Suddenly, a hound bayed, the sound close.
Collins jumped, heart hammering.
Zylas charged from the cave toward Falima. "Get the lady out!"
Out? Out where? Uncertain whether Zylas intended the command for him or for Ialin, Collins ran toward the dragon. Before he reached her, a brown-and-white dog bounded into the cave, barking madly. Toenails scrabbled against stone as it attempted to stop. Instead, it skidded, long legs buckling, ears flopping. It bashed into a chest, which sent the dog caroming practically into the dragon's lap. Prinivere jerked awake, wings unfolding, a hiss escaping her massive mouth between rows of pointed teeth. Whatever she actually ate, nature clearly intended her to be a carnivore.
The dog let out a squeak of surprise, followed by a string of desperate whimpers. It scuttled backward, bashing into Collins' legs, then rolled its eyes to him in terror and hope. Thrown to a crouch, Collins met the dog's gaze and recognized him instantly. "Korfius!" He dropped to his knees.
Still loosing panting whines, the dog crawled onto Collins' legs.
"Zylas, it's Korfius." Collins petted the dog all over, as it tried to fit its entire body onto him.
Zylas hauled Falima into the cave. "I don't see or hear any more dogs. He's either way ahead of a pack or alone." He glanced wildly around the cave. "When's his change time?"
Collins glanced at his watch, which read nearly 1:00. He recalled how Korfius had switched forms in his arms while hiding in Vernon's false wall. "I'd say just about now."
"Now?" Zylas leaped to Collins' side with an abruptness that sent Falima into a half-rear. "We've got to get him out before-" He grabbed the dog by the nape of the neck, and Korfius let out a startled yelp.
Zylas pulled, dragging the dog from Collins' lap. Korfius' dark eyes implored Collins. He planted his feet against stone, and Zylas struggled to move him. "Help me here, would you?"
Collins stood, uncertain exactly what to do. Korfius threw his head back and forth, trying to break free of Zylas' grip, which tightened as he surely worried about getting bitten. Korfius' form blurred.
Zylas cursed.
Falima whinnied tensely, then bolted from the cave.
Zylas let out a string of curses, which translated strangely as everything from bodily functions, to disasters, mythical creatures, and filth. He let go.
Korfius writhed as his forelegs became arms, features grew or disappeared, fur receded. Soon, a naked boy on all fours replaced the dog form, stammering a single word, "Dr-dr-dr-dr-dragon. It's a dragon." He looked directly at Collins. "I saw a dragon." He whipped his head to Zylas. "A real dragon." Finally, he turned his attention to Prinivere. "Dragon." He rose with slow, careful movements and drifted toward her as if in a daze. "Excuse me, but are you really a dragon?" *I am, young man,* Prinivere returned.*My name is Prinivere.*
Zylas paced, wringing his hands.
Unself-consciously naked, Korfius bowed. "Deeply honored to meet you, Lady Prinivere. I'm Korfius." *So I gathered.* The dragon settled back down. Only then, Collins noticed the black hole behind her, apparently the escape Zylas had wanted him to use. He wondered why he had not seen it before and decided the dragon had fully stolen his attention. Most of the time, her enormous, sleeping form had blocked it.
Falima trumpeted out a neigh.
"Now what?" Zylas muttered, rushing to the entrance just as a savagely panting Vernon threw himself inside.
"I'm… sorry," the black man gasped out. "I… tried to… stop… him, but…" He paused for several beats to concentrate on breathing. "… he's quick."
"Got one hell of a nose, too." Zylas held out a hand to assist his friend, but Vernon chose to remain on the ground for the moment.
Korfius drew himself up proudly. "Best sniffer in my brigade."
Collins remembered how Korfius had found them in the flowering tree when the other hounds had not. He nodded. "No doubt."
"A dragon." Korfius seemed incapable of getting past that word. He turned stiffly to Collins. "Your Majesty, you keep interesting company." He bowed. "And I am at your service."
Collins glanced at Zylas, who nodded with wary encouragement. "Korfius, I've already told you the best way to serve me."
"I know, Sire-"
"Just Ben," Collins reminded.
"I know…" Korfius clearly struggled mightily, but managed to blurt out, "Ben. But I want to help, to be a part of this." His wide-eyed gaze fell on the dragon again, though he did not say the word this time. "A guard superior, a royal, and a… a dragon." The reverent tone gained strength with each naming. "I'm staying with you. Seeing this through. You might need me!"
Once more, Collins glanced at Zylas for support. He wished the other man would say something. After all, Zylas was more likely to have the necessary knowledge to handle this situation; but Collins also knew that maintaining the illusion of his royalty required him to speak. "What I don't need is a couple of worried parents sending an entire guard force after me." It seemed almost moot, as they already tracked him on a murder charge. "Nor do I need to add a kidnapping rap."
"Parents?" Korfius laughed. "Don't worry about my parents. They're extremely lesariat. I'm from a litter of seven…"
Collins took his cue from Zylas, whose eyes went round as coins and whose lips glided open in clear surprise.
"… and as far as they're concerned, they raised me. I'm on my own."
Though it seemed easier with his parents out of the equation, Collins could not imagine any mother not worrying about her missing child. Put it in animal terms, he reminded himself. Once the puppies hit somewhere between six and ten weeks, the parents often don't even recognize them. Cynically, he wondered if whoever was in charge of the city would prove more diligent about his "best sniffer" then the parents were over their missing septuplet. Zylas' reaction made it clear that multiple births were not the norm, despite the time spent as animals. From the way Korfius stated it, Collins guessed that the ones more anchored in animal form had a higher likelihood of more than one offspring at a time. "Well, then," Collins said, surprised by his own words. "Perhaps I could use your help."
Zylas' jaw, already dangling from the litter comment, now positively fell. "Um… Ben. Could I speak to you for a moment?"
Though tempted to say "no," which would leave Zylas completely defenseless, Collins excused himself from Korfius, telling the boy to put some clothes on, and then followed his pale companion to the cave mouth.
Zylas barely waited until they got beyond hearing range. "What the hell are you doing?"
Collins wondered if the concept of hell as he knew it actually existed in this world, then shrugged off the thought. None of his companions seemed overly religious, and he saw no need to create a possible rift. "What do you mean?"
Zylas kept his voice at a bare hiss, though he clearly would have preferred to yell. "I mean, you just invited a kid along."
"What did you want me to do?" Collins finally realized what his subconscious had much earlier. "Send him back to whatever that town was that's hunting us knowing all about your precious lady?"
Zylas swallowed hard. "Well?"
"That," Zylas said thoughtfully, "can't happen." A look of sharp terror took over his features, so intense that Collins felt fear prickling up his spine as well.
Collins fell silent, uncertain whether he wished to encourage Zylas any longer.
"What are we going to do?"
You're asking me? Collins raised his brows, throwing the question right back to his uncomfortable companion.
"They'll hunt her down and kill her."
Collins continued to study Zylas. The other option, killing a child to keep her secret, seemed even more heinous. "Zylas," he started carefully, not at all certain where he planned to go from there.
"You're right," Zylas interrupted. "We have to keep him with us. And quiet." He stomped a foot. "Damn! Why did he have to…" He trailed off with a noise of frustration.
"I'm sure Vernon did everything he could."