Act 3.

"Uhmm." said Linda. "What exactly do you mean by ‘Damn’?"

"I think she knows more than she wants to say." said Margaret. "Come on. what exactly is going on here?"

"Hush Margaret." said Linda. "Let her alone. I am sure she will tell us, but not if you act like that."

Margaret visibly relaxed.

"Very well." she said. "But only because you have asked. But I believe that she has put you in danger by not saying anything."

"That is not exactly true." Mikako finally said. "He is really after me. I am the only one in danger here."

"No." said Margaret. "You are wrong because I know that Linda will not allow you to face this alone. So she is also in danger. And I can’t let her go without my help. So now three of us are in trouble."

Mikako looked toward Linda.

"Is this true, Champion?" she asked.

"I am called the Queen’s Champion." she said. "But I am really the Champion for the Queen’s entire people. And that includes you."

"Besides, you are also my friend. And where I came from good friends were hard to find, so you held on to them, no matter what."

The smile on the Queen’s face showed her approval.

Mikako’s face stayed unexpressive, but Linda could tell that she had been surprised to hear her say that, and was still trying to figure out how to take it.

"It seems you are correct, Lady Knight." she said after a small silence. "So I best let you know what is going on."

"That would help." said Margaret belligerently.

"Margaret!" said Linda. "That will be enough!"

Margaret visibly cringed at the tone in Linda’s voice. And in a softer voice said, "I am sorry. I will endeavour to be quiet. But she..."

Linda held up her hand to her, and she shut up.

"If you please Mikako." said the Queen in the awkward silence. "Continue."

"Yes, my Queen." said Mikako. "The one who looks for me is named Toukon and, as the knight has pointed out, he is a dragon. He is special, in terms of dragon. He sleeps for several centuries and wakes only to feed on special people."

"And what is so special about these people?" asked the Queen.

"They are those who have magic in them. And my family is a very special treat for him, so he will go very far out of his way to get us sometimes. Somehow he has found out about my being here and decided the trip was worth it."

"How come you did not tell anyone about this particular problem your family suffers from?" asked Margaret.

"Because, it had not been long since the last time he fed, and I did not think he would be waking so soon."

"Why are you so special, that he would come all this way, just to get you?" asked Linda.

Mikako shrugged.

"I cannot answer that." she said. "All magic is different from mage to mage. My family’s seems to be the most pleasing to his palate."

"Be that as it may." said Linda. "The problem right now is what are we going to do about him."

"I was going to suggest that I leave the castle and try to hide until such time as he weakens enough to go back and sleep." said Mikako. "He cannot go forever."

"But he could have eaten a lot of others in your land and while he was coming here." said the Queen.

"True." said Mikako. "I did not say how long that would take."

"I don’t like the idea of you going off on your own." said Linda.

"I knew she would say that." mumbled Margaret.

"With my Queen’s permission, I will come with you as extra protection." said Linda.

"I approve of this idea." said the Queen. "I am reluctant to loose my mage right now. Do your best to keep her safe Champion."

"Yes my Queen." replied Linda.

"And Mikako. You will do your best to return to me."

"Yes my Queen." said Mikako.

"I will be going with you." Margaret said to Linda.

"I know."

Linda smiled at her friend who blushed a nice shade of red. The Queen did her best to hide her amusement.

"I see a problem." said Margaret. "He is on his way here, and I don’t think that we can just sneak right by him."

"True." said Mikako.

"Then you will need a distraction, won’t you?" said the Queen. "I think I may be able to help you there."

Linda looked askance at her.

"What are you thinking of?" she asked.

"Well." said the Queen putting on her best snooty attitude. "There is a visitor to our lands, so as Queen it is our duty to meet him and let him know of our disapproval of his intentions."

"You can’t do that!" cried Linda.

The Queen’s look became stern.

"Who is Queen here?" she said. "We have decided to help our mage in the only way we know how. You will do your duty and follow your orders."

"As your Champion I can’t allow you to put yourself in such danger." said Linda.

The Queen turned to Mikako.

"Does Toukon feed of of non magical beings?"

"No." was the reply. "But do be careful. if he is angered enough he may lash out. However he is honourable and will respect the Queen’s position. The plan could work."

The Queen walked over to her Champion and taking her face in her hands, touched her forehead to Linda’s.

"Don’t worry." she said in a whisper. "I will be careful. But you need a good head start and I can give it to you."

Linda sighed.

"Very well my Queen." she finally said. "I will do as you say."

"Good." she said as she turned to the others. "I suggest you get whatever you will need and leave as quickly as possible. I will greet our guest when he arrives. Lady Knight, I ask that you help my Champion. "

"I will, your Highness." she answered.

She walked to the door of the study and opened it.

"Susan!" she shouted.

A young woman came to the door.

"Yes my Queen?" said her hand maid.

"There is a visitor coming. We wish to be accompanied as we greet him."

"As you wish, my Queen." replied Susan. "I shall have the hall readied."

"That will not be neccsessary. We will be greeting them on the north tower."

"Pardon?"

"Our your ears blocked or did we mumble?"

"Neither, my Queen. But is that not an odd place to hold an audience?’

"Not in this case. Come along."

She strode off down the hall, followed by her confused looking hand maid.

"Come on." said Linda. "Let’s move."

They went to the mage’s quarters.

"I just need some books." she said stuffing a couple of volumes in her satchel. "They may have something in them to help us."

"Fine." said Linda. "I have nothing I need to get. What about you Margaret?"

"I am fine." replied the knight. "I will leave my horse here. I think it will be easier for us to hide if we walk."

"Run would probably be a better idea." said Linda.

"I am ready." said Mikako.

They went to the Queen’s audience hall. Linda lead the way to the hangings behind the throne and went behind them.

"Now, if I remember, it is three up and four over and look for the chip. Ahh. There it is."

She pressed and a click could be heard. A large portion of wall fell away showing a passage through the castle.

"Impressive." said Margaret. "Better than my brother’s passages."

They entered and the wall closed behind them.

The Queen stood on the top of the north tower. The wind was a little strong today, but no chance of being blown over the sides.

" I still contend that this is a strange place to hold an audience." said Susan.

"Well, our guest is not the normal one we get in our court." said the Queen.

In the distance a figure could be seen flying toward the castle. As it came closer the Queen could see that he looked exactly as Mikako had described. He was beautiful and graceful in his flight. The Queen was mesmerised for a while, until a squeak from behind her brought her back to reality.

"Is that the guest you spoke of?" Susan nearly stammered.

"It is."

Susan moved to behind the Queen, grasping the folds of her clothes and peeking around at the creature that was getting closer.

"Will we be safe?’ she asked.

"We will." answered the Queen, not really being as sure as she sounded.

The dragon swooped down toward them and then stayed hovering.

"Good luck, my Champion.." she thought.

To the dragon she said.

"We welcome our guest to our lands and ask what it is that brings him so far from his home." Her voice carried well across the gap between them.

The Dragon answered in a clear voice.

"My destiny."