Aloe reached out, putting a hand atop the glistening egg. Listen, I don’t know who you are, but this human belongs to me. Hurt him, and I will make you suffer.

 

Whatever-it-was hovered just out of her mental reach, pondering quietly.

Deciding whether Krillin was worth fighting over.

 

Then an absolute torrent of memories flooded Aloe’s mind, images of people she had never known, worlds she had never seen, and underlying it all, the cruel, cold, white, beautiful face of a prince with eyes nearly the same color as Aloe’s.

 

//To us he did this…we stood not with him…thus our lives he took…\\

 

So you came here seeking refuge?

 

//Seek we the warrior gold…alone this one he feared…\\

 

And when this ‘golden warrior’ of yours defeats His Majesty, what then?

 

//Live again, we shall…the herald are we…be thou then the sire of the herald…\\

 

And what about Krillin? What have you done to him?

 

//Nothing.\\ the mental voice was almost sulky. //Our strength his valor restored.\\

 

Aloe studied his face for several long moments. It was true, he wasn’t hurt, only asleep; but the idea of somebody else feeding off him annoyed Aloe no end.

 

//Be thou then the sire of the herald…\\

 

I suppose I don’t have a choice, do I?

 

//If thou lovest thy own, then no.\\