::Aurthur made his way to the Oracle for the second time in his life. The first had been to report a threat, and this time, he was coming to report something much, much worse, something that tore him and his mate's life in two. True, it was sad news, but he walked proudly into the office, his gaze straight ahead his eyes burning with purpose. He sat down and waited for the next open office.::

Gavilean had his hand on Des' knee as they ate and talked. He loved that they worked together for it gave them even more opportunities to spend time together. He loved watching her movements, the way she spoke, the expressions on her face - there was nothing about her that he did not love and that did not fascinate him. Never had he seen such a beautiful, sexy, caring woman; and he was so blessed that she would be the mother of his children.

These were the things that were going through his thoughts when Aurthur came into the Oracle office. He turned to Aurthur, following Des' gaze.

"Hello, Aurthur! Long time no see. You look upset about something. I hope Icer and your family are okay."

Des? mouth gaped slightly open in shock as she listened to what their friend had to say. Her mind not quite able to grasp it all as the horror of Icer?s father?s death was laid out before them by the huge dragon that was her mate, Aurthur. She blindly reached for Gav?s hand seeking comfort in a suddenly topsy turvy world.

It just couldn?t be possible as just a few days ago she had collected her tiny recording devices and had him on one dueling with Ty and seemingly enjoying the duel. Granted he had been rather beaten up the last time she seen Alex in person but he had been waging numerous battles. His thirst for life was still there. She had seen it herself in him. So to hear he was no longer among the living was a huge shock.

But then their friend went on to tell them about the young Drake and his suspicions and this truly confused her because her sources had told her he was sent to safety by his mother not away where she could have him killed along with his father.

Now it was true Des had heard rumors that Alex and Lasherette weren?t getting along at all. She herself had been at the Inn the night Alex had showed up roaring and busting up the place and Panth had followed him out onto the roof to talk to him after Lasherette had left him a while back.

But she wasn?t about to print another story that might backfire on her so she needed some kind of proof of this plot to kill King Alexander and Prince Drake.

?Aurthur Darlin? I know ya have to be hurting inside something? fierce with everything that is going on. This is such a tragic loss for you and Icer and all of your children. Heck it is a loss for everyone that knew ?em. He was a good friend to those that called ?em friend and a wise, and honorable, Dragon King. I know that he and his Lady Love Lasherette didn?t always get along and they had been going through some very hard times lately but I would be very careful before ya blamed all of this on her. Kings and Queens are always targets Darlin?. It is a hazzard of holding a title. I get threats all the time myself. Sometimes from people that I don?t even know but they still threaten me with all sorts of terrible things. Gav and I?s unborn little one has already been threatened even as well so I can imagine what it will be like once they are born.?

She smiled reassuringly to him as she held onto her beloved husband?s hand.

?I don?t want ya to think that I am minimizing your loss because no one can ever replace what ya have lost in this here raid. I need some kind of proof before I can print an article about this. I can put your loss in the obituaries for you with no problem but I can?t write an article without some kind of proof here. I?ve already had folks coming out of the woodwork wantin? me to fix errors in the paper and if I ain?t careful Amal is gonna fire me!?

Gavilean held his wife?s hand and listened intently, trying to understand all that?s being expressed here. Finally he spoke, ?I?m sincerely saddened by the loss of Alex, and I?m especially concerned for Icer, having lost her dear father. Yet, my wife is correct. We don?t publicly put on trial and judge people here at the Oracle; we simply report the news.

?You're telling us that you have ?suspicions? and a ?gut feeling?, yet all evidence appears to point in the opposite direction. Des and I are often in the inn, and we see and hear things. What I've seen is that the Lady Beresford put their son in the custody of Alex to protect the boy because she was in fear of her own life, and the reason she is with this other man is for her own protection, and there's no indication at all that they are engaged to be married. What mother would deliberately put her child in harms way? To put the son in the custody of the father, and then to tip of their enemies of their whereabouts just doesn?t make sense. If she wanted Alex dead, why not keep the son with her? The Lady Beresford had nothing to gain from this and everything to lose ? even her own son. Des is right; rulers of kingdoms always have enemies and threats upon their lives.?

He paused for a moment, then went on. ?This is a delicate subject, but I?m sure it?s going to be on the mind of all the good people of RhyDin, and therefore it must be asked. It is no secret that you?ve been noticeably absent from Icer for a very long time. Night after night she is in the Red Dragon Inn without your company. We all have often inquired about your health and whereabouts for at one time you two were a 'fixture' in the Inn.?

He paused again, hoping to word this as best he can. ?As Alex?s only heir, Icer will be taking the throne, and now that she has the royal throne, you are once again seen with her in public and being quite affectionate. Now, no one likes affection more than Des and myself,? he squeezed Des? hand, ?yet some might see your sudden return to her side as a maneuver on your part to take the throne. To be brutally honest, to our readers it would look like you would be the one person to gain the most with the death of Alex and his son, and that you are here in the Oracle offices in an attempt to deflect suspicion to Alex?s widow.?

He looked from Des and back to Aurthur, ?Again, we?re not here to accuse, try or judge, yet how would you respond to our readers to convince them that it was not you who tipped off enemies as to the whereabouts of your father-in-law and the heir to the throne??

He turned to a clean page in his notebook to record the answer. As a reporter it was his job to be discerning and to ask the tough questions.

Gavilean saw Icer enter and he stood and smiled.

"Icer, welcome. Please come in and have a seat."

He pulled out a chair for her.

"I've known you from the time you were very young, Icer, and I have no doubt of the truthfulness of what you have said. Anyone who would say otherwise would have to deal with me."

He knew Icer to be one of the sweetest and most humble of all the residents of RhyDin.

"I know that the last thing you'd want would be the throne of your father. At least this way. But someone obviously does want it or else your father and his son would not have been attacked. Someone always wants the throne of the monarchs. I also doubt that it was Lasherette, for killing 'her husband to be' and her son was certainly not the way to get it. If she wanted that, wouldn't she just have married Alex?"

He turned back to Aurthur, once again being in the role of investigative reporter. He looked back at his notes. "Aurthur, you said that Lasherette. . . and let me quote here. . .'shows no remorse for the loss of her son or of Alex.' Just so that we get the story straight in the paper, how do you know this? From what I understand, Lasherette has been inside this lord's castle since before the death of Alex and her son. Not even her friend was allowed in to see her. How was Lasherette notified, and how do you know what reaction she had to the news?"

Gav wasn't accusing Aurthur of anything, but all this seemed to smell mighty fishy. None of this made sense, and the death of a dragon king and the father of Icer was certainly front page news. He wanted to make sure they had their facts straight if they were going to report this. This was certainly a mystery, and just the kind of story every reporter was eager to get.

A slight smile and nod to the couple, though she politely declined the offer of a seat from Gavilean.

Still speaking softly, I am worried more about what remains of my family, my hatchlings alone have not only lost three cousins as of late, but now their grandfather as well as his son.

Closing her eyes a moment as she felt her breath catch in her throat, I didn't even get to say goodbye.

Opening her eyes once more as she calmed herself, I have father's ring.. Lasherette returned it to me, she was upset when father wasn't around, I've not seen her much since.

A simple shake of her head no was given, and she settled on the floor, looking between Tera, Gavilean and her mate.

I do not believe so, I know she and father fought, but I do not believe she'd be the cause.

Gavilean wrote down some notes, but quickly realized that there was actually very little factual information coming forth.

?I?m trying to understand where you?re coming from, Aurthur, but to be honest; arguments amongst lovers are all too common around here, but I?ve never heard of any of them resulting in a mother willing to put a son in danger.?

He closed the notepad and looked from Aurthur to Icer to Des. ?I would suggest that we just go with an obit until we get more information. People in Rhydin have proven themselves to be so ridiculously picky with information that now we try not to print stories without indisputable factual evidence. Since you say, Aurthur, that you were not there to see it happen, maybe we should word it ?it is presumed that Lord Alexander Lasair died while protecting his son.??

He turned to his gorgeous wife, and smiled, realizing that they have never even had an unkind word with each other. ?What do you, think, love? You seem to get the brunt of the complainers, so it?s up to you.?

::Aurthur listened as he held his mate close and listened.:: I can understand your point, and I must apologize. I may be a little presumtious in my suspicions, but with all of the fighting and what not that went on between them, she was the first person that i could think of that would want Lord Alexander dead. As for his actual death.......you can be assured of it. I arrived to late to help, but i still saw the both of them.........::his voice turned soft and low, his eyes misted over with grief:: Anyone in my postion would seek swift vengence upon anyone whom they thought had a hand in it........

::Aurthur nodded, nuzzling his mate before standing up and removing his wing from her:: I thank you and apologize for taking up your time. I am sure you are very busy here.......please, no matter what, tell the people that Lord Alexander died valiantly defending his son......It means alot to both my mate and I. ::He then turned and headed out, turning his head quickly so that no one saw his eyes misted with tears trailing down his cheeks::

She blinked, hearing the voice in her head, and a slight smile was given to Tera. <<I love you too>, then she turned slowly, and made her way out of the office, following after her mate.