Azarias growled again at Allandra's comment of getting use to pulling him around in chains. He was a prince, not some lowly slave or beast! He didn't miss the grin she held, or the sheer enjoyment she was getting from this either. He could play along alright, hadn't he been doing that since getting there? He would surely have not made it past the border if he had been doing anything but. Scowling, Azarias felt himself getting pulled along again as the pair continued on their way to this shrine. Glaring daggers into the guardian's back, Azarias couldn't wait until this little ploy could come to an end and he could quit acting like a dragon with a fraction of the true power he possessed. He would show her, he would show everyone.<br/><br/>Even before they arrived at the opening to where the shrine was located, Azarias had begun to feel uneasy. Something about this place just didn't sit well with him. The feeling only intensified as they got to the opening and Azarias could see the place for himself. It was definitely magical, but felt so wrong, twisted to a being so use to darkness and death. He had felt something similar upon first interacting with Allandra, though on a much smaller scale. The black dragon watched the mixture of dragons and humans, all praying together with such harmony and joy...it was all but sickening.<br/><br/>He snapped his attention back to Allandra when she spoke, holding back a snort when she mentioned that she prayed here for the gods to be merciful to both herself and him. Ha! More than likely she was praying for his, and his kinds destruction.<br/><br/>Although the black dragon had not been listening to the words the priest had been saying, he was aware of when the speech began to falter and soon die out entirely. Azarias fought to keep a smile off his face, knowing why the speech had stopped, and feeling the eyes of the other dragons and humans on him as he kept his own gaze forward. He could sense when the anger and hostility began, feeling the change in the previously peaceful atmosphere like an old friend. Azarias wanted to step out from behind Allandra when she moved to protect him from those approaching. He knew it was for the best that he continued to play along, even while everything inside of him was screaming to act on his instincts and fight these offenders off.<br/><br/>Azarias allowed himself a small smile as Allandra turned to face him, informing him of the situation that he was already well aware of. He knew she was panicking, could feel it. It was calming to the black dragon, all this anger, and fear, especially after the initial feelings being near the shrine had caused to him. She was interrupted by one of those who had been approaching, Azarias knew he was angry and had only hate for his kind. The prince scowled once more, suppressing a growl at the way he was addressed though. He may be the enemy, but even these people surely knew of his status. Did they have no respect at all? Even his people respected titles and such, even while hacking them apart or using them for their advantages. He was even more displeased when the second warrior approached, looking into his eyes with just as much hate as the first. Azarias, having been glaring back at the man noticed when the pair began to get closer, ill intent clear on their features. He was ready to defend himself should the need arise, he was not afraid of spilling a little blood, even in such a sacred place. Blood rituals were something he was familiar with, and anything could be turned with enough support from his own gods. However, the opportunity never arose as Allandra took it upon herself to shut the fight down before it had even started.<br/><br/>Azarias couldn't stop himself from making a snide remark at the chains comment, his blood already boiling from the anticipation of death.<br/><br/>"Are you so simpleminded to believe I would allow myself to be restrained by mere chains?" The black dragon spat, lifting his chained hands and giving the chain a sharp tug, showing they were not easily broken. He also made sure they could see the glowing runes carved into the metal, restraining his magic, or so it would appear to anyone who didn't know he had put them on himself. He snarled at the smile sent his way by one of them, feeling his magic, and pushing it back so as to not cause any additional problems that no amount of talking would resolve.<br/><br/>The black dragon himself was caught a little off guard by the power suddenly displayed by Allandra. He could feel the air around them crackling with power and electricity, could feel the fear coming off of the two offenders as they watched her as well with wide eyes. In the moment of shock, Azarias allowed another small smile to creep onto his face, seeing how easily the faerie dragon could get riled up and turn against those she was suppose to protect. Maybe this would be easier than he had thought. The prince stopped himself from growling or snarling at the mention of Phaelyn, the traitor held in such high esteem here. He hated having to walk so close in her footsteps, to the very person he say with such disdain.<br/><br/>With the situation more or less deflated, and Azarias not quite as ready to shed blood as he had been a few short minutes ago, it was time for him to speak. He tried not to pull away from her touch. He knew she was only trying to help with how the situation had played out. He wondered just how much these people knew about his kind, how they reveled in causing mayhem and chaos. Azarias watched as the crowd around them grew to include everyone, including children. It amazed him how trusting they were, standing here in the open, when just previously they had been ready to kill him.<br/><br/>He told them what he had first told Allandra. How his brother, the tyrant, was planning to wage another war, repeating the devastation of the previous one which the lands had not yet fully recovered from. He spoke of how he had been attacked trying to make his brother see the problems this would cause, where he was going wrong, only to have to escape before he himself was killed. He made himself look like the good brother, the one who cared about the people, the lands, the one who wanted to stop this reign of terror. He was an ally, one with knowledge and access to other places and things these seemingly peace loving people would never dare to use or even touch.<br/><br/>When he had finished, Azarias watched, hardly moving a muscle, as the others moved away to discuss the next steps. He took this as an opportunity to get a better look at his surroundings, now that he wasn't at immediate risk of being killed on the spot. He could once more sense those feelings of peace, joy, and other things creeping up on him and it made him shudder, causing the chains to rattle with his movement. When the others finally broke apart, and Azarias was approached, he allowed the smile on his face to be seen. He wanted badly to tell this dragon that the feelings were mutual, that the prince did not take kindly to being threatened, but knew this would ruin everything he had worked for this far. Keeping quiet, he listened to Allandra defending him once more in the way she did. He wondered what it was she felt in him, aside from the darkness, a curiosity best kept until a later, more secure time.<br/><br/>Azarias had not expected to be allowed anywhere near the Lord of this realm, let along speak with him. He hoped the brief moment of delight in his eyes didn't give him away as he gave her a questioning look at her wink and obvious withholding of information. As they left, Azarias did his best to at least not look like he wanted to kill everyone as the others wished them well, and good luck. As soon as they were out of sight, he allowed the smile to slip away.<br/><br/>If what Allandra was saying was true, he would need to be careful with what he said and did as if any of it reached his home, his plans would be doomed and he would have any number of dragons after him for attempted treason on the future king.<br/><br/>"It would be in our best interests than to lay low and not make any more scenes." He partly voiced his concerns. "And where are we going? Some place I can shed these I would hope?" He asked, allowing for the chains he wore to flicker briefly as those they were nothing more than a projection.