Chapter 15

"Morning, David." Ty's greeting was almost lost in a gaping yawn as he entered the solar. "Morning, Michael, Ky." He nodded vaguely at the other men seated at the breakfast table as he tightened the belt of his robe, squinting in the bright morning sunlight.

"What are you doing up so early?" David asked, pulling him into a quick kiss as he passed. "Didn't you sleep well?"

The younger man made a face. "No, not really. I couldn't get comfortable after you left." He sat down carefully on the well-cushioned chair and randomly chose a pastry from the platter in front of him. "I think I'm going to eat and go back to bed," he declared through another huge yawn.

"We can't." Ky forestalled the knight's objections. He looked up from the note Joris had handed him earlier. "There's a meeting of the Dragon Presentation Committee this morning and Father wants all four of us to attend. He says to tell you that the final decision belongs to our Champions."

"What decision?" Michael asked.

"What Dragon Presentation Committee?" David asked at the same time.

"They're supposed to be arranging our presentation to Rohannon," Ty explained through a mouthful of bread. He took a hasty gulp of chocolate to wash it down before continuing. "But we've never been to one of the meetings. Father doesn't attend them and he said we don't have to either. He said we don't need to deal with the details until the time comes."

It was nice he spared them *something*, Michael thought uncharitably. "We'd better change then," he said out loud. "It sounds like we need to wear something more formal than our shirt and breeches."

"Wear your new uniforms," Ky advised. "They make you look very impressive."

"And intimidating," Ty added with a grin.

"What are we going to wear?" he asked Ky after the knights were gone. "Not black again, please."

"Or purple and gold," Ky replied ruefully. "After last night, I think we can bury those outfits for awhile."

"For quite awhile," Ty agreed, unconsciously running his hand over his sore butt.

"How about green? We have those new emerald tunics and I don't think the slits on the sides are high enough to bother them."

"We'd better get there early so we have time to come back and change," his twin sighed. "If the slit goes above my knee, it's going to be too high for David."

Michael and David returned to their rooms and quickly changed into the tight black leather breeches, long-sleeved linen shirts and knee-high boots the king had provided for them.

"Armor?" David stuck his head into Michael's chamber to ask.

"I don't think so," the dark-haired knight replied after a moment's consideration. "I think this is supposed to be a friendly meeting. We don't want to look too aggressive."

"I think looking aggressive might be a good thing. I feel more exposed here than in battle," David muttered darkly.

They pulled on the black and silver surcoats that marked them as members of the Princes' Guard, buckled on their black leather belts and adjusted their swords, then went to meet their young charges.

"Turn around," Michael ordered, making a twirling motion with his index finger as he examined the emerald tunic.

Ky turned anxiously, craning his neck to keep an eye on Michael as he did.

"It's longer than our hair," Ty pointed out helpfully. "It's even covering our knees. Mostly."

"It covers your knees very well," David agreed caustically. "But that slash up the side shows your thigh clear to your butt!"

"It's not that high! And anyway, you never said anything about covering our thighs!" Ty's eyes lit with enthusiasm as he prepared to do battle. "You said it had to be longer than our hair. And it is!"

"Peace," Michael interceded equably. "It isn't that bad, David. Which doesn't mean I totally approve," he added with a stern look at Ky, "but it isn't indecent. And they don't have time to change right now."

"We won," Ky whispered triumphantly as they started down the stairs ahead of the knights.

"This battle." Michael's keen ears picked up the comment. "You still have weapons drill this afternoon."

"Damn," Ty muttered, and both knights laughed.

Ky gave a brief description of the committee as they walked along the corridor to the meeting chamber. "Normally something like this would be handled by the Minister of Protocol," he explained. "But several of the guilds wanted to take part and Father felt that it would be a good political move. He thought it would draw people together and make them feel included, so he had a committee formed to handle it instead. There are ten members and their leader, Bredd, is a representative of the Merchant's Guild."

"The problem with doing it this way," Ty continued, "is that the Queen has been able to influence the committee and, from what we've heard, they've been getting a little out of hand."

"I think Father expects you to rein them in," Ky finished as they approached the meeting room.

The Dragon Presentation Committee met in the same chamber where King Abaddon normally held his council meetings. The mid-morning sun shone through the large open windows, providing light as well as warmth to the room chilled by the thick stone walls. There were half a dozen men already waiting in the bland, gray room and, as the princes had predicted, the Champions' uniforms clearly both impressed and intimidated them.

"Your Highnesses," a plump, fussy little man began after they had all risen and bowed to the princes, some of them clearly awed by the presence of their future monarch. He rubbed his hands awkwardly on what was clearly his best gown, donned especially for the occasion. "While we appreciate your presence and your interest in our task, His Majesty has expressed his faith in our ability to provide an excellent presentation. We'll be ready to explain our plans to him - and to you - in a short while, but at the moment--"

"His Majesty ordered our presence today. We're here to see how the committee is progressing," Ty explained briefly as the princes took their usual seats at the massive oaken table.

"I see." Bredd fidgeted for a moment longer before venturing, "Perhaps your-- er, Champions would prefer to wait outside. We really don't see the need--"

Or want the interference, Michael thought cynically. "No, we'll be fine right here," he interrupted mildly as he took up a casual pose against the wall behind Ky's chair. "We'll just stand back out of the way and listen to your discussion. You won't even know we're here."

David took up his position next to the dark-haired knight as the other men reluctantly found their seats and the meeting began. Bredd began by recapping the discussions from past meetings and Michael found himself growing more and more disgusted. Obviously, the queen's influence - or gold - was having a huge effect on the decisions being made. As the plans unfolded, he could see the toll it was taking on the princes. Their posture was rigid and he knew that their faces would be set in the blank 'public' expressions he was growing to hate.

It was time to take some steps. However, he decided, looking over the happy men eagerly backing the most preposterous ideas, merely disagreeing with them would only lead to a long, drawn-out argument. He needed something to get their full attention first, something that would make them more than willing to hear him out.

He glanced over at David, who was absorbed in the play of sunlight over Ty's sleek ebony braid and clearly ignoring the discussion going on around him. Glad that he had decided against armor, he unobtrusively rammed his elbow into the other man's ribs.

"Could you repeat that?" Michael asked Bredd politely, once he was sure he had David's attention. "I don't think my partner heard what you said."

"I said," the little man was clearly annoyed by the interruption, "that the Stonemasons Guild insists that they cannot build pillars in the King's Field in time for the presentation. However, the Bridge Guild assures us they can drive heavy posts into the ground which will serve just as well, although they won't look as impressive."

"Perhaps we can cover them with fabric or flags," the man on his left suggested.

"Excellent idea, Arbos," he approved. "Barben, can you get more of the material we're using for the viewing stands?"

"I'll take care of that when I order the passes, Bredd," a man further down the table agreed. "Do we have a number and price set for them yet? The printers are anxious to get started."

"No, we don't," Bredd replied as he checked a list in front of him. "And we don't have a final decision on the wrist and ankle chains, either. Did we decide on the silver or the gold?

David reacted just as Michael had anticipated "Whoa! Wait just a minute here!" His eyes narrowed menacingly as he glared at the guild representative. "What posts, what viewing stands, what passes and what CHAINS?"

Michael nodded approvingly as the princes' posture relaxed and they settled down to enjoy the rest of the meeting.

"The posts the princes are going to be chained, too, of course," Bredd replied impatiently. "And the passes are for admission to the presentation. We'll have the prime sections of the viewing stands priced for the noble and wealthy, of course, but we're also going to have some cheaper areas designated for the common folk. We want everyone to feel included in our princes' greatest sacrifice."

David didn't seem to share his pride in this show of inclusion. "No. You won't," he flatly contradicted the little man.

"No?" Bredd was puzzled by the denial. "I know it's a novel gesture, but I assure you we'll set the prices high enough that the common rabble won't--."

"No!" David repeated more forcefully, straightening and taking a step forward to loom over the smaller man. You are *not* chaining my prince to a post and selling tickets to the exhibition."

"But we have to present them!" Barben asserted. Seated further down the table, he seemed oblivious to the impending danger. "The people have a right to see them! And it would be terrible if they panicked and ran away in front of such a large audience. We have to protect them from that kind of humiliation."

"NO!" David slammed his hand against the table as the princes gasped at the insult.

"What happens with the sheep and cattle? How are they presented to the dragon?" Michael interceded.

"They're driven out to the edge of the land where the dragon lairs and turned loose," one of the other men volunteered shakily. "Once they're in his territory, he hunts them as he desires."

"What do you think, David?" Michael asked his seething partner. "Shall we ride out to confront Rohannon?"

"You can't do that!" Barben insisted. "It's too far away! Think of the traffic and congestion and inconvenience! You have to stay in the city, where their loyal subjects can see our noble princes' sacrifice for them! How can they properly appreciate it otherwise?"

"Treat our Royal Family like common animals??" Bredd was equally incensed at the suggestion. "With no pomp, no ceremony, no display before the most powerful people in the land? That might be the way you foreigners treat your Royalty, but we have a higher regard for ours," he sneered. "They'll be sacrificed with all the fanfare and pageantry we can provide Queen Alida will allow for nothing less!"

That did it, Michael thought.

Reaching across the table, David grabbed a handful of Bredd's tunic. "You are NOT," he repeated as he jerked the man halfway across the table, "chaining MY prince to a post and selling tickets! So you can just go back and tell Queen Alida that her plan to humiliate them didn't work! Is that clear?"

"Urgh!" The little man gurgled, scrabbling helplessly at the inflexible hand wrapped tightly in the cloth around his throat.

"Here's what we're going to do." Now that Michael was satisfied he had everyone's attention, he quickly laid out a plan. "You all can pick out a parade route. The princes, accompanied by a company of their Guard, ourselves, the king, and select number of other dignitaries will ride along the route at dawn. People can line the streets and view the Royal Family then, with all the pomp and ceremony you like. You can even have music and fireworks if you want to. But there will be no tickets and *no* chains! Understood?

"Afterwards, the party we've chosen will ride out to the edge of the territory Rohannon has claimed. We'll leave the rest of the group there and go on with the princes to face the dragon. Alone. Any questions?"

"Dawn's too early," one of the men started to object. "But I'm sure we can work around it," he quickly added, cowering in his chair as David's steely-eyed glare turned toward him.

The rest cowered as well, one or two nearly sliding under the table in their efforts to disappear. Clearly there were no more objections.

"David." Ty gently touched his lover's arm while eyeing Bredd critically. "I think you should stop choking him now. He's turning blue and his eyes are starting to pop out."

"Oh." David looked down at the man struggling fruitlessly in his relentless grip. "Sorry." He opened his hand and watched the little man fall back into his chair, rubbing his throat as he desperately gasped for air.

"Any questions?" he asked again, flexing his fingers as he spoke. "No? Good. Meeting's adjourned."

"I like your meetings better than Father's," Ty announced as they walked back to the princes' tower. They're a lot more entertaining."

"Yes," Ky agreed. "And shorter, too."

~~~~~~~~

The remaining time passed quickly and all too soon it was the day before the confrontation with Rohannon. The sky was, fittingly enough, gray and overcast. Heavy dark clouds hung over the horizon and the breeze was sharp and chill. It was as if the weather reflected the mood of the country's inhabitants.

All through the kingdom, there was a quiet air of tense anticipation. The streets were deserted and the shops remained empty. Only the temples were busy, thronged with people as the country's populace waited in line to leave offerings and prayers for their princes and for the champions who would save them.

The same somber air was present in the castle itself. The normal, cheerful bustle was absent as servants went about their business, heads down, speaking quietly when they had to instead of engaging in their usual banter with each other. The king had closeted himself in his private workroom, ostensibly engaged in important business, although very little work was getting done. In the barracks, the Royal Guard cleaned and readied their armor and weapons, soberly preparing for a battle they wouldn't be allowed to fight. Small, increasingly desperate puffs of black smoke rose above the Wizard's Tower, while Queen Alida sent two more maids to the healers.

Only the actual participants of the confrontation seemed immune to the bleak mood. Rohannon, having finished off two fat lambs, was indulging himself in a morning nap and dreams of the feast to come. In the castle's southwest tower, the knights, having bullied the princes into weapons practice in the morning, were spending the afternoon on yet another lesson in currency.

"Michael!" Ky stared at the dice in surprised dismay. "You've taken all my coppers! Again!"

"Yes, I did," Michael replied, somewhat smugly. "But look at the bright side. It took me almost twice as long this time."

"That's not very comforting," Ky told him witheringly. "Lend me some of yours, Ty."

"I don't have very many left," his brother objected, looking at the meager pile in front of him.

"And he's about to lose them," David predicted with the same smug look Michael wore. "Or," he gave a sly grin, "we could use another type of currency and let you keep your coppers, Ty."

"What?" the prince asked suspiciously.

"I'll explain it in your bedchamber."

The prince stared at him in confusion for a moment, and then exclaimed, "David!"

"Are you blushing?" the knight asked in amused surprise. "It's not like they don't know what we do in your bedchamber, Ty'lin."

"I'm not blushing!" Ty denied, ducking his head in an attempt to hide his warm cheeks. "I just-- If we take the dice into my bedchamber, what are Ky and Michael going to play with?"

"Don't worry about us. I'm sure I can find something of Ky's to play with," Michael teased, and was rewarded by a hot blush from both twins.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Ty protested indignantly as they all laughed together.

"Come on, babe." David rose and held out his hand to the prince. "Let's go improve your gaming skills."

"Was that game more to your liking?" he asked sometime later. He stretched lazily, and then pulled the sated and sweaty prince over to lie against his broad chest.

"Uh huh," Ty replied as he settled his head on his favorite pillow. "One question, though."

"What?"

"Who lost?"

In the other bedchamber, Michael lay on his side, propped on his elbow so he could look down at his own sated lover.

"Love you." He ran the callused pad of his thumb over Ky's full bottom lip and laughed as the prince caught it and nipped at it.

"Love you, too." He idly played with Michael's fingers for a while, lost in thought, then said, "Michael, I--"

"What, love?" the knight asked when he didn't continue.

"Nothing. Never mind. Do you want to go for a ride? I think there's time before we have to change for the evening."

"Ky, it's all right to admit you're afraid," Michael told him gently.

"I'm not afraid," the prince denied. "I just don't want to sit around and brood about things, all right?"

"All right," Michael agreed as he got up and began to dress. "Are you having a private meal with your father this evening?"

"No." Ky's voice, somewhat muffled as he pulled his shirt over his head, became clearer as he emerged from it. "He thought it would be best if we ate in the Hall, as usual. Let people know that we're not worried. If we show that we're confident and have faith in our champions, the people will be confident as well. What?" he asked as he caught a glimpse of Michael's tight-lipped expression.

"Nothing. Never mind," the knight replied with a quick smile. "Let's go for your ride. Clear the cobwebs from our minds."

They met David and Ty in the solar, bound on a similar expedition, and soon the four of them were on their way out of the keep, taking the small postern gate that led to the forest behind the castle. They moved at a swift trot until they reached the woods, and then slowed to a walk. The knights silently let the princes lead the way and the young men randomly followed first one trail, then another, gradually moving deeper into the forest.

It was quiet and peaceful in the woods. Tendrils of mist wreathed the trees and drifted through the undergrowth, muting the myriad shades of green. The only sounds were the soft twitter of songbirds and the faint babble of a nearby brook. The knights could almost see the tension draining from the princes as they moved idly through the serene environment. The final trail they followed ended in a large clearing.

"Can we walk?" Ty asked suddenly, the first words spoken since they'd entered the forest.

"Whatever you want to do, babe," David replied quietly. "This is your time."

They dismounted and the knights took the reins of the princes' horses. After tying the animals where they could crop at the thick velvety grass, Michael seated himself on a fallen log while David perched on a convenient stump nearby. The princes wandered aimlessly, stopping occasionally to inspect a flowering shrub or follow the path of one of the birds fluttering between the trees. They didn't speak but were never far from each other, drawing close enough to bump shoulders or touch hands occasionally, then drifting apart again. The knights watched them quietly, not interfering as long as they stayed in sight, allowing them to draw strength and comfort from each other in their own way.

Finally, as the sky darkened overhead and it began to sprinkle, they came back to stand in front of the knights again. "We're ready to go back now," Ty said simply.

"Thank you," Ky added softly.

"You're welcome, my sweet," Michael replied.

As the knights took their places at the evening meal, they silently appraised the mood of the room. The tense expectant air that had pervaded the castle during the day was still present at the evening meal. Conversation was stilted and frequently trailed off as people cast sidelong glances at the High Table. The princes, dressed in royal blue and silver with blue ribbons and tiny silver bells twined through their elaborately plaited braids, seemed oblivious to the atmosphere. They chatted easily with the people around them, and greeted the arrival of each new course with enthusiasm. If, once the food was on their plates, they pushed it around more than they ate, it wasn't noticeable.

Afterwards, they circulated among their friends, stopping to speak to people here and there or occasionally joining in the dancing, deftly turning any conversation if it threatened to get too serious. The knights remained a silent, reassuring presence in the background, not interfering except to intercept any of the queen's men who got too close. One look at David's bleak expression and not even the bravest of them was willing to accost the princes.

It was still early when the king beckoned to his sons. They joined him momentarily and then made their way across the hall to speak to the knights. "Father wants to speak with us privately, so we're leaving now," Ty informed them, and then added unthinkingly, "We'll meet you in our chambers afterward, all right?"

"Of course." David chose his words with care, aware of the many ears eavesdropping on the conversation. "We'll be there before you retire, so we may spend the night in vigil outside your doors."

"Very good," Ty approved with a haughty air and a twinkle in his eye. "Try to do it quietly, though. We have a busy day tomorrow and we're going to need our rest."

"As you wish, Your Highness," David replied with an elegant, if somewhat sardonic, bow.

Shortly after the princes left, Michael and David escaped as well. By unspoken consent, they took their glasses of wine and drifted quietly out into the deserted gardens. The thunderstorm had passed, leaving a dark velvet sky sprinkled with stars and a full moon that flirted coquettishly with the few remaining clouds. Heedless of the wet grass beneath their boots, they meandered among the foliage until they came across a secluded nook meant for trysting lovers.

"This is nice," Michael remarked as he sat down on the damp stone bench. He bent the branch of the night-flowering bush toward him for an appreciative sniff of its blossoms.

"Hey," David protested as he ducked the spray of water shaken from the bush and sat down beside the dark-haired knight.

"At least you don't have to drag a mule through the mud this time," his friend pointed out.

David laughed. "But look how well that turned out. Who knew that a toss of the coin would make so much difference in our lives?"

"Who knew?" Michael agreed, twitching the flower he held from its twig and tucking it away for Ky. He smiled at the memory of their first encounter, of the sleeping beauty who had first bitten him and then boxed his ears.

"Do you remember their first weapons lesson?" David asked with a chuckle at his own memories. "I'd never met anyone so stubborn in my life!"

"I had," Michael laughed. "But I think you finally met your match."

"I think I have, too," David said seriously. "Michael, after this is over--"

"One step at a time," Michael told him just as seriously. "Let's get through tomorrow first, then we'll worry about the day after. Meanwhile, what about one more toss?" He pulled a coin from his belt pouch. "King, we go find our princes?"

"And castle?" David asked quizzically.

"We find them and take them to bed," Michael replied with a wicked grin.

The princes had already returned when the knights arrived at their solar. Wearing matching silk robes in their favorite shade of blue, they waited impatiently, hairbrushes in hand.

"Where have you been?" Ky demanded irritably, tapping one foot as he glowered at the knights.

Taking in the drawn face and reddened eyes, Michael ignored the tone in favor of pulling out the flower and handing it to his prince with a gallant bow.

"Thank you," Ky told him in a much softer tone. "It's beautiful."

"Well?" Ty narrowed his eyes and tapped his own foot as David pretended to search through all his belt pouches.

"I must have dropped it?" he finally suggested weakly.

"Oh."

As Ty's face fell, David ceased his teasing and presented the flower he held behind his back.

"I knew you wouldn't really forget me," the prince said with a gratified smile.

"I'm not a total idiot," the blond knight muttered as he took Ty's hand and led him into their bedchamber.

"Thank you, Michael," Ky said suddenly as he rested his head on the older man's chest.

"For what?"

"For everything you've done, for making everything so special."

"I love you," Michael explained simply.

"Michael--"

"What, babe?" the knight asked when he didn't continue.

"I'm afraid."

"I am, too, love." He wrapped his arms more tightly around the young man. "I am, too."