Chapter 19
Slender fingers grasped onto the shaft of wood. I shifted only slightly on the balls of my feet. Dodging the other staff, weilded by larger hands. I let a light smile play on my face as I whipped out a foot into his midriff. It struck, I bilnked once in amazement. That's a first. I grinned and danced back, striking out with my staff.
That time Rook blocked with ease. I lost my grin. The smell of sweat hung thick in the air. "It's to Hot" I heard someone say in the background. Mandies. I almost grinned again, just as the staff bumped lightly againest my rear. I scowled instead.
"Pay attention..." His voice was soft, mild in scolding.
"Yeah.. Bite my toe." I leaned back and wiggled my barefeet in his face. He scowled and with his staff, helpped me right down on the ground. I let out all the air in my lungs just as I landed. "Owwie.." I whimpered, putting on my best pout.
A screetch came out of no where, small arms grappled around Rooks neck. I started laughing. Attached to the arms was a duel pigtailed little girl. "Ack!!!" Rook fell to the ground, mockingly of course, as Annabelle tugged on his neck. "Get this child off me!!" I grinned and crawled over, offering my open arms to Anna. She dived from his neck into my arms, knocking me back onto the ground.
I couldnt' stop laughing as she stood and beat her hands on her chest like Tarzan. Around us everyone was stopping with their work outs to look at us. I giggled, trying to pull myself together. "See? I come with reinforcements!" I grinned over Anna's head at Rook, who had since been mugged by the two year old Kelsi and her elder brother Teddy.
"Yeah!" Damon cried as he swung around in Scott's arms. "Reinforcements!!!"
I looked over at Scott, who looked to be in pure heaven swinging Damon around, safely. I shook my head, smiling at Jewls. "Watch out Jewls, or you'll start collecting Frequent flyer miles."
"bad Joke..." Heidi thwaped me with the towel. I scowled again.
"Outwitted again.. Eh Beautiful?" I swung Anna up into the air and while she was there, I got to my feet quickly. Nothing fancy, just a scramble. Then I caught her. Whirling her aruond to make her giggle, I almost ended up on the ground again.
The sirens broke through our chaos. "Everyone Up!" Ken called before I could even open my mouth. I blinked, that was a first. It had been three weeks since Rook had come back, we had drills and relative peace. But, Ken giving orders instead of me? That was very new.
Jewls looked at me, she was the only one, who looked to see if I agreed. I nodded to her, motioning that I'll talk to her later. I didn't like this, was I really getting this praiod? "Come On Kids! Lets go see what the Nursery has.." I gathered up Etherity, kens' daughter, and my own bunch, inculding Damon. Taking them to the nursery. I noted dully that I had been deranked from Iris to a babysitter.
"Whats with mommy? Hmm?" I shifted Usagi in my arms. "Why am I so angry they are giving me some time with my kids?" I smiled down at Teddy. "I should be grateful." I nudged them into the protective circle. "Alright... Teddy, my little love, you are in charge." I slauted him with a smile.
"Yes Iris!" Teddy grinned, returning the Slaute. "I'll take good care of your troops."
"Good." I looked over at his honor guard, numbering eight of the best 12 to 15 year olds. I nodded to them and stepped out of the room. I smoothed my hair was the crackle of wards slammed up aruond the area. All the children would be safe now.
"Now..." I muttered, picking up my pace toward *my* office. "Lets see if I can't get their parents to start listening to me. I'm not a baby..." I slammed my palm againest the door. It slid open to an empty room. "What the...?"
My eyes darted around the room, Jana was with teh kids, Kai was down in the courtyard... My sword! "WHERE THE HELL IS MY SWORD?" I bellowed, taking off down the halls to Kai, she'll know where he is. "Damnit damnit damnit..." My string of curses followed me through the almost deserted halls.
I stopped short, my curses falling dead. Around the courtyard, Rook and Ken were giving orders. Jewls wasn't anywhere to be seen. "What the hell is going on?" I demanded, hands on hips, glaring at my heart and bestfriend.
"We're going to go after some raiders." Ken motioned, his dark blue and black dragon already saddled behind him. "Rooks going to take one party, I'm in charge of the Other."
"Your staying Home." Rook was giving me the 'don't argue' look.
"To hell I am! They are my people, and I am not a baby." I shook with anger. Part of me understood they were trying to protect me. The other parts were pissed that they didn't think I could take care of myself.
"Cj..." Mandies put a hand on my arm. "Someone has to stay and defend the base.
I muttered another curse and stepped out of the room. "Sure. Go ahead. I don't fucken care." I took off to my office as Rook gave ken a glance. Little did I know I was playing right into their hands.
"Those self righteious... MY SWORD.. " I whipped around on my heel, running back to the courtyard. By the time I got there they were gone. "DAMNIT." I had been left, with babies and old people. Like some invalid. "damnit..." I whispered and moved to the gates, they were sealed shut, I couldn't go out even if I wanted to.
"That worked rather well.." Ken leaned back againest his dragon. The people from the outpost, all of them, but the children, were now under his command.
"Yes." Rook shook his head, looking at the cage, holding the few people they couldn't convince that this was better. Jewls, Eva and Sean, crouched there, glareing daggers into the two of them.
"She'll be sealled in there until this is all over." Ken shook his head, smiling over at Rook. "It was the perfect plan. You even managed to get rid of Justin."
"Yes.. It was wasn't it..." James shifted, on his mount, another dragon, almost a twin to Kens own, but it was dark green, instead of blue. "The thing I don't understand is Luke... He should ofbeen back by now..."
"Yes... Strange how he never reported in.." Ken shook out his blond, steaked red, hair. "Well.. She has the children safe."
Rook chuckled softly, looking out over the people, they were moving again, slowly, toward Las Angeles. "I am proud of this little empire.. It is good we two kings could talk like real people..."
"Gray and Black..." Ken smiled slowly. "It was always nice to know where your friends were..."
"Isn't it though." Rook fingered Iris's sword hilt. "She's safe, that's all that matters."
Ken stayed silent, motioning to one of his men. The man dropped behind, with the cage, letting out the three captives. Ken had a feeling he was about to get double crossed. He was the gray king, and he wasn't about to give up his power because Rook wants to protect his bitch.
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