Domus Noctus

Chapter II Lord Dwahro

A week later, 'Rey sorted through her offering one last time, before placing it in her pack. She turned to Sahara. "Do you think this'll work?"

"Do I think what'll work?" the Domain Leader replied.

"Not just the drakkin... but, what if something goes wrong and I get exposed? What then?" Sahara had fitted 'Rey with a ridiculous looking light-protection suit. It looked sort of like she was wrapped in tin foil, and had an upside-down, reflective fishbowl on her head.

"Or worse, what if someone thinks you are an alien invader, and blows you up, like in Independance Day," said Sahara, giggling a little.

"Wha- what? What's independance day? Oh, never mind," 'Rey said as Sahara burst into a fit of giggles. "But really, this is serious... how do you know this'll work?"

"I promise. I saw it in a magazine once. A girl was the same as you. She had a suit just like this one..... sorta... I hope.." Sahara shook her head. "But don't worry. The material will protect you from the UV rays, and it'll be underground anyways. What little light there is won't go through the suit, honestly."

'Rey still wasn't so sure, but decided it was worth a shot, and nodded for Sahara to open a portal. 'Rey stepped back a little bit, squinting even through the shaded helmet at the bright magelights. It was fairly dark by most standards, except 'Rey's. When she stepped through, she was a few yards away from the entrance to Rileikoul.

The guard watched wide-eyed as 'Rey walked past in her suit, but Sahara gave him a look that said, "Leave her alone." Sahara herself had hidden her wings with a simple invisibility spell, as she often did when they might be... distracting.

'Rey looked around, taking in everything around her. She wished she had a few more eyes, as she gazed at something other than the interior of Domus Noctus for the first time in more than a decade.

It was only an hour or so after sundown (though you couldn't really tell, as it was below ground), and there were still a few people in the streets. They gaped openly as 'Rey walked past, but she didn't care. Sahara guided her to Dwahro's breeding house, and just as she was about to knock, 'Rey's heart sunk considerably.

"Sahara.... Dwahro's probably not here! Not this late!" she said in despair.

"Oh, nonsense," said Sahara as she knocked three times on the door. "Of course he's here." Ever optimistic, Sahara had not missed a beat.

The strange pair stood there for a few minutes, 'Rey beginning to find the interior of the suit stifling hot. Every second Dwahro did not answer the door, her heart sunk a little lower. Finally there were steps, and she could have cheered as a middle-aged drow dressed all in black opened the door. A snarling bronze drakkin was standing behind him. He raised his eyebrows at the sight of 'Rey in her suit.

"Can I help you?" he drawled, still trying to decide what to make of 'Rey.

Sahara cleared her throat. "Lord Breeder Dwahro, may I introduce myself? I am Domain Leader Sahara, and this is my companion Aubrey Hannaka. She is here to see about a drakkin hatchling." With no further ado, she stepped past Dwahro into the building. 'Rey sidled past, nodding her helmet-covered head as she passed Dwahro.

Sahara found a seat and sat down, staring stubbornly back at the drakkin, who 'Rey realized was probably the clutchmother, Tikina. "I'll just sit in here," said the Domain Leader cheerfully, and whipped out a magazine to read.

'Rey followed Dwahro through a doorway, and when he shut the door, she sighed with relief. It was pitch black. "Could I just take this off?" she asked the breeder, who nodded, still a little unsure about the suit. When she had pulled off the last foily glove, she straightened her tunic and shook her hair, glad to be rid of the cumbersome unit. "I'm allergic to sunlight," she said, and sat down on a chair in a corner.

Tikina gave a low growl, but Rey held her ground, and the drakkin relaxed. Dwahro sat in a chair across from 'Rey, and settled himself in. "You have your offering, I presume?" 'Rey nodded and dumped the contents of her pack onto a small table.

She sorted them out and introduced each item to Dwahro, leaving the globe for last."And," she said, pulling the large, round object from her pack, "this is a Watching Globe of Pweihro. I modelled and charmed it myself," she said proudly. "Watching is a type of divination from my world. Learning is easy enough, but the charmed Globes are very rare. If you learn to focus your mind correctly, you can see anything happening on your world at that moment. Something sure to come in handy for a man of... power, as yourself," she said slyly.

Dwahro nodded approvingly. "Now, I'd like to ask you a few questions. First, what gender would you like?"

"Male," 'Rey replied automatically. It was unheard of to request a female, as they were extremely rare. Only two had ever been awarded to foreigners.

"Good. What colors would you prefer?"

'Rey thought about it for a moment. "Black or red, or green. Or bronze," she added, eyeing Tikina resting on her precious clutch.

Dwahro smiled. "Any ideas on names?"

"Not really. I'm more of a name-it-when-you-meet-it kind of person."

"All right. Oh, of course - What kind of set-up do you have for your drakkin?"

"Well, as I'm very allergic to sunlight - I told you earlier - my house is sealed from any kind of light. I have almost perfect magesight, and I use heat crystals to keep it warm. For the drakkin, there's a good sized cavern, with plenty of raw meat and water. I converted an old ballroom into training space. I have tons of free time, so there's no reason to fear any kind of neglect."

Dwahro smiled. "Well, I'll consider your offering. If you don't mind, it's late, and I really must be going." He stood, nodded a little, and left the room.

'Rey suited up and left as well. Sahara was still reading when 'Rey got into the front room, but quickly closed her magazine and got up to go. 'Rey would have skipped through the empty streets of Rileikoul, but the suit was too heavy.

Once 'Rey was safely into her home, she shed the UV-suit and skipped through the house, practically singing.

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