Briony opened her eyes to a slit and regarded her children, sleeping peacefully next to her.  They were quite probably the only children she'd ever have.  If Malachi was her heart, then they were her soul. And vice versa, depending on who was making mischief and who wasn't.   Regardless, losing any of them would kill her.

She opened her eyes fully, estimating the time from the angle of the sun as it entered her lair.  Nicco would be down soon, and the Signore would be awake.  Mario, she saw, now that her eyes were fully opened, was snuggled in against Carmie, his paws twitching as he chased rabbits in his sleep.

She liked it here.  It was good for Malachi to be here too, which was fortunate since she couldn't separate the twins from Nicco and the Signore, and she couldn't leave them for a few years yet, not until they were full grown.  Still, right this moment, she wished they were somewhere else.  But they weren't so she'd have to leave them here.  She would have to send Nicco to ask the Signore if she could speak with him.  She could send Malachi if she had to, but with any luck he'd be busy doing something for the Signore.  And she would send the twins out to play for a while.

She nodded to herself and then considered how to ask what she needed to ask.  The Signore was a generous man and would, no doubt, if only as a matter of honor, say yes.  But he would also want to know if he could help her and to that she would have to say no. 

She shifted her head on claws and frowned.  She didn't want him thinking she didn't trust him.  She did.  There was nothing, she knew, she couldn't trust him with.  But this...

She was jerked out of her thoughts by the sound of a small boy racing down the steps, just as he did most every day, and skidding to a stop in from of the twins, waking them up.  Carmie immediately began cleaning his breakfast off his face.  Briony let them play awhile and then called them to order.  "Carmie, Nicki, you need to go take a bath.  And Nicco, caro, if you would be so kind as to do me a small service while they are busy?"

"Signorina," Nicco replied, saluting her. "Si.  At your service!"

"I wonder if it might be possible for you to ask the Signore for me if I might beg a moment or two of his time?" she asked.  "I do not wish to disturb him if he is busy, you understand," she explained.

"I'll go see," Nicco said and zapped out.

Briony settled back on her haunches, watching the entrance to the lair.  She could see the twins playing in the sky as they headed up to the lake.  This was a good place for them to grow up, she thought.  And the dragons at the Refuge were close.   Whatever happened they would be fine.  Malachi, coming down the stairs, was another matter.

He came over, and laid his forehead against her neck, stroking her like he always did when he saw her by herself, murmuring endearments.  She crooned and twisted her head so she could rub his hair with her nose.  She could hear the Signore at the top of the stairs, saying something to Vitorio.

"Malachi," she said softly, "I must speak to the Signore.  While I do so, it is important that you not speak or interrupt.  We will talk after, when we are alone."

"Wha...what?  What's going on?" he demanded lifting his head with a jerk.  "Is something wrong?"

"We will talk after he is gone.  Trust me," she said, touching his mind with affection and love.  "Trust me."

Carmine saunted into the lair, barefoot, in jeans and a shirt he'd not yet buttoned up. His hair was wet from a shower he'd only just finished.

"Buona sera, Signorina. Nicco explained that you need to speak with me. What service can I perform for you, cara?"

"I hope he did not drag you out of the shower, caro," she said. 

Carmine smiled. "No, he did not. But he said you sounded concerned with regard to something, so I came as soon as I could. What is it Briony? Is something wrong with your children?"

"No, no, Signore, they are fine, though it is about them that I wish to speak with you."  She glanced at Malachi, her eyes conveying a message and then gave Carmine her whole attention.  "I must go away for a while and I was hoping that I might leave Carmie and Nicki in your care.  I am not sure how long I will be gone."

"Ah. This is something to do with the dragon meeting you went to?" Carmine asked carefully.

"Si.  Though we did not expect this so soon.  There is a chance...a chance you understand, that I will not return," she said steadily, calmly, her eyes on his.  Beside her she heard Malachi start to protest and then cut it off.  "I will understand if this is a responsibility you do not feel you are able to assume," she continued.

"Cara, should anything happen to take you away from them, you may be certain I will do everything I can for them. But would it be better if they were at the Refuge?  When do you and Malachi leave?"

"Separating them from you and Nicco would not be good," she said.  "Though our friends there will be sure to...have a care for them," she said.  She looked at Malachi again.  "I must leave today."  She smiled at Carmine.  "I have no words to express to you my gratitude for your goodness to them and to me, not just in this but in all things.  For Malachi as well.  If things turn out...they will all need each other, and you and Nicco.  Thank you."

"Signorina Briony," Carmine said softly, stepping forward to stroke her nose. "Is there any way I can help you in this?"

"The time for that will come perhaps," she said very quietly, for him alone.  "Until then you are guarding my life.  That I have no need to worry about them, that is more help than you know."

"Then I swear to you I will protect them until you return."

Puff, sunbathing on the roof of the villa, heard Julian stir through his bond with him.  In a few minutes he'd be on the patio, next to the pool, drinking tea.

Puff smiled grimly and flew down to the patio, letting his tail play in the pool.  He often acted vain and childish, acted, in fact, a lot like Julian.  But underneath it, also like Julian, was an adult who emerged when it was required.  It was required today.  He was looking down at the Mediterranean when Julian stepped outside, Charles behind him with a tray.

"Show me again," Puff said, "how to pout like you do."

"You don't have the right facial muscles, Puff. Sorry old boy. Why do you want to pout?" Jules asked, yawning. Nimue was, thankfully, still asleep.

"I have to leave," Puff said, slipping down into the pool.  Julian had had it enlarged and deepened just for him and he loved it.

"Oh?  Girlfriend calling to you? Where?  The Refuge?  Or further afield?"

"To a war millions of years in the past," Puff said, floating on his back, his legs up in the air, using his tail like a rudder.  "The kind of war where I might get killed."

Julian put his tea cup down and walked over to the pool. He sank down and settled himself yoga style near Puff. "I gather this isn't a choice, that you feel you have to go?"

"We're all going," Puff said, his sapphire eyes meeting Julian's.  "We have lived among you for millions of years, learning to love you, perhaps just so we would make this choice now.  All I know is that if this war is lost then you will never exist and I will never meet you.  For me that is reason enough to go."

Julian reached out to touch Puff's nose. "I realize you haven't asked me, but I would go with you if I could."

"I know," Puff said.  "And I'd ask you to come if I could, but I can't.  Besides, Nimue needs you now."

"Yes, she does. The both of you have rotten timing, you know?" Julian replied softly. "You'd better come back or I'm coming after you. And the Dragon God protect you when I find your sorry ass."

Puff snorted and then splashed water on Julian, drenching him.  "We will fight in the past and then finish it on the Rim.  You can help then," he said.  "You'd enjoy fighting a space battle, I think.  You'd be good at it."  He rolled over on his belly.  "I'll be back between times, so you better keep the pool full."

"You better come back for me. And yeah, I wouldn't want to miss a battle in space. Something I haven't done yet."

"It's a date," Puff said.