the only friend I had in the world. I honestly believe that if it weren’t for those fishing trips, then I’d be either dead or committed by now. He was a steady rock for me when I didn’t have anyone else. I for one am glad he disobeyed any orders you might have given him. Although the idea of anybody ordering Scratch around is sort of ludicrous anyway. If anything I'd expect it to be the other way around.”

Sean saw Drake look over to Alex, "What's Leveaux got to do with this?"

Alex smiled enigmatically, "Nothing really. It's just if I can get to that area, I can take care of keeping Sean safe until we get things straightened out with the Born."

Nicole only raised an eyebrow, while Sean saw Drake shrug, "That's not a problem. However, take my advice and stay away from that old mage. He's got his own agenda in all this, and not even I can figure out what it is."

"What about the strongholds? Aren't you going to warn them of the attacks?" Sean asked.

"Already taken care of. Besides, after what happened in Alabaster last night, you can bet your last dollar that every stronghold withing five hudred miles is on alert. The dragons won't catch them by surprise, and if I know some of the preceptors, they've got a few surprises of their own to spring." Nicole told him.

"You just found out about the planned attack. How could they already be warned?" Sean knew he was missing something, but his head was still fuzzy from what Drake and Alex were doing to him. When we get a free minute, I'm going to have to have a talk with Alex about that. I'm a big boy and can deal with a woman on the prowl on my own.

**Don’t forget my friend, I’m a telepath.** Nicole’s voice came to him. **I’ve got quite a range, and have been in touch with a few people I know I can trust ever since we were on the road last night.**

Sean was afraid of something like that. He wondered just how much she knew about what was going on between he and Alex. I'll have to be careful what I let myself think about around her.

**She already knows, Sean.** Alex told him mentally.

**How much?**

**Pretty much all of it. She figured it out even before I did.** He could hear the chagrin in Alex's voice even over the link. **She's known about me for years, she just never said anything about it, because she didn't think it was any of her business.?**

That was good to hear. He found himself wanting Nicole's approval for some reason. **Now I've just got to figure out how to tell my folks.**

**We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, we' ve got to get you out of here and to safety, and that means we've gotta' ditch Drake. There's no way I'm taking a dragon where we're going.**

**That's fine with me. The woman makes me nervous. I don't think she completely understands about us. Then again, I don't completely understand us.**

**That's okay. Neither do I. But in the meantime, we'd better get out of here.**

The thirty mile trip to Oakman took over an hour and a half because they took their time and most circuitous route possible. By the time they arrived at the Lost Creek Bridge around three a.m., Sean had finally made up his mind about what to do about Alex. His father wasn't going to be happy about it, and his mother would spend the rest of her life giving him hell, but he'd learned to live with that anyway.

Alex insisted that Drake let them out at the bridge and they all stood there until her car disappeared over the hill heading toward Jasper. "C'mon," Alex told them as he headed down a small road next to a farm house. "This way."

Sean followed without a word, as Nicole gave her brother a questioning look. "Just where are we going, Alex. We're out in the middle of nowhere," she asked.

Alex only turned and smiled at him, "Not quite that far." He winked at Sean, "Sean's dad lives about five miles from here."

“We’re not going there are we?” Sean asked puzzled. “I don’t think he’d understand right now.

Alex shook his head. “No, we’re not going to your dads. We’re going somewhere not far from there though.”

The walk up the old road full of pot holes was quiet, the stillness of the country night echoed through the silence. With only the stars as light the trio picked their way through the countryside. After about twenty minutes of Alex leading, Sean fell in beside Nicole, and pitched his voice low, "So what do you think?"

"What do you mean," she grinned at him.

"I mean about Alex."

"What about Alex?" her eyes twinkled with mischief.

Sean sighed and blushed deeply, "About Alex and me?"

"What about Alex and you?" she asked with mock innocence.

"Never mind. Forget I asked," Sean gave up and walked ahead in disgust. Sometimes Nicole's sense of humor was to much for him, and right now he didn't feel like dealing with it.

After about ten minutes, she was beside him. "What do you want me to tell you, Sean? That you have my persmission to date my brother? You don't need it. He's a big boy now and can make his own decisions. That I think it's okay that you're gay. That's fine with me too. I don't have a problem with it. Why do you think you need my permission?"

Sean felt himself blush, and shook his head, "I don't know. I think because you're his sister, I should, uh.. I don't know, ask permission or something." He looked up at Alex guiltily, "For some reason, it's important to me that you don't disapprove of us."

She reached up an touched his arm, "It's okay. I think you're good for Alex. He hasn't had much of social life over the past ten years or so. Besides, I really don't have much choice about the issue, and neither do you or he."

That caught him by suprise. "What do you mean by that. We've all got choices."

She smiled at him, "As a matter of fact you two don't anymore. That little stunt you pulled in the cabin this morning pretty much sealed you to each other and is quite probably going to blow the minds of a number of people in the Orders. Whether you realize it or not, you and Alex are bonded now."

"What does that mean?" he asked almost afraid of the answer.

She graced him with one of her enigmatic smirks put her arm around his waist and hugged him, "Let's just say that a phyre-bond is a joining of minds and souls that can only be broken by death, and guarantees the birth of phyre powered children. Welcome to the family Sean."

“Now I’m really confused. I know that something passed between us and that we’re connected somehow, but this phyrebond stuff confuses me. I know that I love Alex. I think I’ve always loved him.” He was suprised to admit that to himself. “I think he was one of the main reasons I came home to come out. I was hoping to see him again.”

She chuckled beside him and gently hugged him again, “Well, you saw him again. I think you got more than you bargained for my friend. Now, you’re stuck with him.”

He looked down at her small form. She seemed so fragile now. Nothing like the hell bent for leather, gun wielding madwoman from the other night. “I don’t think I’ve ever not been stuck with him. Did he tell you what happened that night twelve years ago?”

She shook her head. “No. I didn’t want to pry.”

“Maybe someday I’ll tell you.” He grinned at her mischieviously. Two can play at the teasing game.

“You’re wicked Sean Fey. Did you know that?”

“No more so, than a certain brunette I know,” he teased her. Somehow, he was happier and more centered than he’d felt in a long time. Something was clicking between the three of them and in brief moment of insight, he understood how they belonged together.

About an hour after they’d started, Alex turned them off on an old logging road. Sean recognized the area. He had spent many a happy summer roaming these back woods with his brother Doug and their cousin Steven. He smiled and blushed slightly at the thought of Steven. There had been times when the two of them could ditch Doug, they’d slip off up here and spend a few hours exploring each other’s developing bodies. It was all the innocence of adolescent youth, learning that the organs between their legs had other uses than just peeing. Later that had all ended after a summer church revival and Steven had “gotten religion”. When Steven had told his mother about their explorations it had caused such an uproar with his dad, that for a few minutes Sean had actually feared for his life.

On one of their little exploratory trips up here, they’d discovered a large pond with a strange dam. The place had a feeling of great age, and some wild primordial beauty. The first thing that caught their eyes was the water. They had turned to each other and simply said, “Cool. Let’s go get the poles.” Then they left, all other thoughts lost in the dreams of monster bass that they knew had to dwell in the pond.

Try as they might, they never were able to find the place again. For years they’d refer to it simply as the “pretty land.” Sean had even gone as far to check National Geographic Society’s satellite photos of the area, but could never find it again.

About half a mile onto the road, they once again turned off, this time onto an old game trail. Something kept nagging at the back of Sean’s mind. This place was familiar, but he could’t place it. Finally, they entered a clearing where the moonlight danced across the high grass. Sean suddenly felt strange, and his eyes began to blur once again. Suddenly he saw a wall of fire dance up and around the clearing in front of him. Through the wall he could make out the vague outline of moonlight reflecting off still water. **My God! It’s here. It’s real. I didn’t dream it after all.**

Nicole simply stood there beside him, obviously as surprised as he was. **Didn’t dream what?** she asked with phyrespeak.

“It’s a pond my cousin and I found as kids. We went back after our fishing poles and never could find it again,” he told her in awe.

Alex reached out and took both of them by the hands, grinning like a schoolboy. “C’mon Nicole, Sean.” He pulled them through the curtain of phyre and once again Sean felt the spider web of energy crawl across his skin. It was like a fairy tale world inside the curtain. Suddenly the medow was gone, and all that remained was the pond. Alex led them over to the stone dam that stood at it's head.

Sean looked down at the great worn stones that seemed to be fitted together by something other than mortar. The whole construction had the feel of great age on it. "How long has this been here?" Nicole asked beside him.

"Since before DeSoto came through the area. As a matter of fact this is the oldest stronghold in North America." Alex grinned at her as he began to descend a set of ancient stone stairs built into the dam.

"Why haven't I heard about it?"

"Because we didn't want anyone else to know we were here. This is our main stronghold. It's been here since one of Erik's men came south and founded it. The other orders tend to think of us as just a bunch of frat boys, but we do take our mission seriously." his voice was suddenly serious. "We're not the joke the Shadows make us out to be. We're every bit as good in a fight as any of the other orders. The odd thing is that of all the Orders, only the Blades really understand us. I think it's because our missions are so similar, and that we're the only two Orders who restrict our membership by sex."

"I've never once questioned the Thorn's fighting ability. Just the fact that everything seems to be joke to you guys."

They came to a large door at the foot of the stairs. It's huge oaken frame was bound in iron and sunk into the stone with bolts a good three inches acrosss. "Not a joke sis. Think about it. We deal with children on a regular basis. Usually children who've been abused, and neglected. Kids who are afraid of adults. The jokes put them at ease. We act like kids, because our charges need us to act like them."

This was a side of Alex, Sean had never seen. The more he thought about it, the more he decided he liked it. His friend was right. Most people who knew Alex thought he was an overgrown boy. Now he understood why, and that realization made the feelings he felt for the man that much deeper. "I take it then, that the dragons don't know about this place?" he askes.

Alex smiled at him, "Sean, God himself doesn't know about this place. The only people who do are Thorns. You two are the first outsiders to ever see it. Or at least to ever remember it. I'm told that a couple of kids stumbled on it about twenty years or so ago, but were never able to find their way back."

Sean only smiled. "I know. We were convinced that there were some huge bass hiding in the weeds near the shallow end over yonder."

This time Alex looked shocked, and then as if remembering something, he started to blush. "That was you then?" He opened the door into a long hallway, lit every few feet by old style ceiling fixtures complete with grating over them. The hall reminded Sean of something out of a fifties movie.

Sean smiled, "Yeah."

"Who was the other boy?"

"My cousin Steven. Remember, you met him that weekend you came home with me."

"The fat one?"

Sean nodded. "Yeah. I think his wife started putting a few extra spoonfuls on his plate just as soon as they got married."

They both laughed at that. Steven had been a trim adolescent, but by the time he'd hit twenty-one he'd put on an extra seventy-five or eighty pounds, and really looked nothing like he did as kid.

They headed on down the hall, their footsteps echoing off the cold stone floors. Not a soul was in sight and Sean began to wonder if the complex was abandoned. **No, it's not abandoned. We've been watched from the minute we turned onto the game trail. Don't worry Sean, I won't let anything happen to you.** Alex told him in his head.

**I'm not worried. Just confused. If this place is so secret, then why don't you have any guards out there?**

**We do. You just didn't see them. As long as you're with me, you don't have to worry. Just stick close.**

**Trust me Alex. That's my plan.** Then he sent an image of just how close he wanted to stick to Alex. **I figure we could start out with something like this and see where it leads.**

Sean saw Alex began to turn red. It felt good to be in control of something again. Even if it was just teasing his friend. "Will you two stop that?!" Nicole told them. "In case you don't know it, you're broadcasting, and I'm caught in the middle, and don't appreciate it. Especially since I haven't seen my husband in two weeks."

Alex chuckled next to them. "Serves you right sis. I seem to remember having to go and hide everytime you and Zach got together while dating. You wanna' talk about broadcasting. Now you know why I spent so much time in the stronghold. At least there the walls are shielded."

Sean watched his friends. He knew understood what they were talking about, but wasn't sure how. He was surprised and just a little embarressed that his feelings for Alex might be broadcast to others. Somethings were meant to be kept private, but the two of them seemed to share a closer bond than most brothers and sisters. Alex continued, "Your wedding night was particularly interesting." He grinned maliciously, "Zach looks good in leather."

Nicole's mouth dropped and then she punched her brother in the back, "Alex!"

Alex grinned back at her, "Hey, you were the one complaining about broadcasting. I was just pointing out that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

"If you mention that to Zach, I'll throw stones. Alex Stone in particular, and I'll throw him right through the wall." she replied. Sean was unsure of whether she was kidding or not.

Not taking any chances he moved up between the two. "Look Nicole, it was my fault. I was playing with Alex and didn't realize that you could pick up on it. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

She grinned and then hugged him. "I'm just teasing you Sean. I know it takes a while to get a phyrebond under control and that the two of you are going to leak all over everyone around you for a while." She playfully slapped Alex's head from behind, "Besides, I think I'll look at this a chance to get even with my vouyer brother."

"Is somebody going to tell me what a phyrebond is?" he asked her.

"I thought I already did," she replied.

"You told me a bunch of mumbo jumbo about phyre and children that didn't make a lot of sense and doesn't really apply to Alex and me."

**Okay, let's call it a mind bond then. It's kind of like two people who become so close that they can each sense what the other is doing, and feeling. Where when they are in physical contact there is a joining of minds to the point of almost becoming one person,** she told him with phyre speak.

"Touching and never touched." Sean replied, thinking of an expression from science fiction.

"Something like that." Alex broke in. Sean could sense something in his friend. He was nervous about what he and Nicole were discussing. He could feel that Alex had yet to fully accept what she had told him. That's why he was bringing him here. To confirm it.

Sean disengaged himself from Nicole and stepped up beside Alex as they turned down an ajoining corridor. He reached out and put an hand on the tall man's shoulder. "It doesn't matter to me what you call it Alex." He took a deep breath, and then plunged on. "I love you. I think, I've loved you since we were in college."

Alex glanced back at Nicole, and Sean could feel his discomfort. He looked at Sean and only smiled weakly.

"I didn't mean to embarress you." Alex lack of reply hurt him. He turned away from him and dropped back between him and Nicole. He realized that he might have pushed things too far with Alex. They had been seperated for a dozen years. Maybe his feelings had changed over the years.

He sensed something pass between Sean and Nicole, but ignored it, lost in his own thoughts. Before long they reached a long corridor faced by doors on both sides. Alex led them down it to a large door. Wordlessly he took them inside to a large set of rather messy quarters. Clothes and books were strewn everywhere, and the bed looked like it hadn't been made in years. A half eaten moldy sandwich lay on a desk cluttered with bills and papers. There was a faint musty smell about the room. The room reminded Sean of his and Alex's dorm room in college. "Wait here. I'll be right back," he told them and then left.

Sean cleared what looked like several weeks laundry from a large overstuffed chair and sat down to think. He watched as Nicole paced around the room. Finally she broke the silence, "He didn't mean to push you away like that Sean. In his own way he's as confused as you are. Give him time."

Sean just nodded. He really didn't want to talk about it. For some reason, he felt very hurt by Alex's actions, and he wasn't sure why, and that bothered him. Can I really be in love with someone I haven't seen in twelve years? On top of all the other crazy stuff going on in my life, could I really be in love with Alex?

Nicole came over and sat on the arm of the chair, putting an arm around his shoulders. "It's a lot to digest right now isn't." She said echoing his thoughts.

"Yeah. Right now, I'm just going with all this to see where it takes me. I'll sort it out when I've got some free time to myself." Then a thought came to him, "who's Zack?"

"That's right. You've never met my husband have you?"

"No. I haven't. What's he like."

"Tall, dark, and handsome," she grinned at him. "He's in the Order of the Shadows too."

"What does he do for a living." Then as if suddenly dawning on him, "for that matter what do you and Alex do? That is when you're not out shooting up the countryside trying to kill an over grown lizard."

She chuckled. "We have fairly normal lives. Zach and I are both engineers for AK Steel, and we live in Ashland, Kentucky. Alex is a sixth grade biology teacher at Raceland Junior High."

"Alex, a teacher?" Sean smiled. "Somehow it fits."

"Actually, he's working on his doctorate in zoology. He says it helps him with his shapeshifting."

"Is there anyone else in Alex's life?" The idea of him having competition worried Sean.

"No. He's pretty much a loner. A couple of people have tried to set him up with some of the local girls, but he's never shown much interest. It's a very small community and the idea of a gay school teacher scares the hell out of the local populace."

"The idea of a gay teacher scares the hell out of a lot of populaces.

"Yeah, but in this case, you have no idea how closed of a community it is. The only reason Alex even got hired was because they absolutely had to have a science teacher, and none of the Superintendent's relatives were certified in that area. If you aren't from that area, forget ever getting a job as a teacher there. They won't hire you. There are too many sons and daughters of other educators waiting for their chances. If Alex were to come out up there, even though he does have tenure, odds are he'd loose his job."

"That's ridiculous." Sean told her.

"No. That's Eastern Kentucky. I think Alex want's out of there so bad he can taste it, but doesn't really have anywhere to go."

Sean started to tell her, that he could come here, but then realized that he might not be feeling the same things he is. Sean suddenly realized that he was thinking of Alex in a permanent manner. That thought made him stop and think, about what he was feeling. Maybe Alex didn't want him as a permanent fixture in his life. Hell, they'd only been back together for a little over twenty-four hours.

As if sensing his thoughts, Nicole reached down and brushed the hair from his eyes. "It's going to be all right Sean. It's okay to be confused. Just keep in mind that Alex is going through the same things you are."

Suddenly Sean felt very tired. He realized that he hadn't slept in almost forty-eight hours. He leaned back in the chair and relaxed as Nicole returned to her chair across the room. He sat there listening to the sounds of nothing around him. The walls of this place had to be extremely thick, because not a sound penetrated from beyond them. Before he realized it he was asleep.

Sean awoke with someone next to him. He didn't remember going to the bed, but somehow he ended up there. He turned over to see Alex lying there watching him. He started to say something, but the blond man reached out and gently lay a finger across his lips. "Shhh. Don't say anything." He took a deep breath and and gently whispered, "I'm sorry about earlier. I guess I've got a lot on my mind."

"It's okay." Sean could feel himself beginning to react to Alex's close proximity. "I guess I pushed things more than I should have. I'm sorry too."

Alex pulled himself closer. "It's okay. Your whole world is turning upside down right now. You needed someone to hold on to. "

Without thinking of what he was doing, Sean reached out and lightly kissed his friend. It began as something tentative, but slowly developed into something lingering. He felt Alex's body respond to the physical contact. Finally he broke away and looked at Alex. "I've never been with a man before. At least not as an adult."

Alex just smiled, "That's okay. I've never been with anyone before." That surprised Sean. He couldn't imagine someone who looked like Alex without some kind of companionship.

"What do you say we take it slow?" was all Sean could say.

"Okay. We'll just make it up as we go along," Alex told him just before kissing him seriously this time. Sean felt it all the way down to his toes. He also felt something open up in his mind.

As their lovemaking progressed Sean felt himself drawn further and further into Aelx's mind to the point where he could no longer tell where he left off and Alex began. He finally understood what Nicole meant by the phyre-bond. When it was over, they lay together exhausted, basking in each other's presense when Sean once again felt something in the vaults of his mind.

The sad face of a teenage boy, no older than fifteen or sixteen suddenly swam before his eyes. He seemed to look into Sean's soul with his golden eyes, that were on the brink of tears. He spoke softly to Sean's soul. "I'm sorry." Then he was gone, and Sean was too tired to wonder about it. He drifted off to sleep snuggled up to Alex feeling their oneness.

Nicole lay back in the bed, exhausted. It'd been a long two days and she hadn't realized just how much it'd taken out of her. She also hadn't realized how much she needed a few minutes of rest and privacy right now. The room, the Thorns had provided her with, was spartan, reminding her of a college dorm. It contained a desk, a chair and a bed. There was a large closet with an inset chest of drawer in the corner next to the door. The exhaustion she felt had been evident in the mirror mounted on the door.

The fact that the Thorns had a hidden stronghold was no surprise to her. The fact that it was this old and this well concealed however was a surprise. With a sense of chagin she realized she'd never really given the order credit for that much imagination. They always seemed like a bunch of overgrown boys to her, out playing avenging angel in defense of runaway and abused children. She would have never guessed that they were capable of maintaining a secret stronghold for all these centuries.

Banishing all thought from her mind, she closed her eyes and forced herself to relax. She started with her toes and worked her way up her body, relacing each muscle in turn, trying to turn her body off, so she can rest. As her mind began to slip into the twilight world of sleep, there was a gentle knock at the door.

At first she ignored it, but when it came again, this time more insistent, she realized she’d have to answer it. She sat up and called, “Come.”

“I’m sorry to interupt Nicole, but I think we need to talk,” her father told her as he entered the room.

“Daddy, I didn’t know you were here.” She was genuinely surprised to see her father. The last time she’d seen him had been at the Alabaster Stronghold as one of those hooded figures interrogating Sean. She hugged him.

“Where else would I go, with the war flaring up like it did the other night?” He looked her up and down critically. “You’re not getting enough rest.”

“I was trying to when you knocked. It seems like everytime I sit down, something comes up.” She teased him.

“I’m sorry about that Niki, but I need to talk to you,” his voice suddenly became serious.

She’d seen her fathered worried before, but never like this. “What about?”

He sat down in the desk chair, “About your brother and his uh.. “friend”.

She was afraid where was heading, “What about them?” she tried to keep the edge from her voice.

He sighed and leaned toward her. “Is it as serious as I think it is?”

“I don’t know. How serious do you think it is?”

He smiled, “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were already phyre-bonded.”

She chuckled to herself and then repeated what everyone thought they knew, “but phyrebonds don’t happen in same sex relationships, because they can’t produce offspring.”

“Exactly. But he’s acting like he is, and there is definitly something passing between him and his friend.”

“Sean daddy.”

He gave her a questioning look.”

“His name is Sean. Not “his friend.” Nicole hoped her exhaustion wasn’t making her short tempered with her father. She knew he was probably going to have difficulty with the knowledge that Alex was gay, but she hoped he’d be able to deal with the reality of it better than denying what was going on.

“Is that his name?” he smiled slyly at her. “I’d forgotten.”

“You’ve never forgotten a thing in your life, daddy. You’ve got eidetic memory.” Then something occurred to her, “And you’re not having nearly as much difficulty with Alex and Sean as you’re letting on are you? What are you up to father.”

He laughed, “I never could pull one over on you could I?” He leaned back in the chair. “Of course I’m not upset about Alex. I’ve known about him for y ears now. I’m just wanting to make sure that Sean is the right person for him. That he’s not going to get hurt.”

“I wouldn’t worry about Alex and Sean if I were you.” Then another insight came to her. “And you’re not even worried about that. You’re trying to figure out how mom is going to react.”

“Something like that.” He gave her a soft look. “Did you really think that I would have problems with Alex being happy?”

“Well, you are a Thorn, and we all know about how you guys react to things at times.”

“How little you understand us then. There’s always been a strong theme of homo-eroticism running through this order. If you think about it , I’m sure you’d understand why. After all, we’re the only order that takes in bastards.”

Nicole sat and thought for a moment. “You take in children who’ve run away from home. Statistically, a lot of runaways are no such thing. They’re kids who’ve been kicked out of their home for being gay. If they happen to have phyre, then the order takes them in and trains them.”

Her father nodded. “Phyre’s too precious a thing to waste. We’re here to protect children and fight dragons, not pass judgement on people for something they have no control over.”

“No wonder the Thorns are so close. A good third of your ranks are made up of kids who’ve you taken in.”

He nodded again, “And even the normal kids we don’t take into the order aren’t abandoned. We keep an eye on them and work with them to make their lives as well as others better. That creates a bond that goes even beyond the phyre.”

“But you still don’t know how mom’s going to react.” she said suddenly worried.

“No. I know exactly how your mom’s going to react. She’s going to hit the proverbial roof. She’s going to see this as Alex abandoning...” he stopped in mid sentence.

Nicole gave him a questioning look, then it hit her too. A wave of pure sensuality. It was love, lust, and fear all rolled into one. It hit her like a hammer. She heard a small animal sound escape from somewhere in the room, and then realized it was from her. She was suddenly taken back to that night in the backseat of Josh Banton’s car after the homecoming dance.

She forced the image from her mind and made herself sit up. She looked over at her father, who suddenly seemed to be sweating. ‘What’s going on, Dad?”

He seemed to ignore her for moment, then shook his head. She saw the glaze disappear from his eyes. I think your brother has forgotten something important about this stronghold.” He got up to leave. “We’ll talk later.” The tone of his voice changed from concerned to stern, “After your brother and I have a little talk.”

As he closed the door behind him, Nicole was hit with a second wave of emotion. This time complete with images of exactly what was going on in Alex’s room. Nicole blushed deeply and buried her head under her pillow in a vain attempt to shut out unshielded broadcast. Oh, big brother. This is one, I’m never going to let you live down.

Alex tried to turn over in bed, but was pinned by somehing warm. It took a second or two for his sleep dazed mind to register that Sean was lying beside him, with his arm draped over him. As he slowly became aware of the form next too him, the memory of exactly why he was there. With it also came the realization of exactly what it was that was tickling the back of his thigh. He blushed deeply and started to turn over when the knocking at the door came again.

He quietly slipped himself out from under Sean’s arm and pulled his slacks over his bare form, not taking time to worry with his briefs. He hurried across the room, to get the door, before the knocking started again. On the way he stepped on a discarded beer cap, and by the time he hopped to the door, he was cursing under his breath.

“What?!” He hissed through the door at the startled noviate standing there. He didn’t really mean to startle the kid, but by the way he jumped it was obvious that he had.

“Preceptor Balyn wants to talk to you right away.” the boy was barely into his teens told him. Alex let his eyes shift into phyresight, and he could see that he was almost ready for his birthing.

“All right Rick. Tell my father I’ll be there just as soon as I get dressed.” He turned back toward room not quite believing the snicker he heard from the boy.

It took him all of three minutes to get dressed and head out the door. Alex didn’t have to be his father’s son to know that when Preceptor Balyn summoned you, you got there as faster than possible. The whole trip his office however, Alex couldn’t help but notice the strange gleam in the boy’s eyes.

Alex checked his watch and was surprised to find it was near noon. “Well at least it’s a Sunday,” he said under his breath. “I don’t feel that guilty about sleeping late now.” He knocked on the large oaken door and entered not waiting for a reply. “You wanted to see me sir.”

His father was sitting at a desk looking like he hadn’t slept most of the night. “Sit down son, you and I need to discuss this stronghold and exactly why it has never needed certain protections that other strongholds have.”

Alex looked at him confused. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“Sit down, Alex.” He saw his father sigh, and then lean back in his chair. “You know I’ve always pretty much left you alone when it came to your personal life. I didn’t want to pry or push you into anything you weren’t ready for.”

Alex nodded. “I know. Is this a conversation between father and son or between preceptor and Thorn?” For some reason he felt that he needed to clarify that.

“Both,” his father replied. “Right now something has happened that is going to affect as both a Thorn and as my son.” He grinned at him, “Not like there’s a lot of difference.”

“I know.” Alex told him.

“You know, I’ve always been very proud of both you and Nicole. A father couldn’t ask for a better son or daughter, so I don’t want you to think I’m passing judgement or anything.”

“Thanks dad, but you’re wandering.” Alex told him with a grin.

Balyn smiled. “Okay, let me put it to you this way. You are aware that the internal walls of this stronghold are not shielded, aren’t you?”

That caught Alex by surprise. “As a matter of the fact, I wasn’t. Why?”

“Why they aren’t shielded or why I’m asking?”

“Both, I guess.”

“Well they’re not shielded because they’ve never needed to be. We are a male only Order, and since the stronghold is secret there’s never been an outsider here. So the shielding that usually goes into the sleeping quarters of our members have never needed to be shielded.”

“I’m still not sure I understand.” Alex told him.

His father gave him an arched look. “Perhaps you don’t at that son. What I’m trying to tell you is this. Phyre-bonds broadcast when certain pleasantries are exchanged between bond-mates. The stronger the bond, the more it broadcasts. Usually strongholds have individual rooms shielded so that bond mates don’t leak. This one isn’t becuase we’ve never had bond mates here before.”

“Okay, father. I think I get the picture. I leaked last night.” Alex felt himself begin to blush.

“No son, you didn’t leak last night, you blasted everyone in the stronghold with every last detail of what happened in your bed last night.. Like I said the stronger the bond, the more it broadcasts. I’d be willing to wager that there’s not a single person in this stronghold who couldnt’ tell you in intimate detail exactly what you and Sean did last night.” He shook his head, “I’m just glad we weren’t housing any children here when you came in.

Alex felt himself turn bright red. “You’re exagerating.” Somehow he knew his father wasn’t.

“No Alex I’m not.” His tone was deathly serious. “Whether you want it to happen or not, you’re out of the closet now. At least as far as the Thorns are concerned. Now you need to decide if you’re going to take it beyond this stronghold. Your brothers won’t out you, but they do know, and you’ll never be able to act straight with them again.”

Alex sat there stunned. He’d never planned on coming out, until he’d had a chance to talk to Sean about the whole thing. He certainly wasnt prepared to become some flaming queen of the Thorns. Slowly he shrank down into his chair. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say...”

His father smiled and came over to him. “It’s okay, son. Believe it or not, I’m happy for you. I came to grips with your being gay years ago. Now, I’m just glad you’ve found somebody to love, and who obviously loves you back. Just, the next time you and Sean want to,” his father actually blushed, “uh.. make love, either remember to shield yourselves, or wait until you’re somewhere that’s shielded. Otherwise, you’re going to confuse the hell out of a few our charges.”

Alex hadn’t thought about that. If there’d been younger charges here last night, his and Sean’s broadcast could have caused them quite a bit of emotional and sexual confusion. That thought brought him up short. Without even thinking he simply replied, “We won’t do it again in the stronghold.”

Balyn laughed. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Alex. I’m just saying keep in mind that you can and do broadcast, and see Magda for help in shielding.”

Alex blushed. “I’m not in the habit of discussing my sex life with strangers dad.”

“You’ve never had one to discuss, Alex.” Balyn chided him.

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable talking about it with a woman.”

“Do you feel comfortable showing everyone within ten miles or so exactly what you do in your bed?” Balyn asked him bluntly.

“Of course not.”

“Well that’s what you are going to do until you can get help in keeping your bond suppressed. As it is, you two broadcast just thinking about each other. You’re going to need help with it.”

“It can’t be that strong.”

Balyn shook his head, “Oh yes it is. It’s one of the strongest bonds I’ve ever seen. You two are linked deeper than some couples I know who’ve been married forty years.” Alex heard the self recrimination in his father’s voice. He knew that his parents had never really cared that much for each other. Their’s had been an arranged marriage, dictated by their parents and the orders, to result in phyre powered children. Their bond was tenous at most.

“Will Magda even help us? After all, there’s never been a same sex bond before. She may tell us to go to hell.”

“I think she’d be willing to help you out. If for no other reason than to irritate Walker. Besides, I think Magda knows more about what’s going on with you and Sean than anyone else, or that she’s letting on about.”

“She would go out of her way to irritate Walker wouldn’t she. You know sometimes I would too.”

Balyn’s eyes lit up suddenly as he seemed to realize something. Then he chuckled. “You’re going to have to dance carefully around him, Alex. You can’t be going and upsetting your brother-in-law after all.”

Alex shuddered at that thought. The normals may not recognize a same sex marriage, but if Magda decided to shove his and Sean’s phyre-bond down the Orders collective throats then they at least would have to. Part of that would involve recognizing that Sean was Simon’s brother, and then the Order’s would force Simon to turn over several tens of millions of dollars over to Sean as part of the insurance settlement their parent’s death. What had Alex worried the most though was who would be harder to convince to accept it, Sean or Simon. “You don’t have to get nasty about it Dad.” Alex finally told him.

“Who’s getting nasty? I’m just pointing out that you and Sean are eventually going to have to deal with Walker.

“I don’t think Sean wants to deal with Walker. He doesn’t have any interest in him and doesn’t seem to want anything from him. I think he’s afraid that accepting Walker would be turning his back on his family.”

“From what you’ve told me about his family, that might not be such a bad thing.”

“Think about it dad. No matter what they might have done to him in the past they are still the people who raised him. Sean will always think of them that way. If I’m going to have to walk carefully around anyone it’s going to be his Dad and his brother Doug. I don’t even want to think about his mother.” Alex shuddered at the thought of the times he’d met Sean’ mom. She was not a pleasant person to be around. She always seemed to be looking at you as if she was trying to figure some way of getting something out of you. Alex considered her a user in the worst way.

“They’re normals. I don’t think you have to worry too much about them.”
“Now who’s forgetting our mission? So what if they’re normals. Sean cares about them, and that gives them the power to hurt him, and if they can hurt him, then they can hurt me by hurting him.”

Balyn came over to his son. “I see you finally admitted it.”

“Admitted what?”

“Admitted to yourself that you love him.”

“Dad, I admitted that last night. I would never have done what I did with him, if I didn’t love him.”

“I know that son. But you still had to say it.”

Alex shook his head. “You’re a wicked man, did you know that?”

“So your mother tells me.” Balyn smiled at him. “Now when am I going to get to meet him.”

“You met him the other night.”

“No. I saw him the other night. Walker and Magda did all the talking. I just stood there dressed in blue and black with a hood over my face. I want to meet him.” He grinned. “Besides, someone’s gotta soften the blow from when he meets your mother.”

Alex laughed and hugged his father. “You know, when I was sixteen I thought you didn’t know anything. Now I’m just starting to understand just how much you do know.”

“That’s what being a father is all about son. Sometimes, we’ve go to let our children go out and make their own mistakes before they can come to value our experience.”

“Was I all that difficult?”

“Not really Alex. You were rather easy.” He smiled, “Now your sister. That was a different story. She was more trouble than any ten boys, and she knew it.”

They both laughed at that.

"How can anyone live in a mess like this?" Sean asked the empty rooms, as he finished stripping the bed he and Alex had shared last night. I can't believe we really did that. He thought to himself, as his mind drifted back to the night before. Every detail of what happened seemed to come back to his mind.

He continued to clean what appeared to be several years of junk in the room, as the emotions began to play back in his head. The feelings of oneness that seemed to envelop him while they were together, the joining of mind, soul, and body. So this is what it means to be in love, he thought to himself.

Nicole came crashing into the room, her face red with anger. She was wearing only her underclothes. "Will you please knock it off! It's bad enough that you and my brother kept me up half the night with your little explorations, but now you have to go and relive the whole thing again!" She was livid with rage. "Go take a cold shower Sean! You're broadcasting over half the stronghold."

He looked at her stunned. Finally he managed, "What are you talking about Niki?"

"Don't call me Niki!" she snapped. "I'm talking about the fact that thanks to you and Alex, everyone in the stronghold knows every detail of your encounter with my brother last night. You know, you two really should have waited a while before going quite as far as you did, especially since neither of you thought to use any protection."

Sean raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about Niki...uh Nicole, and why didn't you put on a robe or something? Your underwear leaves nothing to the imagination." he pointed to the fact that the material was so sheer as to might as well not to be there.

"I'm talking about you screwing my brother half the night and broadcasting the details to everyone in the stronghold...," she looked down. "Oops." Now it was her turn to blush as Sean handed her a robe he'd dug out from under a pile of what he assumed was clean laundry in the floor.

"Now, what do you mean broadcasting to half the stronghold. I'm not sure I understand."

She looked at him and smiled. "Okay, maybe you don't understand. Phyre-bound couples have to learn to control their link. If they don't anyone with just the tiniest bit bit of phyre in the area will pick up on exactly what is them." she smiled at him. "Everyone in this stronghold knows exactly what you two did last night, down to the last detail."

Sean groaned and sat down, his good mood suddenly gone. This was not going well. "Why didn't someone warn us? Why didn't you stop us?" he asked accusingly.

"Because father forbade anyone to say anything, and threatened to break the necks of anyone who interfered, not that anyone would."

"Your father knows?" Things just went from bad to worse.

She smiled and came over to him. "Yes, he knows. It's forbidden among the 'Born to interfere with a phyre bond. You two had to seal the bond and that can only be done with physical contact." She grinned at him mischieviously, "besides, once you two got started, it hit the rest of us so hard that few of us could move. You have a very strong bond with my brother."

"He looked around at the now cleaned room, "Why come in here raising cane now then?"

"Because right now, all you have to do is think about each other and you start broadcasting. You especially, probably because you're so new to your phyre, and I was trying to finally get some sleep. You were sitting there reliving the the whole thing in your head and anyone within several hundred feet and a little phyre could see everything you were thinking about. I love my brother dearly, but I have no desire to see him naked again. Especially not that naked."

"What do I need to do then?"

"Get someone to help you learn to keep the bond quiet. If you don't then any 'Born or dragon you meet is going to know not only that you're bonded but exactly to whom you're bonded. That puts him at risk too, and I won't see him hurt."

"Neither will I," Sean told her defensively. "

"I'm glad to hear it," her voice softened. "Now go and take a cold shower and stop thinking about my brother for a while. At least until you can get your bond under control."

"I'd love to," he stopped and sniffed himself. He smelled like sweat and sex, "just as soon as someone shows me where the head is."

"You mean nobody has shown you around?" she looked at him incredulously. "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

She gave him a concerned look. "You're not a prisoner here Sean. You're free to go where you want."

"The last time I was in your strongholds, you told me to stay in the room and not to leave. I thought it stilled applied."

"No it doesn't. You are in one of the safest places in the world. Nobody is going to attack a Thorn stronghold on alert. Especially one that nobody but the Thorns know exists."

"Still, I didn't want to accidentally wander into a secure area. Some of those guys I saw when we came in last night were carrying automatic weapons. A breakfast of hot lead is not my idea of a well rounded diet."

Nicole chuckled. "Neither is a high sugar liquid diet." Taking him by the arm she said, "C'mon. Let me get some clothes on and then we'll go to the kitchens and get you some breakfast."

Sean gave her a confused look, "High sugar?.." then felt his face turn red as he got the joke.

Nicole pulled him out the door, "I'm teasing you. Don't take it all that seriously."

"When a half naked woman storms into the room and demands I stop thinking about her brother in that way, I tend to take it seriously. Especially when I know she carries a nine millimeter automatic."

"Okay, okay. Maybe I was out of line, but right now I don't feel like reliving last night's festivities."

It took Nicole just a few minutes to get dressed and then they winding their way through the great stone halls of the stronghold. Sean guessed they were several yards underground because the rooms were cool and comfortable in the late August heat. The stronghold was busy with men of all ages carrying out their various duties. Everyone seemed to be busy, with their work, but without fail they all looked up and greeted Nicole and Sean. Many of them seemed to know him by name. "How do they know who I am?" he finally asked Niki as they arrived at a door. Judging by the smells coming from behind it, Sean knew they'd found the kitchen. He was suddenly aware of just how hungry he was.

"Everyone in the stronghold knows your name, Sean. You've become something of a legend, literally over night. It's not everyday, somebody kills a dragon with their bare hands and then walks away from the experience." She grinned at him wickedly as they entered the bustling kitchen, "Besides, like I said, you broadcast. You're wearing you bond like a neon sign, and a great many of them were unintented passengers in your voyage of exploration last night. These men know you intimately right now. Probably more intimately than your own family."

Sean groaned. "Great. At this rate, I might as well wear a sign around my neck that says, Bash me. I'm queer."

I don't think that's going to happen here Sean. Most of the men in this order are dedicated to protecting children. Since you were taken from the Orders as an infant, and are just now coming into your phyre, they tend to see you as some overgrown child, and that brings out their protective streak."

"Even though I killed a dragon with my bare hands?"

"I never said the Thorns were logical, just protective." She grinned at him. "Of all the orders they're the most unpredictable. I think it's part of their charm."

Sean looked around the large well stocked modern kitchen. "Who does the cooking for stronghold?" Several boys ranging from around ten to their late teens were busy with any number of kitchen related activities while a man in his early twenties looked on.

"The younger acolytes take shifts. It's part of their duties, as they advance toward their birthing." she told him as they raided the refridgerator.

Sean realized that a number of the young men were watching him and quietly whispering and giggling to each other. He tried to ignore it, "What about child labor laws?"

"What about them?” she asked as they sat down at a table, “We're not above human law Sean, however we are humanities protector. Any acolyte who doesn't want to participate in service to the order is welcome to have his memories erased, and leave the Born."

"And how often does that happen?" Sean asked biting into his sandwich.

"Almost never. Our job is a labor of love. We serve mankind, and the acolytes know that. All the orders operate in a similar manner. It's our way of indoctrinating our members into the idea of serving as part of something greater than themselves."

"Sounds positively mideveal to me."

She gave him a strange look, "Coming from anyone else, I'd take that as an insult, but somehow I get the feeling you don't mean it as such."

Now it was Sean's turn to smile, "You're getting to know me pretty well. You're right. I understand the need for service. Nobody goes through OCS without doing some pretty menial duty. It's part of the training for the Attention to Detail the Navy pushes so hard."

"Is detail really all that important?"

"It can be when you've got twenty eight million dollars and several tons of thrust under you in the form of a jet fighter. Every detail counts, and the most minute of problems can cost people their lives. The flight deck of a carrier is not exactly as safe place to take a Sunday stroll."

“Neither is life as a dragonborn my friend.”

Sean grinned at her, “I noticed that.” then as he remembered what almost happened to Alex his face reflected his thoughts.

Nicole waved her arm to indicate the various young men in the room. “You’re already one step ahead of all these guys, Sean. You realize that the power you have brings responsibility and danger. A great many of these boys will never realize that, or will only come to it when it’s too late to save their lives.” She leaned forward and looked at him, “Don’t ever forget Sean, we’re at war here. A war for the survival of the human race as a species.”

Sean leaned back in his chair. “You confuse me Nicole. Half the time yo talk about the human race as if you aren’t a part of it, and the other half as if you cling to your humanity with dear life.”

She smiled, “You’re right. As ‘Born we should never forget that we are human, but at the same time, we have abilities beyond most humans. We consider ourselves human because any human can become us, simply by killing a dragon." Sean thought to himself, As if that were something simple to do. Nicole continued, "However, at the same time a lot of us have to be very carefull around normals. They’re a lot more fragile than we are. I think you are one of those." She leaned in closer at him and her voice dropped, "you have a lot of power Sean, and you are going to have to be carefull around normals for the rest of your life. You could hurt or kill someone without ever even thinking about it."

Sean hadn't given it too much thought. Then again, he'd spent most of his adult life around things that had to be handled with care because of their potential for huge amounts of destruction. "I think you're probably right Nicole. I'm just glad that I seemed to have come with a built in instruction manual." Sean had no idea where the knowledge of his phyre came from, but he was glad to have it. He couldn't imagine trying what he did on that dragon with no control.

Everything he needed to know, just seemed to be there, full blown in his mind. It was if his muscles and his mind had been trained to it long ago, and instinct was simply taking over. He had knowledge, but not experience, and Sean knew that could be fatal.

"You still need to practice though, Sean. You may know how to use your phyre, but you don't neccessarily know when to use it, or how mucht of it to use." Nicole echoed his thoughts.

"I was just thinking the same thing. I'm just not sure how to go about practicing..."

"Mrs. Bishop," A young man of about twelve or thirteen interupted them, "I'm sorry to intrude but Preceptor Stone requests your presence in his office." The boy's gaze drifted over to Sean, and what he saw in the boy's eyes made him blush to his toes. "Please excuse us Mr. Fey. The Preceptor wants to meet with you too later, but for now, he told me to direct you back to your quarters."

Sean nodded and carried his now empty plate and glass over to the sink, "Is there some place I can get a shower first?"

The acolyte smiled at him, "of course, sir. There is a communal shower at the end of the hall next to your quarters. I'll take you to your quarters first, and I'm sure Mr. Stone can show you where they are."

"Don't count on it, Sean. We both know what a slob my brother is." Nicole joked as she headed down the hall in the opposite direction.

"Don't I know it," he mumbled remembering what it was like to share a dorm room with Alex. "Judging by his quarters here, he hasn't changed much."

Sean discovered the young acolyte's name was Jason, and that he was fourteen. That was about all he could get out the boy. Sean couldn't tell if it was from some kind of code of silence or just being shy. He stopped in front of the door, Sean recognized as Alex's quarters and simply gestured for him to enter.

Why do I get the feeling that he's going to stand guard outside my door?

"Probably because it's his assignment," Alex told him from across the room, where he was watching a group of men doing something to the walls of the quarters. The small twin bed had been replaced with a larger double. "You didn't have to clean in here, you know." Sean simply stood there watching small arcs of visible energy lance out from their hands to take up residence in the walls, floor and ceiling.

"I couldn't find my billfold. Cleaning was the only way of being sure, I hadn't missed anywhere," he replied absently. "What are they doing?" he indicated the men.

"They're mages. They're shielding this room." Alex actually blushed. "We seemed to have leaked last night."

"I heard." He looked at the men carefully, "I thought mages were all in the Order of Phyre."

Alex smiled, "No, all those in the Order of Phyre are mages, but not all mages are in the Order of Phyre. Every Order has a few mages, they just have the most." Alex came over to stand next to him. "It was my father's idea."

Sean gave a start. "You mean he doesn't mind you and I are..." he gestured at the incoherently, "that we... uh.."

Alex smiled, and took his hand, "It's okay, Sean. My father is pretty open minded about it. He said that he was glad I finally found someone I could love."

This was all coming at him too fast. Sean sat down on the large over stuffed chair next to the door. "I'm glad,.. I guess. It's just a whole lot to deal with suddenly."

"I understand. It's hard for me too. I was always afraid that he or mom were going to use the old "I want grandchildren" line on me. He surprised me by not using it."

Sean shook his head, "At least that part of it is going to be easy for one of us. I don't think my family is going to do with it very well." Then remembering that time long ago with his cousin, "I know my dad isn't. He's going to kill me." Suddenly Sean felt all alone, as the knowledge of what he was began to finally sink in. He realized exactly what his love for Alex was going to cost him. God help me, I'm willing to pay it too.

"He'll have to go through me to do it." Alex said sitting down on the arm of the chair next to him. "I waited for you for twelve years, and nobody, I mean NOBODY is going to take you away from me now." He reached down and took Sean by the chin, and forced their faces together, "You're mine Sean Fey, body and soul, and I'm very protective of my property." There was iron and fire in that voice, and Sean could feel it temper bond that was forged between them. "Anybody tries to hurt you and I'm going to hand them their lungs."

Sean smiled at that. "I'm glad, becuase right now I'm more afraid of my dad, than anything that the entire Iraqi army threw at me in the Gulf War."

"How come I get the feeling you're more afraid of hurting him than any real fear of him." Sean knew it was true as soon as Alex said it.

"Because he's been hurt by people he cares about too much. I'm afraid this is going to hurt him more."

"Why? Because you've finally found some happiness?" He felt Alex's mind on his, "You are happy with this aren't you, Sean?"

Sean could only look up at him. I've wanted this since that night in my mom's living room. I ran from it for years, Alex, but deep down inside, I wanted it. Now I've just got to deal with the consequences of having it." A famous quote about wanting something and having it came to mind, but Sean resisted the temptation to give it voice.

"Good, because I'd hate to find myself phyre-bonded to someone who doesn't want it."

Sean leaned back. "What does that mean exactly?"

"It means, that I could no more stop loving you than I could cut out my heart. It means that we are two parts of a greater whole." He smiled, "It also means that secrets are going to be very difficult to keep between us."

"I was afraid of that." Sean said, thinking of how he was not supposed to talk about certain missions he'd been on during his tour of duty.

Alex smiled at him and as if he'd read Sean's fear, "Don't worry lover, I won't pry into the government's business." Then Sean realized that he probably had read his mind.

"Still, it's a little unnerving, and I can be a pretty difficult person to get along with." He looked around at the room, "After all, I'm a neatness freak, and you're the biggest slob since Oscar from the Odd Couple."

"That's another thing about phyre-bonds Sean. They tend to happen between opposites. It's sort of the phyre's way of guaranteeing a greater genetic diversity." He stopped a moment, and Sean could sense the confusion in his mind, "It als is supposed to mean that phyre powered children not only can result from the union, but that they WILL be born."

Sean laughed at that, "I don't think that is going to happen. Not unless somebody develops some really advanced genetic engineering techniques, or one of us becomes a woman." Sean could feel the confusion in Alex's mind deepen. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say something to upset you."

Alex only smiled and Sean could feel him push something to the back of his mind, "I'm not upset. Just a little overwhelmed myself." He looked around at the mages heading toward the door, finished with the rooms shields. As the door closed behind them, he slid down into Sean's lap and kissed him rather seriously. "You know we could test out the new shields."

Sean felt the effect of the kiss down to his toes and was tempted to give into it. In the end his sense of duty won out. "I'd love to, but Jason out there said your father wants to talk to me, and I haven't had a shower in two days. I think I'd better go clean up."

Alex sniffed next to him. "Maybe you're right. We don't want him to think you're an unwashed redneck do we."

Sean pushed him off the chair and grinned. "Well, we gotta make shore that he knows I ain't," he replied in his best Beverly Hillbillies accent.

An hour later he had cleaned up and after borrowing some clothes from Alex, sitting outside a large oaken door. Looking around the outer office, Sean realized that this room was as elegant as any CEO's office he'd ever been in. The rich dark stained panelling, and polished stone floor accented the thick woven rugs and Victorian furniture. The entire office had an atmosphere of great wealth. An atmosphere that left him feeling definitely uncomfortable and out of place.

A man in his early fifties came through an inner door. Dressed casually, he reminded Sean of Jimmy Stewart. Laughter seemed to dance just on the edge of his eyes, and Sean immeadiately felt at ease. "Mr. Fey," he offered his hand to Sean, "I'm Balyn Stone, Alex and Nicole's father." His handshake was firm, but not overpowering, a sharp contrast to Simon Walker's attempt to crush his hand.

"Nice to meet you," Sean replied, suddenly feeling like a school boy discovering that his date's father is the pharmacist who sold him the condoms earlier in the day.

The man seemed to sense his unease, "Relax Sean. I'm not going to bite you." He gestured toward an inner office, and a large comfortable couch and chair with waiting coffee on a nearby table. "I just wanted to meet the man who rescued my son the other night. From the reports I've seen, Alex would have been killed by that dragon."

Sean started to protest that he hadn't really done anything extraordinary, but then realized how lame that would sound. "It seemed like the logical thing to do at the time, sir." He inwardly winced at the unconscious choice of those words. I've really got to stop putting things into the perspective of a 1960's television program.

Balyn just laughed, "I've never heard it put quite that way." He poured himself and Sean some coffee. "Call me Balyn by the way."

Sean nodded, "Okay, Balyn it is." Sean began to relax around the man.

"You were Alex's room mate in college weren't you?"

Sean nodded. "Yes sir. We roomed for almost two years, before he left."

Balyn only nodded. "I think I remember now. And you went into the Navy not long after he was birthed."

"It was either that or drop out of college. I can't say it was a bad deal. The Navy has fed and clothed me for the past fourteen years, and let me play with some of the most advanced aircraft in the world."

Sean saw the man's eyes light up. "I take it you like to fly too."

"You could say that. I logged as many hours in the air as the Navy would let me get away with. There is nothing in the world quite like flying." He looked closely at Balyn, "Are you a pilot too."

The older man smiled, "I was a combat pilot in 'Nam. I was even shot down once."

Sean leaned back in his chair. "Obviously not a POW then." The man didn't have the hard edged feel that POW's had. There was still laughter in his eyes, and Sean knew that nobody who had been in a POW camp could smile like that. The North Vietnamese saw to that.

"No, I wasn't captured. After all, I do have certain advantages that Charlie didn't."

"I thought the Dragonborn stayed out of politics."

Balyn laughed, "Heavens no. We just make it a point not to shoot at each other. We don't let our politics get in the way of hunting dragons. You'd be suprised at the number of German officers who defected to the Allied side during the Second World War, to avoid having to shoot at their brothers and sisters."

For some reason that made Sean feel better. "I'm glad. I take my oaths as an officer rather seriously."

"That doesn't surprise me in the least. There is an unspoken warrior's code that runs through the US military that seems to be very compatible with the 'Born. Our jobs are the same, to protect the weak. We just have a little more specific definition of enemy." Balyn leaned back in his chair and Sean could sense the subject was about to change.

"How do you feel about becoming a Born?"

"From what I've heard so far, it doesn't seem like I have a choice."

Balyn chuckled, "We've always got choices son. We may not want to suffer the consequences of them, but we've always got choices."

"Let me reprase that then, I don't seem to have a choice in the matter if I want to keep Ale..uh.. certain things I've recently gained."

Balyn smiled again, "You mean if you want to keep my son." Sean started to protest but Balyn only waved him off. "It's okay. I understand what has happened to you, and oddly enough, the only thing that could keep you and Alex apart right now is death. I think he'd be willing to leave the Orders to be with you."

Sean swallowed hard, "But that would mean, he'd have to have..."

"Don't count on it. My son has a rather strong personality. It would probably mean that the Orders would have to either learn to accept him as being on the outside, or to kill both of you."

"Over my dead body." Sean replied suddenly angry.

"My point exactly. They'd end up loosing more people than it would be worth to try and see that particular solution to its end. Besides, I wouldn't stand for it either." He grinned at Sean. "I don't think Alex would want to leave the Orders though. They are a major part of what defines who he is. Sort of like how the Navy define you."

"But I left the Navy..."

Balyn raised an eyebrow, "willingly?"

Sean thought about it and realized that his leaving wasn't really voluntary. "I guess not. I couldn't stay a part of the Navy and be true to what I really am. Don't ask, don't tell, doesn't work. At least not for people who want to be honest with themselves and the world."

"The Orders don't have a problem with Alex and you being together."

"They just have a problem with us being what you call phyre bonded."

Balyn smiled, "something like that. It's just never been done before. Like all things new, people have to have time to adjust."

Sean thought about what Balyn had said, "You know, we need some time to adjust too. In some ways what's going on between Alex and I seems to be just picking up where we left off. In others, there's a lot of adjusting to do. Pardon the expression, but coming out of the closet is not exactly something that you can just do in your spare time. It's taking on a whole new set of problems. For some reason, society seems to feel intensly threatened by the concept of two men loving each other."

Balyn smiled, "Society has good reason to be threatened by you and Alex. But not because you love each other. Because you represent a power that hasn't been seen on this world since the Great War, and I don't mean the one your grandfather's father fought in."

"I don't understand."

"You and my son seem to be some kind of focus in the history of the both the 'Born and dragons. Forces are beginning to focus on you that just the small glimpse I've seen of them is staggering. To some of the Orders you've become a rallying cry. Some of see you as a warrior reborn, returned to lead them on a holy crusade against the dragons, to wipe them off the face of the earth once and for all. Others see you as a severe disruption in the status quo. Even the dragons are afraid of you."

"Me? That's ridiculous. I'm just an ex-Naval officer, trying to get a masters in aeronautical engineering."

Balyn stood and went to the desk, picking up a manilla folder and looked at hte file in it. "Hardly just an ex-naval officer. Some of your training is so classified that even I couldn't find out about it. There is a five year period where your salary came from a Black Box organization, and your duty station is simply listed as classified. I'd say that makes you something more than simply a pilot." Balyn smiled again, "Besides, you're the first 'Born who can go toe to toe with a dragon since the Perseus and the Order of the Sanquine cloth sundered the Dragonborn. You also represent someone who could possibly put a severe dent in Simon Walker's control of the Order of Light. There are a lot of 'Born out there who see you as a savior and almost as many as a severe disruption to a delicate balance of power."

Sean raised an eyebrow and hoped that Alex's dad didn't push about those fire years. That could get unpleasant for everyone involved. He changed the subject, "And what do you see us as?"

Balyn smiled at the question. Sean sensed he was somehow pleased by the question. "Alex is my son. You're his Bond mate, his hymsati as the dragons would say. My opinion is decidedly prejudice in your favor."

Sean thought a moment, "I don't understand why people think I would try to interfere with anything Simon might be doing. I have no interest in the man or his money."

Balyn chuckled again, "that's your dad talking, Sean. The Orders have certain laws and traditions that will have to be followed to allow you and Alex to continue to function inside them. Traditions if you will." He gave Sean a steady look, "And I want you inside the Orders. For that to happen then Simon is going to have to recognize you as his biological brother. Technically that could mean he'd have to give up not only quite a bit of money, but his position as Preceptor of the Order of Light and some rather extensive family estates in Scottland to you. In reality it will probably mean some kind of deal will be cut between him and his political enemies in the 'Born. No matter what, somebody somewhere is going to try to use as a weapon to hurt Simon Walker."

Sean thought about that. He'd been used as a weapon to hurt someone else in the past. His mother had used him and his brother and sisters to hurt his dad, in the divorce. Now, Balyn was telling him that someone else was going to try to use him as a tool to hurt a perfect stranger. "I've been used that way before, Balyn. I won't let it happen again."

"I thought you might feel that way. That's why I went out on a limb for you."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I've arranged for your case to be taken before all the Preceptors. Let us sort the situation out and come to some kind of agreement that will end up pissing everybody off, and making them mad us and not you and Simon."

"Sort of the old make them mad at me so they forget to fight among themelves tactic."

"For someone who claims to be just a pilot, you have a keen insight into the political process."

Sean smiled, "I thought you wanted to be friends. Insulting me isn't a good way to start off a friendship."

Balyn chuckled again. "My dear boy, you are a gem. A true gem. I think I understand what my son sees in you. If I were twenty years younger I might give him a run for his money."

That caught Sean's attention. "I'm not sure how to take that."

"Take it for what it is Sean. You'll find that the Thorns are a little more laid back about certain things. I think it has to do with the fact that we deal with a hell of a lot of confused kids. We tend to try to see the whole picture and not make judgements." He returned to the chair, and Sean could tell another change of subjects was coming up. "Okay, what's next on your agenda." Sean smiled at the look of surprise on on Balyn's face.

"Caught in my own web, I see," the older man replied. "Oh well, it's just as well. I can't be a father figure to the whole world."

"Oh yes you can. Your actually very good at. Some of the best military captains I know use the father figure style of command. You're actually very good at it. Just don't forget, I've been through command school, so I tend to have a better insight into these kinds of things than most people."

"I'll bet you have." Balyn refilled their coffee cups. "But, you're right. I wanted to talk to you about something I've done. Or at least had done, for yours and your family's protection."

"What's that." He had Sean's undivided attention.

"I had Nicole do what we call a snatch and grab job on you at the University." The older man leaned back in his chair and began to explain. "She's going in now, and removing all your belongings from your apartment to here. Then she's and a few select Thorns are going to raid the offices of the registrar, and the personell and remove any trace that you' were supposed to go to work there. Then she'll move in and alter a few memories of the people who knew about your hire, and it'll be like you'd never been there in the first place."

Sean thought about what Balyn was saying. The thought of having the past week of his life erased from the records scared him slightly. He'd had it done a few times while in the Navy, but then he knew it was going to happen before hand, and was somewhat prepared for it. Of course the Navy couldn't erase people's memories, but they could definitely make people wonder if they'd ever really seen you in the first place. "I can't say that I like it, but I can understand why it needs to be done. If for no other reason, to protect Revel and Fred. I take it your people know what they're doing."

Balyn smiled over his coffee cup, "Oh, they're very good at it. The Thorns mastered the snatch and grab a long time ago, to protect children from abusive situations. We can make a woman forget she ever had a child, much less saw him ten minutes ago. As for records, they're even easier. People only believe what they see on paper, or today, what they see on the computer screen, and nobody can manipulate a data base like some of our operatives. Other Orders may command the phyre better, or be more fearsome in a fight, but nobody, but nobody is better at manipulating institutions to hide people than the Thorns. It's part of our primary mission. It doesn't do any good to get a kid out of a bad situation if the courts are just going to turn him back over to the people who put him there. We had to learn to make the kid disappear with no clue that he ever really existed in the first place."

"And now you're using the process to hide me? Isn't that going to cost your Order a lot of resources?"

"It might, but it wouldn't matter. In a lot of ways you're like a kid yourself. You're new to your phyre and are stumbling around with it. You haven't been birthed yet, so by our laws that makes you a child. Besides, my son has lots of friends in the Orders, and you wouldn't believe how closely bound this Order is. One Thorn gets into trouble and he's suddenly got ten or fifteen buddies there to bail him out. I think that, more than anything is why the other Orders don't take us very seriously. We tend to react like a bunch of fratboys, and nobody takes college boys seriously."

Sean thought about the part about still being a child in the eyes of the 'Born. He'd seen in Alex's mind what was involved in the Birthing ceremony, and it wasn't something he was eager to try. "I'm not sure I'm ready to have a dragon branded into my wrist just yet, sir. That's the kind of thing that take some getting worked up to."

"I understand that. I had nightmares about it for a week before my ceremony. The scar usually takes about three or four weeks to stop smarting everytime you get it near a heat source." The older man looked down at the six inch scar of a dragon wrapped around a rose on his wrist. "However, I don't think you'll have to worry about it for a while. Right now we need to you to be a child for a little longer. That way the Thorns can use that to claim to be your guardian."

"Wouldn't another Order be more appropriate for that?" Sean asked. "After all, you're really pushing the envelope calling me a child."

"Had you rather be at the stronghold in Alabaster?" Balyn asked. "This stronghold is the safest in the world. Until you arrived last night, no person outside of the Order of Thorns even knew it existed. Besides, by keeping you here, we can keep you and Alex together. I get the feeling that the only other Order who'd give you that courtesy is the Order of Phyre, and they're a bunch of crotchety old mages."

"So I stay here among the children with Alex or go off somewhere else, either without him or to an old folks home?"

Balyn smiled, "something like that."

"Well, the children at least have a sense of humor."

“So I take it this means that you want to stay here until we can get everything sorted out,” it was a statement not a question.

“That would probably be the best.” Sean nodded his head, “Although I’m not sure exactly what can be done. If I had my way, I’d just go off somewhere with Alex. He could teach school and I could get my Masters. Maybe I’m too close to the situation. It all seems too complicated to me.”

Balyn laughed again, “You could put it that. I can’t imagine you being any closer to it. But this time you’re instincts are good. It is way too complicated. If you and Alex were to run off somewhere, I think you’d both be dead within a few years. The forces coming to bear on you are too strong to simply ignore.”

Sean thought about that for a moment. In the silence he heard the steady sound of a grandfather clock ticking against the far wall. Finally, after realizing that he really was cornered he did the only thing he could do. He gave up, “Okay, what do I have to do.”

Balyn raised an eyebrow. “Exactly what do you want to do?”

Sean considered the question, for a few seconds. It didn’t take him long to prioritize his situation. He summed it up in a single word, “Alex.”

“Not your life back? Not a chance to finish your degree? What about your career as an officer, or even your lost innocence as far as dragons are concerned?” Balyn asked him.

“No. Not if it means I can’t have Alex.”

Balyn didnt’ seem surprised. “Okay, that answers several questions.”

It was Sean’s turn to raise the proverbial eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”

“A number of people were questioning your bond because it happened so quickly. I had my own concerns, but your decision and the speed with which you made it answers that question.”

“Okay, what do we do now?”

“You’ve got a couple of days before I can convene a Judicial Council of the Orders. When they arrive then, we’ll petition for you to be birthed into the Orders under special dispensation. Then I turn you over to Alex and Nicole to train. After that, it’s up to you and Alex to deal with the real world. The Orders will accept you as one of ours, but we can’t do anything about how Joe Blow on the street is going to react to you and my son taking up housekeeping together.”

Sean nodded. He’d never been under any allusions about his life with another man if he chose it. It was going to be hard, and it was going to be a constant struggle against ignorance and stupidity. The fact that this mythical world of the Dragonborn were willing to accept him was an unexpected bonus. But then again, for him they’d never really existed except as a vague fantasy he’d used to banish the demons of his adolescence until just a few days ago. “We’ll deal with it.” Then he wondered if he should even be speaking for Alex, “That is if he’ll have me.”

*That’s a stupid thing to say Sean. What ever would make you think I wouldn’t have you?* Alex’s voice came to him in his head.

*How long have you been listening?*

*Since you started trying to figure out what you wanted out of the situation. I’m flattered hymsati.*

*I’m glad. Otherwise you’d be stuck with me following you around like a lost puppy.*

*Now that’s an interesting picture. My very own puppy, complete with pilot’s wings.*

“Will you two knock it off. When you’re out of that room, you’re still broadcasting to half the stronghold.” Sean heard the voice with his head and ears simultaneously. “Now why don’t you get in here, and show Sean around the stronghold. He’ll be staying for a while.”

************************************************************************ Nicole wasn't happy about this mission. A great deal of it had been misuse of her powers and she knew it. It was also very neccessary and she knew that too. It didn't make her feel any better about what she did, but she knew it was true.

The biggest and most exhausting part of it was the movement of all Sean's belongings from his room. Transporting that much mass through the shadows had drained her enormously. On top of that, she'd had to deal with everyone he'd come in contact with since taking the job at the university and subtly alter their memories of the past week's events. That was the part she didn't like, mucking around in people's heads.

It had been a long night and Nicole woke from her few precious hours of sleep with some consternation. Sleep was going to be a precious commodity over the next few weeks and she didn’t give it up without a fight. She was exhausted from her dad’s requested snatch and grab, but still had lots to do. Other members of her strike team dealt with university records, and the computer network. By sunrise the following morning the only evidence that Sean Fey had ever taken a job with the University of Alabama Birmingham was a scorch mark in the linoleum in the head resident's apartment of a freshmen dorm. If her father thought she was going to take up floor repair, he had another thought coming.

She lay back on her own bed, dreading the cold stone floor of her quarters. Her father had made it clear that he was going to fight for Alex and Sean even if he had to go all the way to the top of the Orders. She knew where she stood on the subject but her father’s vehement support left her wondering about a number of things.

This is getting you no where, Nicole. Get up and get started. But sleep kept calling her back to the warmth of the covers.

Finally realizing the futility of her situation, she gave up and headed for the showers. The acolytes had devised a system that would allow her a modicum of privacy but she knew as well as they did that it was only private as long as the Thorns respected the “in use by female visitor” sign she put out. Considering how many adolescent boys had come into the facililty in the past twenty four hours she wasn’t taking any odds on how much privacy she really had.

Twenty minutes later she was feeling at least alive again as she headed toward the stronghold’s kitchen and main eating hall. “This is his revenge for making him wear that red tux at my wedding. I just know it. He’s been planning this for five years now. He was just waiting for the right minute to pull it off,” she grumbled under her breath.

“What was that Niki?” she heard Alex behind her.

Turning she saw him standing there with a sheepish looking Sean. “Nothing brother dear. Just noting that you’re phyre bond is causing more trouble than my wedding ever did.” Nicole noticed her voice dropping into a growl she didn’t mean. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to snap. I’m just more than a little tired from Dad’s little request.” She looked as Sean, “Are you sure you wanna become part of this family? Dad is notorious for calling in favors from family members.”

Sean shrugged, “what choice do I have. Besides, I’ve got little of use to him.”

She handed both of them plates as they worked their way down the buffet of southern breakfast foods. “Would you look at this. This Stonghold a heart attack looking for a place to happen,” Alex grumbled next to her.

“I think it was designed for growing boys.” Nicole chided back. The look in Sean’s eyes told volumes of what he thought about this kind of food. If Alex let him do the cooking, he was going to have to add more than just a few extra reps to his workout schedule. “Besides I think your hymsati, likes the fare.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” Alex groaned.

“Because you’re bonded to him. Who knows, after a few years, you may even come to like grits.”

“Will you two stop it.” Sean snapped at them. “I am standing right here you know." Sean complained next to her.

"We know. It's just fun teasing you. You take everything so seriously." Alex replied.

"I could pass everything off as a joke like you guys, but two clowns in a group is more than enough."

"I am NOT a clown. I'm a Thorn. Nicole is the clown. I'm just the fratboy."

"I can think of a lot of words to describe you Alex, but boy isn't one of them." Sean grinned at his own innuendo, as Nicole picked up an image he was projecting.

"Will you two knock it off." she turned to Sean, "That's a great deal more information about my brother than I needed okay."

"What's the matter Nicole, can't take it as well as you dish it out?" Alex teased her.

"Oh I can take it. I'm just not interested in it from either of you." She watched the stunned look come over Alex's face. "Be careful what you suggest big brother. You never know how someone might interpret it."

Sean blushed next her and quickly changed the subject, "your dad said that you moved my stuff last night. What's the chances of my getting some clothes out of it?"

Nicole realized that she should have thought of that herself. "I don't think that will be a problem. All of it's in storage on the same floor your room is on."

"Thanks."

Alex sat down next to her at the table. "Have you heard anything from the other Orders. Dad has left us out of the loop for this one."

"There were a number of generic congratulation notes from different Stronghold's on our escape, and our finding Sean." She smiled at them, "Nobody except the Thorns and the Order of Phyre have admitted to Sean being who Magda says he is. Although the Blades indicated that their neutrality on the subject is simply a conviencence at this time."

"What's dad planning on doing?"

"The best I've been able to gather, is that he's going to call a meeting of the Grand Judicial Council."

"How's he going to get them to come? That takes all six Orders, and there hasn't been anything to get them all in one place for over two hundred years."

"He's holding it here. The mere suggestion of getting inside another Order's secret stronghold has most of the other Preceptors drooling. They want to see what the Thorns are capable of building without the other Orders."

Alex laughed. "They would wouldn't they. When is everyone else going to realize that we are no more or no less than what we say we are. What you see is what you get when it comes to the Thorns."

"Really, big brother? What about this stronghold. Here you guys are sitting on the oldest stronghold in the New World, predating even Desoto, and you're telling me you have nothing to have hide."

"No more than our brothers and sisters in the Shadows," he grinned back at her.

"Yeah, but we're expected to hide things. After all, we're assassins. You're supposed to the saviours of all the children in the world. Not sneak thieves who hide their valuables under a hidden lake."

Alex blushed next to her, "Yeah, but we all have our little secrets. We need a place to hide kids sometimes. A place where even the other 'born can't find them. You DO know that not all the kids we deal with and protect are non-dragonborn don't you. If all the Orders knew where we kept our charges, then any parent that had crossed the line could get to his or her kid to finish the job."

That caught Nicole by surprise. She hadn't even considered the idea of child abuse among the Born. It wasn't a concept she was prepared to deal with. "I dind't know that."

"The Orders try to keep it a secret. They don't want it to be known that sometimes we have to bring our own in check. Personally, the Thorns don't give a damn about what happens to the parents as long as the kids are safe. This way we can make sure they have a safe place to live."

The whole time the conversation was going on, Nicole was watchin Sean. He was going out of his way to seem inconspicious. Almost as if he didn't want them to realize that he was there. "Is there a reason, you're trying to become part of the funiture, Sean?" she finally asked.

He looked up here, seemingly confused. "I'm not sure what you mean," he offered.

"Why you seem to be sitting there trying to look like you're not here?" she teased him.

"No not really. I was just thinking."

**Like hell he was just thinking. Something we said hit a nerve with him. He's being very careful to hide something.* she told Alex with her mind.

Alex just looked at her a minute as he seemed to consider her thoughts. Finally he simply replied, ** don't push it Nicole. It doesn't have anything to do with us.**

**Okay Alex, I'll drop it for now. Although I'm warning you, your bondmate has a lot of issues to work out and not all of them, as you say, deal with you.**

**I know Niki. Believe me, I know too well.**

"What is a Grand Judicial Council?" Sean brought them back to the subject at hand. Nicole realized that she tended to forget that Sean hadn't been raised in the Orders so there was a lot that she took for granted that left him wondering.

“It’s a gathering of all the Grand Preceptors of the Orders.” She waved him off, “I

know, what’s a Grand Preceptor? They’re chosen by all the Preceptors of each Order in

each country, and represent that Order in all affairs. They’re sort of the Preceptors of the

Preceptors. We’re lucky. We’ve got two out of six Grand Preceptors on our side all ready, Dad and Magda.”

“Plus, if the Thorns support you, then odds are that Blades will too, so that makes it

three. We need a two thirds majority so all we have to do is persuade either the High

Preceptor of the Order of Light, Hephestus, or Shadows, and they’ll have to recognize us,

Sean.” Alex told him.

“And getting recognized is the first step toward getting on with our lives?” Sean

asked.

Nicole watched as Alex put an arm around him. “Uh huh. Once we get the Born

off our backs and on our side, then we can deal with the real world.”

“I’ll be glad to get into the real world. The past few days seem like a dream to me.

I’m ready for a little stability in reality.”

“I know what you mean, Sean. It’s hard to believe that it’s only been, “ Nicole

began counting in her head and came to a number that surprised her, “just a little over

three days since this all started. It feels like a lifetime.”

“It has Niki. It’s been two,” Alex gave Sean a look that totally confused her.

“Okay, when is this meeting supposed to take place?” Sean asked, focusing on the meeting.

“In two days. Everyone has to have time to gather, and some of the Grand Preceptors have to come from Europe and Africa.”

“Not Asia?” Sean asked raising an eyebrow.

“No. Not Asia. The situation there is so strange that there hasn’t been a Dragonborn stronghold there in three thousand years. That’s the one we lost.” Nicole replied. “Haven’t you ever wondered why dragons are seen as good luck in Asia?”

Sean nodded, “as a matter of fact, I have.”

“It’s because the dragons pushed us off the continent there. You have no idea how dangerous it is for a Dragonborn in Asia. Especially China, where they dominate the Communist Party.” Alex interjected.

Sean chuckled, "somehow that restores my faith in the order of the universe

Nicole smiled herself, thinking that Sean would see something like that as a sign of reality. "So, basically we've got two days before the three of us get grilled like a pig at a roast." I suggest you both spend some time preparing for it." She looked at Sean, "Do you have a suit?"

Sean nodded. "Yeah. It's at my dad's though, and I haven't worn it since my grandmother died. I'm not sure it even fits."

"In that case we need to come up with something. Maybe dad can help. You really need to look your best, for this. Like you're the one in control. Charlevoix, and Griffin are impressed with people who are in control." she replied trying to remember what she could about the Grand Preceptor of the Order of Haephestus. She knew she was from Edinbourough and that was about it. Those blasted blacksmiths were even more enigmatic than the Order of Phyre at times. They were a clannish bunch who stuck together. If only she could get them to stick with her cause.

**************************************************************

Standing outside the coucil chambers, Alex thought about the last two days. He had been surprised at his dad's suggestion for how Sean should be presented to the Grand Judiciary Council. He simply handed Alex a tatami, complete with Order of Light sash. "He's a member of the Orders. Present him as one and don't take any argument about it."

Sean balked at the idea at first, but finally gave in. Alex was surprised at how the last few days had changed not only Sean's life but his. He couldn't believe how easily Sean had slipped into his life. It was as if he'd always been there. Sure there were still quite a few differences between the men, but even those tended to be compliments of each other. Alex slowly came to the realization that no matter what the outcome of the this meeting, he was not going to give up Sean. Even if it meant he had to leave the Orders.

He watched Sean closely over those few days, and was amazed at the transformation that was coming over him. It was like watching the sun rising over the horizon, slowly coming into its full glory and illuminating the world. Alex couldn't believe how quickly he mastered his phyre and assimilated the long history and knowledge of what it means to be a Dragonborn. It was as if it was always there, just waiting to be used.

The levels of power he was unleashing were staggering too. He'd never seen anyone capable of doing the the things Sean was. That was the kind of phyre mentioned only in legend and tales. He was just glad, Sean was on their side. The man was capable of going toe to toe with a dragon, and anyone who'd turn down that kind of power in a war was a fool.

Still, there was politics involved, and politicians were famous for being fools. He only hoped that the Grand Preceptors are as wise as they wanted everybody to think they are. He wasn't holding his breath though and had a few surprises of his own up his sleeve. He'd sent out a few carefully worded messages, and hoped that they'd be understood. If he was right, the Grand Council was in for a big surprise. Alex wasn't above using a little political blackmail to get what he wanted.

"Alexander Timothy Stone, the Council will see you now," a young man wearing the grey sash of the Order of Haphestus told him in a thick Eastern European accent.

Alex glanced over at Sean and Nicole and smiled. "Here goes. Wish me luck."

Sean smiled, *Better wish them luck. They're the ones that are going to need it, if they think I'm going to give you up.*

Alex chuckled and entered the room. Seven high backed chairs sat around it in a semi-cirlce, like a group of thrones. The Councillors were split equally among the sexes, and a single chair remained empty as silent testimony to the Order that was sundered from them ages past.

"Is there something amusing about these preceedings, Mr. Stone?" a tall greying woman asked in a scottish brough?

"Not particularly ma'am. Just something my hymsati said before I came in." he answered.

"Pray tell us what was so amusing," she replied, "we could all use a good joke to lighten the mood in this room."

Alex smiled again. "I think it would be better if he told you himself, ma'am. I think I'd lose too much in the translation."

An older man with a faint French accent and wearing the white sash of the Order of Light cleared his throat, "If we can get on with this." He picked up a file in front of him and continued, "you are Alexander Michael Stone, of the Order of Thorns." It was a statement, not a question.

Alex only nodded.

"Let's start at the beginning then."
"Let's not and say we did, Charlesvoix," a woman with a thick African accent and wearing the green sash of the Order of The Blades of Shiva said. "We all know of the Order of Light's preponsity for decorum. We've all read the file and discussed it. Now we have questions of the principles involved. Let's get on to them, and stop wasting all our time."

"The forum Madam Abesi, calls for a certain review of the facts, if we are to determine whether or not this man, Sean Fey is a lost child or simply a bastard, the Thorns are trying to foist off on us." Alex felt himself tighten at that word. He never cared for its use, and the thought of someone calling Sean that grated on his nerves.

"We are all aware of the facts, Charlesvoix. As for his parentage, I think I would be careful in how I approached it around this one. He might not care for your attitude toward his bond mate and even as a Grand Councillor, you are not beyond a formal challenge." the African woman chuckled. "I think he might be willing to hand you your heart if you should call his hymsati that again. I might even loan him my blade. I find your lack of manners-what is the word- distressing."

Alex was almost as stunned as Charlesvoix. Abesi had read his reaction perfectly, and stated it for the room to hear clearly. He also noticed his father smiling at her side. So the Order of Blades was on their side. That at least is good news.

"Never-the-less I at least have a few questions I want answered," the woman with the Scottish accent asked again.

"I am at your disposal madam." Alex pulled himself together.

"That's good. Now maybe we can get on with this. I had to leave a number of critical projects to come here, and I'd at least like to get something out of it than seeing a new Grand Preceptor of Light."

"And your questions are ma'am?"Alex asked, hoping his impatience wasn't showing. This group was spending most of the session complaining about wasting time.

"According to the report we've all seen, you let this dragon calling herself Drake," she snorted at the name, "escape. Why?"

"Because she offered the name of a lost child ma'am. Besides, if I want to find Ms. Drake, I can do it with no problem."

"Rather sure of yourself aren't you?" Charlesvoix commented.

"I've personally been involved in killing three dragons sir. It's a long accepted practice to mark a dragon, and then follow him or her back to a nest, so as to get more than one."

"Your pupose then was to follow Drake to kill her at a later date."

"No ma'am. My purpose was to find a lost child. I gave my word that she could go free at that point in exchange for the information on the child."

"And if she'd lied?"

"She'd be dead now," Alex told her matter of factly.

"Is finding the child that important to you?" Chalesvoix asked.

"Sir, I'm a thorn. Protecting children is no more important to me than say my right arm."

"After getting the information then why didn't you hunt her down?" the Shadows Preceptor asked, in his perfect Brittish accent. Alex had met Griffin on occasion in the past. The man was something of a rogue among the Orders, like himself, and they tended to get along.

"Because I gave my word, and a gentleman doesn't break his word." Alex replied.

And so it went for hours and hours. Every aspect of the mission was gone over with a fine toothed comb. Each member of the Council concentrated on a different aspect of the past few days. Finally he was dismissed into an antechamber to await. He noted that neither Sean nor Nicole were there.

************************************************************************

"Nicole Stone Bishop, the council requests your presence in the deliberation chambers." the man with the Eastern European accent announced again. Nicole smiled down at Sean, and then dissappeared into the council chambers.

"Hurry up and wait. Just like the Navy." Sean said to himself. The young man standing guard gave him a knowing look, and shrugged helplessly. Over the past three days, Sean had watched as the stronghold became filled with representatives from all over the world.

He'd met and talked to a few of them. This man had arrived with a group from Scotland, and had immeadiately immersed himself in studying the design and layout of the stronghold. Sean suspected that he was trying to determine how the place had been put together in the distant past. He was probably looking for the reason it had stayed hidden all these years too.

Sean could have told him that. The Thorns had put it in one of the poorest, and least developed areas of the state and had simply kept to themselves. Around here, people didn't bother you if you wanted to be left alone. Since the Thorns didn't announce their presence and hid the existence of the lake with some kind of glamour, then nobody ever came to investigate. Sean grew up here and understood how those things worked. It was the same with poor but proud people all over the world.

Sean guessed when it came right down to it, there wasnt' that much of a difference between the the Arabic Bedoine, the villagers of China, or the Amerinds of South America. People just wanted to be left alone, and have their privacy respected. Only when religion or money came into the picture did things get nasty.

"How long do you think they'll be?" he asked the man.

"At least an hour or so," the man replied.

Sean nodded, "I'm going to get some fresh air. I'll be back before then."

The man only nodded as Sean headed toward the main entrance. He was starting to feel somewhat claustrophobic from being underground for several days. He felt the need to see the sky, and feel the breeze. *Must be the pilot in you hymsati.* Alex told him over the link.

*You still listening in?*

*Always. It's kind of hard to shut you out right now. You're nervous, I'm nervous, and I think we are reaching out to each other for some kind of stability.*

*How'd it go in there?*

*Ever been grilled for several hours over the same subject?*

*On occassion. Especially after almost crashing that Hornet.*

*Well it's about the same.*

*Wonderful. I'm not sure I have the patience for that right now. I just want to get on with my life, and right now I don't need a bunch of mysterious figures to try and tell me who I am.*

*You are getting testy aren't you.*

Sean smiled to himself. *Sorry about that. Like I said, I'm claustrophobic right now.*

*Go out and get some air. Just don't wander too far.*

Sean nodded to the two guards at the door as he passed out into the night air. The proceedings had begun at dusk, and by now it was well into the southern summer night. He looked up at the Milky Way spread out over the lake and sighed, missing being in the air. It reminded him of night flights from carriers on the open ocean. Just the sky, the water, and the jet.

He walked along the edge of lake thinking about what had happened over the past few days. He'd finally come to grips with being gay, he'd even found a lover. No, Alex was more than just a lover, he was like a soul mate. The 'Born called the phyre bonded, or bond mates. He had to admit the latter was an accurate term. He and Alex had become like halves of a greater whole. They complemented each other so completely that sometimes he was frightened by the depth of feeling he had for the other man.

Now he just had to decide how to tell his parents that he was moving in with another man, and the relationship went beyond just friendship. He hoped it wasn't going to be too difficult, but considering the way his life tended to go, he wasn't counting on it going smoothly. His worst worry was his mother. He was prepared to handle anything his dad might throw at him, but he had no idea how his mom was going to react.

"Are you sure it's okay for you to be out this far from the stronghold?" a man's voice came from the shadows of the tree line.

Sean spun around and forced his eyes to shift into phyresight. A trick Alex had taught him. Outlined in crackling flame under the tree was the figure of a man. "Who are you?" Sean stepped back into a non threatening, but definitely ready stance.

The man walked toward the lake, and Sean could see the black sash blending with his tatami. "I'm Zachary Bishop. I believe you've been running around with my wife." the man replied with a note of humor.

Sean chuckled, not sure how to take the joking accusation. He decided on some honest humor, "Yeah, but I've been sleeping with your brother-in-law."

Zachary smiled and offered a hand. "Nice to meet you Sean."

Sean shook the hand, noting it's coolness in the night air. "You too. Nicole has told me some about you. I was wondering what kind of man she'd married."

Zach gave him a toothy smile and then squatted by the lake. "A busy one. You seem to have set off quite a stir in the 'Born. You have no idea how many dragons have come out of the wood work looking for you."

"People keep telling me that. I'm not sure I understand it though."

"It's simple Sean. You're like a loose cannon. Nobody knows who you are or what you're going to do. The Thorns are supporting you because they think they've got you under control through Alex. I'm not sure they understand that they might not have Alex under control though."

Sean considered that. He didn't question Alex's commitment to him, but the more he thought about it, the more he could see why the Thorns were supporting him. Through Alex they had some measure of influence on him. But he also realized that he had an influence on Alex. It seemed they'd reached a balance of power. "So, how are things out in the world right now. I've been sort of sequestered. You know, like a squire just before his knighting."

"Oh, about the same as always."

"That bad huh?" Sean grinned.

Zach laughed and stood up. "yeah, that bad." He looked around then headed toward the stronghold. "Listen, you look like a man who's got a lot to think about. Just remember, don't wander too far off. The glamour for this place ends about a dozen yards beyond the tree line there. Definitely don't wander out of it. I"m going to get something to eat."

"Okay," Sean replied turning back toward the lake, his mind drifting back into thought.

He never heard a thing. Suddenly he was surrounded by several men wearing dark grey...

************************************************************************

Nicole forced herself to relax and keep her temper in check. They'd been at this for almost an hour now, and she kept getting the same questions over and over. They seemed unconvinced that Sean and Alex were phyrebonded. "Look I don't know what to call it. All I know is that they are exhibiting the same symptoms of a phyre bond."

"But how could that be?" Charlesvoix asked, "Phyrebonds guarantee the birth of phyre powered children. Men don't have babies."

Nicole turned and looked at the Frenchman, "I don't know. Maybe one of them is going to spontaneously bud asexually. I'm not a biologist. I'm just an assassin."

Charlevoix seemed unconvinced. "What about Magda's claim that he's the brother of Simon Walker. This sounds too much like a grab fro money from one of our most prestigious preceptors."

"Sean's not interested in Walker or his money..."

"So you say. But I find it hard to believe that a poor man from the backwoods of the American South would not be interested in money." Charlesvoix snorted contemptously.

"You would find it hard to believe that a poor man from the American South would be interested in anything outside of getting laid by his sister, and grabbing a welfare check. But then again, you're an arrogant bastard who is so tied up in his own importance that the idea of being dedicated to something other than what you consider is important is beyond your limited imagination. I'm sure Sean would tell you to take the bloody money and shove it up your..."

"Nicole that's enough!" Magda stepped in before she went too far. While her father and Griffin sat back trying not to laugh at her outburst, Magda turned to Charlesvoix. Her own Greek accent suddenly very thick, "Do you question my abilities to determine this man's origins? Do you think that I am such an amature at determining his parentage that I could be fooled by three children?" She turned and winked at Nicole. "Perhaps the child has a point. Perhaps you are too concerned with the money involved here that you don't want to see justice done. Perhaps we should remove the monetary element."

"Maybe in the manner that the assassin was about to suggest," Abesi said under her breath.

"Now we'll have none of that. We all know that our prestigious colleugue from the Order of Light is only looking out for the best interest of one of his preceptors. Which is as it should be." McClennhan piped up, her brough almost gone.

"And how would you remove such an element?" Charlevoix asked.

"One of two ways. Either pledge our foundling to a different Order and leave him be, or pledge him to the Order of light, and split the inheritence with his brother, and if you really want Walker to keep the whole thing, kill him, and let Walker re-inherit it." McClenehen suggested.

Nicole only smiled, at the latter suggestion. She was sure that McClennehen had seen the report on the fight with the dragon at Alabaster. There wasn't a single 'Born in the Order of Light who could pull that off. She could see Charlesvoix's mind begin to think things over.

"I rather like that idea. Still I'd like to speak with this Mr. Fey before we reach a final..." suddenly he cut off by the tearing sound of the main door splitting into splinters. A single body was hurled across the room to slam into the stone wall above the heads of the Grand Preceptors.

Sean came through the door carrying a what looked like a splintered table leg, phyre playing around his body. "I've had enough of people trying to kill me. First it's dragons, and now vampires." his voice growled with and phyre literally lept from his eyes. The preceptors scrambled to get out of his way as the figure behind them picked itself from the floor.

Nicole only stood there in shock. Bones lanced through the bloodless skin of the being standing there. His eyes gleaming yellow and the fangs in his mouth apparent for all to see. The Order of the Sanquine Cloth had come out of hiding with a vengeance and they were after Sean!

With a primal scream it lept twenty foot across the room at Sean. Nicole watched in horror as he stood his ground as if waiting for the creature to land. At the last moment he ducked to the side, spun and drove the table leg through the creature's back in a single blow. "I've had enough. Do you understand?! Enough!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. "You people want to fight. Fine with me. I'll show you a fight." he spun on the preceptors the phyre around his body flaring and scorching the panelling.

"What's going on, Sean?" she heard her father ask.

"You've got a stronghold full of vampires, who tried to kill me out by the lake. Now where's Alex?" Nicole saw him scan the room, his eyes darting left and right, finally landing on the door opposite the one he splintered.

Without saying a word he strode across the room. Two guards moved to block his way entrance. Sean only growled and turned to the wall next to the door and put his hands flat against it. The wood flared and burnt away to reveal solid stone underneath. With a single blow he shattered the the three feet across stone block and started tearing the wall down.

The guards next to him simply looked on in stunned silence, and then warily backed away as huge chunks of granite began bouncing to the floor. Inside she could see Alex, his clothes in tatters driving a splinter of wood from a broken book case through the chest of a woman, as blood streamed down deep scratches in his neck and arms. "Are you okay, Alex?" is all Sean said.

Nicole watched Alex look up at Sean and smile. "Ever heard of a doorknob?" her brother asked.

"No. You know I'm just an ignorant redneck." Sean replied pulling his bondmate to him. Standing between the Preceptor's and Alex Sean faced the men and women who deigned to dictate his fate. "Now about this garbage about me being 'Born or not."

Charlesvoix swallowed hard and began, "How dare you interupt these preceedings!"

Sean cut him off, "Because someone was trying to kill Alex and me. I don't care what kind of games you people are playing, but I won't let anything happen him or Nicole. I played nice until the Bela Lagosi wannabe's decided I was dinner. Right now you've got half a dozen vampires on the run from about fifty young men with crossbows and stakes, and one pissed off queer."

"Two." Alex chimed in.

Everyone turned to face the smaller man. "I'm not happy about your guards deciding I was an open blood bank myself, Charlesvoix. Would you care to explain why you had a member of the Sanguine Cloth in your enterage?"

"I think the boy has a valid point." McClenehen said trying unsuccessfully to move the block of stone Sean had casually tossed in front of her. "Exactly when did the Order of Light make contact with the Sanguine Cloth again?"

"I wasn't aware.."

"Excuse me." A new voice came from the shattered door. Nicole looked over at her grinning husband, "I hate to interupt but you should know that there are several hundred armed 'Born outside wanting to know when the Binding Ceremony is, and if Alex or Sean is buying the beer."