"Okay, but you stay a little behind, and hide, okay?" I tell Stree.
"Yes, I'll protect while having your back," Stree says.
"Cute."
The door to the Queen's chambers open, and the Queen enters, while we hide beneath her bed. She sniffs loud, and sighs.
"Is that you, Skyto? Did you lose a bet with Spythun or…?"
I roll out from under the bed, before she reaches here.
"Oh, Agusth, it is you."
"Uh…" I feel my cheeks blush. "H-how, do you know me?"
"Yes, I recognise the smell. You and Skyto smell the same."
"But we never met, us two."
"Yes. Well, Spythun holds a book of a photo with all his friends."
"Wyrom does."
"Ah, you are right. Oh yes, I must've seen you on the list of all the dragons, it has everyone-"
"-Skyto told you, didn't he?"
"Skyto told me, yes," Queen sighs. "As a mom and a dragon… people really can't lie to me or hide stuff. The unknown scares me, you see. So I need to know."
"But did he-"
"-Oh hello there cutie," Queen says, while smiling, looking and moving behind me, to hold Stree's cheeks.
"Stree!" I say.
"What, she seems friendly!" Stree complains.
"In all honesty, I really am."
So, this way… rather than eavesdrop and spy on the Queen… we sit on her bed, while she holds Stree hostage on her lap, while petting her as if she were a puppy… which, I can vouch for.
"So… now the Queen is ready to hear your troubles. Why me, finally?"
"It is about the King," I say. "Only hearsay… but we need to be sure."
"Ah, I understand. But he has just gone away for a serious but un-harmful matter. No worries."
"No, that's not it. Besides, he already returned. The thing i-"
"-he returned?" Queen asks, interrupting me. "But I just… came back from… seeing him off."
"My Queen, but he… returned about two hours ago," Stree says.
"What… that can't be-" Queen gives a horrified expression, as if something hit her, and I go closer, to take a closer look: of if she is fine. "Spythun is in danger."
***
Waking up with a buzz in my head… how many times was it now? Luckily, since I asked that question, should be the last time… hopefully.
I simply sit up, realising that the bed was familiar… well, of course, I saw dad, right. So back home… at the top of my bunk-bed.
The bunk-bed is a funny story actually. I wanted a choice on whether to sleep above or below, so I wanted a bunk-bed, in-spite of being the only child. But… dad wanted me to learn patience, so waited for me to calm down about it, and THEN got me the bed.
But isn't it funny, this logic… that I have to stop liking something, to have to get it. Weird. Adult logics.
Well, I still had learnt to love it after, again. It was thrilling. I couldn't complain about sleeping bad. Then again, couldn't decide that I shouldn't wake up with a buzz… too bad, but used to it… almost.
I get down from the bunk-bed, as my noisy-self, and find Sam at the bottom bunk, sound asleep. Messy hair, falling on her face, making me want to clear them out, so that I can see her beautiful-
I hear footsteps and the door opens, while I turn to it.
"Hey dad," I say.
I find Mr. Villers behind him, but he was still in his uniform, unlike my dad; who had changed into a shirt and track pants.
Mr. Villers strictly looks into the room, scanning every corner, as if to memorize it.
"Max… you got me worried," Dad says… while looking as if he didn't mean it, with no emotions whatsoever, in his serious-tone. "Luckily, they said you weren't hurt. Neither of you."
I hear hurrying footsteps, clearly, this time, and guess who it'd be. Minerva Blesthe, the most gorgeous women in the world, my mom. My dad was a lucky man, surely, and I always told her that, but not to him, obviously.
Mom hugs me, right as she locates me, and my face gets covered by her long hairs, I blow them away from near my mouth and nose, feeling a sneeze. She was like the polar-opposite of how my dad was on the outside… but both cared, or my dad wouldn't have come to 'save' us.
"Max, I was so terrified," Mom says, finally letting go. "You sir; must be very careful, you could have been hurt badly. You aren't hurt are you?" She checks for wounds on my hands and my face.
"I already told you; he doesn't."
"What if he got scarred at the wrong place? Have you?" she whispers the later question to me, and I shake my head. "Well, good," she nods in a rhythmic manner.
"You got to be more careful, young Maxwell," Mr. Villers says. I realise again that he looked like an older version of Rusty, who I hope is fine. "I'm not just telling that because you put my son's life in danger… It is because you even put my daughter's life in danger," he says, and bursts into light laughter.
"Be serious, at least in your uniform, Ivor," Dad sighs. "We couldn't find Rusty, aren't you worried?"
"Worried? Sure, but he is still my son. Besides, weren't you the one who said that they wouldn't harm him?"
"I may be wrong. And I also said it to make you feel better."
"And I do, and I'm thankful. But, give the kid a break Parzival, no offense Max. Also laugh a little for god's sake, teach your husband laughter, dear Minerva," Mr. Villers addresses Mom.
"I tried for more than two decades… but this is the best I could do."
Dad sighs out loud, shaking his head.
"And you sir, must truly be careful," Mr. Villers comes closer, and hugs me with one hand, and he holds a military hat in another, hugging it towards his chest. "I understand that young love takes you places," he whispers, and when I look at him, I find him wink at me, and nod towards Sam.
I just feel some heat in my cheeks, with my eyes wide open, and look away to find Mom having heard the same, and clear her throat, while grinning a little, but not looking at us. Dad just seems unknown, on the other hand.
"Mr. Serious doesn't know. That one is your choice. But taking care of her…" Mr. Villers says, and turns towards dad, while still having his hand upon my shoulder. "Is your duty."
"What plot are you grumbling to my own son?" Dad asks.
Mr. Villers simply walks towards Dad, while letting me go, and pats his shoulder.
"All yours buddy. Now come, Minerva, I'm STARVING to talk to someone fun, finally."
Mom laughs a little, and leaves the room alongside Mr. Villers.
After their footsteps isn't heard anymore, Dad waits for a few more seconds before looking towards me.
"Max, I understand this is all surprising and a bit weird and off but…" Dad tilts his head sideways a bit. "If you are still here: go away, Ivor!" he speaks up his lungs, scaring me a bit.
"I'm down here you idiot! TAKE A BREAK YOURSELF!" Mr. Villers yells from the ground floor.
"Ok, my bad, so Max-" Dad tells slowly to me, before getting interrupted by Mr. Villers again.
"AND STOP SCREAMING, FOR GOD'S SAKE!" Mr. Villers coughs loudly, right after.
I crack-up a bit, but Dad stops me: by clearing his throat.
"So, I must ask you this: do you know where these dragons are now, and about Rusty?" Dad gives a rare-concerned expression.
"I don't know of that, Dad. Before I could know much about them… well, you guys came and, you know of the rest: better than me."
"Look Max, I'm a very serious guy, I can't do anything without doubting everything, and it's a default to me. But you are my… -I hope you'll tell me if you remember something or feel like sharing it, I'll let you… pick a side, Max."
He just taps my shoulder four times, and leaves, before I say anything.
Pick a side? How could he… why WOULD he, say that?
I feel a few moments after I don't hear him anymore, and then turn my head a bit to my left.
"Wake up, Ms. Samantha," I say.
"I suppose the coast is clear then," Sam says, and sits up on the bed. "I bet you couldn't decide which last name to call me with."
"Perhaps," I say while sitting to her right, in a strong fall: which creaks the bed a little. "You weren't of much help."
"Dragons, I could fight for you. But either of our dads… good riddance, honey."
"Honey? That's new," I don't look at her, but straight-forward, at the door, feeling something in my throat.
"We still haven't fixed on any cute names even after… so long," Sam says, and I spy her head bop up and down, from the corner of my eye. "Many things actually… but how did you know I was awake?"
"Not me… your dad nodded towards you, so I suppose he knew, so, in-turn I knew."
"That man's knowledge and your conclusions are pretty scary sometimes."
"And you told him about us…? Or did he just… know?"
"That'd be scarier, but, I told him. Almost everything."
Before her dad… Sam would tell everything to her mom. It was good that now she didn't have to feel a void at… not having someone. Even when I would vow to be there for her, it was good for her to have someone else.
"But I suppose we can't just… about Rusty and… Aster," I say, and Sam stays silent. "NOT the weird confession."
"God no… and of course. Of course can't tell him. Military and dragons… huh… we can't just risk both their lives by telling the truth."
"But… what if they can help Rusty?"
"Rusty?" Sam scoffs. "He'd be the last person to let dad know. Rusty doesn't like mingling with Dad. Which in-turn makes Dad sad."
"Not the time to rhyme," I sigh.
"Tell that to yourself."
"I'm glad you have a cooler dad than I remember," I sigh. "My dad on the other hand… can't even dare call his own son as 'son', his words instantly stop, as if he has a voice-crack."
"Your dad is just full-time 'military-guy' always, up-to my understanding. He tries his best, to be a good dad. He'll come through."
"Let us worry about Rusty and-" I stop as I hear footsteps.
Mom comes-in saying, "Max… honey, come have dinner."
"Mom… don't call me that."
"Son, I wasn't addressing you… don't get your hopes high. I'm still mad at you for putting yourself in harm's way. Just not in front of your dad."
Sam controls her laughter, while snorting a bit.
"I… don't have a reply."
Mom just goes away, giggling.
"Come, honey… it's dinner time," Sam winks at me, getting up.