The Begining of an Army

Sky spent the next week in isolation within her room. She had never seen Owen or Tom's dragons so aggressive before. They guarded her door around the clock not letting any male close to her including Jeffery. The only exception was William and even he was on shaky grounds with them. April called it the big brother complex, while Mable who visited her often and delivered her books said their dragons were just filling in for the King. She knew the mechanics of her season even if she didn't understand their reactions. Figuring the knowledge would come in time Sky tried to kill time around her room the best she could between classes. Of course, all of her classes continued to happen, just currently all of her instructors were females. Finishing her latest writing assignment Sky sat down her notebook and her charcoal pencil. She would love to wright Jamie since he always reminding her to write him about things like this. She could see him smiling as he said, "I am your personal doctor after all."

If Samuel were here he'd write him for sure because she knew he had a messenger bird. At least she was pretty sure he did, now that she knew they were little crystal birds. He carried a little blue one in his medical case. Thinking about Samuels messenger bird a thought struck her. "Hey Owen," called Sky turning from where she was looking out the window to her bedroom door.

"Yes my Queen," answered Owen who refused to call her anything but that any more, as he poked his head in the door.

"You're a wind dragon and you write a lot as part of your job. Do you have a messenger bird?"

"No my lady they are quite expensive and I've never had to need to buy one," replied Owen.

"How about Tom?"

"I'm not sure he can even write my Queen."

"Heard that," shouted Tom from somewhere down the hallway making Sky laugh.

Pushing his way into the room with a tray loaded down with food Tom sat it on the table. "I have brought your supper My Queen."

"I really wish you'd stop calling me that," grumbled Sky climbing out of the window seat and making her way to the table.

"You think that's bad wait until tomorrow," laughed Tom before heading back toward the door.

Sitting down at the table Sky removed the lid from her plate as she asked, "Why what's happening tomorrow?"

"Your classes start again with a slight change and you have a change in guards," replied Owen stepping back to let Tom out of the room. "Speaking of, I have to go for a little while. Jeffery and William will be your guards for tonight."

"Really? And here I thought you liked the twelve on, twelve off shifts? You're finally calling it quits," joked Sky knowing her season had ended that morning as their dragons were less volatile than they had been and the blood had stopped.

Well besides the first day it's like she was bleeding to death. Dragons didn't bleed like humans. They didn't have to wear little diapers to soak it up. Nope, it was just a week she had to spend without underwear. With a good cleaning after using the bathroom, she would be good to go besides everyone could smell it.

Laughing Owen said, "Eat your supper," before closing the door behind him.

Early the next morning Sky got dressed for her sparring class before breakfast. Sky thought nothing of the bow Jeffery and William gave her as April and her made their way out the door. Sky was telling April of her plans for getting a messenger bird as well as trying to bring more income in. One of the books Mable had brought her during her confinement was some of the customs and rules of the city. One of those was that all people of all social classes were allowed to have two reprieve days. This also included servants and she was do for a day out of the castle. Advising April of her plans Sky stopped and looked at the fifth servant in the last ten minutes who stopped and bowed deeply at the waist at her. "Why is everyone bowing this morning," asked Sky before she continued on her way.

"Well because you are their Queen," replied April as if it was obvious.

"I am no one's Queen and why do you all keep calling me that," asked Sky as she watched several guards clasp her hand over their hearts as she passed.

"Because the Kings scent markers are on your skin proclaiming you are his mate," stated April refusing to look at Sky as she said it.

This made Sky laugh and she playfully hit April on the shoulder. "That's two funny how can you mate someone who's thousands of miles away. Plus we all know the King doesn't mate. Ah, I needed that his morning thanks April."

Sighing April shook her head in defeat. If Sky didn't want to listen to the truth then she'd just let her continue down her path of denial, but then again she shouldn't smell the markers. No mates could, but everyone else could smell it as clearly as the nose on their face.

Making her way into the practice hall Sky was still laughing at what April had said. To her, she had to laugh, or she'd cried because everyone for what ever reason did think she'd slept with the King. She could see it within each and every one of them. Well, at least their dragons could because they all came out to greet them as she passed. Their eyes flashed so quickly that Sky wasn't sure that April had even seen it happening, and didn't want to bring it up. It was embarrassing enough that she smelled like she'd mated with the King when she hadn't. She didn't want to ask more questions on why everyone's dragons were reacting to her. The High Lord already thought she was a freak she didn't need to go adding more labels to that. "Oh no," groaned Sky inwardly at the thought of the High Lord.

Having forgotten all about him over the last week she cringed at the thought of having to eat breakfast with him again. "Defend yourself," shouted a familiar voice as a staff came sweeping at her from her left.

Disappearing from where she stood and reappearing on the other side of the hall guards scattered everywhere. Before she could think about who had just attacked her a man came leaping at her again wielding a staff. Getting a good look at the mans face this time Sky danced out of weapons path before stripping a guard of his practice sword. On the third swing Sky smelled, "Good morning Grant."

Sweeping Sky's feet out from under with his legs Grants dragon pushed himself to the surface. "Pay attention my Queen. You have gotten soft."

Grunting with the impacted Sky rubbed the back of her head. Not giving her enough time to soothe her wounds Grant went at her again. Scrambling out of the dirt floor Sky danced around him meeting him swing for swing. "How am I to judge the efficiency of your last instructor if you keep fighting me using water style. You are in the land of earth fight like it," snapped Grant as something big and heavy slammed into Sky's back sending her face-first into the dirt.

"You're an earth mover," exclaimed Sky pushing herself up as dirt tumbled off of her.

Having never practiced in this part of the hall before she never really thought much about why the floor was dirt. Her instructor always practiced with her in the back area that was reserved for the High Lord and his family. The only reason she got to use that area is because the High Lord didn't want anyone watching a worthless dog butcher the Land of Earths fighting technic.

A smile spread across Sky's face as she tossed her practice sword to the side before pulling off her shoes and sock. Digging her toes into the dirt she took up a defensive stance and waved at him in a bring it on, kind of way. Even if her instructor was as mean as a snake and never let up on her, she'd learned a lot more from him then she let on. Of course she never let him know it because it would just give him more cause to call her a freak. All powers came from the mother and could be pulled from everywhere but there had to be tools to use it. Her instructor would pour sand on the floor and use it as a weapon. For the longest time, Sky couldn't figure out how to combat it. It just so happened by happen stance she felt a slight surge of power at her feet one day and witnessed the sand move. If she could feel that with shoes on then she should be able to feel more without shoes.

Opening her mind and letting her dragon take charge of the flow of energy around her Sky focused on Grant. Earth Style fighting was all about defense and using your enemy's weight and speed against them. Could you kill with it? Easily, but that's not what they were about. Most earth dragons were healers and they didn't kill unless they had to. That's why there were earth movers. They did most of the protecting, but there were not very meany of them. Not only would they not care that they killed you, they could also put you six feet under afterward without breaking a sweat.

In perfect sink, her and her dragon danced a dangerous and deadly dance around Grant. Some times she'd get a good hit in and at other times she was throwing him into a wall, either way, they were both smiling. "What is the meaning of this," roared a voice that had Grant freezing in mid-attack.

Sky on the other hand didn't freeze as she grabbed Grant and flipped him over her shoulder. "You lost focus," laughed Sky skipping back a couple of steps. "You never lose focus."

Standing up quickly Grant brushed the dirt off of him but it did little good. "Good Morning Father," replied Grant giving the Regent Commander a slight bow.

"You have turned this training ground into a mockery," shouted the Commander looking at the destroyed room that now had dirt scattered all over from top to bottom.

"Oh come on we were just having a little-," Grant never finished what he was about to say as his father struck him across the face.

Grant watched as a blue flaming hand came out of nowhere and choke slammed his father. Hitting the ground hard enough everyone could feel the impact as his father coughed up blood. "How dare you strike what is mine," said Sky in a tone of voice Grant had never heard her use before and he hoped he never would again.

The words where quiet but they seemed to reverberate within his head as if she'd yelled them at a canyon wall. His knees felt weak as a the gravity in the room seemed to increase, but his feet itched to run. His dragon was torn between laying down in submission or running for his life. If he felt like this then he couldn't imagine what his father was feeling. "He is my son," choked his father as blood ran from the corner of his mouth. "I will deal out his punishment as I see fit."

"He has done nothing wrong," growled Sky as her dragon looked into the Regent Commander and saw nothing but all the times he'd punished his son.

"Yes, he has! Look at the state of this room! He has lost his mind and is acting no worse than a stray dog," choked the Commander as he began to cough up more blood.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Sky standing up, besides the dirt everywhere this room looks fine to me. Everyone watched as everything that was broken began to mind itself until only the dirt everywhere remained. "Grant can you put the dirt back in the hole please," asked Sky turning toward him.

"Yes my queen," replied Grant rubbing at the red handprint on his cheek.

Within the blink of an eye every spect of dirt including the ones that covered the people was resting neatly back in the center of the room. The Regent Commander wheezed and couched as he tried to roll himself out of the floor but no one dared to help him. Even Grant turned his back on the man as Sky walked out of the training hall. "Sky I can't believe you did that," exclaimed April when they were far enough away from the training hall that she felt safe saying it. "I think you broke his ribs on that one."

April instantly dropped to her knees as Sky whirled on her. "Then he should have never touch him! They can all yell at me whenever they want, and throw things in my direction, but I will not stand by and let them touch what is mine," raged Sky's dragon as blue flames shot up all around her.

April refused to meet her eyes until water and flowers rained down in front of her face. Looking up she could see the High Lord handing an empty vase to one of his guards as he glared at Sky. "Are you trying to burn down the castle Cur," snapped the High Lord as he racked his cold eyes up and down her body.

Watching the blue flames disappear the now soggy Sky turned abruptly and continued onto her room. Entering her room she saw Tom was beginning to crawl under her bed. "Tommy what are you doing," asked Sky has his feet disappeared under the bed.

"Looking for traps, spells, listening devises, you know the likes," replied a Tom like voice that was slightly lower in pitch.

Walking over to the opposite side of the bed Sky crouched down on the floor. "Jerry do you really think someone is going to hide something under the bed," asked Sky as she smiled warmly at him.

"Ah no fair you can always tell us apart, and yes," replied Jerry crawling out from under the bed. "It pays to be careful."

"So what you think Tommy was slacking on the job," laughed Sky heading ward the bath.

"Well that's a no brainer," replied Jerry rolling his eyes. "I've got the brains of the two of us."

"Hum I'm not sure of that," laughed Sky as she collected her dress for the day and proceeded to the bath.

"You wound me, my Queen. You wound me deeply," said Jerry pretending Sky had stabbed him in the heart.

A giggle escaped from April as Jerry fell to the ground like he had just died. "Don't encourage him," huffed Sky closing the bathroom door behind her.

Cleaned, dressed and off to breakfast Sky was surprised the morning incident wasn't brought up. Neither was the fact that the Regent Commander wasn't present for breakfast. Finishing her meal quickly Sky sat her fork down and turned her attention to the High Lord. Surprisingly everyone was very quiet that morning and everyone pointedly tried not to look at her. Stealing her nerves Sky broke the silence and asked, "High Lord I was wondering if I could have tomorrow off?"

"An why should I give you the approval of an off day," replied the High Lord snidely.

"Because the bylaws of your kingdom dictate that all employees will have a mandatory two-day reprieve out the workweek. With my schedule as such we are in violation of that bylaw," replied Sky maintaining eye contact with the High Lord and keeping he dragon in check.

"That only applies to the working class," retorted the High Lord. "And as far as I'm aware, I have not hired a dog into my wait staff. So that by law does not pertain to you."

"Then do I fall under the student bylaws that govern the school systems here? If that's so then as my schedule sits now we are in violation of quit a few of those bylaws as well. More so then if I was to be considered a dog on your wait staff."

"Are you accusing me of breaking the law," snapped the High Lord surging to his feet in anger.

Turning her attention to her empty plate to hide her slight smile Sky replied. "Oh no High Lord, how can you break the law when it is you who writes them. I am just a lowly cur with no privilege or title. I have no authority or power on what laws to follow and which ones to not. I was just trying to make a conversation on why I am asking for a day off. Since my last couple of classes have been on bylaws and such, I figured it would be an applicable topic on the subject at hand. But what do I know. I'm just a stupid dog."

Growing even angrier the High Lord leaned heavily on the table as he snapped back. "Are you accusing me of being a hypocrite! That I pick and choose what laws I follow!"

"Oh no, I would never accuse you of that either. That would be like whipping a man publicly for beating his wife, but congratulating a man on a job well done for killing a black-haired woman with green eyes," replied Sky before inwardly yelling at her dragon. "Dragon! What are you doing!"

"That Lord there beat one of his guards yesterday for getting drunk and beating his wife look," replied her dragon sneaking a peek at the Lord across from us.

Sure enough, he did both of those things yesterday. "Enough of this," snapped the High Lord as his glare moved from Sky to the Lord sitting across from her. "If you are done eating then dismiss yourself. I'm tired of listening to the ramblings of a dumb dog."

Pushing her chair back Sky stood up woofed at the High Lord before walking out with her head held high. Making her way back to her room quickly Sky scratched out a quick letter before handing it to April. "What do you want me to do with this?"

"Deliver it to that witch with the little people living in her flower bed. Without being caught or raising suspicions," stated Sky before gathering her belongings for class.

"I've got it," said Grant plucking the letter out of Aprils hands. "Madison has been a long-standing friend of my family. No one will think twice if I go and visit her."

"You know the witch with the little people in the flower bed," asked Sky completely floored.

Looking between each other and back to Grant both Sky and April remembered clearly the day the Regent Commander raided her house. The interaction didn't look like long-standing friends at all. Grants brow knitted together as he looked at the expressions on their faces before abruptly turning and walking out of the door.

Grant still hadn't returned by lunch but the Regent Commander had. As everyone ate it was him who broke the silence this time. "Where is his Majesties guard," asked the Commander looking at the empty chair next to Sky.

"Good question. Pet of the King where has your handler gone," asked the High Lord causing Jerry to choke on the bit of food he was eating.

Shooting him a glance that advised him to not do what she saw within him Sky turned back to her plate. "He went to visit an old family friend. He said her name was-" but everything got cut off as a server touched her arm.

The conversation she just had in the kitchen flowed into Sky. She laughed with the Lord, who had beat the drunk man, about how the hunter had killed the metal mover. She also passed along the gossip she'd heard today. It seemed this city was a hub for escaping metal movers. There was a network of people who helped them escape south and into the White Woods and safety. This woman was not one of them though. No, she was on the opposite end of the spectrum. She was one of the fanatics that helped hunt them down. She used her position here within the castle to make her reports to many people, and several sat at this very table. Sky felt physically ill at that thought of how many people this woman help kill. "Control your dragon," snapped the High Lord but Sky couldn't.

She couldn't stand being so near to such and evil and vile person who cared not for the lives of others. Someone who thought it was okay to take the lives of babies. Scrambling out of her seat so quickly Sky almost took April out with her. Hissing in pain Sky grabbed her head as the voices cried out to her again. "I've got to go. I think I'm going to be sick," replied Sky rushing for the door not waiting for the High Lords approval.

Barreling through the door Sky's vision faded into memories causing her to stumble in her attempts to flee. "My Queen called Jerry as the sound of his heavy foot steps could be heard behind her.

And then that too faded as the pain drew in steeling her breath away. Suddenly a wall slammed down around her plunging her into total darkness. Holding her weeping dragon Sky watched as Michael stepped out of the darkness. Something wasn't right though. The way he carried himself was different. The look in his black eyes were different. This man even held his wings differently than he did. He might have Michaels face and body but this man was not Michael, and he didn't belong here thought Sky as she held her dragon tighter and rattled out a warning. The Michael impersonator laughed at her as he continued toward them. Calling up her powers blue flames poured from her body and spread across the floor in all directions but the impersonator continued to advance. Rattling another warning Sky raised the intensity of the flames, but it still didn't stop him. Snarling Sky went on the offensive, she would do whatever it took to protect her dragon. If she had to she'd claw the man's eyes out, but he was not advancing any closer to her dragon. "By the Goddess that was painful," said a second Michael stumbling out of the darkness in enough time to see his dragon deflecting Sky's blow and send her cashing into him. "Looks like we found you," said Michael smiling down at her.

Looking the second Michael up and down quickly Sky determined that he was the real thing. Spinning around quickly Sky went back after the imposter as she went to bend down toward her crying dragon. "Don't you touch her," screamed Sky as she leaped onto the imposters back.

Grabbing his horns Sky locked her legs around the mans waist and bent herself backward. "What is the deal with you and my horns woman," growled Michael dragon before he disintegrated into a cloud of black smoke.

Reforming himself Michaels dragon turned toward her as Sky scrambled to her feet to attack him again. Deflecting her easily Sky growled and snarled like a wild animal when he rapped her up like a pretzel. Fighting for all of her might the imposter only laughed at her. "Fine then I'll coddle you first then," laughed the imposter.

"I'm going to kill you," roared Sky in anger.

"That's going to be hard to do when I have you pinned against the floor," laughed the imposter.

"Can you tell me what's wrong," came Michael's voice causing Sky to glance quickly over to him.

Sky dragon was snuggled up to his chest snuffling as she scrubbed the tear from her face. Jealous of her dragon Sky humphed in the floor unable to move. "What am I second best," laughed the imposter as he nuzzled her hair.

Shaking her head so that the man couldn't nuzzle her any more Sky dragon snuffled. "They are crying. Can't you hear them all crying? They are so sad, and they are all in pain."

"Who," asked Michael as his brow creased in worry.

"All of them," sniffed her dragon gesturing out into the blackness before she rapped her arms around him and burring her face in his neck.

Satisfied that her dragon was safe with the real Michael Sky tried to resume her fight with the imposter. Laughing again the imposter applied more of his weight to her pressing her harder into the ground. "You know the human side is no match for the dragon side. You will never win," laughed the imposter before he licked her ear.

"Dragon," shouted Michael as he glared in their direction.

"What? She smells so tasty I just had to try her," chuckled the imposter above her.

"Dragon," said Sky confused as she glanced over her shoulder.

"Humm," purred the man above her above her as he ran his nose across the sensitive skin behind her ear. Looking between the two Michael's the man above her chuckled again. "You seem confused my sweet. What are you confused about," asked the imposter before he nibbled the back of her neck causing her to fight harder.

"Sky," sniffed her dragon at the sounds of Sky's whimpers.

Crawling out of Michael's arms Skys dragon went to come over to her but Sky grunted with the efforts of her struggle, "No stay over there with Michael where it's safe."

"True it is safer over there," chuckled the imposter as he nibbled Sky's shoulder.

Crawling across the floor Skys dragon smiled as she slid her hands between Sky and the imposter. "She doesn't understand you two are one and the same, as we are one and the same." Pulling Sky to her, her dragon rattled. "To her you are a stranger and you're scaring her."

Hearing a quick intake of breath the crushing weight left quickly leaving only Sky in the arms of her dragon. Turning Sky could see the horrified and hurt face on the imposter as he went and stood beside Michael. "Don't take it to hard buddy I'm sure she'll recognize you if you show her your true form," smiled Michael giving him a hearty pat on the back.

Letting his form flow into a dragon Sky gawked at the imposter. Hearing her dragon rattle she nudged Sky's cheek before getting to her feet and ran to Michaels dragon. Shifting back quickly as her dragon leaped on him, Michaels dragon caught her midair before bring her down for a kiss. "Dragon," exclaimed Sky embarrassed at her dragon's behavior.

Before she could say anything else Sky felt a sharp pain and sadness flow into her. "Grant," said her dragon turning quickly within the dragons arms.

Opening her eyes quickly Sky could hear a slight snuffle as someone headed for the door. "Grant," called Sky lighting her lap quickly.

Stopping Grants didn't turn around but Sky could see his shoulders sagged as he replied, "Yes."

"Why are you in pain," asked Sky rubbing at her own painful head.

"I challenged my fathers dominance," said Grant as he hung his head but he still didn't turn around.

"Why," asked Sky making her way to him and laying a gentle and caring hand on his shoulder.

Instantly Grant was on his knees as tears rolled down his beaten and swollen face, "Because what they are doing is wrong!"

Rapping her arms around his head Sky held him to her belly as he cried. "It's okay I'm a tough cookie and I can take it," whispered Sky.

Holding her tightly Grant closed his eyes against the bright light that began to blind him as he wept. "Everything is wrong here! That was not my father. That was not the High Lord I knew growing up. All of this is just so wrong."

"Shhh," said Sky stroking Grants head. "It'll be alright. We we will figure this all out together I promise. You're tired Grant, how about you go to sleep now. In the morning we'll come up with a plan okay."

As Grant's began to fall asleep a happy memory of his father and the High Lord faded. What Sky saw within those memories were completely opposite of the men she knew today. "Jerry," called Sky as Grant's body became too heavy for her to hold on her own.

Making his way in quickly, Jerry helped Sky get Grant to the couch where she covered him up for the night. Brushing the hair off of his now healed face Sky turned and thanked Jerry for his help. When morning came they all sat down and put their heads together. One thing they knew they needed was a messenger bird that didn't belong to anyone else. With the current state of affairs, they needed to make sure that no one could get their messages easily. Second, they needed to figure out why everyone had turned against Sky almost turning her into a martyr, and third, Sky needed to start bringing income in again. To top it all off they had to get all of this done without anyone figuring out what they were doing.

Sky felt like a part of a team as everyone talked freely on how to go about doing things. Jerry had suggested that Sky practice seeing quickly or seeing partially without her dragon coming all the way out. William advised that he could run around looking for leads since no one took him seriously since he was just a fledgling. Grant suggested that Jerry visit the local tea and whore houses since gossip there ran rampant. Of course, Sky wasn't sure about that one, but since Jerry was all for it she didn't see a reason for her to complain. Grant said that he could get in contact with all of the local witches and see what they had to say for the current situation. Sky would just continue to be herself and run interference so that everyone else could go unnoticed. One wouldn't think that her job was hard, but on an emotional standpoint it was the hardest.

Sky learned to be flirtatious and touched people as often as he could. Sometimes she was clumsy and tipped and fell. Other times she stumbled and caught herself on people. Every thing was planed though and she'd take little tidbits from people. Just enough to get what she needed but not enough that one would know she was taking.

Days passed and the group were no closer to understanding the reason behind anything. On top of that, no one in town would sell Sky or any of her people a messenger bird. As a last resort Sky spent as much free time in the library researching creating one on her own during her class days. Magic resided within all dragons so it couldn't be too hard to create one on her own without a witch's help.

As time passed the High Lord grew suspicious as she began to spend almost the entire day outside the castle on her off days. Even if witches wouldn't help me in making a messenger crystal, she did wound up finding a lot of help in other aspects of her new life.

Putting her powers of memories to good use she helped keep the metal movers one step ahead of the hunters. Lord Silvanus, seemed to catch on and she noticed they would purposely stay away from her. So would the Regent Commander and the Captain of the Guard. Even if she stumbled near them they would let her fall and walk away. If she wanted anything out of their heads she was going to have to pull it out by force.

Her double life was teaching her more than any classroom every could. Everyone at her side thought her tactics, strategy, and stealth. The woman thought her how to use her looks and charms to pull even more information out of people with just the batting of her eyelashes. Before long everyone looked to her for orders. All of this was teaching her how to be a leader even if she didn't like the mantel. People out in town began to call her a Queen and not because Michael's scent still clung to her skin. In her off time, she used it all to her advantage to do what ever she could to spite the High Lord. As the years passed she had quite an Army forming under her.