The ignorant who had ruined Topaz's carefully prepared trap--Onyx,wasn't it?--reacted swiftly, standing and drawing the Dragonsword quietly out of its sheath, falling into a tense battle stance that spoke of long experience and careful training. The young, pretty creature (it took a while for Topaz, even with his customary perceptivity, to realize Opal was a male) followed, but instead of drawing one or both of his swords, he turned sideways to the demon, small slender hand hovering over the hilt of his longer sword, taking a battle stance that Topaz had never seen a Sidhe use before.

The mage, however, was unperturbed. Basic knowledge dictated that demons of this sort (the familiar ravaging-villages-and-eating-everything-in-sight sort) were generally not very intelligent. They relied more on brute force and the little magic they could obtain. He knew that if he could buy at least some time, he could work up a spell powerful enough to trap the demon--

Topaz concentrated briefly and summoned a small ice spell in one hand to distract the thing.

It died.

He stared at his hand in disbelief. This had never happened before. Then he remembered Opal.

Damn.

He glanced up just in time to see the demon grin, showing off its five rows of rotting, yellowish, sharp teeth and advance toward them.

Topaz moved slightly away, trying to gauge the effective distance of Opal's range of neutralization. Discreetly he slid of front of Sapphire, shielding her from the demon's view. There was no way that he would let the demon lay even one foul finger on his adopted daughter.

The demon closed in on them. There was something odd about its behavior. Instead of moving mindlessly as it had done at first, it was now advancing on them with what seemed to pass for a purpose in its ugly head.

If that was a head. For all Topaz knew, that was its belly.

His eyes widened as he realized that the demon's priorities had changed. It had found something infinitely more appetizing than the paltry bait he'd set out...

~

Onyx mentally cursed himself for being such an idiot when it came to food as the ugly, mottled brown and yellowish green spotted THING approached, the fetid smell of its breath and body carrying into the wind and spoiling his appetite, and the forest air that he loved so much. His stomach curdled.

Onyx knew that attacking first would be futile, especially since he had no idea of his enemy's prowess, strength or fighting ability. He would have to gauge it first, and then see where he could most easily defeat it. It didn't help that this was the first time he was actually using the Dragonsword. A new weapon always took time to break in, and unfortunately, time was in rather short supply just then.

As the creature moved forward, something horrifying dawned on Onyx. The beast wasn't even looking at him, nor at the mage or his child.

~

Opal had no idea of the danger he was in until he looked into the demon's eyes.

They locked gazes for one moment, a quivering instant that hung in the air. Iridescent cerulean eyes met endless, pupilless black and the world seemed to stand still.

Raw emotions poured through Opal's mind: hate for the brilliant golden-pearl glow that represented the mage in the monster's consciousness, wariness of the tall creature and the pain-thing he held that shone purple magic, and pure hunger for the sparkling silver-blue presence in the so-called mind that Opal realized was himself. With growing horror he realized that the beast fed on magic, and that he was more or less the best potential feed it had ever come across.

Carnelian panicked.

High-pitched gibber echoed in his head as the warnings the scarlet dragon tried to convey scrambled, serving only to distract him as the demon broke into a run, its outstretched arms clearly broadcasting its intentions.

Opal struck first. He took a swift forward step with his right foot and shoved off from the ground with his toes, launching himself straight toward the creature. He drew his sword and slashed in the same motion.

The perfectly balanced Clan sword rang in the stillness of the forest, slicing the demon cleanly across its ribs (or where ribs would normally be on anything not a demon). The momentum carried him back out of reach again, but the demon, apparently unfazed by the slash it had just received, lunged unexpectedly toward him. They fell, wrestling furiously on the hard forest ground.

Onyx charged forward, his will set on ripping that hideous demon off Opal -- HIS Opal. But he stopped as the wrestling continued, the tangled limbs making it impossible for him to strike.

Carnelian hissed at him and a thought blazed suddenly in his head. DO something! You're better at this than I am! She screamed again, making both Onyx's mental and physical ears ring.

The demon's bulk almost crushed the elf, but the long hilt sticking out from the demon's ribs prevented it from throwing its full weight on Opal, allowing him to breathe as he tried to calm his mind. He needed to reach his shorter sword, which was pinned between his back and the ground. But to do that he had to let go of the loose folds of skin at the monster's neck and risk getting his throat torn open by various odd-angled teeth in its mouth, which he could see rather more closely than he really liked.

Carnelian attacked first, batting at the demon and emitting her signature shriek to distract it. But it was too intent on its prey.

Onyx saw that it finally had Opal on the ground and rushed forward to strike. But his blows merely glanced off the armored back of the creature. It didn't even seem to notice. Damn this thing, thought Onyx furiously, where's the magic now that I need it?!

Opal struggled fitfully as the demon gained the upper hand. It shook violently, freeing its neck of his desperate fingers. That impediment gone, the creature pinned the now terrified Opal to the forest floor and prepared to feed.

I'm going to die, Opal thought dimly to the echoing dragon screams in his head. Gods, I hope it doesn't hurt too much...

Onyx froze as a rain of stone slivers shot past his left shoulder, enveloping the demon. The narrow rock spikes sank deep into various soft parts of the creature. Apparently Opal's magic-dissolving powers did not affect non-magical objects. Topaz had accordingly used a propelling spell to throw the rocks.

The demon stiffened, then let out a cry of pain. Seeing it thus distracted, Carnelian jumped in as well, tearing and biting for all she was worth. It clawed at the objects embedded in its skin and at the dragon, momentarily letting go of Opal, who immediately scrambled to get out from under the creature.

At this, Onyx saw his chance. He dropped to the ground, pulling the young DragonCaller free of the demon's grasp and taking a ready stance. Purple light flared, illuminating the forest for one heart-stopping instant.

The demon's turned into a choked scream as the Dragonsword claimed its first kill in two hundred years, burying itself in the demon's soft underbelly. With a mighty heave Onyx disemboweled it.

Blood and entrails sprayed him and Opal, splattering them with things they preferred not to know the identity of. The creature screamed, thrashing on the ground (and incidentally spreading more blood and guts) in its death throes. It finally shuddered one last time and lay still.

The mage came up to them, trailed by his "daughter". Both of them wore similar wrinkly-nosed expressions of disgust. "Did you have to be so enthusiastic?" Topaz asked wryly.

"Go on," Onyx snapped. "Sneer at me, now that I've done your dirty work for you."

The mage quirked an eyebrow. "I believe it was the least you could do. Especially after you'd ruined my perfectly planned trap, which would have been much cleaner and taken far less effort than your clumsy barbarian attempt."

No one knows what fate Topaz might have suffered at Onyx's clumsy barbarian hands if Opal had not spoken up shyly: "Please, would it be imposing on you to ask for a washbasin or similar? My sword is a mess and so am I, I'm afraid."

~

Topaz's cottage was a very small and shabby-looking hut in a small clearing some distance from where he had set the trap. He opened the rotting door, however, with a flourish.

The expressions on the other two's faces were very satisfactory. Sapphire had the biggest kitty-grin on her face.

The hallway was all that could be seen, and seemed to stretch on to forever. In the impossibly far distance a door could be seen at the end. Topaz smugly led them through into an immense main room furnished like a palace. Sofas and armchairs were clustered at one end, a great dining table at another, and a huge spiral staircase led upwards. The d?cor was typically flashy, although unusually tasteful for the over-the-top Sidhe style.

"W-w-what-" stuttered Onyx.

"Did you think I'd live out of the saddle, or in some filthy hovel?" asked Topaz, with almost insufferable amusement. Onyx narrowed his dark blue eyes at the mage.

Opal looked thoughtful. "I thought mages weren't supposed to use magic like that."

Topaz smiled. "I'll explain," he replied, "shortly after you wash. Sapphire, show them to the washrooms please," he added, flourishing an elegant hand.

The little cat-pooka bowed. "Yes, Master!" she chirped brightly, and turned to Opal and Onyx. "This way, please," she urged them with perfect courtesy. They followed her down another corridor till she came to a door, opened it, and revealed a small tiled room with an elegant stand that held a tall pitcher and a large basin of clear water, both made of crystal.

"Here you are," she said to Opal and to Carnelian on his shoulder. "Sir knight may wash up in the next room."

Onyx looked as if he wasn't sure whether or not he should protest. Carnelian snickered; inaudibly, of course. Opal smiled, gratified that the knight was actually worried about him. "I'll be all right," he assured Onyx. "What about your clothes?"

"We have some he can borrow," offered Sapphire. Onyx nodded, his face hard again, and stoically let her escort him away, sparing a last backward glance for Opal.

The boy lord laughed softly to himself and went into the washroom, setting Carnelian to guard the door (which he didn't have the keys to). He stripped off his loincloth and belts, and the binding underneath them which had been tailored especially for his fighting and hunting. (He liked wearing as few clothes as possible, owing to his being so close to fellow creatures, but he wasn't stupid or careless. And he understood chafing.) Then he stepped into the large wooden bucket on the floor, took the pitcher and dipped it in the water.

The bath was completely satisfactory. Opal found a little soap beside the washstand, and scrubbed all the leftover bits of demon off of himself, humming.

He was worried about me, he sang to himself. He was worried! Surely this was proof that Onyx didn't think of him as just a nuisance and an interruption in his formerly free life. Surely he was more than just a shackle, he was a friend and a companion...

Or more, teased Carnelian with a merry twittering laugh, and Opal blushed as he began to wipe off his long sword and both his scabbards.

Well...maybe. It's too soon to tell. But he was happy enough. Maybe I should get in trouble more often...

DON'T YOU DARE!!! she shrilled in his head, making the boy wince and apologize.

~

When he emerged, damp and happy, Onyx was outside the washroom door wearing a black tunic, black pants, black boots and an expression to match.

Carnelian was snickering next to him. He is a rather single-minded creature, isn't he?

Fortunately, Opal's clothes (or bits of cloth, anyway) had only needed a bit of scrubbing with a dry brush, but he still didn't feel too clean wearing them. So he had slipped into a loose shirt, long trousers and soft slippers that Sapphire had thoughtfully provided.

Ignoring Carnelian's snide remark, he smiled up at the knight. "You look very nice."

Onyx snorted a little. "I'll feel better when I've got my own on again. This sideshow magician doesn't have anything but silk."

"He is not a sideshow magician!" piped up Sapphire, her quartz-pink eyes flashing. "He's my master and the greatest mage in any world, so there!"

Sidhe, troll and even dragon facefaulted. "W-where did you come from?" Onyx demanded, removing his face from the floor.

"Oh," and Sapphire put on a cutely innocent expression. "Master taught me how to sneak. He's very good at sneaking."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me," muttered Onyx, but Opal shushed him gently, and he held his tongue. The both of them followed Sapphire's little bouncing steps to where Topaz was lounging in a huge armchair, reading.

He smiled up at them. "There you are. Much better. But dear sir knight," he added, peering skeptically up at Onyx, "you are clashing most dreadfully with the d�cor."

Opal laughed...he simply couldn't help it. Both Carnelian and Sapphire, disappearing again down another corridor, laughed with him. Onyx scowled and tried to look affronted, but Opal gave him his most winning smile, and he sighed and sank down into another chair. Still smiling, Opal took the sofa.

Sapphire came scampering back through a door, carrying a tray with a tea set. She enthusiastically poured tea for them. Opal had expected her to spill some, then felt immediately ashamed when she didn't spill once.

"She's a very good pupil," said Topaz fondly, reaching over to rub her behind a furry black ear. She purred, also enthusiastically, and sat on a footstool right next to her master's armchair. Topaz turned back to Opal. "Regarding your question, young Lord Trevelyan, there is almost no magic involved except the portal I open when we pass through the door. And portals, fortunately, are passive magic," he smiled ironically at Opal, "or I would never have been able to show off my fabulous home to you."

Onyx was eyeing the mage suspiciously. Opal suspected that he was still annoyed about the food and the comment, and reacting instinctively put a hand on his arm.

That turned out to be a mistake. Onyx twitched and blinked at his bride for a moment, making Opal blush and snatch his hand away.

Didn't Lord Hematite teach you better than that? he scolded himself. But when he dared to look at Onyx again the knight gave him a small, awkward smile of thanks.

Of course, it was too much to hope that the other two hadn't noticed. Sapphire's pink cat-slit eyes widened, and the mage raised an elegant silver eyebrow. "Ah," he smiled, "are you..."

"NO!" exclaimed Onyx, his back jerking ramrod straight.

Opal stepped in smoothly with a gentle, "No, that isn't quite right." He then explained the whole story to his two wide-eyed listeners, hiding his slightly bruised feelings. Well, he could understand why Onyx still felt that way, after practically being forced into a betrothal, but he didn't have to react quite so violently.

"Ahh," said Topaz on a long breath when Opal had finished explaining. "That explains this lovely little creature." He held out a slender hand to Carnelian, perched on Opal's shoulder, and a coaxing little chirp came out of his long throat.

Carnelian blinked, surprised at the invitation (an exceedingly polite one in dragon-speak, she let Opal know), and after a moment of hesitation transferred with a little jump to the mage's wrist, where she perched like a falcon.

"There we are," said the mage with satisfaction. Regarding Opal's and Onyx's amazed faces, he smiled again. "I see I finally have met some truly interesting guests," he remarked with quiet but obvious excitement. "I should like you to spend the night here, perhaps, so we can exchange stories." Just as Opal noticed Onyx gathering himself to protest, Topaz said smoothly: "I will provide the most lavish dinner at my disposal, of course."

And in that moment Opal smiled back at the mage, and Carnelian and Sapphire giggled. Already Onyx was agreeing (with a show of reluctance, of course).

To tell the truth, Opal had been growing rather curious himself. Why was a mage of the elite Sidhe nobility traipsing about the wilderness with a cat-pooka for an adopted daughter? And just whose castle was this? He had the feeling the quest was going to become, as the mage had said, truly interesting.

I think so too, murmured Carnelian contentedly from her perch on Topaz's wrist. Can they come with us? He knows just where to scratch me without my telling him.

Opal laughed again. For once, like Onyx, he couldn't wait for dinner.

END CHAPTER 5