S'haar looked down at the young noble standing before her. Well, not precisely down. Despite his slightly taller frame, the kid was so lanky and underdeveloped that it was hard for her to think of him as anything but small. Even Em'brel would probably be more than a match for him in a slugfest, or any other fight, for that matter. Of course, it didn't help that, despite the glare he was directing her way, she could detect a shiver of fear behind it. Still, he wasn't trying to overcompensate by throwing his "weight" around. The kid seemed to grasp his current situation and was willing to work with them to some extent.

One moment stretched into the next, and S'haar wondered if she should repeat herself when the kid –To'brel, she reminded herself– finally spoke. "What... what is it you want for my release?"

It was a reasonable question, all things considered. S'haar let her tendrils relax as she decided how best to answer. "Well, our demands are simple enough. Your father has sent several raiders, and recently even an assassin, after my adoptive daughter. I want him to stop. I understand why he feels she's a threat to his newfound power, but I also don't care. If he keeps pushing us, next we'll be negotiating with whoever succeeds him."

S'haar watched as his posture tensed and gaze sharpened at mentioning a possible successor for his father. He obviously understood the implied threat. That was good. It meant the kid wasn't an idiot.

After a moment, To'brel unexpectedly laughed. "That, that's ridiculous! I don't know who your daughter is, but how could she possibly threaten a village leader? Unless it has something to do with your not-so-subtle threat just now?"

S'haar tilted her head in contemplation, unsure if he was playing ignorant or actually unaware of his father's actions. "No, she's not a threat in that manner. Rather, I think he's afraid she'll return and claim what's rightfully hers."

Turning to face down the hallway, S'haar called out. "Em'brel, come here for a moment, please."

S'haar could hear Em'brel's timid approach, but her attention was refocused on To'brel. Once his cousin entered the room, his reaction reflected genuine surprise. His eyes dilated, his ridges shot up, and his jaw fell slack. Even his tendrils fell limp.

Em'brel all but hid behind S'haar as the kid gathered his wits. Then he tried to step forward, causing Em'brel to flinch back. That was when he felt a firm tug from the restraints Lon'thul still had hold of. Stopping his approach, To'brel spoke. "Em'brel! It is you! You're alive! But...how?"

Em'brel took a moment to gather her own thoughts before speaking. "Well...you'll have to be more specific. Life's been...interesting, as of late."

To'brel pressed on. "But at the start of last winter, when you left for A'ngles' village, you and your father were ambushed and killed!"

The younger woman flinched back at the memory and took a moment to answer. "It is true we were ambushed, and my father was...killed...but I was taken...captive."

Em'brel shivered at the memory, her gaze unfocused as unwanted memories held her captive for a moment. A deep breath later, she shook her head to free her mind as her eyes refocused on the here and now. "But I was rescued by Jack and S'haar. I've been living with them ever since. They've taken good care of me."

Grim trotted over and nudged Em'brel's hand. She smiled and began scratching him like the cloaked argu'n had done before. "Life here has been rough at times, but it's also been good. I'll never stop missing my father or forget what happened to me after, but I'm also grateful to my new family. In many ways, it feels like I've spent whole lifetimes with them here at this place."

To'brel looked conflicted, as though he had a hundred thoughts swirling around inside his mind. Finally, he settled with shaking his head. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that, but I'm glad to see you're okay." Then he looked down at his feet, trying to sort through his many thoughts.

S'haar nodded her head, then turned her attention back to To'brel. "Satisfied?"

The kid looked like he had something else to say but narrowed his eyes instead. "Not even close, but I suppose it's enough for the time being. So what now? Do I just go sit in a cell somewhere and wait?"

S'haar nodded. "For tonight at least, that might be best. After that, what happens will largely depend on you."

To'brel looked up in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

S'haar shrugged. "Well, we could afford you some degree of limited freedom, so long as you're willing to swear a blood oath that you will respect our rules and not attempt to seek your freedom until the issues at hand have been resolved."

The noble youth looked more suspicious. "So what, I swear an oath, and you'll let me run around however I'd like?"

S'haar shook her head. "Well, not quite. There will be restrictions on where you can and can't go, and you'll always have an escort of some kind, but it's probably a lot better than staring at the inside of a cell wall for days, weeks, or maybe even months. But don't worry, you don't have to decide right now. We'll wait until after you've eaten and rested and thinking a little more clearly."

To'brel was still suspicious but couldn't find any immediate trap in her words, and there was something really delicious-smelling cooking nearby. He raised his bound hands, looking from them to S'haar with a raised eye ridge. "Alright. It's not like I have much choice in the matter. I am your captive, after all."

S'haar smiled. "I'm glad we're clear on that. Lon'thul, Chal'ac, take him to the guardhouse where we kept the assassin. It's already set up and ready to hold someone for a while. There should be guards already there, waiting for our guest. Then you can get some much-deserved food and rest."

The female hunter nodded and turned smartly to head out the door even as Lon'thul lamented. "Aww, man! I thought I was already done for the day!"

At S'haar's appraising glance, he grinned sheepishly. "Alright, alright, no need to deliver a speech. I'll get him there. I totally get a day off to recover, though!"

Chal'ac looked sharply at the other hunter. "Lon'thul! Don't mouth off to Lady S'haar like that!"

S'haar held up a hand to stop any further arguing. "No, it's okay. You've both earned a day to recover, and despite your absence the last couple of days, our food supplies are just fine."

Chal'ac looked like she had other thoughts on the subject but let it go. Lon'thul was a little less tactful. "See? I told ya! We do things differently around here!"

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

It might have been an accident the way Chal'ac's shoulder slammed into Lon'thul as she walked out, but S'haar doubted it.

*  

As the hunters and the captive left the room, Em'brel relaxed and released the tension in her shoulders she hadn't realized was there. "I think... I think I'm going to go relax for a bit. If anyone needs me, I'll be in my room."

Jack smiled encouragingly. "Go ahead. You have good reason to need a bit of peace and quiet, but just so you know, you did well tonight."

The girl nodded slowly, then stumbled out of the room, Grim a step behind her. Once they were alone, S'haar looked at Jack. "Well? What are your thoughts?"

Jack sighed and leaned back. "I don't claim to be an expert in reading argu'n expressions, but I don't think he was playing games or trying to be deceitful. So I'm reasonably confident he hasn't been involved in what's been happening. But, on the other hand, he didn't seem to want to be here either, not that I blame him. Still, I think we'll have to watch him closely."

S'haar nodded. "That was pretty much my read as well. Given how tired and hungry he must be, I'm rather impressed with how calm and collected he was through the ordeal."

Jack grinned as he stretched his sore leg. "I suspect we have Lon'thul to thank for that. I'm guessing he's been slowly introducing the kid to the idea that we're not just a bunch of raiders, despite his current captivity. Then, when he was already off his guard, Em'brel disarmed whatever fight he had left in him. Of course, he'll probably still look at us as enemies, we did kidnap him after all, but maybe he'll be willing to listen to some of what we have to say, regardless."

S'haar looked at Jack expectantly. "It probably goes without saying, but you're not to be around him without a bodyguard."

Jack's grin grew more mischievous as he shrugged. "Well, I doubt he'll be without a guard of some kind anytime soon, and I'd need a translator to speak with him, anyway. How much trouble could I possibly get into?"

The glare S'haar directed his way had enough of an edge that it was clear she didn't think Jack was as funny as he thought. "Uh-huh. Now you're just baiting me for a reaction."

Jack's expression became hopeful. "Did it work?"

S'haar rolled her eyes and tossed him his cane. "Shut up, and let's go get some food. I'm sure Lon'thul will be looking for you so he can tell you the story of his latest heroics."

Jack looked slightly disappointed that she hadn't taken the bait before accepting S'haar's offered hand. As she helped him to his feet, the human sighed in acceptance of his failure. "Fair enough. I could use a bite."

*  

To'brel was sitting in his jail cell, bored. Though, in all fairness, it was a pretty comfortable cell. Apparently, they'd hauled in a surprisingly well-made bed just for him, and if he was honest, it was even more comfortable than the one he had at home. On top of that, the meal they'd given him had been a rich stew, seasoned to perfection. He almost felt more like an honored guest than a prisoner.

True, one of his walls was mainly bars, and there were two guards stationed just outside, but even they were treating him more like a guest than a prisoner. He could ask them for anything, and if it was within their power, one would run and get it for him. They were even happy to speak with him about any casual subjects he chose, but were apparently under orders not to talk about the Outpost or why To'bel was here. Since those were the only two things on his mind, that basically meant he was alone with his thoughts.

Still, it was odd his captors were so concerned with his comfort and well-being. It brought to mind something Lon'thul had said to the female hunter on the way here. "Now, I would have thought you'd've been around long enough to know we don't do things the usual way here." He'd been right about that, in more ways than one.

There was even a window on one wall enabling him to look out into the night sky. Apparently, they'd installed it just for him, something that was only possible (and apparently surprisingly easy) because of the odd dirt they built the walls out of. He'd scrapped a claw along a wall to see if it would reveal any secrets to him. The wall had scored easily. It was indeed dirt, but it was similar to sandstone in density and toughness. He could have probably dug his way out, but there was no way the guards wouldn't notice the attempt, and he was still curious what this was really all about. They'd said some pretty accusatory things about his father, which To'brel had initially disregarded, but then Em'brel had shown up and shattered his confidence.

When Lon'thul'd so casually mentioned Em'brel on the way to the Outpost, To'brel assumed the hunter had been lying as some sort of ploy. But now he was questioning everything that'd happened up till now. Of course, he'd been happy to see his cousin alive and safe, despite the horrible conditions she'd so obviously endured, but what did this mean regarding everything that had happened since her disappearance? Or before it, for that matter...

Were these people right that his father had been trying to assassinate her all this time? All while appearing to mourn the loss of his brother and niece? True, To'brel's father never had liked his brother or respected his leadership. He'd always claimed his brother was weak and dragging the village down with his incompetence. But would he go so far as to kill his own brother to take his place?

To'brel tossed and turned uncomfortably as his mind raced,conflicting thoughts preventing him from finding sleep, despite his exhaustion. He was just getting ready to get out of bed and try pacing for a while when a voice called out from his window. "Pst! Hey kid! Sounds like you're having a tough time shutting down for the night. Wanna talk about it?"

It was obviously a female of some kind, but aside from that, the voice didn't particularly give anything away about the speaker. Still, maybe a distraction was just what he needed. He shook his head, then laughed a little to himself as he realized the futility of the act. Instead, he sighed. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather talk about something else, but the only other thing of interest right now is this place, and you're all under strict orders not to talk about it."

He could practically hear the mischievous grin on the stranger's face. "Eh, it was more of a suggestion than an order. Besides, it's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission. So tell me, what do you think of this outpost of ours?"

To'brel couldn't see anything but stars outside his window because of how high up it was, but he leaned against the wall to feel closer to the speaker, wrapping himself in a blanket more for security than warmth at the moment. "Honestly? I don't know what to think. I have so many questions, I don't know where to start. If I had to pick one, I guess it would be, what's the point of all this? Why is this place even here to begin with?"

There was a rather undignified snort on the other end, followed by an amused chuckle. "Had to ask a big complicated question with an imprecise answer, rather than something simple like 'what's this wall made out of?' didn't you?"

To'brel's tendrils shook a little with embarrassment. "Yeah, maybe it was a stupid question..."

The voice cut him off. "No. Actually, it's an impressive question. One that indicates a mind searching for answers to the bigger picture. If anything, I'm impressed."

The voice shifted to a slightly more wistful tone. "The simple answer is, this outpost exists for family. As you've probably heard, this place is named the 'Dragon's Outpost.' It got its name because the whole thing was built around a cave created by the Dragon when she crashed into the mountainside. She was severely injured in the crash, and her brother, Jack, wasn't strong enough to save her on his own. They likely would have died out here except, by fate or fortune, S'haar was left as a sacrifice to appease the Dragon."

There was a warmth to the voice as it continued. "The stories that followed would take me all night and day to tell, but the short version is S'haar, then Em'brel, joined the Dragon's family. After that, things got kind of desperate and crazy. There were many setbacks, and danger seemed to wait around every corner, but eventually, this place took on a life of its own. However, Jack, the Dragon, and their steadily expanding family were at the core of everything. Many of the people here have become precious to the Dragon, and she guards them all with the zeal of a sister or mother."

To'brel found himself lost in the intensity of the voice's emotion before stopping and realizing something. After a pause, he voiced the nagging question. "You speak of all this as though you have intimate insight into everything that's happened here from the beginning. Who are you?"

The voice practically purred its response. "Oh, you are a clever one, aren't you? I like you, kid. My name is Angela, but you can call me by my title if you like. They call me 'The Dragon."

To'brel sat in stunned silence as the voice chuckled, and very heavy footsteps walked away from the wall of his cell.