"By the Known! What is that stench?"

"Smells like burnt hair, and... Dog?"

One Ashman said to another after one of the first Scalders had been extinguished.

Zec let his body relax. All but forgetting about the naked girl from House Raze falling asleep in his arm pit. It was always easier to reach out and find the 'knot' that connected him to his best friend Niko when he was completely relaxed, and it seemed like a tangle with a woman always relaxed him, and what a tangle she was. He dwelled on the moves of the gorgeous woman for a moment, licking his lips and still tasting her flesh there. He pushed the thoughts of her away, she was a breeder and after this tangle, he would be lucky if he ever saw her again. He hoped she would get pregnant, it would mean he'd met his yearly obligation to the Queen and House Raze. Impregnating three of their daughters to birth "spinners" to help protect the realm of man-kind was one he thoroughly enjoyed. It was just one of the few perks that came with being a Dracgon of Queen Reyna's, fulfilling the yearly edict to breed at least three woman a year was a duty Zec took seriously. He would've been willing to do more, but after that first year in which he'd knocked up twenty-three daughters of House Qwel, the Queen had set a limitation. A way too low of a number if you asked him. After all, he was doing it for the honor of his House. If tangling with a woman was a way to bring Honor about, he supposed he could live with it.

He took a deep breath and relaxed himself even more, clearing his mind. Connecting with Niko at such a great distance was difficult, trying to do a human-to-Human connection was tough. If Niko wasn't at rest, or at least not doing anything too taxing, he wouldn't hear Zec's gentle mental nudge. Zec hoped that would be the case, he was comfortable and wanted to sleep, but he knew Niko would want an update on the last Scalder, and to know how Neena was doing. Neena was one of Zec's many sisters; one that Niko, unfortunately, had feelings for. He had told him on several occasions to just tangle and breed with her, but Niko said Neena deserved more than that. Zec grimaced to himself, feeling bad for his friend. He could like Neena all he wanted, even love her, but it wouldn't matter in the end. Dracgons couldn't have just one mate, and marriage was forbidden. They were under strict ordees from the Queen that prevented them from marrying. They were to spread their seed amongst the nobles with the strongest Draca, to ensure future generations' safety, and ensure the Draca had plenty of candidates to choose from should a Dracgon meet an unexpected end.

It was a serious point of contention for Niko, to be told he couldn't marry. To be forced to bed numerous women just for the good of the kingdom didn't sit well with the Captain. Being in a noble family meant very little to those richly endowed with the Draca. Those nobles who had the Dragon magics coursing through their veins the most were little more than indentured servants to the Queen and the kingdom. Once your hair color spoke of how much Draca you possessed, you were trained to fight, 'spin'. To protect the kingdom from Vampires, Werewolves, and the occasional Dragon. It wasn't up for debate, you did as the Queen commanded. To make things even worse, at least to Niko, was the fact that the children a Dracgon did sire were taken shortly after birth to serve in the Queen's court. Ties with both mother and father were severed, and the children were raised by the Queen's appointed milk mothers. It was here that they were indoctrinated to put the needs of the kingdom over that of their own. Niko would always say that victory over the Vampires, Werewolves and Dragons had freed man-kind from their bondage, but all of the members of the noble families had simply traded one type of bondage for another. Niko seemed to struggle with being a Dracgon, where he on the other hand embraced it. Zec loved his life as a protector of man.

Zec, or affectionately known to most as "Popper", was a hulk of a man. The largest known man to ever be chosen as a Dracgon. His hair had once been brown, but now was of the purest of white since the Draca had chosen him to be the Dracgon of House Bastion. The nickname was one given to him by Niko, once the Captain saw how proficient he was at wielding the families legendary Alabastar hammers. The propensity he had for popping off Vampire heads with those hammers made "Popper" just seem a natural fit. If he were to be totally honest, he did enjoy the loud cracking and popping sound a Vampire head made when smashed between his two clapping war hammers right before they became the Alabastar shards that signaled a blood-luster's passing from this life and into the Forever Place of Damnation. He preferred the popping of the blood-luster skull so much more than that of the feral growls of a Werewolf; which he turned into high pitched, whiny whimpers with his hammers before he'd 'shard' them. He hated these tours in the south. He missed popping blood-lusters in the north. Dog duty sucked. The scantily clad women of the south were really all that made these miserable southern tours even remotely tolerable. He buried his nose in the woman's hair and took a deep breath, her scent so intoxicating to his Dracgon enhanced sense of smell. Maybe the south wasn't so bad? He'd never had the chance to kill a Dragon yet, so he wasn't sure how much he would like or dislike the way they died before becoming shards, but he couldn't wait to find out.

"Popper?"

The strength of Niko's thoughts jolted him from his. Had he connected so easily with him?

"Niko! Wow, can't believe how easy the 'knot' was this time," Popper thought back. He usually always had a hard time contacting Niko in Human form from this distance. Today had been surprisingly easy.

"I am flying over the mountains right now."

There was his answer. Niko was in Dracgon form. When one or both were in Dracgon form they linked much easier.

"Trouble?"

"Nah, just needed to clear my head and get out of the Lance for a while."

He could definitely relate to that. He didn't like the two-year breaks at the Lance either. Endless hours of training, pouring over books and maps, and filing aerial reports. Hob-knobbing with the Queen and her court, and worst of all, having to see Gillilion's dumb ass every day. He couldn't stand the General, for a multitude of reasons. The only thing that made the Lance tolerable were the clothes the women wore. They all seemed to have their fair number of ties and laces, he felt like he was unwrapping a present every time he got one of them naked for a tangle.

"Well I guess Ezra must still be acting like a bitch, since you're out flying around instead of tangling in the sheets."

He could see the grimace on Niko's face, even though they were thousands of miles apart. Niko didn't like it when he talked ill of other Dracgons, or spoke of his duty in the sheets to the realm.

"Ezra is still being difficult, so I am trying to take a different path. One I'm sure Gili wouldn't approve of."

This warmed Popper's heart: anything that would piss off the General, he was up for and fully supported. He'd been a Dracgon for close to eight years now, and since day one Gililion had been on him. First it had been about his clumsy size, which was bullshit. He was only two or three inches taller than Gili, and they both had the same build, more or less. Once he had proven he could fight, then Gili would yell at him about his odd flying techniques while in Dracgon form; he couldn't help that. After that it was his man whoring ways, how he ate his food, or how he wore his armor. The General was never happy and always a prick. What really pissed him off, was when Gili recommended that Niko and he not be in the same Braid together. Gili gave no reason for it, and the Queen had listened. Now he rarely got to see his best friend anymore. That was pretty much his sole complaint about being a Queen's Dracgon.

"Gili's being a lot harder this time around Popper, really hard. He damn near knocked out Indys' teeth, pry would've had I not interfered. His temper is worse than I've ever seen. He can't stand that the Draca chose a woman, and doesn't bother to hide it. I think I am going to have to go to the Queen about him."

He scoffed at his friends thought. "Nik, you know damn well that will do no good, the Queen does everything Gili says."

"But you don't see it Popper! He is so violent now, barely holding onto his temper at times. I'm afraid of what he might do to Ezra if he doesn't start falling in line soon."

He knew not to ignore Niko's feelings. If his friend was that worried about things, it had to be bad there. He felt bad that he couldn't offer his friend any advice or a solution.

"Well then, the Queen might be your last choice then... But man, I don't know what she will do. I mean, you got a guy that has been training with the Draca for over eight hundred years. You really think that Queen Reyna will step on his toes? I don't see it Nik, but it sounds like you're running out of options."

He could sense his friend's hesitation, but he wasn't sure over what.

"I'm gonna wait and see if Indys can get through to him before I go to the Queen."

This perked him up, Indys was a tangle he most definitely wanted to have. Ever since meeting her at Wreakers Academy, he had been trying to make her a breeder, but the higher ups had said that she was Draca filled and would make a great Bishop or Eagle, she was off limits to the Dracgon endowed.

"Man! You are so lucky to have her in your Braid. The scenery is always good there now, I bet. Tell me, is she even hotter with all that flaming red hair of the Draca?"

"You're a dumb ass, Popper."

"No, really Nik! Is she crazy hot?"

There was a pause, he smiled, Nik was thinking, meaning he would get an answer to his question.

"Yeah, Pop, she is gorgeous. A true beauty, perhaps the most beautiful woman I've ever seen; but more importantly, she fights like a tenacious dog. There is no submission in her. She will fight until her dying breath, the Draca chose well."

Excitement got the best of him.

"I knew it! Do, you're so lucky. I can't wait to be stationed in the south with her. That body in the scaled leathers is gonna be amazing. One tangle with her is all I ask of the Known. Let him grant me that, and I will forever be a diehard believer."

He could sense the laughter in Niko, he might not be able to solve his friend's problems, but at least he could make him laugh.

"How's your sister Pop?" Niko moved on.

He played stupid. Cute, but stupid.

"Which one, Nik? Royal records say daddy Roy had the women untangle over seven-hundred and fifty of them. I don't have info on all of them but will..."

Niko interrupted.

"Dammit Popper, you know damn well who I am talking about."

The satisfaction of sensing Niko's frustration warmed him more than the stifling heat of the Scorch.

"OHHHHH! ... You mean Neena."

"Yeah, dumbass, Neena."

Yes! Name calling made this even better.

"Well Captain, if this is just an official inquiry, sister Neena has been made Eagle of the families' Fifth Scalder-Rig. Just got it up and running, it will be deployed the next time we fight a Scalder. If this is a personal inquiry, then she's sleeping around like a free whore, tangling with anything rodded with two nuts. Although I did see Ty 'the one nut' leaving her room the other morning, I am sure that was just a social call."

The playful venom being sent his way was as refreshing as the waters of Bourn's Oasis.

"Ass maggot! You're a total ass maggot, Pop."

"Ass maggot, Nik? Really? That's kind of a harsh thing to say to the guy looking out for your girl, don't you think? Ass maggot? What the...? Your mind is some kind of messed up. Ass maggot! How unbearably rude. Where do you come up with this shit? Deranged, I say. Deranged!"

He could sense hesitation on Niko's end, before Niko went on.

"I got it from Indys. That's what she was calling Gili today."

"Nik, I love her! Really, I do! I feel warm things going on down there right now, she was made just for me. I..."

He was suddenly pulled from his merriment with Niko, as the large Alabastar horns of the south suddenly sounded.

"Gotta go Niko! Scalder!"