#82 The Last Week Under Kareens impulse, their departure was put in motion quite promptly.
None of them had much to bring back to the Diamond Palace anyway, so they took their time having breakfast and let the servants prepare whatever they needed to pack.
Once again, they had breakfast in the Imperial Concubines Garden, much to Krais pleasure, as he could lay next to Cassandra and nap in the rising sunlight.
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As everyone had been woken up quite abruptly, they somehow agreed to take their time while having breakfast.
They even waited for Missandra to wake up, and Anour showed up before their departure too.
2 As promised, they were ready to depart soon after dawn.
To Cassandras surprise, The first Princes concubines, who had heard of the news, showed up to bid her goodbye before she left.
Cassandra gave them a couple more recommendations about Prince Sephirs health and politely said goodbye.
(2) Krai seemed ready for its flight, stretching its wings and walking around in the garden, a bit impatient.
To everyones surprise, Roun, Anours green dragon, actually showed up too.
6 Ill accompany you, said the young Prince.
This way, I can take older sister Shareen straight to the northern border and save you some time! I want to go help her at the border, too, the Imperial Palace is so boring! Fine, said Kareen, with a pout.
Arent you two just in a hurry to leave me to go play with swords! After that, she got on Krais back, as if it was her dragon, Cassandra wondered what a young Kareen handling baby Krai would have been like… The black Dragon always seemed happy to see the Imperial Concubine, growling softly at her the same way he did Cassandra.
She secretly wished her own sons dragon would have a similar attitude to her even when she would be old… (5 Missandra and Dahlia both agreed to climb on Rouns back, behind Anour, as the Green Dragon was smaller and less scary to them than Krai.
Shareen climbed on Krais back after her mother, and both her and Kairen helped Cassandra up.
Just like that, the little group took off without much of a ceremony.
It had been a little while since her last flight, and Cassandra took a deep breath, hoping she wouldnt get nauseous again.
Slowly, the Imperial Palace got smaller under them, and she realized once again how big it actually was.
She thought about her Medicinal Garden, and wished she could have brought it back with them.
It was a pity she had only gotten to use it a couple of times… 3 As it was still quite early, the sky was colder than usual.
Cassandra was wrapped up in one of the fur coats, and held on tightly by her Prince, as usual, while Krai was peacefully flying to the Diamond Palace.
The Dragon knew the way all too well, and it was an easy ride for him.
Actually, he even bickered a bit with his younger brother, Roun and him fooling around, growling at each other and trying to bite each others tail playfully.
They kept changing spots, one above and one under until Kairen and Anour had them stop before the women on both sides got sick.
(3) To Cassandras surprise, Roun was slimmer and smaller, but considerably faster than the black dragon.
His personality, for what she had seen so far, seemed to match that of Anour, too, being more cunning and curious than Krai.1 The two of them kept playing more quietly for the rest of the ride, but, as they arrived above the Diamond City, Krai got more interested in the Diamond Palace.

He accelerated a bit, in a hurry to land there.
Both Dragons knew the place well, and didnt need to be told where to go.
Actually, another dragons growls welcomed them as they landed in one of the larger gardens.
Hello my darling, said Kareen, getting off first.
Srai, the little Dragon, was excited to see her, jumping all around the place and growling loudly.
He even bumped into Krai a couple of times without even caring.
While Kareen caressed him, calming the young dragon a bit, Shareen jumped off Krais back, and Kairen helped Cassandra down too.
3) On another end of the garden, Anour was helping Dahlia and Missandra down, too.
The two girls were a bit green and white, but they took deep breaths once they were on the grass, relieved.
Im never, ever getting on one of those creatures again… muttered Missandra, still shaking a bit, walking back to Cassandra with a frown.
Dahlia was quiet, but her expression was not very good either.
Cassandra felt a bit sorry for them.
She had ridden on Krais back over a dozen times, and was still feeling a bit sick at times.
Moreover, the Dragons had made the girls first trip a bit rowdy… Behind them, Krai was a bit impatient.
He kept growling and tottling in circles, getting grumpy.
The Imperial Concubine sighed.
Oh, enough, enough… Lets go.
Cassandra, too, was sharing his excitement, just a bit more quietly.
They followed the Imperial Concubine into several corridors.
Unlike the Imperial Palace, the Diamond Palace was more Dragon-friendly, and full of roof-less rooms.
Hence, even if the adult-sized Dragons couldnt follow in one room, they would find a way to reunite with the little group through another opening.
Behind Cassandra, Missandra kept staring around, impressed, just like her sister the first time.
Cassandra chuckled once she noticed this.
Indeed, the Diamond Palace was much more to their taste, with all of its wild plants growing freely, wide-open spaces, sunny chambers, and the many water fountains and natural rivers crossing here and there.
Here it is.
For once in the Palace, Kareen had to open a lock for them to access to another large indoor garden.
It could be accessed through the open roof for the dragons, but for humans, it would have been impossible to climb, with such height and the slippery stonewall.

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Hence, when she walked in, Cassandra found Krai already circled up around his egg, rubbing his snout against it.
Cassandra couldnt describe the warm feeling that filled her heart upon being reunited with the Dragon Egg.
She walked up to it, putting her hands on its warm shell.
Is that… asked Missandra.
Our future nephews Dragon, explained Shareen.
Quickly, she explained to the younger sister about the Dragons eggs and birth, while Cassandra and Krai were happily re-discovering the egg.
It had indisputably grown since last time.
It was now about as tall as a ten-year old child! Once again, it reacted to Cassandras presence, the shiny light inside glowing where she was putting her hands, or where Krai was sniffing.
Youre telling me the… The Black Dragon is a female? Whispered Missandra, confused.
Dragons are agendered, they are neither female or male.
Dragons are a unique kind of creatures, as they dont reproduce like humans or animals.
They just need to pee and poop.
Shareen! Behind them, Anour laughed, but was soon interrupted by some furious growls.
Roun and Srai, curious, had shown up, the first above and the second from the door, and were brutally growled at by Krai.
The Black Dragon was fiercely defending its egg, warning the two other dragons from coming closer.
Actually, Cassandra noticed that, aside from her prince, Kareen and her, none of the other people present had walked further than the entrance of the garden.
Though she could understand about Missandra and Dahlia standing away from the black Dragon, as his size was taking up most of the space, she was surprised that Anour and Shareen had stayed back too.
She had thought it was because there wasnt much space, but seeing how even Roun and Srai couldnt approach the egg, Cassandra realized Krai would have probably chased them too… She gently patted the black dragon to calm it down, while the other two gave up and retreated a bit.
This egg is getting bigger than expected… said Shareen.
Is it a problem? asked Cassandra, worried.
Of course not.
Your son will probably be stronger than the norm, but thats not so surprising given his lineage! Cassandra smiled.
How she wished she could see her baby and his dragon soon! She wanted to guess its size, its color, but she truly had no idea.
Would he be black like Krai? Or maybe another color? Roun and the other dragons were all of amazing colors as well.
Krai, too, was affectionately rubbing his snout against his egg, growling softly.
Had he missed the egg as well? After a while of watching the dragons affectionate behavior, Cassandra stood up and walked to Kairen, hugging her Prince.
Sometimes, she forgot that Krai was an embodiment of his tamers emotions… The War God hugged her, keeping her in his arms, gently caressing her back.

With a gesture from the Imperial Concubine, everyone else but the couple and the black dragon cleared the room in a few seconds to give them some privacy.
As they were now alone in the little garden.
Cassandra smiled and, with a bit of boldness, stood on her toes to kiss him lovingly.
Of course, Kairen answered her kiss back.
For a while, they were alone with his Dragon, exchanging tender kisses and hugging.
Truth was, Cassandra hadnt been able to relax like so in a while.
Not since they had left the Diamond Palace, actually.
Now that they were back in Lady Kareens domain, the young concubine could finally breathe a little, and not be on guards at all times.
Missandra was there too, so she didnt have to worry about her younger sister either.
Those feelings transferred into her bold kisses and the hands with which she gently caressed her War God, her man.
Kairen was agreeably surprised.
He had noticed Cassandra was uneasy during their stay at the Imperial Palace, but he had never thought coming back to the Diamond Palace would free her like so.
For a while, they kept exchanging kisses, hugging and caressing each other.
However, they were unwilling to leave this room.
As they both run out of breath, Cassandra chuckled, resting her head on his shoulder, in a way that she could look at the egg and Krai wrapped around it.
I hope it will rain soon, she whispered.
I dont want to part with you yet… I will be back as soon as I can.
You can stay here, and rest.
Take care of yourself and the baby.
She nodded, putting her arms around his neck.
Cassandra wasnt worried about staying behind at the Diamond Palace, but she hated the idea of parting with him.
She had such fond memories of her time with him in the north, in the military camp… However, things were different this time; she couldnt follow him into this battle.
Cassandra sighed and turned to Kairen.
We have about a week, right? she whispered.
Until the Imperial Army reaches here, yes.
Lets just stay together as much as we can… please? Cassandras begging voice, when she was pleading like that, was the most desirable thing in the world, in the War Gods eyes.
Kairen softly smiled and, without saying anything else, suddenly lifted her, taking her into a wild kiss, out of the room and to where they could really be alone…