The empress stood there froze, staring at the dragon for the longest time. 

"What was that?" Vamier asked wide eyed, impressed by the dragon. 

"I speak demonic. I'm fluent in both languages of good and evil." Soranto explained.

"I was not aware of that ability." Ralvania spoke in a firm tone.

Cocking his head to one side, glaring at her the dragon responded, "You don't know everything, how shocking." 

Looking down then back to him she replied in a fierce tone.

"Thank you for once again saving my existence, but you're horrible." She winked, letting him know she was teasing him.

"Does that surprise you?" 

"Not one bit." She answered.

The gremlin began to twitch and fidget, the look of an oncoming nervous breakdown any moment. 

"Do you guys think maybe it isn't safe here?" He asked.

"I think you're right little fellow." Soranto agreed.

"I'd have to agree with you there." The empress added.

       Both of you climb on. I'll be okay for a little while longer." The dragon told them.

They did as the dragon requested, one at a time. Once they were on and ready the dragon bolted to the skies higher up and above the cloud mass in seconds.  

     Soranto kept going on even through the late  afternoon pushing as hard as he could, forcing himself until nightfall. This time he may have over done it, his wing ached and throbbed. He might have pulled a muscle. Of course he'd never admit it to the empress. Curling into a large ball far to exhausted to care where he had landed the three of them, slept as soon as his head was upon the soft grasses. 

             Once they had climbed safely down from the dragon's back, the empress rummaged around  her bag of magic until finding and then checking the map. 

   "Where are we?" The gremlin asked, half afraid of where they might have landed.

"According to this map not far from Galeverton City. I've never seen it." She explained with a little grin.

He just shook his head.

"Lead on, mighty empress." He replied.

Nodding and walking swiftly through the forest along a rock covered path she led them west for a few miles, noticing different things along the way. Silver speckled plants with large oval shaped leaves , teal bamboo trees scattered across the forest with other kinds. Many she'd seen before but a few she hadn't. 

In one of the dark purple oak trees, a silver glitter raven making it's home. She smiled at the gorgeous bird high above as they walked on.