Skald cont.

The forgotten seed had found its way to the human skin bound cover of the gilded book of law perhaps having gathered moisture from the air from its trip away from the kings finger, the little seed seemed glued to the surface and no amount of leaning or bending the book would cause it to slip off.  The Blotched white demon was unwilling to shake or let go of the book, even turning it upside down seemed sacrilege, causing the demon to snarl and whine in fearful frustration.  He had backed up nearly tripping over his fine robes to the very limit of his leash swinging the book in desperation but the seed stuck fast.

The weary dragon king of Skald did not suppress the slow smile that surfaced as he watched the demon's antics.  The rest of the lords and the lady had hastily retreated leaving him alone with his demon.  Tempius' tail split in twain down its fork both appendages moving independently in quick, aggressive swishes of the air and even the gnarled wing began to unfurl in the demon's desperation.  He turned to wipe the top of the book against the leg of the throne and rigidly stopped screaming at the seed indeed as if the rich frightened sound of his more than human voice would convince the seed to move on its way.  The seed was unmoved.

Finally Tempius dropped to his knees as if in reverent prayer trembling as it held the precious book, it attempted the gentlest of breaths trying to stir the air to catch the seed and blow it off the book.

The king of skald slowly rose up the steps to his thrones dais, he walked over to the demon as Tempius whimpered in his failure.  The king feeling merciful licked his finger to stick it on the seed on the book but Tempius realizing its masters intent yanked the book away.

"Do not touch it! You can not must not touch it." Tempius cried out nearly hysterical.  His robes tore as blade like scales flipped on jagged edge of the demon's scales.  He jerked to book to itself with so much force it almost hit itself with the book.

"Tempius." Drake said gently and he reached out his large uncalloused hand to stroke the demons cheek in an attempt to calm it.  "I touch you all the time unnatural thing that you are, I think I can handle a seed."

"Talisman, traitor,spy!" Tempius shouted at the seed.  "It is worse than an unnatural thing. It is the un unnatural thing master, it is of the mists." and Tempius hissed the word mists.  Drake held his hand steady on the book and removed the seed back to his finger.

"Or perhaps its just an adventurous weed, have you considered that?" Drake asked not hiding the laughter in his voice.

"It reeks of the un unholy!"

"Talisman?" Drake inspected the seed again.  "Rather tiny don't you think?"

"Power, master.  It has come to spy, it served the Tarquin lord, came from the lords hair as he battled, worn on him, extra armor. It is un unnatural master, please vanquish it with fire."

"You fear the strangest things, Temp.  If this is a talisman it was rather weak.  Tarquin was challenged twice and no one was pulling punches."

"and yet he livesss." Tempius said as it hugged the now taint free book of law.  "mist born thing, cast its spell and you were all dear child where you should have shown the mercy of steel.  Everyone waited. They hunger for another display, they hunger for the destruction of their lessors and proof that they are each survivor of skald your favorite lord."

"I could still unshieth my sword of your so hungry for the mercy of steel?"

Tempius eyes widened and he bowed his head reverently.  Its body tensed and its tails fused back together coiling around its feet. Drake held a silence as if in in decision before laughing. "no, you have already down enough damage to your pretty robes, I need not add to it."

"You should heed my words and burn the thing master." Tempius advised gaining a small measure of his earlier control.

"From the mists you say.  Well your my talisman now, and I fear nothing natural or unnatural." Drake told the seed. Then he unlocked Tempius leash. "Return the book and redress yourself Tempius.  If the little seed disturbs you so much I can't wait to see what happens tonight when we meet the seed maker."