Bill was forced to take the handkerchief before he could issue a stammering noise of complaint. In such the way when someone is given something against their will, he grudgingly used the square, pressing it against the pathetically tiny cut. Their way of sharing things was sometimes strange to the other servants. If someone had little, it was either very easy or very difficult to give. Both children found it easy to rely on each other to both give, return, and take.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Bea's such a worrywart</span>Bill thought grudgingly but also endearingly, looking at the small slivered cave in his skin,<span style="font-style: italic">it's not like I'll bleed to death.</span>Death generally wasn't an issue for grim reapers, but it didn't mean you could be a fool, either. They had healing abilities, but if you fell off a cliff and were immediately trampled on by fifty horses, you'd probably lose a job and be sent back to The Place Where Dead Thing Go.<br/><br/>So focused on thinking was Bill, with his thick eyebrows furrowed together in a pained look that accompanied such deep thought, that he didn't notice they'd arrived at the girls' quarters until Bea gave a soft affirmation. His head came up to notice her wave, expression relaxing before he suddenly gave a quiet exclamation, reaching into his pocket where he had placed the lent handkerchief some time on their walk. "Yer ker-" he began, but the door was already closed. He gave a disappointed huff before stuffing the thing back in his tunic and heading towards the boys' quarters, making sure that the dodo was still following.<br/><br/>At last, as Bill's vision began to grow hazy from tiredness, he reached the room he was seeking. He swung the door open as quietly as possible, which was certainly easier said than done. He closed them with an equal amount of effort and care. While one could say Bill was lazy, the trait could be overridden by compassion, especially for the sleeping.<br/><br/>Bill did love his sleep, and he knew the boys that shared the cramped space with him did too.<br/><br/>Tiptoeing to his bed, Bill gave the pillow an attempted fluffing. The attempt did nothing to soften the conditions of the bedding, and he resigned himself to crawling in after he had unlaced his boots. He didn't take off his socks; it was cold in the underbelly of the castle.<br/><br/>The dodo let out a faint squawk, jumping up and crawling into his side. Bill was pleased to have such a sleeping companion. He would hate to see him go in the morning, once they found the bird's true owner. Unless they didn't, then...<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">He at least has to have a name,</span>Bill insisted to himself,<span style="font-style: italic">I can't just call him dodo.</span><br/><br/>"Hedgie," he whispered, saying the first pet-ish name that came to mind. The dodo blinked dourly.<br/><br/>That was settled. Bill closed his eyes and began counting, his usual method for falling asleep. It was comforting, to have something warm and alive curled up to him, something he hadn't felt since his real life.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">One...two....three...four...</span><br/><br/>----<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Four gold chalices. No, five. How delightful!</span>Karkherand let his claws click against the precious metal. Such a great joy it was, to have so much wealth and possessions. The great Dragon's heart almost burst with the feeling.<br/><br/>And yet it still felt empty.<br/><br/>How could someone's heart feel empty when they had 367 rubies, 812 sapphires, 117 black pearls, 96 emeralds, 23 beautifully woven tapestries, countless small diamonds (and believe me, he still tried to count them), 12 crowns, 30 suits of armour, 120000 gold pieces, even more of silver and bronze, and now,<span style="font-style: italic">five</span>gold chalices, all decorated with precious jewels and precise skill? There was much more in Karkherand's collection that he had not yet counted.<br/><br/>It wasn't simply things of high monetary value either, but also of beauty and significance. For example, one item that Karkherand loved to caress and hold in his tail was a walnut comb, carved into the shape of a mermaid. It was worthless to most, a simple trinket. He had taken it from a woman who thought the comb to be worth more than the kingdom itself, and all treasure in it. An heirloom, the only thing that was passed down to her from her mother.<br/><br/>And now it was his! Karkherand picked at his teeth with a sharpened bone. He was a fastidious creature, especially when it came to personal hygiene. How he hated his breath to smell foul when he went into the country.<br/><br/>The country had been growing boring to visit lately, except for his occasional pilfering of cattle and other foodstuffs. It was always a treat to see the creatures mooing and braying and crying, running as if they could escape the mighty King of All Creatures, He Who Breathes Fire and Flies on Magnificent Wings.<br/><br/>People no longer kept their treasure in their homes; Karkherand could smell it. They hid it away, deep underground, which was the only place he could not go without effort, or into the city.<br/><br/>Oh, Gale's magnificent capital. A place of riches, and also torment. He wished to go there, to simply steal a single jewel, but he couldn't simply ignore the treaty.<br/><br/>Or could he?<br/><br/>Karkherand gazed out of his cave in the mountain. The stars were out, meaning that the kingdom would be quiet, peaceful as the humans slept. What weaklings, that they could not see clearly in the dark as he could. He stretched his body, his wealth clinking and clanking from under him as he lifted from his resting place and went to the entrance.<br/><br/>He could see far from his high place, to the valleys and the small towns and the rivers and: the city. Karkherand took a deep suck of the night air, massive nostrils flaring. It was all too tantalizing. Surely,<span style="font-style: italic">he</span>wouldn't mind, if Karkherand only took a few morsels? He gave so much in return. It was only fair.<br/><br/>With the decision made, Karkherand opened the great expanse of his wings and descended from the mountain.<br/><br/>Karkherand let out a haunting screech, ensuring that he would have an audience during his attack. What a vain creature he was.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Rip and tear, uproot and destroy. Search and find, take and hoard.</span>Karkherand sank his claws into the castle's East Tower, scrabbling up it until he could take and crush the tower's head like pulling off the lid of a scroll case.<br/><br/>The screaming began. What a joyous sound, like bells and harps to the Dragon's ears. He did not let it distract him, however, as he searched, following the smell of the gold.<br/><br/>It was then he picked up a stronger scent, one of incredible value. In his mind, he saw a beautiful sceptre of silver, ivory, and gold, with a multitude of diamonds. The thing was crafted by Ihon. Karkherand grinned as much as an unsightly lizard beast could, dropping the tower's top and scuttling along the castle's wall.<br/><br/>The arrows began. None could pierce Karkherand's scales, though some did stick. How kind of them to provide more toothpicks.<br/><br/>Karkherand lifted another piece of the tower, and looked down on many magnificent treasures. He had interest in only one. With a single claw he sifted, and with a single claw he picked up the instrument.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">The King surely has no practical use for this,</span>the Dragon scoffed, clutching it tight.<br/><br/>With a mighty roar he lifted from the castle, and in a mighty flash of wings, He Who Breathes Fire was gone.