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The route from Aataz's bedroom to the lower levels where the hatchery was spanned several staircases and a number of long hallways, and normally took about ten minutes to walk. He skipped all that by teleporting straight through five floors to the hallway outside the hatchery. The guards at the hatchery door jumped slightly as he stepped out of the air, putting his staff back on his back and walking forward.
The smallest guard, a yellow-scaled kobold who was perched on the shoulder of his compatriot, slid down the massive creature's arm, waving to the archduke.
"Hey, boss! Nice outfit. I didn't know you could teleport, though."
Aataz smoothed down his robes, giving the kobold his best mysterious smile. He wasn't sure there was much point in explaining the specifics of his staff to a guard.
"There are plenty of things you didn't know I could do, Nyktok."
The kobold snorted, glancing up at his massive companion, whose expression did not change.
"Listen to him. Sounds like he thinks he's a big as a dragon now."
Aataz had only heard Thek speak about half a dozen times, ever. As one of the remnants of an unsavory program to create a better draconic minion, he was bred for obedience and strength, rather than intelligence. As long as he had someone around to give him directions though, he made a fairly decent guard.
"Well... that could be arranged, you know. It is within my power to become a dragon."
"Hah! Not in this hallway, it's not. Even if you didn't squash yourself, you wouldn't be able to move!"
Aataz grumbled, folding his arms. His staff was giving him a lot of sass today. Okay, maybe they always gave him a lot of sass, but he noticed it more today since it was an important event.
"Fine, fine. Anyway, I need to get into the hatchery, so- hang on, who are you? You're not the normal guard!"
The unfamiliar draconid guard had apparently been trying not to attract any of Aataz's attention to himself, and now that he had it, looked like he would really rather be just about anywhere else.
"Uh... w-well... I'm uh. I'm new. I just got, er, assigned this morning. Sir." They scuffed a foot on the floor anxiously.
Aataz blinked, turning back to Nyktok.
"What happened to Mezz? I liked him."
The yellow kobold rubbed the back of his head, clearing his throat. The new guard looked even more uncomfortable, and rubbed at one of his arms, looking to the side.
"Uh, boss. He got reassigned. He's been trying to get out of this post for at least a couple months now. Thought it was boring work."
"... Oh. Okay. He never mentioned that."
"I'm pretty sure he complained about it every time you came down here, boss."
"... Ah, right. I just... thought that was part of his grouchy charm. Aren't guards supposed to be surly and complain about their job? That's like, quintessential guard behavior."
Nyktok peered at Aataz speculatively, narrowing his eyes.
"You know, for someone who's apparently so powerful and clever. You can be a pretty dense about some things, boss."
Aataz paused for a moment, but couldn't think of an adequate rebuttal for that, so he just turned back to the nervous newbie, giving him his best welcoming smile.
"Right! New blood, new recruits. What's your name?"
The guard, far from being reassured by this, began to shift nervously from one foot to the other, like someone readying themselves to flee.
"O-oh. Uhm. It's... I'm Fraunx."
"Well, Fraunx. This is a very important job you've gotten yourself. My daughter is in here, and you have to make sure no one dangerous gets to her or the others inside." Aataz grinned, giving the draconid a wink. "Or else I'll have to turn you into a newt."
Fraunx actually cringed, scooting back a step, folding his arms behind his back, and his face seemed to age several decades.
"P-please don't turn me into a newt. Sir. Sorry, I won't screw it up. P-please.."
Aataz boggled at the sincere terror on the guard's face. Was this for real? Nyktok sighed in exasperation somewhere to the left, confirming that he had, in fact, said the wrong thing.
"That was.. that was a joke, Fraunx. I'm not going to turn you into a newt. Or anything else. I mean, unless you-" He broke off in frustration as a the yellow kobold groaned audibly, then backtracked a few steps. Enemies fearing him was probably normal, but he didn't know how to deal with one of his own allies that clearly was terrified of him.
There was an awkward silence for a few long moments, before Aataz tried again, taking a different tack.
"As... the newest hatchery guard, I have a special, important mission for you, Fraunx." He pulled the staff from his back, holding it out to the draconid. Since nothing could teleport in or out of the hatchery, it wasn't like it would be much use inside anyway. "I need you to keep guard of this magical relic while I am inside the hatchery. One of the hatchlings could damage it, after all. Do you think you can do that?"
Fraunx nervously took the staff of travel, holding it like it was likely to explode. Aataz gave him an encouraging smile.
"There, see? You're already doing a great job. Just keep it as safe as you would your own weapon, and.. er.." Aataz frowned, looking the guard over more closely. Now that he was paying attention, he actually noticed something wrong. "Fraunx, uhm. Where is your weapon, now that I mention it?"
The draconid shifted uncomfortably, looking to the side.
"Oh. Uh... I was in a hurry this morning. Since it was my first day. And I, uhm. Forgot to bring it. And then, uhm, I couldn't leave my post to go get it. Sorry..."
Aataz had a few choice things to say about that, but he was trying to be encouraging and not scare the newbie, so he just forced an understanding smile.
"Yes... of course. That's.. reasonable. I'll see about having something sent to you, then. What do you use?"
"A longsword. Archduke. Sir."
"Sure, right. Longsword. Got it."
Aataz nodded distractedly, already heading for the hatchery door. He wanted not not be looking at Fraunx for the moment, before he was overcome with his desire to chew him out for forgetting what was literally the most important tool for a guard.
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