The King's Offer

Opening her eyes, Pandrea found herself back in the room she had woken in before. Besides, the bed sitting on a chair was the King. Aegis was looking at her at there eyes met.

The memories of fighting the white dragon flooded Pandre's mind, causing her to put her hand up to her face. She had been healing Dalphia and then had lost consciousness. The King put his hand forward on her leg over the blanket that covered her.

"Dalphia and everyone else is all right. You don't have to worry," Aegis reassured.

"What about the Prince? Is he ok too?" Pandrea looked concerned as she asked.

The King laughed and patted her leg.

"Oh, you don't need to worry about Val. He has been stripped of his noble Prince title. I have been far too lenient with him. Losing his status means we took Karpyrus away and gave back his original Shyft that he had to leave to take on the Elder-Shyft," Aegis comforted.

"He can't control that cranky old dragon, and the child throws a tantrum every time he sees someone with a lower rank than him," remarked the familiar voice of Aquina.

The short blue woman came from a place beside the King that Pandrea could not see and crawled onto the bed. Aquina's silver rings made clinking noises as she crawled up. Once comfortable, Aquina's braids wrapped around her.

"I'm glad you woke up. The King is not much of a talker, so its been pretty boring waiting for you to wake up," Aquina smirked at the King as she spoke, and the King cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"How long was I asleep for?" Pandrea asked Aquina.

"Two days. A very boring two days. Everyone else is off doing things, while me and the old fart waited for you to wake up," Aquina chided while poking at Pandrea.

"TWO DAYS!" Pandrea squealed.

"You stayed here for the entire time?"

"No, he came and left. I had to freeze Sigardus into a block of ice and have the guards carry him out to make him leave," mischievously Aquina smiled as she spoke.

"Where are Sigardus and the others now?" Pandrea asked the King.

"A trainer has been given to each, to help them get better control and to get stronger," the King replied to her.

"One thing I don't understand is why are you helping all of us?" Pandrea asked Aegis.

"I have my reasons. For one thing, If Gra'Nixhas gets you and Calimus, it's over for all of the big kingdoms. The General Morenki originally just meant to cripple your family in his jealous rage, but he discovered a secret about the Elder Wolf Shyfts of Wolfven," Aegis explained.

"If he gets you and Calimus, it will be over for everyone. The other reason is that I knew your father and uncles all well. Before the ambush, the Wolfven and Drawlgon were very close. Dalphia was very close to one of your uncles, Elric, Who partnered with Calimus."

"Alright, that all makes sense. What about Titania and Liam? Don't they have to go back?" Pandrea asked as she was still sorting through the mountains of information she had received over the last little while.

"Ah, yes. Those two and your friend came to meet me before they came to see you as I had said before," and the King began to explain what went on.

In the King's receiving room...

"I would like each of you to stay and learn from us, before leaving," the King announced to his sitting guests.

Titania and Liam both looked uneasy as the King spoke. Sigardus, on the other hand, was dancing on his seat. As soon as the King finished, he jumped up.

"Where is Pandrea? Can we see her? Is she ok? Did the Prince hurt her?" And Sigardus would have continued if the King hadn't put his hand up and cleared his throat.

"She is fine, settle down, boy. As soon as we finished talking, someone will take all of you to her room. Pandrea is awake and unharmed. Now, let's get back on topic."

The King eyed the two quiet sitting ones and signed. He knew why they were worried.

"I have spoken to Listria and The Three King. Both have approved of this idea and hope to be able to help in the future as well."

Both Liam and Titania's shoulders sagged in relief at the same time. Both looked more relieved that King Aegis had spoken to both the Patriarch and Matriarch. Titania stood up first and announced confidently.

"There is always something to learn, and if my sister is allowing it, then, yes. I will stay and train. Thank you, your Highness, for this opportunity."

Liam was more reluctant as he stood and Sigardus stepped forward first to speak.

"I need to get stronger and learn more. Even these couple of days with my new friends have shown me how little I actually know. So yes, I will get stronger to help Pandrea."

"I want to get stronger too, but I am still healing from and injury," Liam spoke, stepping forward beside Titania.

"Not to worry, The Three King has already informed me of your injury. Your trainer will take you to our special volcanic healing springs. You all will be going to these springs every day to help repair your torn muscles. So, what will it be?"

"I agree, if The Three King wishes me to train and be a part of this group, then I will do my best," Liam said, clutching his hand in front of him.

His eyes began to glow and flicker like fire. The King noticed The small Fae woman staring up into those burning eyes. This act made the King chuckle to himself.

Back to the present...

"So, they are already training then?" Pandrea asked Aegis as Aquina played with her hair.

"Yes, each of them has been given a special trainer to help with their cultivation and partner progress."

"So then who is going to train us?" Aquina asked, looking at the King.

"That is a secret."

"Wahh! a secret?? You can't just keep it from us, you...dinosaur!" Aquina shouted at Aegis.

Pandrea Blinked. How did she just? Pandrea tried to think but was interrupted by the King's indignant voice.

"What's a dinosaur?" The word sounding funny as it came from the King's lips.

Aquina looked over at Pandrea questioningly.

"What is it?" She asked, a bit puzzled.

"What do you mean you don't know what it is, and you called the King it?" Pandrea raged, grabbing from the now retreating Aquina.

"Why are you getting so upset? It was your idea," Aquina wailed as she scrambled away from Pandrea's grasp.

Pandrea froze. She had been thinking dinosaur as Aqunia had paused, to fill in the blank wordlessly. Pandrea had no idea that she still shared a link with Aquina while she was not apart of her.

Pandrea slowly turned around in dread. She was not surprised to find Aegis looking at her pointedly. Pandrea gulped down the remaining saliva in her mouth as the King spoke.

"What is a Dinosaur?"

Pandrea thought about how to spin this. She thought of the redeeming qualities of dinosaurs and how they were like dragons, and they ruled her old world sixty-five million years ago. Then they were killed by a massive rock.

As Pandrea tried to piece together a suitable answer under the King's scrutiny, Aquina began to giggle.

"I don't know if he's that old, but it's perfect. Dinosaurs were lizards on Pandrea's old planet. They lived sixty-five million years ago. And they got killed by a rock. See? They are old as dirt like you!" Aquina gasped out between fits of the giggles.

The King looked about to go off on Aquina but instead breathed out.

"I can't spoil the secret, but I can tell you about the people training your friends."

Pandrea let out a sigh of relief as the King continued to explain.

"You have already met Deacon, Sigardus's instructor, and trainer. He is in the best of hands. You could say he's in my right hand, so to speak," Aegis laughed as he continued.

"Titania will be working with Dalphia. She will also be helping Sigardus in his pursuit to become a researcher."

"Finally, Liam will be trained by Ollie, Captian of the Guard," the King finished.

"Really? I remember Sigardus saying something about a standoff old guard that wouldn't answer his questions."

"Yes, that is the same one. Ollie is very capable but doesn't like people that talk a lot. Liam will be in good hands, but enough of this chit chat. You have been in bed for two days, and I'm sure the little witch, I mean Aquina, would like to stretch her legs," finished the King as he stood up.

"Head down to the kitchen and get something to eat. Ask for Miss Thune, she is the head cook, and tell her I sent you. She will know what to do."

"What about my trainer?" Pandrea asked as the King turned to leave.

The King put his hand in the air waving forward and the other in the pocket of his black robes.

"Don't worry. After your done eating, Irella will guide you in where to go."

The King left the room after that, and the girls were left in silence.

"What's with all the cloak and dagger? Cant, he just give us a straight answer?" Aquina complained while rolling on the bed.

"You can't be so rude to the king and other people," Pandrea chided Aquina.

"But it's so boring here. And you helped pretty good with the dinosaur idea," Aquina piped up smiling.

Pandrea groaned as she thought back to the King's expression. Shaking her head, Pandrea got up and put on her white robe. Then, she and Aquina headed to the kitchen.