War of Dragons (10 page)

"Couldn't you have waited?" Crystal asked, taking a seat beside Seth and pouring herself a glass of water.

"Not really," Seth answered between mouthfuls. "I'm a growing young man. It's not healthy to go without food for so long. Shame about the lack of wine, but this food is superb."

"Have you seen John?" Daisy asked, looking around as if he might be hiding somewhere in the room.

"Ah, Daisy, Daisy," Seth replied, shaking his head. "Who'd have thought he'd have forgotten you so quickly? I'd have thought it would have taken at least a couple of days… ow! That hurt, Crystal!"

"Leave her alone," Crystal reprimanded. "Can't you tell she's worried?"

"Yes, but I can't understand the reason. John's fine. He'll be here soon. Ah, here he is."

John walked stiffly into the hall, still wearing the clothes he arrived in and obviously in some discomfort. "Hello, everyone. Are your rooms alright?" he asked.

"Where have you been, John?" Daisy asked. "We were worried."

"
She
was worried," Seth corrected. "We were enjoying the food. You should tuck in, John. This is excellent."

John took Daisy's hand and led her to a seat before sitting down next to her. "Not a bad idea. I'm starving. And tomorrow will be a big day."

"What's happening tomorrow, John?" Arthur asked.

"Lots of things," John replied while helping himself to some food.  "I have to give my report in the morning and it could take some time. Crystal, they'll be interviewing you as well in the afternoon. Don't worry, it's not a test; you'll be fine. Well, not a test of you anyway. I doubt they'll spend that long with you—not straight away anyway. The rest of you will get some sort of guided tour of the city while we're working. Then the day after tomorrow, you'll be introduced to members of our government. That will be important. I'll be doing most of the talking, but they will ask questions to corroborate my version of events. Just answer truthfully, without exaggeration, don't try and guess or fill in gaps, and you'll be fine. Only tell them what you know and nothing more."

"When will they call on the Brown Dragons?" Arthur asked. "We don't want to wait any longer than we need to."

"That depends on what happens when we meet with the government. I met with a friend of my father's who told me that my father will be in the city, and that tomorrow, he and my father will be meeting with some key members of parliament to canvass their support. They have some influential friends and will impress on them the importance of supporting you. He is confident of gaining their support and with that, the blessing of the government." He noticed Daisy's sad expression. "Girls, why aren't you eating? Sit down, eat. Daisy, why aren't you eating? What's the matter?"

Daisy shrugged and avoided his look, but John wasn't willing to accept that. He stood up, lifted Daisy to her feet and led her away to the next table, where they spoke in whispers to each other.

"Wonder what they're talking about," Jenna commented archly.

"Sleeping arrangements probably," Seth replied. "They're probably wondering if Arthur would realise if Daisy changes rooms."

"Shut up, Seth," Arthur replied flatly, not rising to the bait. "Listen, everyone. This is where it gets serious. John has done his bit by bringing us here; now it's up to us to ensure that we get to meet the Browns and that we persuade them to join in the fight. We've just been passengers up until now, but now it's all on us. If we fail, this whole trip would have been as waste of time—for us, anyway. John and Crystal have got other reasons for being here."

"Hey, Arthur, my family are back home too," Crystal pointed out. "My reason for being here is the same as yours."

"Maybe. But my point is still the same. Tomorrow is when it gets serious. If we can't convince them to speak to the Browns
—
"

"Then John and I will have to take you to them ourselves." They swung around to see a young blond-haired man standing in the doorway of the room, leaning against the doorframe. He bore a striking resemblance to John, but his hair was a little longer and he had a self-confident, almost arrogant air about him. John turned to see who had entered the room.

"Mark!" he shouted excitedly, getting up to approach the door. "Is that really you?"

Mark smiled and approached him, shaking his hand vigorously. "Welcome back little brother! It is good to see you!"

"And you!" John replied, looking more animated than Crystal had seen him before. "Wow, I hardly recognise you now. It seems so long ago…."

"Six years, brother; that is a long time. Too long."

A voice from behind him echoed his sentiments. "Too long indeed. Far too long to be separated from your family." Behind Mark and John stood an older man, with a slim young lady standing next to him.

"Father!" John cried, looking at him in amazement. "I didn't think you'd be here this evening."

His father embraced him warmly and then stood back to look at him properly. "I was lucky. I wouldn’t normally be in the capital but I was and news of your arrival travelled fast. A young man arriving with five Red Dragons—well, that could only be you. Unfortunately your mother isn't in town, but she'll be here tomorrow."

Crystal recalled that John had mentioned that his mother was not well and that he hadn't heard from her in some time. She felt a little relieved to learn that she was still alive, at least.

The young lady cleared her throat, smiling politely.

"Ah yes, my apologies. Allow me to introduce you," John's father said, turning to the young lady. "John, this is Leah. Leah, this is John."

Leah extended her hand and John shook it. "Charmed," she replied. "Although, not wishing to be rude, you aren't the one that I am here to meet." She glanced meaningfully at Crystal. "You know who I am, I take it?"

John nodded. "Allow me to make all the introductions. Let's start with the guests." He explained who each of the five of them were before moving on to the Golden Dragons. "This is my brother—my older brother—Mark, as you've probably all surmised, and this is my father, Paul. Lastly, this is Leah, who is here to meet you, Crystal. She's your cousin and your closest living relative."

Crystal opened her mouth in shock, having had no warning that she would be meeting any of her biological family or that she even had any left alive. Leah had been fixed on Crystal all the time that John had been speaking, smiling at her knowingly, and stepped forwards to kiss Crystal on each cheek.

"I volunteered to be sent in John's place," she told her. "But they told me that I was too old and that John was better qualified. How they could tell that when he was eight I don't know."

Crystal gazed at her cousin in amazement. "John never mentioned a cousin. In fact, he's told me very little about my family."

Leah gave a dismissive shrug. "Perhaps he wasn't as well qualified for the job as they thought. I wouldn't have neglected important details such as that."

Crystal glanced at John, who chose to ignore Leah's snide comment, although his father wasn't so forgiving.

"Perhaps that's why they chose John," he said pointedly. "He knows how to obey instructions and he was told to give Crystal no details of her family."

"Leah and I will be looking after you tomorrow," Mark said, changing the subject quickly. "We can give you the tour of the city."

"Yes, I imagine it will seem a little small and quiet after life in your capital," Leah added, "but we're proud of our little city and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by what we show you."

"Will you be able to tell me more about my family?" Crystal asked. "
Our
family, that is."

Leah glanced at Paul inquisitively before replying. "Yes, of course. I can tell you anything you like. I'm afraid we don't know all of the details around your parent's death, but I'll tell you what I know."

"Thank you. I don't know anything about them—not really. Or you, for that matter. It's wonderful to think I have another cousin."

"Just one cousin I'm afraid," Leah replied. "I'm an only child and your father only had one brother who died when he was a child, and your mother's only sibling was my mother."

"Yes, I meant one more after Jenna," Crystal explained. "She's the niece of my adopted parents."

"Oh, I see," Leah replied, glancing at Jenna.

"You must all be tired," Paul stated. "And I know you'll want to catch up with your brother, but John, you need to rest for your wounds to recover. All of us will be back in the morning, so we can talk further when you're properly rested. Leah, Mark, let's leave them now. You'll have them all day tomorrow to get to know them properly."

Leah frowned disapprovingly, but merely nodded before kissing Crystal goodbye. Mark shook John's hand again before bidding them all farewell. The room seemed a lot emptier when they left.

"Now what?" Jenna asked, the room having fallen silent.

"We do as my father suggested," John replied. "I'll finish my food then I'll head to my room. I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted."

"It's pretty early, isn't it?" Seth commented. "Seems a shame to spend our first evening here asleep."

Crystal shook her head. "Give it a rest, Seth. I'm exhausted as well. Much longer down here and I'll need to be carried upstairs."

"I'll stay here with John," Daisy said. "I'll come up when he's finished."

Arthur frowned, but said nothing to avoid giving Seth new ammunition. "Very well. I'll walk up with you, Crystal. Coming, Jenna?"

Arthur and Crystal both took Seth's arms and directed him to follow them, leaving Daisy with John.

"Come on, Seth, leave them alone," Crystal told him as they walked up the stairs. "If Arthur can leave Daisy with John you can."

"Don't bother with your jokes," Arthur told him. "I'm too tired to listen or care. Besides, I trust both of them. I think I probably always have, but she's my sister, so I've always felt I needed to look out for her."

"Fair enough," Seth replied. "I doubt they have the energy to get up to mischief anyway."

"Goodnight, Seth," Crystal replied, rolling her eyes at him before entering her room and closing the door behind her. She suddenly felt very lonely in the large room, looking at all of the empty chairs and wondering what her parents were doing. But fatigue was starting to overcome her, and after collapsing into her comfortable bed, she fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

Chapter 6 - City Tour

"Ready for your tour?" Leah asked. Crystal and the four Red Dragons had just finished breakfast and found her waiting for them in the lobby of Immigration House. "What would you like to see first?" She was dressed smartly, wearing dark grey clothes that although were clearly designed for transforming in, like most of John's clothes, were far more elegant and stylish than anything Crystal had seen John wear. Mark was waiting with Leah, although more casually attired and looking far more relaxed than she was.

"We're in your hands," Crystal replied. "What would you recommend?"

"What has John told you about the city?" Mark asked.

"Not much," Crystal admitted. "I don't think he knows that much about it. It's not as if he's been here recently."

"Yes, although I'd have thought he would have been able to tell you something about it," Leah argued. "After all, his job was to teach you. How did he do on that front?"

"He's a very good teacher," Daisy piped up. She had seemed a little lost since John had disappeared with his father and brightened at the mention of his name.

Leah eyed Daisy suspiciously. "Ah yes, you're the girlfriend. The princess. I've heard about you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Daisy asked, sounding a little irritated.

"Well, perhaps if John was less focussed on you and more on what he was supposed to be doing, Crystal would have been here a little earlier."

Jenna laughed derisively. "John more focussed on teaching Crystal? He was obsessed with doing so. John may be many things but he didn't neglect that duty."

Crystal stared at Jenna in surprise. The last thing she expected her to do was defend John. Daisy smiled at her gratefully.

Leah shrugged indifferently. "If you say so. I guess we'll see when they finish assessing Crystal this afternoon."

"Leah, Crystal's friends are our guests," Mark told her. "I thought I had been quite clear on the rules regarding how we engage our guests. We're here to give them our tour, so you can either follow those rules, or you can leave."

Leah nodded and smiled brightly at them all. "Of course. On to the tour. Would you all like to follow me?" She stepped out into the bright morning sunshine and beckoned them to follow. "I'll assume that you know very little about the city and tell you everything. Well, as you know, you were staying in Immigration House, which is the first place any visitors are taken when they first arrive in the city. This whole area is what we refer to as the Government Quarter. It's where all of the Government Offices are."

Crystal looked up at the buildings surrounding them. They were large, neat-looking buildings; perhaps a little dull, but well-spaced out and surrounded by meticulously maintained gardens. There was no mess and no people, as if they were the only ones there. She guessed that everyone must be working inside the buildings. Leah continued with her spiel.

"Many people in this city work for the Government in some form or another. I work for the Department of Foreign Affairs, as does John's father, which is a little further down this street. Those grey buildings over there belong to the Department of Defence. Our architecture could be described as a fusion between a number of different styles adopted by our neighbours. In other words, we take the best from each of them and leave out the rest. Would you like to fly, or are you happy walking through the city?"

The five of them looked at each other. "What do you think?" Daisy asked, addressing her question to Mark.

"While it is still early and not too warm, I think you should walk. It'll be easier for us to point things out. Besides which, you're the first Red Dragons that have visited our country and some of our residents might be a little alarmed to see you."