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Ishi's Travels

John hadn't realized that Ishi had removed the slippers from her feet when he helped her onto Ulteth's neck, but he soon realized it when the slippers fell from her hands and pass him before they fell to the earth below, most likely never to be found or worn by humans again. That didn't mean they wouldn't be found, but most likely the pair of slippers would be found by some beast or rot away. He chuckled and looked at her, seeing her hang her head in what seemed like shame and he placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright Ishi, if you didn't like them we can easily find you something that can fit you." he shouted to try to be heard above the roar of the wind in ones ear as they continued to soar high above in the air.

Down below the landscape changed drastically, from the wooded basin of the Dragon's range, to the rolling plains, woods and even a small desert. John always found the terrain around his home, and he would have to say Ishi's as well until she decided to leave, to be quite random and seemed to constantly change. He figured that that was only his imagination playing tricks on his mind though since they were so high up, the air was a little thin and that could have been messing with him. Silence had fallen between Ishi and him as they flew on, but John held onto Ishi tightly as they were finally starting to approach Rinya's home.
 
Ishi turned her head as far around as she could as John spoke. He didn't think she liked the shoes, but she had. She loved them, just couldn't wear them without them hurting. She had planned on placing them in her room so she could at least look at them each day. But now...now they were gone. She sighed, but said nothing. No use trying to shout.

It was easy to tell when they had entered the Russian air space. There seemed to be a feeling of moisture in the air that was very thick. The sun was attempting its to penetrate the grayish air, a few streaks breaking through. Below, the nearby City seemed to be bustling with people. None of whom even thought of looking up, why should they? Who would be expecting to see a dragon with people on its back? But the beauty of this large city was impossible to ignore. Buildings in shapes she had never seen before, but had heard from Rinya. Perhaps Rinya had walked the streets below once upon a time.

Muted colors bleed across their view as they looked down. Fields where plants thrived made Ishi remember the plant she had to leave behind at the Compound. A part of her still longed to be near her gardens. Some building seem to touch the clouds as they gently passed by. The steepled roofs often golden against the sun's rays. The streets were cobble stoned, and in the center of the city was a sort of farmer's market filled with not just farmers but wares of all kinds.

But they passed the city, and a number of small towns and villages. Ulteth continued to fly out to a secluded area where there loomed a huge mansion that screamed someone special lived within its walls. it was here that Ulteth began to descend to. Once they were on the ground, they stayed where they were until someone came out to find out why they were there. It didn't take long before a small company of men dressed om beautifl uniforms of Red, White and Gold, circled around them, spears at hand, demanding who they were and their business.

Ishi let John explain their business. As he spoke of Rinya, there came a stir to their left. From one of the doors walked a tall, regal man. He had a well groomed beard and mustache. His clothing of finest silks and by the way he walked, one had to know it was Rinya's father. Ulteth gently laid Rinya's body down on the ground and, with Ishis and John still on his back, took a number of steps backwards so that the man could take possession of his son.

Ishi could get over how much Rinya had looked like his father. She couldn't help but wonder if Rinya would still have looked so much like him once he was his father's age at that moment. Although Rinya's father was composed, Ishi could tell a deep battle was playing inside him. Soon, the man motioned for his son to be taken away. As Rinya was removed, the man then looked at the two dragon riders. "Welcome. I wish to thank you for bringing my son home." Walking up to the dragon's side, he held out his arms for Ishi to help her down. "You must be Ishi. My son was able to get a message to me from time to time. I know you both were very close." Ishi slid off Ulteth into the Count's arms. "He was so much more than my friend, he was the only true family I ever had."

Once Ishi was in the Count's arms, he gave her a hug. Releasing her, he looked up at John, clicked his heels and bowed. "I understand you are the man that rescued the people my son had grown to love so much. Thank you for bringing my son home to me. My name is Count Alexander Brosnoff, at our service." The Count was trying his best to keep within protocol, but he had just had his son brought home, and knew he was going to need some time before truly being the proper host to his guests. As John slid off Ulteth, the Count clapped his hands and began to tell his servants to take care of his guests, to tend to their every needs, take them to their rooms, and to feed, care and bed the dragon who must be very weary from the flight. Then turning to Ishi and John, he bowed once more. "Please forgive my absense, but I must tend to my son. My home is your home for as long as you need it." Again he bowed sharply to John. then turning to Ishi, "When you are ready to see those who were brought here from the slave encampment, you have only to ask and the servants are instructed to take you. I shall see you both later tonight when we shall dine together." Then the Count left them within a flurry of servants determined to make sure the Counts guest wanted for nothing.

Looking at John, Ishi said, "The poor man is hurting so much, I could feel it. And yet, he made sure we would be taken care of. He is so much like the Rinya that I grew up with." Her voice was soft, the pain of loosing Rinya so clear in her mind again. Just then the servants came and hurried them into the castle.
 
As they flew John looked down to watch the landscape below them pass by, the cities and terrain new to him and caught his attention for a little while, but soon the dreary landscape began to bore himself. The snow that seemed to cover everything, whether it was nature or man-made, was boring to behold after the first few seconds and already John found himself wishing that they were back at home where even if it was a trick on his eyes, the landscape was always changing before him. With a sigh he just focused on Ishi's back until they reached what appeared to be Rinya's home, and this was only confirmed when they landed and a tall, regal looking man come out from the mansion and looked merely an older version of Rinya. John watched and listened to all that happened around him and Ulteth, watching the spear wielding soldiers until the Count basically gave them both free reign of his home with the servants hurrying them inside.

John didn't like the feeling of being pushed somewhere that he didn't want to go and so his pace quickened so that they were no longer doing so as his head turned to look at Ishi and then to look back at Ulteth. He was worried for them both, for while Rinya was a good man, neither of them knew what kind of man Alexander Brosnoff was and could easily be putting a mask on to hide the true him, but what worried him more at that very moment was Ishi. He wondered how she was going to handle suddenly being asked what it was that she wanted by servants, knowing full well what happened to her when she was given a choice. He only hoped that she would be able to control herself unlike with the clothes when she fell to the floor begging for him to stop.

Mentally he told Ulteth to keep an eye on the servants and to report to him of anything fishy and then sighed at himself. He was most likely the most suspicious dragonrider that had ever lived, but still he thought he was in the right since this man and his army of servants were complete strangers to him. And all of this passed through his head as both Ishi and he was led into a lavishing dining room where lunch was being served to them, making John realize just how much time had passed as they flew to deliver Rinya's body to his family. Looking the food over, John gave Ishi only a glance and nodded his head before he began to dig in.
 
Ishi had not felt anything from the Count upon meeting him. His grief over powered his entire being. Her heart had gone out to him for his ability to hold himself together with such a burden on his heart. As John ans she were escorted into the Counts castle, she glanced at John. She could sense his uneasiness and again wondered if he ever relaxed completely. Reaching out, she took his hand in a reassuring way. Smiling at him, she squeezed his hand, "It will be alright, John. I'll know if things should go badly." She said softly, hoping he would feel reassured.

As they arrived at the dining table, Ishi stopped short. The room was a bustle of movement as the servants hurried to place more food than two people could ever eat upon the table. As she was ushered to her seat, one servant held the chair as she sat down, which made her uncomfortable. Every face there watched them constantly, so eager to be at their beck and call. She watched John begin to eat, she on the other hand barely ate, her eyes looking into the eyes of those around her. She wanted to hide from those looks, and her shoulders came up higher as her head lowered in an effort of not being noticed. But their stares continued. Slowly, she began to take a roll, a piece of fruit or two, a potato and slip them into her pocket for later. How thankful she was when John had finished and was ready to move on. Happily, she rose and moved very close beside him and they were escorted to another part of the castle.

Soon they arrived at their rooms. They had been settled in rooms across the hall from each other. As they servants opened the door and let Ishi in, she was overcome with the rich, opulent room. The colors were in shades of lilac and white. The four poster bed was overstuffed with quilts and silk sheets with matching pillows. Slowly, Ishi walked over and sat on the side of the bed. She sank an inch or two into the mattress and her breath caught in her throat. Quickly, she stood up and almost ran to John who was still in the hall watching her, falling to his arms for protection. The servant's eyes grew wide, fearful she was displeased. "Please Miss, tell me what is wrong so I may fix it. I'm here only to make sure your stay is most enjoyable. Please tell me what I can do." The fear in the servant's eyes evident.

Ishi slowly moved behind John, her head resting on his back, as she whispered so he could hear her. "Its too nice for me, John. I sink into the mattress, as if it wants to eat me!" Her voice shook. "And...and I am afraid I'll break something, what if the Count becomes angry with me?" Ishi, carefully moved her face to John's arm and let one eye look around at the servant. "I do not want her to watch me. I feel strange, John." She shook, trying her best to stay composed.
 
John had enjoyed the meal as he ate everything that the servants placed before him, from different meats that were cooked and treated differently to fruits that he had never heard of or seen, John let himself indulge a little since he knew he wouldn't get to have a meal such like this again in a very long time, if ever for that matter. Out of the corner of his eye though he saw that Ishi wasn't eating much of the food presented before her, seeming to play with it a little before she stuffed some of it into her pockets. He shook his head, knowing that he was going to have a time getting her to adjust to all of this that was new to her, almost like training a new born dragon in some ways.

With a silent sigh he stood once it seemed the two of them were done and let the servants then guide them to their rooms, but John didn't dare to enter his room yet, knowing that his gut warned him of something happening, and it didn't take long before Ishi was running back out of her room and hiding behind John, saying that the room is too much for her and that she was afraid of breaking something. He laughed a little and guided her back into her temporary room to sit her back down on the bed, feeling himself sink into the bed a little. "Ishi, you have to stop believing that everything is too good for you now. Your life as a slave is over and a new chapter is beginning. Embrace it and try your best to enjoy it. You'll enjoy this new life, trust me. If you want, I can sleep with you in this room or you in mine to help you adjust better." he suggested lightly while hugging her a bit.
 
Ishi let John drag her back into the room and past the servant, who stood there looking at Ishi strangely. Perhaps because she had heard John speak of Ishi being a slave? Ishi could only wonder as John sat on the bed and semi-forced her to sit too. It wasn't that Ishi didn't like the feel of the bed, it was heavenly. And as John told her to embrace this new life, she cringed, glancing over at the servant who was taking it all in. Looking back at John she whispered, "Can we make her leave now?" Her face flushed with a tinge of pink around her cheeks.

Suddenly, John must have realized her embarrassment, as he ordered the servant to leave them. Slightly bowing, the woman left, closing the door behind her. It was only at the sound of the door latching that allowed Ishi to turn and look to make sure the woman was gone. Standing up, Ishi began to pace back and forth. "Was I like that? Always hovering about, watching, always watching?" One hand went to her hips as the other ran her fingers through her hair. "Its horrible. I don't like it. I want my little hut back. There was no one to pry into my world, no other slave would have entered my space unless I allowed it and vice versa."

She was still pacing when she stopped and looked at John again, "Yes....yes, I would like it if you would stay. What if they come in the middle of the night? What horror to awaken with her hovering about, John. I don't think I would react well. What if I.....what if...I accidently.......hurt her." Ishi was almost in tears again. What an insult that would be to Rinya and his family.
 
John listened to Ishi after he had dismissed the servant as she asked, knowing that she was definitely unsettled by this all it seemed, and the words that she spoke to him only confirmed it all as she looked at him, eyes beginning to water up as she asked him what if's. Standing up before her, John walked over to Ishi as the need to protect her rose in him again at the sight of her becoming scared and tearing up, and without any prompting he wrapped his arms about her and hugged her close. "It will be alright Ishi, everything shall and will be fine. Nothing bad is going to happen to you and you will hurt no one." he whispered softly into her ear while stroking her hair a little.

"You just need some time to adjust, just look at your siblings. Their adjusting rather well to their new lives I would say, but they will be worried if you cannot do the same. But they will be there to help you adjust to it all as will I Ishi. So don't worry about hurting or breaking anything, alright?" he asked, stepping back to cup her chin in one of his hands to make her look into his eyes, a compassion that could be found deep within them if one looked into them, "Everything shall work out in the end and you will see that you were meant for such things." He brought his head down towards hers, and gently kissed her on the forehead, not kissing her anywhere else unless he wished to scare her and ruin what work he has accomplished with her.
 
As John's protective arms circled her, she did not hesitate to accept his warm embrace. John had shown her in the last few days that he was no threat to her. That he merely extended his hand as a friend and would not hurt her. So she melted into his arms, and listened to what he had to say. When he spoke of how the siblings were adjusting well, wondered if it were true. She really hadn't spent much time with them. But he made her look up and kissed her forehead before she could speak, and it rather took the words away as she looked into his eyes. Rinya had looked at her like this often, was it possible that Rinya's spirit was guiding John on how best to deal with her? She could only hope so.

Suddenly feeling strangely inside herself, she gently pulled away from John and walked over to a nearby window. "I wonder how the Count is dealing with Rinya's death. I can't help but feel a strangeness to this place, as if there were an unsettling undercurrent." She glanced at John, "Do you feel it at all?" Her eyes were drawn to the window once more as she watched constant movement of the servants as they went about their routines. "It reminds me of the compound and our daily life there." Glancing back at John, she asked. "Isn't that strange?"
 
He was glad to see that Ishi seemed to have calmed down at what he had spoken, unless she was hiding it rather well now all of a sudden, but he doubted that and smiled at her a bit more as she pulled away from him and moved over to the window and comment about the Count. John moved over to the window by her side to watch the servants go about their daily activities, knowing and hearing that they reminded her of home. "The Count is taking it pretty hard Ishi, of that I'm certain. I only know of Rinya, so his death is possibly a fatal blow by the fact that he was his oldest and only son." he sad sadly before adding onto it in a mutter, "a broken promise." John didn't know if Rinya promised his father that he would come back alive or dead, but still any promises he made were now broken thanks to John arriving and liberating the slaves and at her question he shook his head. "I feel nothing from this land."

Turning around, he decided to change the subject to something happier than the death of her friend and the Count's son, although it was going to always be there hovering over their heads like a storm cloud waiting to unleash its fury. "Lets go and check on those other slaves that we're brought here, see how it is that they are doing with the adjustments and see if they are truly happy, unless you had something else in mind Ishi," he said, looking at her with a hand placed on her shoulder.
 
Ishi shook her head no, her eyes still focused on the faces of those below. "No, nothing else in mind." She turned towards John. "I would love to see how the others adjusting. And perhaps it would do them good to see a familiar face." She smiled. As John took her hand, they left the room to find the servant at the end of the hall. John explained to the woman where they wanted to go, and she hesitated for a moment. "Wouldn't you rather rest a bit for now? You've had such a long journey."

Ishi, thoroughly tired of this woman said, "No...we are not tired. We wish to see the slaves that were sent here." The woman immediately showed them through the castle. The further they went, the poorer the surroundings became until they were walking down narrow dank passageways. Finally they came to a large door. Once opened it lead into a large room where bed had been made in neatly rows to house the people that had been sent there, but no one was in the room. "This is where they live?" Asked Ishi in astonishment. All the luxuries she had been enjoying and this is how the slaves lived. Looking at the woman, she asked, "Where are they?" The woman stepped back a bit, "They are through that door, getting some fresh air. They are well, my lady. I can assure you." Ishi immediately ran to the door and opened it. The woman had spoken true, for there in an enclosed courtyard were about 200 faces looking back at her. When they saw who it was, they came rushing towards her. A chorus of voices crying out, weeping and praising her for coming to save them.

At first Ishi was overwhelmed, backing up into the room once more until she was tripped by a cot and fell upon it. The looks of despair and fear upon their faces, the emotions that were being registered inside her from all of them, was about to overtake her and she covered her head and formed into a fetal position, not sure what else to do, and not wanting to accidentally loose control over her powers and hurt them. "John!!! John...." She didn't know what else she could do.
 
As the servant led them through the castle he noticed that their surroundings got worse and worse, like the servants were told not to clean down this way or something, but he passed it off to bad housekeeping until they reached the room that the servant was assuring them that those rescued slaves but once they entered the chambers John was appalled by what he saw. It was even worse than their first home, despite how evil that bastard was at least he took care of his slave, but the Count didn't seem to care about these people at all. And it was even worse when Ishi went through another door only to stumble back in and fall to the ground in the fetal position. John quickly ran to the door, and although he knew the slaves would see it differently, he slammed it shut and locked it on them. He didn't need them making it worse on Ishi and making her lose control again.

He glared harshly at the servant that brought them here, scaring her from them, before he took Ishi up into his arms. "It's alright Ishi, I'm here for you and them. Don't worry, we'll get them out of here and somewhere better, somewhere where they will be treated like actual people, not like a bunch of cattle." he said, standing and carrying her back to her room to lay her down on her bed. "We can't confront the Count about this though. We're in the middle of his home and surrounded by his soldiers. Even with Ulteth we wouldn't get out of here, but I think I have a plan on how we can get the slaves out of here without anything happening to us." he said to her as he stroked her hair a little and stood over her to make sure she wasn't going to lose control.
 
Ishi was shaking as she looked at John. "Its too late, John, he has already been in formed." She said coldly, feeling her anger rise. "Rinya had been too long with Master....or he forgot how his father was." Standing, Ishi began to wring her hands. "You could get them out, John. If you had my help." She looked at him cautiously, not sure how he would react. Hadn't the Master been so terrified by Ishi he had sent her to the fields? Of course, he claimed she would do wonders on the food supply.

Turning towards John, her head slightly down, she confessed. "There are things I can do....but I choose not to do. But if you can get my people out of here, I can hold the Count and his army back. Cause I already know he will not want us to leave this place. Her would rather kill the slaves and us, for he blames us for his son's death." Her voice was breathy and filled with fear. Not for herself, but for those who had no power of protection within them. These were the ones that needed protection. John included.
 
John shook his head at Ishi, for he knew that she had some gifts thanks to her mother, but he wasn't going to let her do something that could get her killed, and he voiced his arguments. "The Count needs to know that his son died doing what he wanted to do, that he would die again to get you and the others out of that place that you were kept locked up in," he said, standing up and looking out through the window to where roughly Ulteth should have been, although his large body couldn't have be seen from where they were John knew he was fine or else Ulteth would have sent him a mental message. For now they were safe, but he knew how long that would be before the Count had his men come storming in and killing them all.

"We need to act fast. He knows that we know but f we act fast we can get all of them out before anything drastic happens. We'll have to have Ulteth take them all to some place safe while we both stay behind to ensure their safety. How we'll do that though I don't know. I didn't bring any firestones with me or we could easily keep his men back with fire." he said, then turning to look at Ishi, knowing that she could do something that she hadn't said that she could, after all she did say there are things she can do. "What kind of things can you do?" he asked, trying to think of a plan.
 
Ishi listened patiently to John. There was much she could do, but he had never asked before. "Much. In fact, I could hold everyone within this castle in a state of sleep, until you get them all out and safely taken care of. But with this large a place, the longest would probably be two hours. I'm sorry, I've never tried this on such a large place before."

Walking over to a seat, she sat down, her thoughts going to the slaves. "But you need to think quickly John, for I can see the Count. He is giving orders to his men....the slaves will be attacked very very soon." Her eyes went up to his, she looked so sad. But one thing she did not display, was fear of a battle. She held the aura of one who knew they would not, or could not, be harmed. The assurance she displayed was completely foreign to her helplessness within her freedom. But for Ishi they were two separate issues. And for some strange reason, the idea of using her powers began to excite her a little. Especially after seeing how the slaves had been treated.

Standing, she walked over to John. "If they were frozen, asleep.....you could bring in other dragon flyers to help. There are so many to carry. Just like you did at the compound." Of course, the question would be why hadn't she used this at the compound. That was another story.
 
John heard her say that she could hold everyone in a sleep like state and that only brought the question of why she didn't do that back at her home, but he didn't ask that as he watched her go seat herself. Oddly he noticed that unlike how she acted when it came to her having to pick clothes out for herself from the storeroom, she was acting more confident it seemed. She wasn't afraid or hesitant of what it was that she was going to doing and he just merely nodded his head at her. "Alright do it. I just hope you don't accidentally get me or the slaves within this power of yours as well." he said, and then left her in the room by herself to head back to the chambers that served as the slaves holding pen.

Running through the halls and retracing his steps to a place he only been to once, John noticed that besides the echo of his footsteps bouncing off the stone walls, he was the only one that was about. There were no servants dashing about doing chores or trying to stop him, making him think that the Count had already given his orders and that the soldiers were on their way and the servants had been ordered to stay out of the way. He could only hope that Ishi wouldn't be too late to cast whatever spell, charm or whatever it was that she was about to do on the soldiers. Ulteth, go home, fly between and get out Wing now. Rinya's father is keeping them prisoner." he thought to his dragon and then sent him a mental image of what he saw in there.

John burst through the door they had been first led to, seeing that the room was still empty as he made his way to the second door that was still locked and opened it wide, to the happiness of those that had been locked out. They began to storm inside as John went and closed the first door on them. "Listen to me!" he shouted over their cries and silencing them all. "You will be out of here soon enough. I know you were promised a better home when you first arrived, but had I known it would have been like this then I would have had you brought with the others to my home. That changes now. We're just waiting for Ishi to do something." he said, silently praying taht already Ishi had made the soldiers and the Count fall asleep.
 
As John left abruptly, Ishi stood and walk over to the window. Looking out at the camp grounds, she thought about what John said, and was confident she could hold only those that needed to be in her suspended state. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the Count, the servants she had seen since she arrived and then further to those she did not know. Carefully, her mind went down the agenda of every person, animal and bug. Slowly at first, she could feel her powers reaching out and causing any breathing creature that was listed in her mind to become sleepy. It took about five minutes before one by one people began to fall to the ground totally asleep. By the time it had reached the Count, he was so shocked, he was unable to get away fast enough before Ishi had him under her power.

It wasn't easy holding them all, but she managed to get a message to Ulteth that everyone was asleep. The two hour time frame had begun. If they fail to get everyone out, they would all be killed. Also, once the time expired, she would be extremely weak and unable to move outside the room she was in. But John did not need to know that. All he needed was to save her people, like he promised Rinya.
 
John waited patiently when the door to the room opened up without him prompting to, seeing a guard standing there with his weapon at the ready. John did nothing but stood there, thinking he was going to die since he hadn't brought his own sword along with him. The slaves were all screaming at the sight of the armored man but John just stood there and waited. The man made to look like he was going to stab John when he fell over, snores soon coming from beyond the helmet that he wore. John let out a sigh of relief as he waved his arm and took the sword and shield from the fallen soldier. "Come on! We need to get you all out of here now before its too late!" he ordered, watching as soon they all actually listened to him and made their way through the door and past the soldiers that littered the floor in their sleep.

Once they were all out, and John had to pick up a little child that a mother most likely left behind by accident because of all that was happening, John ran out to follow and push past them all as they crowded the hall, seemingly not sure where to go, until John reached the front. "Follow me, we go this way." he said, walking calmly as he led them slowly away from there cell. They urged him to hurry but they had two hours and it would be a little bit before Ulteth would return with the rest of their wing, and as they walked outside, he could only look towards the castle and hoped that Ishi could get out on her own.
 
Ishi was concentrating all her strength on holding the Count's people in a sleep state. Any thought of escaping was no where in her thoughts. But she kept her eyes at the window, waiting and watching, with a different part of her mind, for the arrival of John's garrison of dragons that would signal she could end this soon. Almost an hour passed before the first dragons arrived. Ishi was still fine, but she was beginning to grow tired.

It was another 20 minutes before a pattern began with Dragons arriving and leaving carrying large amounts of people away. So much like at the Compound of her old Master. But Ishi held fast to her concentration, even pouring more power into that part of her mind each time she could feel the Count's resolve grow. Ishi would pay for this later, she knew, but it was worth it if these people were able to be safe as Rinya had promised them.

Soon, she saw John appear around a building looking directly at the window where she stood. Suddenly, his thoughts reached her...Soon, Ishi, they are almost gone. Just five more exits and you must come immediately. For a brief second, the shock that she could hear him cut into her concentration. But the joy that they were almost all gone refilled her resolve. The Count tried to take advantage of her lapse of concentration and had actually moved three feet before she caught him within her web once more. But how was she to escape, finding her way through the castle and keep them all captive? Her mind would be filled with hallways and exits. If she should loose the Count and his people, perhaps John and Ulteth would not be able to leave. If she told John or Ulteth, they would not go, she was sure. But letting her mind fill with these fears was only making her weaker. She had to hold on for just a little bit more.

Sweat began to appear across her brow. Her legs seemed to slowly be turning to rubber. She knew she was about at the end of her endurance. One, two, three, four...dragons took to the air. Just one more, and she could let go and fall into the darkness her mind so desperately wanted. Suddenly, the pain began. It pierced her mind like an axe and she screamed out in pain, falling to the floor. Her last thoughts of consciousness was to John and Ulteth, "Forgive me, my friends, I could not hold on any longer. Save yourselves!" A dark blank of rest and forgetfulness covered her as the world disappeared.
 
John stood there with the little girl still held in his hands while the sword he had borrowed had been tossed as far from him so that he could carry the little girl with ease. He knew he wouldn't need to fight with Ishi keeping the Count and the his men in a sort of suspended state to allow them some time to get away. He didn't know how much time as passed, but as he watched the Dragons came and went ferrying the slaves back to his home he knew that the time limit should have been almost up, but still no worried mother or father or even a brother came forth to claim the little girl. This worried him a bit as he couldn't take care of a child by himself, he wasn't meant to be a father right now or possibly ever, but he hated to see her all alone.

He was going to say something to the little girl when a thought that wasn't his or Ulteth's intruded upon his mind which caused him to freeze. "No." he muttered as he realized that it was Ishi's thought in his mind and he realized that she was giving up on getting out herself. "NO!" he then suddenly shouted as he ran back to pick up the sword he tossed away and placed the little on the ground. Ulteth my friend, watch this little girl as I get Ishi. he silently commanded of his companion as he ran back inside and began to navigate the halls of the castle. Some were stirring from the fake slumber but John paid them no heed at the moment as he ran further inside to reach the room Ishi and he was supposed to share had things not have turned out the way they did. He crashed through the door to see a man standing over Ishi. "NOOOOOOO! You will not harm my crush!" he shouted without thinking and impaled the man as he turned to see who was shouting at him.

John twisted the blade in the man's stomach, making him feel some pain for daring to try and kill Ishi and watched as blood began to spew out of the mans mouth before John tossed his body aside and then knelt down next to Ishi and took her up in his arms. "Wake up Ishi, come on wake up. I need you awake to help take you out of here, I can't carry you and fight at the same time. The soldiers are everywhere." he said, trying to shake her awake as he knew the Count's men were coming closer on them both.
 
Ishi, however, had not had enough time to regenerate. She tried to open her eyes, but she couldn't open them completely. She thought she was reaching up to John, but in truth her arms were simply flapping about on the floor. Her muscles were mush. Even in this state, she could see John was upset and she wasn't making it any better.

There was only one things she knew to do. With barely a whisper, she said, "Hold me against you so I can share some of your energy." If John allowed it, she would take enough energy from him to at least blow those coming after them in every direction. It might not be much, but if it could just get them outside in the open, then Ulteth could help them. John pulled her into his body tightly, willing all the nergy she needed to pass from him.

Suddenly, the Count entered the room ahead of his men. Seeing John over Ishi, he roared, "She is MINE. My son sacrificed his life for her! And you will not take her away from me as you have my slaves!!!!" He raised his sword and ran towards John, his men holding back to give their Master first blood.
 
John waited after he had shaken her body up a bit, thinking that she was too far gone into her blackout that she couldn't even hear what it was that he was saying let alone feel her body being shook, but then her eyes fluttered open. They only opened a little but that was enough of a sign to John that Ishi was still alive and aware of their situation. He heard what she said to him, something about energy but he wasn't quite sure what she meant by that but did as she asked. He opened himself up to her in any way he could as he held her against him tightly, opening his body, mind and soul to her as the Count and some of his men stormed through the door John had neglected to barricade or even close.

He closed his eyes tightly as he tried to will something into her, energy or mana or whatever it was that she wanted that she seemed to think was inside of him as he held onto her body even tighter. He expected her to do something as he could do nothing except kneel there on the ground for he had left his borrowed blade in the body of the soldier who now lay in a pool of blood. Now, for once in what seemed like forever John felt useless, that he couldn't do anything to stop the Count if nothing happened.
 
Ishi welcomed John's warm embrace. The energy he radiated towards her was like cool rain to a dried, withered desert. Ishi knew she had to be careful not to absorb too much of his energy, least he would not be able move himself. But it felt so good. She had held them at bay for a very long time.

As his being filled her, she heard the Count arrive with his garrison, and the words that came from his mouth. She knew her energy was returning because she was becoming angry with him. And John, dearest John just held on tight to her, willing to give her the last drop of himself, if it made her strong. But she knew she had enough to do what she had to do and leave John enough to finish what she starts.

Pushing away from him, she looked into his eyes and smiled with such gratitude and kindness. John had a tough out shell, but inside he was full of love, and she had felt it so deeply inside herself. But Count's words hit her hard, as her eyes turned to him. Cold as steel they were, and never left his as she stood up to face him. The Count came to a halt a foot in front of her, his sword coming down to his side, but ready to fight at a moment's notice.

"How can you be the father of Rinya? How could a man such as yourself have raised a man of honor and love as my Rinya was? He made a promise to these people, a promise he was sure you would honor...but what have you done? You've made a mockery of everything he died for." Ishi's temper was rising with every word.

The Count scowled at the young girl, "What do you know of honor? All I know is that he loved you, wanted to bring you home because you were special, special powers. He intended to use those powers for our good." He moved closer to her and sneered, "So that makes you my property now. If your own mother didn't want you, why should I treat more than what you've always been? A slave?"

Ishi looked deeply into his eyes, "I pity you, Count." She said sadly. The Count scoffed. "Pity yourself, for once I kill this miserable dragon rider, you will show me these abilities just as my son had planned. Ishi slowly grinned. "Yes, I will show you all of them, but why wait?"

Quickly her hand came up and a bolt of unseen power hit the count and everyone behind him with such force, half the garrison now lay on the floor out cold. Some bleeding from head injuries when they hit the stone walls behind them. "We will be leaving now, and if you want to live to see tomorrow, I suggest you clear the halls for our passing, or you will be next."

Turning towards John, she reached out her hand to him. "Now its my turn to give you strength to do what you have to do." Her smile was warmer than she had ever felt before. For the first time, she realized that she was in the right place and that was with Ulteth, John and wherever the two of them were...that was home. "It won't take much to blow them out of our way. They have seen what I intend for them...if they choose not to move, then the consequences is on their head."

Ishi had changed at the moment. No more was she a slave, but a person with rights, desires and intentions. She wasn't completely ready for this world she found herself in, but she would certainly never want to return to what she had before.
 
John could definantly feel himself growing weaker with every second that he held Ishi, but he said nothing nor pulled away from her in case she hadn't had enough of his energy that she would need, but when she pulled away from him and began to speak to the Count he was happy to see that the attack was stopped by Ishi. He breathed a sigh of relief and listened to what was exchanged and almost expected the Count and all of his men would charge them when they were all suddenly tossed and Ishi looked back at him with an extended hand held out to him. John merely nodded his head at her and took her hand, pulling himself up with her help and as he did so he felt some of his strength returning.

Smiling at her, she seemed somewhat different now than she had in awhile, almost like she was starting to come to terms with everything and he began to guide them both out of the room. None, not even the Count, dared to challenge them as they left for fear of what Ishi could do when she was angered, and John was glad of that for even with some of his strength returned he doubted that he could hold his own against anyone in a prolonged fight. All the soldiers stood up and immediately cleared the hallway as the two of them walked outside where John was happy to see Ulteth there still with the little girl. John walked up and then helped Ishi onto his neck before passing up to her the child before he climbed up behind her. "Let's go." he said, and then with a single stroke Ulteth took off from that damned place to take them back home.
 
Ishi was surprised to see the child with Ulteth, but mostly because she was unafraid of being with a dragon. "Such a brave child." She said to John as she leaned down to bring her up on Ulteth to sit in front of Ishi. Ishi put her arms around the chiled protectively. She had never really been around children. And she was surprised the affect the girl had on her.

But she didn't have much time to think on it. Quickly they were into the air, flying just above the tree tops. The child was excited and couldn't believe she was actually riding on a dragon. She blinked and rubbed her eyes a few time, but it had to be real because it never changed. Looking up at Ishi, the girl just smiled, as Ishi returned it to her.
Suddenly, Ishi felt tired again and leaned back against John. In her thoughts, she sent him message. "Thank you, thank you for coming back for me. But I did not expect you to risk our life like that. But thank you anyway. It was very brave." She was glad her back was towards him, otherwise she would be wearing a much darker blush than what she had on now.

"Now home." She sighed. She actually was looking forward to taking her place among those living there. There was so much to learn, to see and experience. And Ishi was ready to face the world she had been hidden away from all her life.
 
John wrapped his arms around both Ishi and the little child who was excited by the fact that she was flying on a dragon and not the least bit scared. It made him smile seeing the little girl act such for most were usually afraid, but she was different. If she was older maybe she too could make a good candidate to impress the baby Queen, but at las she was to young to even think about such a thing. John found himself a little weary as well as Ishi leaned against him and she sent a thought to him, thanking him for risking her life and coming back to save her. "I wasn't going to leave you behind, and Rinya wouldn't have appreciated me leaving you behind. He'd have my hide tanned and made into a jacket." he said with a chuckle before resting his head against her.

He heard her say now home and he could only agree, and was glad that she was thinking of his home as hers now as well. He said nothing though but kept the little girl and Ishi in his arms, to keep them from falling off as Ulteth flew until he brought them all home, although Ulteth didn't dive down as he normally did, sensing how tired his riders were, and so instead flew down down and to his loft. He sensed that Ishi and John had fallen asleep on him and so with great tenderness one wouldn't expect from a dragon, he somehow got them off of his neck and onto the ground with the little girl between the two of them before he wrapped his body around them.
 
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