Dragons Tower

Chapter 3

Be Careful Leo. 

"Ah, Leonardo,so glad you could finally join us." the king gestured for me to sit so I took the offered chair and shook his hand. 

I felt I should offer an explanation of why I was late. "Sorry, Marc,  my dog had a wild goose chase earler on a bathroom break, probably a rabbit, anyway I'm apologize for my delay, but your receptionist said I would be of use?"  

Charlie, the king got a dangerous glint in his eye. The kind of glint I had come to associate with crazies, and killers. I didn't like this already. Earnest even got a cold chill from the aura Charlie was giving off at the thought of his major game peice running off. "Yes unfortunately my daughter, Kristen, his mate and fiance'," waving his hand in Earnests direction. Lies. I had an instantaneous anger blossom in the pit of my stomach..and was distracted a moment trying to sort out why. Charlie kept going," has it in her head that I am going to hurt her, which of course I wont, I mean I'm her father for christ sake, I just wish she would have come to me and told me what was going on before she just took off." Lies again. " She ran away this morning before Earnest had a chance to talk her down. We have dogs out looking for her, but she's blocking all of my scrying spells."  Now he was mixing some truth and left me trying to sort out what was the truth from a lie and what Kristen had yet to tell me. 

"we will get you settled , and then if I may ask, will you fly over and do a quick search for her, if we have not found her within the hour? After that you will keep a well trained eye on her." I must've looked dumbfounded because he continued, " she is your job. If you accept I will brief you of your exact duties later." he turned his attention to Earnest, after which you will marry her in a few months and then everything will be fine. The debts settled . I was furious. 

" You hired me to babysit your daughter until after her wedding?" 

The kings attention was brought back to me by my outburst. I spoke harshly. The kings brows raised and I could tell even through my red haze that he was trying to control his temper, I had stepped out of line, but I didn't care, I hadn't accepted this job nor would I. "Do you think that guarding my daughter is too much for you?" 

"No, but I think you're reading too far into this whole dragon guarding a princess in a tower thing." 

" You will be paid double." the king sighed then continued," I am asking you to do a thorough search before I tell you anymore tonight. I didn't want to hear anymore, but knew if I didn't play along red flags were bound to pop up in the kings opinion, especially since I didn't even get excited over being paid double.

"Okay, Im in. What exactly are my duties?" 

Charlies smile returned, we were back on schedule, dragon and victim sitting across from each other both being told different things within the same meeting. " First settle into your rental house," he fished around in a pocket and produced an old antique looking key, that humans now seemed to use as decorations." then you'll do a quick sweep of my kingdom, you will certainly be more useful than those damn mutts." 

I turned to the huntsman, he looked uncomfortable, but wouldn't dare say anything. I asked him, " where are the most likely places she'd go?" but I knew full well what she'd do. 

"She'd stick to the forest until after the search was called off, I've run my dogs down some of the trails she liked to run, but they've picked up nothing senor." 

"How long ago did she run" all were obvious questions that had to be asked, but Kristen had already told me this information. 

"It's been six hours now." 

"She could be anywhere by now, if she was smart, she'd be out of any kingdoms by now and into an all human area." 

" the nearest one is four hours in the opposite direction of the last scent the dogs caught. I'm sure Senor that she wouldn't move until the coast was clear.